Exchange Magazine Jan - April 2012 by Rival

The Royal Commonwealth soCIety Magazine

FeatuRe stoRy

Reform derailed in Perth Civil society and the new Commonwealth governance Page 6

BReaKIng BounDaRIes

FRaseR’s InFluenCe Commonwealth anD aCtIon

Sri Lanka’s emerging leaders visit London

The former Australian PM speaks out

The RCS and Plan at CHOGM

Issue 09 Jan - april 2012

Young Commonwealth Competitions 2012

Connecting Cultures for the Jubilee

The Royal Commonwealth Society’s annual Young Commonwealth Competitions encourage young people to use writing, ﬁlm and photography to respond creatively to global challenges. Every year, over 50,000 young people take part in this prestigious awards scheme, and the winners are often those picking up a camera or putting pen to paper for the ﬁrst time. What we look for is a creative spark, a unique insight or bold idea. 2012 marks the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her 60th year as Head of the Commonwealth. To celebrate this very special occasion, for one year only, all entries into our Young Commonwealth Competitions will become part of the world’s biggest history project, the Commonwealth Jubilee Time Capsule (www.jubileetimecapsule.org). In 2012, all our competitions will be based on the Commonwealth theme, ‘Connecting Cultures’. All entries must relate to a single day in the last 60 years since Her Majesty ascended to the throne on 6th February 1952.

For more information visit: www.thercs.org/youth/competitions or email: mary.greer@thercs.org

welCome

highlighTs Don’T Miss insiDe… IntRoDuCIng FRIenDs

rcs reimagines its network RCs ComPetItIons

Photo and Vision awards revealed FoCuseD on Chogm

Photo essays from our competition winners

although i believe 2011 was a disappointing year for the institutional commonwealth – with an important opportunity for much-needed reform missed at chogM – it proved that the appetite and ambition for change lies firmly with civil society organisations like our own. we must now seize the impetus that has been gifted to us by the reticence of others and, in all our work, seek to promote and embody the values that so many governmental actors in the commonwealth seem unwilling to claim. of course, the year also brought its challenges: the financial climate remains difficult affecting both trading in the commonwealth club and fundraising opportunities for our charitable work. But we are constantly seeking new and innovative ways to adapt and i am quietly optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead. over the next few months, the rcs will be working on behalf of commonwealth partners to stage the UK’s largest multi-faith event in westminster abbey. and this commonwealth Day celebration will be just one of the ways we will be promoting the values and unique attributes of the association. we will be continuing our diaspora

The royal coMMonwealTh socieTy

engagement project in post-conﬂict sri lanka with international alert, and we will continue to drive forward our work on ending early and forced marriage in the commonwealth with global children’s charity Plan. The Jubilee Time capsule also looks set to be a highlight of 2012. with more than ten thousand pieces of content already submitted, a fascinating – and very human – record of the last sixty years is beginning to emerge. if you would like to tell your story to The Queen and include a memory of a day that is important to you in this unique social archive, please do enter at www.jubileetimecapsule.org. Finally, on behalf of my council members and colleagues, i’d like to extend my sincere thanks to Patrick wintour for all his work as associate Director during 2011. Patrick’s dedication proved once more that he is a true friend of the rcs and a powerful ally for the commonwealth. we owe him a debt of gratitude.

BeyonD ConFlICt

Participating in sri lankan peacebuilding InsIDe austRalIa

a chogM travel special

PuBlIsheD By

The royal commonwealth society www.thercs.org eDItoR

Joanna Bennett DePuty eDItoR

ashley Johnson DesIgn

www.fabrikbrands.com FRont CoveR Image

great southern rail indian Paciﬁc Train © Tourism western australia

Danny sRIsKanDaRajah DirecTor

if you would be happy to receive rcs exchange by email, rather than in print, please contact ashley Johnson at ashley.johnson@thercs.org, or call on 020 7766 9240. write to us at 25 northumberland avenue, london wc2n 5aP. rcs exchange is printed on era silk, the ﬁrst recycled coated paper to use only waste collected from UK sources.

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news In BRIeF

Photo © Annaliese McDonough / Commonwealth Secretariat

girl Power The 2011 coMMonwealTh TheMe ‘woMen as agenTs oF change’ was DeMonsTraTeD in a nUMBer oF syMBolic ways in PerTh. her Majesty The Queen recognised the importance of the theme saying, “it reminds us of the potential in our societies that is yet to be fully unlocked, and it encourages us to ﬁnd ways to allow all girls and women to play their full part.” it was at the Perth summit that leaders of the 16 commonwealth countries where The Queen remains head of state agreed to abandon RanDom FaCt

2011 marked the ﬁrst of a cycle of three Chogms set to be held in the Indian ocean: Perth, Colombo, mauritius.

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the archaic laws of royal succession. order of birth, and not sex, will now determine succession to the throne. Perth was also a historic moment for women’s leadership, as both the incoming and outgoing chairpersons in ofﬁce – Prime Minister of australia Julia gillard and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar – were women. RanDom Result

the RCs’s me and my net malaria awareness competition, sponsored by sumitomo Chemicals olyset net, received over 2,000 entries this year. that’s twice our target! the majority of entries came from uganda, Kenya and tanzania.

MeMBershiP uPDates

after two years as Membership Manager, Kerrie Fuller has left the rcs for an exciting opportunity with an international membership organisation. we are especially grateful for Kerrie’s service and she will be missed. as we go to press, arrangements for Kerrie’s permanent replacement have yet to be made. rest assured, our membership phone lines remain open Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm and we look forward to seeing you at our events in the coming year. For membership enquiries, please call 020 7766 9203 or email membership@thercs.org.

when you BooK… If you wish to book a table in the restaurant, please telephone Reception (on 020 7766 9200) rather than the membership department. This way, we can ensure that your request is answered immediately.

ReBoot, Reuse, ReCyCle

RCs Director wins Development award Photo © Brooke Miles / Commonwealth Foundation

DR Danny sRIsKanDaRajah, who maDe hIstoRy when he BeCame the youngest anD FIRst non-BRItIsh DIReCtoR oF the Royal Commonwealth soCIety In 2009, was ReCently nameD one oF Devex’s toP 40 unDeR 40 InteRnatIonal DeveloPment leaDeRs. Devex, the world’s largest community of aid and development professionals, chose their 2011 award recipients from london’s dynamic development industry and included inspirational young leaders from

development agencies, government, corporations and ngos. in an interview after the award was announced, Dr sriskandarajah noted the distinctive role of commonwealth civil society in the global development agenda. “one of the commonwealth’s unique attributes is its people-to-people links; no other association has such a wonderful civil society hinterland… if we can strengthen the people’s commonwealth, we will help improve the lives of commonwealth citizens but also raise the proﬁle of the association.”

when we asked members if they could help source new computers for the RCs team, we were overwhelmed with their kindness and generosity. we are particularly grateful to ceo David west and his crack team of tech-pros at computers 4 africa. They collected and refurbished our well-loved Pcs and equipped the rcs with 12 newer computers more suited to the needs of our growing, digitally-minded charity. To date, c4a has provided over 40,000 computers to schools, libraries, clinics and universities across subsaharan africa. Thank you! www.computers4africa.org.uk

connecTing CultuRes The 2012 commonwealth theme will be ‘connecting cultures’. we will be celebrating the theme at the commonwealth Day observance at wesminster abbey on 12 March and throughout the year via our engaging events programme, youth projects and competitions. The royal coMMonwealTh socieTy

email us at: info@thercs.org telephone us on: 020 7766 9200 write to us at: 25 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5AP

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Comment

at a Chogm otheRwIse ChaRaCteRIseD By DIsaPPoIntment – a Chogm oF ‘almosts’ anD ‘not quItes’ – one PosItIve naRRatIve was to emeRge: the suCCess oF ouR CamPaIgn to seCuRe a Commonwealth CommItment to enDIng eaRly anD FoRCeD maRRIage.

the eaRly anD FoRCeD maRRIage CamPaIgn at Chogm well before leaders arrived in Perth, human rights had been cast as the defining issue of the meeting. and while many delegates departed disenchanted after the most potent recommendations by the eminent Persons group (ePg) had been ‘deemed inappropriate for adoption’ or relegated ‘for further discussion’, the decision of leaders to reference early and forced marriage (eFM) in the final communiqué was meaningful and encouraging. The campaign began a year ago with Because You’re a Girl: Growing up in the Commonwealth, a research report on the status of women and girls in the commonwealth. significant momentum was built through a sophisticated, yearlong effort by the rcs and Plan, resulting in leaders taking historic first steps to end early and forced marriage across the commonwealth. The aspirations of the campaign – to make real commitments which put human rights back at the heart of the commonwealth – resonated with wider calls for commonwealth reform and the increasing insistence that the association be seen to live up to its purported values. with global children’s charity Plan, we influenced the final communiqué in a significant way; and through our events and activities in Perth, the rcs positioned itself as a thoughtleader for commonwealth values, particularly on human rights and reform. The success of the campaign provides a valuable lesson on the power of civil society actors to tap into the potential of the commonwealth as a platform for international development goals. Photo © Tourism Western

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Australia

Just days after CHOGM, Plan International Australia CEO Ian Wishart was at Parliament House in Canberra for the launch of Plan’s 2011 Because i am a girl report. With him was Rubi, a 16-year-old girl from a Plan-supported community in Bangladesh. Rubi’s parents had arranged for her to be married at the age of 14, but with help from Plan staff, teachers and leaders in her community, she was able to convince them to cancel the marriage and allow her to stay at school. She now works to help other girls in her community avoid early marriage. next stePs in order to build on the gains made at chogM, the rcs and Plan have started advocating for implementation of the leaders’ mandate and greater awareness of the issue in other commonwealth arenas. with presence and pressure at the commonwealth women’s affairs Ministers Meeting in February, the commonwealth education Ministers Meeting in august and possible contributions to the 2012 commission on the status of women, this campaign hopes to prove what many have claimed, but few have been able to demonstrate: that the modern commonwealth can inﬂuence the global development agenda with progressive policies to improve the lives of billions of people, putting the association ﬁrmly on the right side of history once more.

analysIng the CamPaIgn 1. the event

2. the meDIa a major success of the campaign was the interest garnered by the international media in Perth. Journalists wanted salient issues to discuss, and eFM provided an oftenignored perspective on the state of gender equality and human rights in the commonwealth.

Photo © Brooke Miles / Commonwealth Foundation

More than 10 national publications mentioned the issue. amongst others, the publications, newswires and broadcasters who took interest in the campaign include: hufﬁngton Post, reuters, sky news (UK), The west australian, The Daily star (Bangladesh), The china Post, The Trinidad express, aFP, The star (canada), The guardian (UK) The rcs and Plan hosted a high proﬁle side event at the commonwealth People’s Forum, “Silence is not an option”: Strengthening the Commonwealth’s role in protecting human rights, chaired by rcs President rt. hon. Baroness Prashar. The eminent panel included ePg member the hon. Michael Kirby ac cMg, the Foreign Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Dr surujrattan rambachan, ceo of Plan australia ian wishart and eU high representative and european commission Vice President catherine ashton.

3. the leaDeRs Photo © Annaliese McDonough / Commonwealth Secretariat

The speakers were unanimous not only about the importance of ending early and forced marriage, but also of the urgent need for structural reform of the commonwealth and a greater commitment to human rights more generally, both of which the rcs has been pursuing for years. “I can hear you shout at us, as leaders, that culture and tradition should not be used as an excuse to perpetuate a practice which is a major barrier to education and good health, and therefore threatens the life chances of over 75 million girls worldwide not in school”. Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, Foreign Minister of Trinidad and Tobago

at chogM, many inﬂuential leaders used the opportunity to express their public support for the commonwealth to end the harmful practice of eFM:

“[eFm] is an important issue, because it is an issue that most societies have faced at one time or another. …It is not unique to anyone but it has been the plight for many millions of young girls for centuries and now is the time to stop it…by the process of law and the process of engagement, and the process of enabling the victims to be able to say no.” HRVP Catherine Ashton

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her excellency Ms Quentin Bryce ac cVo, governorgeneral of the commonwealth of australia

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Malcolm Fraser, Former Prime Minister of australia

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David cameron MP, Prime Minister of the UK

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The hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister of the republic of Trinidad and Tobago

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A Commonwealth of the People: Time for Urgent Reform, The Eminent Persons Group report

4. the CommunIquÉ with a commitment by member states formalised in the communiqué, the rcs and Plan now have a solid platform from which to pursue tangible advances on the issue.

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it provides for a discussion in the commonwealth on the ‘sharing of best practices and the promotion of measures to end the practice of early and forced marriage’.

The communiqué has three main strengths:

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read in conjunction with other measures in the communiqué to improve gender equality, it aligns eFM with the implementation of major treaties and conventions for women’s rights, something which is crucial to the continued work of rcs and Plan.

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For the ﬁrst time, the commonwealth has recognised and given focus to the practice of ending early and forced marriage as part of wider efforts to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The royal coMMonwealTh socieTy

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FeatuRe stoRy

we are The two BIllIon

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“[CSOs] tend to depend on assistance from outside and therefore outside international NGOs can insist on certain things, certain values and certain practices that sometimes are not consistent with the practices in Africa.” arthur Peter Mutharika, Minister for Foreign affairs of the republic of Malawi “There is no denying that we need a Commonwealth that can respond to violations of human rights… However, we are concerned about the possibility of overlap with existing international mechanisms… Such overlap would create confusion among member countries, especially if it is subjected to multiple international inquiries with different jurisdictions over similar issues.” Datuk seri syed hamid albar, Minister of Foreign affairs of Malaysia “I understand the critical role that civil society plays and in fact, as I listen to some of my counterparts, I am happy to say I have seen the evolution of the relationship with civil society in Barbados and the Caribbean where, over time, it is has grown less adversarial and more collaborative.” Maxine Mcclean, Minister of Foreign affairs of Barbados

“I believe that the next time we have an important report about the future of the Commonwealth, it should be published in advance, circulated to civil society and media and we would come to these meetings in order to receive your detailed views about it in advance of our deliberations, rather than you being unable to give those views because you haven’t seen it in detail.” william hague, British Foreign secretary and First secretary of state, referencing the suppression of the ePg report Photo © annaliese McDonough / commonwealth secretariat

The audience that afternoon came to Perth with great hopes for commonwealth reform embodied by the eminent Persons group report (whose creation was initiated in part by the work of the rcs), and designed to bring with it a louder voice – and sharper teeth – for the commonwealth on issues of human rights. of course, by the end of chogM, the majority of the ePg’s recommendations simply proved too intimidating for commonwealth leaders; but that is not to say the issues contained within the report went undisputed. Before heads of government retreated to their summit, the arguments for and against reform were presented, and tensions between different member states, and indeed, between member states and civil society organisations (csos), were on display at the Foreign Ministers’ engagement session with civil society:

Photo © annaliese McDonough / commonwealth secretariat

“Be IDealIstIC, Be vIsIonaRy… ouR amBItIon Is no less than to Change the woRlD.” these weRe the woRDs oF austRalIan PRIme mInIsteR julIa gIllaRD, ImPloRIng hunDReDs oF CIvIl soCIety RePResentatIves to Be BolD as they Began thRee Days oF DIsCussIon anD DeBate at the Commonwealth PeoPle’s FoRum.

“I am beginning to ﬁnd [the priority of civil society] is not in the pursuing of their objectives but more to look for an opportunity to get a free trip overseas… If you do not take care of your governance, then you are going to come in and meet with us and we are going to look at you with pity.” Tuilaepa aiono sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of samoa

Photo © annaliese McDonough / commonwealth secretariat

FRIenDs: moBIlIsIng the Commonwealth netwoRK Photo © Brooke Miles / commonwealth Foundation

The comparative advantage of the commonwealth comes from its commitment to shared values and principles. But as those values are continuously undermined – by ﬂagrant human rights abuses in member countries, or by the silence of an overly-cautious secretariat – it is increasingly obvious that there is not one commonwealth, but two: one of the governments, and one of the people. rather than continuing to knock on the door of the institutional commonwealth, the association’s civil society must press on. we can act as though a new commonwealth contract has been signed, as though the ePg’s report has been implemented, and we can be bold and idealistic to improve the development performance – and, importantly, the reputation – of the commonwealth. The royal coMMonwealTh socieTy

global moral authority has been relocated and global governance has new paramount actors: civil society. To adapt to this changing power dynamic, the rcs has reimagined its international network, partnering with Friends of the commonwealth to form an online community of information and action, which will be the primary vehicle through which the rcs interacts with international contacts. sir colin shepherd, chair of Friends of the commonwealth, introduced the new network at a reception in Perth: “with the internet as it is, it has never been so easy to be an engaged citizen of the commonwealth. But Friends won’t be just a one way channel used to transmit commonwealth news; rather as a network it will enable the active involvement of members in commonwealth affairs and projects. Together we can realise the potential of Friends of the commonwealth, ensuring that ‘Friends’ is a modern, ﬂexible tool with scope to inﬂuence and deliver.” Peter Kellner, chair of the rcs, saw the creation of Friends as the moment “civil society grew teeth” and likened the network to “a virtual Tahrir square”.

The network aims to be accessible, accurate and active, empowering individual members to make a signiﬁcant impact on intergovernmental and national affairs, while also offering practical information on programmes, scholarships, job opportunities and grants. in a world of increasing complexity and competing narratives, Friends hopes to become a coherent voice for the passionate but disorganised commonwealth civil society. Friends will speak up when the institutional commonwealth falls silent. This almost gandhian sentiment was echoed in Julia gillard’s speech at the People’s Forum when she said, “when people call for change and ask where it will come from, we already know. it will come from us”. at a time when donors, media and governments are losing faith in the association, the onus is now on commonwealth civil society to realise the ambition, and salvage the reputation, of the entire commonwealth project. we are encouraging every member of the RCs network to join Friends as individuals by visiting www.commonwealthfriends.org. exChange

ComPetItIons

CaPtuRIng The coMMonwealTh on FilM Amit Madheshiya, 29, India (Senior Gold Winner)

sister mabel walks for hours each week into the thick Attapady jungle in Kerala, India to visit children from the remote Irula tribe, many of whom do not attend school. In Amit Madheshiya’s winning photo from the 2011 Commonwealth Photographic Awards, Sister Mabel is telling the young girls a wonderful story about a girl’s ﬁrst day at school. “In an instant,” says judging Chair Michael Hallett, “Amit has recorded an entire narrative appropriate to this year’s theme”. The RCS competition encourages young people to explore themes of international importance in a creative way. Their images, sent this year from 46 Commonwealth countries, display the diversity and remarkable similarities of human experience in the modern Commonwealth.

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Entries could be submitted on digital, analogue, disposable and even mobile phone cameras. Caitlin Montie Greer, judge and Artist in Residence for a women’s refuge, called the competition an “incredibly inclusive way to encourage young people to express themselves”. This year’s youngest participant was just 11 years old. The judging panel also included Tate Curator and Associate Director at The Drawing Room, Katharine Stout, photojournalist Peter Hayes and Belgian photographer and artist Thierry Bal. a stunning collection of photos from the RCs competition was exhibited at the Commonwealth Festival in Perth. as part of a prize commissioned by the western australian government, senior gold winner amit was ﬂown to Perth with senior silver winner Rehnuma tasnim sheefa. see their Perth photo essays on page 10.

Rehnuma Tasnim Sheefa, 18, Bangladesh (Senior Silver Winner)

Martin Iversen

Nina Ross

Mariam Humayun

vIsIon awarDs 2011 marked the tenth year of the RCS Vision Awards, open to young professional and aspiring filmmakers from across the Commonwealth. Entrants were asked to create a short film responding to the Commonwealth theme ‘Women as Agents of Change’, and many chose to explore the multiple roles women play in their families, communities and countries. Interestingly, the subject matter of all three winning films – which were also screened at the Commonwealth Festival in Perth – focused on education; both the importance of educating women and the impact women can have through teaching.

Chair of the judges, former BBC World News anchor Keshini Nabaratnam, explained why the panel was so impressed with ‘Love Never Fails’ by 16-year-old Wai Lun Suen, “This inspirational film was rich in mood and atmosphere due to the combination of filming and music with a lovely story, which conveyed vividly the importance of women in educating and shaping the world through the tale of a young boy helped by his mother”. Wai Lun hopes the film proves “women can make a huge change, even if it is one that does not affect many.”

to vIew all oF the shoRtlIsteD entRIes FoR ouR young Commonwealth ComPetItIons, vIsIt www.theRCs.oRg/youth/ComPetItIons

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PRojeCt FeatuRe

FoCuseD on Chogm as ParT oF Their Prize, Two winners FroM The 2011 coMMonwealTh PhoTograPhic awarDs were Flown To PerTh, aUsTralia For The weeK oF chogM. aMiT MaDheshiya anD rehnUMan TasniM sheeFa snaPPeD ProTesTers alongsiDe ProFessional PhoToJoUrnalisTs, VisiTeD schools To ProMoTe The JUBilee TiMe caPsUle (JTc) anD coMMonwealTh coMMUniTy rePorTers PrograMMes anD saT in on chogM lecTUres anD DeBaTes.

“and afterwards, we had a nice turkey for dinner.” willetton high school student John Foster submitted an entry to the Jubilee Time capsule about his frightening christmas eve in 2001. John was only ﬁve years old at the time, on a family trip to wollongong, when a bushﬁre began nearby. John doesn’t say how his family escaped to safety, but does remember they were still able to eat a delicious christmas meal. Search for ‘Willetton’ on www.jubileetimecapsule.org to see more great entries from the school’s students and teachers.

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RCS photo competition winners with John Day, Western Australian Minister for Culture and the Arts

PhoTo winners aMiT anD sheeFa were asKeD To creaTe a ProJecT ThaT reFlecTeD Their exPeriences while in PerTh.

amit produced a photo essay exploring the universal lure of the water’s edge… “Strolling on the quiet streets of Perth, with occasional pedestrians for company, I was often reminded of Mumbai. Living in Mumbai, which houses over 21 million people, there is a constant craving for a moment or two of being alone with oneself. In Mumbai, with its constant ﬂux of people – be it on the streets, trains, elevators, toilets and at home – one always belongs to the great inescapable mass. And it wasn’t by chance that living in Mumbai, I was drawn towards its beaches that are promising of a freer spirit. The city compensates for space on her beaches, where the constriction of an urban jungle is relieved by the cathartic immensity of the sea. The waterfront becomes the site of a return to the primeval vision; a gateway to the spectacle

The royal coMMonwealTh socieTy

of the endless vastness as one leaves behind the paucity, squalor and sweat of a megacity. This experience laid the foundation of my exploration of Perth. On my lone strolls in the city, I revelled at the sight of the spring sun sprawled leisurely over Swan River and the majestic quietness of Kings Park. But what I was interested in photographing most was the engagement of people in Perth with its seafronts. I spent my evenings at Cottesloe beach looking at young boys and girls playing ball, families enjoying the delicious ﬁsh and chips, children ﬁshing on the rocks and others diving in the azure water. Is there a universal experience that the immensity of the sea inspires in us, across boundaries and cultures? Through my work on the beaches, I am exploring this nebulous experience that binds us across oceans.”

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PRojeCt FeatuRe

Sheefa’s photo diary brilliantly captured the scenes and setting of CHOGM, and documented the great work of the RCS Programmes Team in Perth…

“Chairman of the Royal Commonwealth Society and former journalist Peter Kellner explains to Greenwood School students how to ask good questions.”

“The journey began in Dhaka at 1:20 am on 25th October 2011. This photograph was taken as I arrived in Perth via Malaysia. It seemed that God was sitting up there with a paint brush, adding extraordinarily detailed colours to nature’s beauty.”

“On the opening day of CHOGM, there were protests going on everywhere and cars were restricted on the roads, so people had to walk a long way.”

“The Commonwealth Photographic Awards exhibition by night, at the People’s Space, Commonwealth Festival.”

“During the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Festival, there were concerts going on and people from all over Perth came to enjoy. The whole of South Perth was decorated with colourful ﬂags.” “Willetton is a very popular school in Western Australia and its students are very active in taking part in the Jubilee Time Capsule (JTC). I was interviewed by one of the students about the day I discovered I had won the Senior Silver Award of the RCS’s photo competition.”

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to see more of the photo essays and to browse photos from the Commonwealth Festival exhibition, go to www.thercs.org or visit our Flickr photostream, ‘RCs youth’.

PRojeCt FeatuRe Photo © Annaliese Mc Commonwealth Sec Donough / retariat Photo © Annaliese McDonough / Commonwealth Secretariat

h Commonwealt ues in Diaspora Dialog 2011 ary nu Sri Lanka, Ja

BReaKIng BounDaRIes the RCs anD InteRnatIonal aleRt ContInue theIR PaRtneRshIP aImeD at PeaCeBuIlDIng In Post-waR sRI lanKa. overwhelmingly, the violence of the past half-century has been typified not by conflicts between nations, but by internal unrest and civil war. one such example is sri lanka, set to host chogM 2013. after more than three decades of fighting, the war officially ended in May 2009. But while peace has been declared, sri lanka is still recovering – economically, politically and psychologically – from the trauma of civil war. The rcs and peacebuilding ngo international alert are contributing to the wider rebuilding effort with the continuation of a project which began in 2009. last January, eight talented young British sri lankans and two British MPs travelled to sri lanka to learn about the progress of postconflict reconciliation and development in a programme called ‘Diaspora Dialogues’. in December, the project continued as ‘Breaking Boundaries’ with a visit to london by emerging sri lankan leaders, including MPs from across political parties and representatives from civil society groups. They met with British Parliamentarians, sri lankan diaspora groups, commonwealth organisations and the sri lankan high commission in a busy week of activities. chris Underwood, head of communications at international alert said: “The visit was part of a series of meaningful contributions to peaceful development in sri lanka which we have made throughout the lifetime of this project, bringing young and emerging sri lankan Parliamentarians and civil society members together with their British counterparts in a process which we hope will lead to a greater level of understanding on both sides about the challenges and opportunities facing sri lanka and support enduring links between the sri lankan MPs and those in the UK who seek to assist.” The royal coMMonwealTh socieTy

Following the london visit, there were a number of other activities in both the UK and sri lanka aimed at bringing politicians, civil society and communities together in pursuit of shared economic and peacebuilding goals for the country. in February, another group of young British sri lankans and UK Parliamentarians will be visiting sri lanka to carry on the constructive cross-border dialogue. DIalogue FoR DeveloPment sri lanka’s recovery depends as much on local and international policymaking as it does on the engagement of the diaspora and an empowered sri lankan civil society. Projects such as Breaking Boundaries, which brings actors from different sectors and communities together in the spirit of reconciliation, are crucial to the development process in sri lanka. Promoting the positive engagement of each of these groups will ultimately support long-lasting peace in the country. But the international discourse on post-war sri lanka remains largely problematic, with a seemingly monolithic approach to the multiple complexities of asia’s longest running war. Peacebuilding and development in sri lanka calls for a more considered, integrated approach by the international community, and strengthened local traditions of pluralism. it will also require the sri lankan diaspora to harness its agency for sustainable conﬂict transformation, and to do so inclusively, collaboratively and alongside other actors such as the international community, the sri lankan government, private enterprise and civil society. sri lanka remains a polarising subject amongst the commonwealth family. regardless, colombo will host the next commonwealth heads of government Meeting in 2013, and in the months leading up to that international summit, Breaking Boundaries offers an important opportunity to break the geographical, political and emotional limitations entrenched in a country once divided by war. exChange

Comment

malColm FRaseR: “the Commonwealth” On FriDay 28 OCTObEr 2011, FOrmEr ausTralian primE minisTEr malCOlm FrasEr gavE a sTirring spEECh ThaT brOughT ThE CrOWD TO iTs FEET. DElivErED aT murDOCh univErsiTy as parT OF ThE ChOgm rOunD TablE mEETing, mr FrasEr Was OuTspOkEn in bOTh his FaiTh anD FrusTraTiOn WiTh ThE COmmOnWEalTh.

on the moDeRn Commonwealth: “it is clear that the commonwealth has a life and impetus of its own, but whether it maximises the opportunities open to it, whether it does as much as it should to promote a better, more stable, more prosperous and more peaceful world, is open to question. let me not be misunderstood, i am one who believes in the commonwealth, its possibilities and its future, but the commonwealth is no more and no less than the people who make up its membership and the people who serve it. if the commonwealth is to show vision and leadership for the future, it will be because significant leaders of the commonwealth believe in it and inspire it. it is a question of isolating important issues and asking how they can be resolved and then having the determination to pursue that solution with all the vigour and energy that is available within the commonwealth.” on aPaRtheID south aFRICa “The commonwealth did play a responsible role in relation to south africa. it was an activist one. it was pursued rationally and with reason. in relation to south africa the financial sanctions put in place at the commonwealth conference in nassau significantly, with the support of the then australian Prime Minister Bob hawke, helped influence the south african government to change. That meeting also decided to establish the eminent Persons group. There were many at the time who argued that the anc should renounce violence. The eminent Persons group concluded however, that if the anc did renounce violence it would be renouncing the only weapon that it had. it is a sad fact of human existence that violence can be used to pursue a legitimate ends. The most extreme example of that, of course, was violence in response to nazism. The violence of nazism could only be opposed and overcome by violence. if the weapons of apartheid were to continue, weapons that in

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nearly every facet involved violence, then violence was the only weapon available to the great majority of south africans. what was reasonable, however, was to say that the anc must suspend violence while negotiations took place and that suspension must be real and, once an agreement was reached, the suspension of violence would become a renunciation. after the eminent Persons group had ﬁnished its immediate work, with President obasanjo i visited the United states and had many meetings in washington with members of the administration and with major congressional leaders. it is notable that President reagan had vetoed a sanctions Bill in relation to south africa, but that congress, Democratic and republican alike, mustered the necessary majority to overturn the President’s veto. The work of the commonwealth, under the eminent Persons group, was at least in part responsible for that result.” on the Commonwealth’s ComPaRatIve aDvantage: “The United nations does not provide the opportunity to establish close relationships with other heads of government or heads of state as does the commonwealth. it is these close relationships which are virtually unique to the commonwealth and open to it the possibility of contributing effectively to solving problems that may arise. it is important to understand that the commonwealth and its effectiveness depends upon members and their belief in it. it is dependant upon the face to face knowledge of the heads of government and the heads of state of the commonwealth, on the opportunity to speak to each other openly and fearlessly. That has been not only by way of the bi-annual formal meetings of the commonwealth, but also because a signiﬁcant amount of time has been set aside for informal gatherings at the commonwealth’s retreat. These

were meetings where heads of government and heads of state met separately from their assistants and advisers. Then substantial relationships were established that were of particular importance in enabling the commonwealth to operate effectively. This is why i have been saddened to see, through the pressure of modern day politics, that heads of government and heads of state have shortened the time available for the retreats. if anything, once in every two years, even greater time should be spent in informal discussion.” on the seCRetaRIat: “a vigorous, active and transparent commonwealth secretariat, strongly led, could be more effective in addressing [global] these issues, and in providing a lead to the world, than the United nations itself. whether it is in the rule of law, the treatment of refugees, indigenous minorities or the status of women, we should have a strong independent body appointed to examine practices throughout the commonwealth. a body that would not necessarily seek to apply one solution to all commonwealth countries, because their circumstances and their capacities are so very different, but to publish reports each year which would give a clear and a factual view of the performance of all members of the commonwealth. such a review would need to take into account the history and culture of each country and the report card should be

available to all members of the commonwealth. exposure and transparency could achieve much.” on the FutuRe oF the InstItutIon: “it is possible to alter structures. it is possible to improve the operations of the commonwealth secretariat. it is important to have much better mechanisms to create transparency and openness in government, and that there be full disclosure of the actions of all members of the commonwealth, judged against agreed and accepted commonwealth principles and values. importantly, we need to understand that however good the constitution, however effective the structures in theory, it is people who will make them work. The secretary-general and his team, and the heads of government or the heads of state themselves, all need to believe in the institution and its capacity to contribute greatly to a better world. government leaders need to be prepared to drive it and make it a signiﬁcant part of their foreign policy and of their international cooperation. The commonwealth is much more than a chogM every couple of years.” For the full text of the “The Commonwealth”, and for more information about the rCs’s activities at ChOgm, go to our website.

“I’m not sure I ever liked that word, ‘eminent’…” Before delivering his speech, Malcolm Fraser spoke to the JTc team. in his entry, Mr Fraser recalls his time as a founding member of the commonwealth eminent Persons group in the 1980s; the group was instrumental in dismantling south african apartheid. To see Mr Fraser’s JTc entry, and to submit your own story, go to www.jubileetimecapsule.org. The JTc is also on Twitter: @jtC_2012

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PRojeCt FeatuRe

when you thInK oF a Royal Commonwealth soCIety event, you PRoBaBly have In youR heaD a PuBlIC aFFaIRs DeBate at the Commonwealth CluB, oR the Commonwealth Day oBseRvanCe at westmInsteR aBBey. a 10Km hIKe In the noRth oF sCotlanD Is almost CeRtaInly not what you woulD ImagIne, But that’s wheRe the events team have Been taKen as PaRt oF a new RCs PRojeCt.

in partnership with creative scotland – the national leader for scotland’s arts, screen and creative industries – we are delivering oxygen, an events programme based in scotland featuring high profile commonwealth speakers. oxygen is about bringing prominent individuals, primarily from outside the arts, to speak about their experiences, broaden the horizons and perhaps inspire those in creative industries. “[Creative Scotland] is outward looking, connecting to the rest of the world beyond arts and a narrow definition of culture, trying to see the future differently through this lecture series.” scott Donaldson, Creative scotland and this means not just going to edinburgh and glasgow. we’re taking speakers all over scotland – from the whisky Trail to the highlands – to give cultural organisations throughout the country the opportunity to host speakers they ordinarily might not have the chance to, giving communities the chance to hear stories firsthand that they would normally only read in the paper or watch on the news.

(Cs + RCs = o2) oxygen was launched in november 2011 with a speaking tour featuring Mark inglis. Mark lost both his legs to frostbite when he was 23 and went on to be the only double-amputee to climb Mount everest, ﬁtting in numerous careers in between, including working as a scientist, a world recognised winemaker, and Paralympic medal winner. The ﬁrst stop on Mark’s scottish tour was in new galloway, a small village near Dumfries, at a sold out event at local art gallery, The catstrand. “Mark gave an inspiring presentation and talk on his life and the audience were in awe of his story: to come back from the losing both his legs and then climb to the peak of Mount Everest. His motivation was the compelling factor in his life journey and the local community here were drawn to this man because he delivered his story with honesty, humour and a respect for human nature and the world around us.” sean paul O’hare, The Catstrand Mark then traveled across the country to huntly, where he gave another three talks, two of them in schools. he also commandeered a 10km hike with local residents, using his mountaineering expertise to put them on the right path after a slight detour along the way. Mark’s tour was an inspiring start to the speaking series, which will continue into the summer. additional oxygen participants are set to include Tim Flannery, an internationally renowned scientist and conservationist, and hugh Masekela, a grammy award-winning trumpeter, composer and singer who will also perform during commonwealth week. For more information about Oxygen, visit the royal Commonwealth society website at www.thercs.org/society/oxygen. 16

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memBeR PRoFIle

Up close & Personal name: padraig herlihy natIonalIty: british RCs memBeR sInCe: 2010 oCCuPatIon: managing Director, smaller World limited InteRests: i’m lucky enough to get paid to do what i love, but in my spare time i especially enjoy water sports; i could canoe before i could ride a bike. what motIvateD you to joIn the RCs?

i was ﬁrst introduced to the work of the rcs through the observance Day celebrations. i run an international student ambassador scheme and the participants acted as stewards at the service. i was impressed with the work of the organisation and the diverse, internationally-minded membership. i work in international sport and the rcs is the perfect hub to help me network and conduct my business. aRe you InvolveD In the lonDon 2012 olymPICs anD PaRalymPICs?

yes, i go to major sporting events all around the world – Beijing, Delhi, Vancouver – to act as a broker and friend for sporting bodies, linking them with professional and technical assistance in order to achieve their sporting goals. leading up to the london games, i’m focusing on securing training camp venues across the UK for visiting athletes. The london organising committee for the olympic games (locog) has made sizeable grants available to each national olympic and Paralympic committee to help them with the cost of having their pre-games training camps in the UK. For small sporting bodies like the Paralympic association of Papua new guinea, the grant could be worth more than their entire annual budget. if you’re competing at the top level, it takes a day to get rid of every hour of jet-lag. Because of these grants, The royal coMMonwealTh socieTy

many more countries will get the opportunity to train in the UK before the games. i am currently contacting high commissions and embassies in london to see if i can help their teams take advantage of these grants. what Role Can sPoRt Play In InteRnatIonal DIPlomaCy?

The commonwealth games, olympics, Paralympics and other sporting events foster international understanding. These events are underpinned by international cooperation and they get athletes and spectators to grow less insular and even become ambassadors for their countries. i think we should do far more to extend the links in – and beyond – sport. Two communities that develop a relationship through training camps could then link schools, universities and help build economic, cultural and tourism links as well. There is so much potential for sport to encourage greater global collaboration. any tIPs FoR lonDon 2012?

The olympics are fantastic, but the Paralympics are even better! Both events represent the pinnacle of sport, but the olympics are so tied up with corporations and sponsorships. when you attend, it feels like you’re staring in the window at a posh party. at the Paralympics, it feels as though you’re attending sunday lunch with a global family. if you’re looking for the true olympic spirit, you’ll ﬁnd it at the Paralympics.

Be PRoFIleD In RCs exChange…

are you an RCs member? Do you have an interesting story to tell? Being featured on our member proﬁle page is a great way to let other members know who you are and what line of work you’re in. We’re keen to build a greater sense of community amongst RCS members. If you would be willing to be featured, please send an email to ashley.johnson@thercs.org.

“mickey mouse shoes are probably the best Brembo Brakes that money can buy.” The JTC team was lucky enough to grab a moment with South African sprinter ‘Blade Runner’ Oscar Pistorius. The double amputee called “the fastest man on no legs” told the JTC about a particularly daring go-kart ride in his childhood, demonstrating that “disability wasn’t always going to be about disadvantages.” To see Oscar’s JTC entry, go to www.jubileetimecapsule.org.

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tRavel

inside

australia austRalIa Is a vast anD DIveRse CountRy, wIth some oF the most extReme ConDItIons anD most BeautIFul vIstas on eaRth. It was one oF the FIRst memBeRs oF the Commonwealth, joInIng In 1931.

when to go if you plan to tour extensively, keep to the southern coasts in the summer (December to March) and head north in winter (July to september). Travel to the dry interior during the transitional seasons between april and June or october and november.

PeoPle anD PlaCe CaPItal: canBerra language: english PeoPles: eUroPean, aBoriginal, asian anD oThers RelIgIon: roMan caTholic, ProTesTanT anD all oTher MaJor religions sIze (sq Km): 7,692,030 PoPulatIon: 21,263,913

hIghlIghts west Coast: The west offers unspoilt indian ocean beaches and a vibrant and modern Perth, one of the most isolated cities in the world. northerly Broome is an easy-going town and a centre for pearls. ningaloo reef is virtually untouched unlike its famous east-coast counterpart, and has a dazzling display of tropical ﬁsh and resident whale sharks.

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sydney: The country’s oldest city and economic powerhouse. cosmopolitan and blessed with sun-drenched natural attractions, dizzy skyscrapers, superb restaurants and friendly folk. Don’t miss the opera house and the harbour Bridge. or catch the ferry to Manly for some laid back beach life.

outback: it’s incredibly vast, but the outback is a true australian experience. Popular for bushwalking and characterised by colourful towns with fair dinkum aussie pubs. The highlight for many is Uluru (ayers rock), a site of deep cultural signiﬁcance to the anangu aboriginals. it’s especially impressive at dawn and dusk when the red rock changes colour. ConsumIng PleasuRes Food & Drink: high quality local produce and seafood. asian cookery has contributed to the lauded Paciﬁc rim cuisine. Top quality wines are produced in many areas. indigenous meat like kangaroo is very tasty if prepared well. shopping & souvenirs: local wines, wool, clothing, leather, precious stones, modern art, tribal objects and boomerangs. photo © To urism

Western a ustralia

saIlIng thRough the 9 to 5 KaItlyn CRItChley, a canaDian exPaT liVing in syDney, exPlains how eVen a Daily coMMUTe To worK can Be a Thing oF BeaUTy in aUsTralia…

wexas Recommends 13 Days overland with the Indian Paciﬁc Day 1-2: arrive and explore Perth Day 3: rottnest express Tour Day 4-6: Margaret river excursion Day 7: return to Perth Day 8-9: Board the indian Paciﬁc railway Day 10: arrive adelaide Day 11: Farm day trip Day 12: return to adelaide Day 13: Depart adelaide Prices from: £4,815pp, twin share, includes airfare from london and some accommodation, meals and domestic transport. Terms and conditions apply, offer subject to availability. For more information and to book please call 020 7838 5968

The royal coMMonwealTh socieTy

If you had asked me a year ago what my favourite thing would be about relocating to sydney, australia, I probably wouldn’t have thought twice before giving a predictable answer: the beautiful beaches, the intriguing and unusual wildlife, the friendly people and so on. and while it is true that all of these things are highlights of life in the land Down Under, the best thing – without a doubt – about life in sydney is my journey into work each day. i know that it’s unconventional to wax lyrical about, well, commuting, but when you are lucky enough to travel to and from work each day by ferry across sydney harbour, the experience takes on an unexpected charm. i live in Manly, a northern beachside suburb of sydney that has for some years carried the slogan “seven miles from sydney and a thousand miles from care.” Manly’s beautiful, sandy beaches, excellent surf and laid back café culture have made it one of australia’s most iconic waterfront destinations for sydneysiders and tourists alike; but it’s the beautiful ferry journey that quietly steals the show. a passenger ferry service has been in operation between circular Quay and Manly since the mid-19th century, when chartered paddle steamers were used to transport daytrippers through the harbour. Today’s four Manly ferries were commissioned in the 1980s and are named after some of sydney’s most well-known northern beaches: narrabeen, collaroy, Freshwater and Queenscliff.

The trip in one of these iconic green and yellow vessels is lovely in either direction, but it’s the journey between Manly and the bustling sydney transport hub of circular Quay that is my favourite. The sometimes-bumpy ride past north and south head – the towering cliffs that mark the safe haven of sydney harbour from the mighty Pacific ocean – can prompt a caution from the captain for passengers to hang on to young children and remain seated indoors. But the bumps soon give way to a gentle cruise past some of the city’s loveliest protected natural areas. Don’t let the leisurely pace and tranquil scenery distract you too much from the water though, as some of australia’s most incredible marine wildlife can be seen right from the Manly ferry. lucky passengers might spot a curious pod of dolphins or a seal swimming alongside the vessel, and every spring, sometime between late september and early December, there are often sightings of humpback whales with calves inside the harbour near Manly wharf. and as you round the bend at Bradley’s head, you’ll find yourself suddenly faced with the famous city skyline, which never fails to surprise and impress me even after a year of commuting by ferry. with the white sails of the sydney opera house on one side and the imposing sydney harbour Bridge on the other, i always feel that i’m cruising through a postcard picture on my way to the office.

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events DIaRy

events at the rcs oveR the Past Few months, the RCs has Been BustlIng wIth a multItuDe oF PuBlIC aFFaIRs events helD at the Commonwealth CluB. PaRtICulaRly In the Run uP to the Commonwealth heaDs oF goveRnment meetIng In PeRth, the RCs PlayeD host to a numBeR oF events that looKeD at the Challenges anD oPPoRtunItIes the Commonwealth FaCeD aheaD oF the InteRnatIonal gatheRIng.

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Foreign ofﬁce Minister henry Bellingham MP came to the rcs on september 15th for Climate Change and the Commonwealth: Building global Resilience. Mr Bellingham spoke to attendees on the importance of the challenges posed by climate change, and how the commonwealth was well placed to address them through a number of strengths:

human rights were in the spotlight at a panel event on 12th october. human Rights: Can the Commonwealth get its bite back? explored the commonwealth’s potential for strengthening, protecting and promoting human rights in light of the Dr Purna Sen and Sa ul Lehrfreund ePg’s recommendations that the commonwealth work harder to promote its values. in a fascinating event, the panel explored the potential for the commonwealth to better its human rights record in areas such as forced marriage, the death penalty and lgBTi rights. a perfect summary came from Dr Purna sen, former head of the human rights Unit at the commonwealth secretariat, answering the question posed in the event’s title:

“First is the power that comes from our sheer diversity and breadth… Secondly, the Commonwealth network carries weight when it speaks together… And I believe our ﬁnal strength is the power of our collective imagination and will.” speaking on chogM, he supported the eminent Persons group’s recommendations that the commonwealth take a collective interest in climate change and argued that “CHOGM is the place where we must continue the Commonwealth conversation on climate change.” on Thursday 29th september, lord howell, commonwealth Minister at the Foreign & commonwealth ofﬁce, set out the UK government’s agenda for chogM in front of an audience of civil society representatives. at uK objectives for Chogm: Civil society matters, he stated that the government strongly believed the recommendations of the eminent Perons group must be accepted and thinks it “absolutely essential” that their recommendation for a new commonwealth charter, and appointment of a commissioner for Democracy, rule of law and human rights be implemented. in responding to questions, he also spoke on sri lanka’s potential to host chogM 2013, commonwealth engagement in zimbabwe, south sudan’s bid for commonwealth membership, the protection of lBgTi rights and action on early and forced marriage practices.

Lord Howell

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“I think the question is, does it want its bite back? I think the question is what food it wants to eat. If the Commonwealth wants to eat porridge, it doesn’t need teeth.” in non-chogM related business, the 2011 autumn events programme included keynote addresses from two government ministers. The secretary of state for international Development, andrew Mitchell MP came to the rcs on 11th october to speak on the UK’s priorities for development. Mr Mitchell told the audience that the government is “signiﬁcantly increasing the amount of money spent in Commonwealth countries”, in part because commonwealth countries remain some of the poorest in the world, but just as importantly because the commonwealth’s priorities and proven record on promoting democracy and strengthening economic growth resonate so strongly with the values of DfiD.

Henry Bellingham MP and r RCS Chair Peter Kellne

Lynne Featherston eM Onwuchekewa, Sim P, Godwyns on Fanshawe

P Andrew Mitchell M

novemBeR

ComIng In 2012

rounding up a year of events on the 2011 commonwealth theme, ‘women as agents of change’, was a speech on 4th november by home secretary and Minister for women and equalities Theresa May MP on women and economy. arguing “better use of women’s skills could be worth billions of pounds to our economy each year, so that is why this government is opening up more opportunities”, she announced plans to bolster women’s role in business and the economy. There will be UK government funding for 5,000 mentors for new and existing female entrepreneurs, and a new women’s Business council that will advise the government on how to maximise female contributions to future economic growth.

Plans are well underway for the 2012 commonwealth Day observance at westminster abbey in london on 12 March. The observance is the UK’s largest multi-faith celebration and is attended by more than 2,000 people, including The Queen, commonwealth high commissioners and 1,000 school children. The 2012 observance will have the theme ‘connecting cultures’ and will launch the commonwealth’s celebrations of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Performers on the day will include canadian musician rufus wainwright and hugh Masekela, the outspoken civil rights advocate and one of jazz’s greatest horn players. The rcs will have a special allocation of tickets for members. if you would like to be entered into the ballot for tickets, please email observance@thercs.org. To celebrate the start of commonwealth week, the commonwealth Foundation is producing a concert at london’s Barbican on 10 March 2012. hugh Masekela will headline, supported by london jazz vocalist zara McFarlane. Tickets start at £10. go to www.barbican.org.uk to book.

Theresa May MP To receive full details of our events programme, subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter by sending your email address to eventsteam@thercs.org. Photographs, audio recordings and event reports for past events can be found on our website at www.thercs.org/society/pastevents.

Details of all our events, as well as information on past events, are listed on our website at www.thercs.org/events. you can book your place online or contact our events team on 020 7766 9210. Follow the events team on twitter: @events_RCs.

Hugh Masekela

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is there a universal experience that the immensity of the sea inspires in us? Through my work on the beaches, I am exploring this nebulous experience that binds us across oceans.â&#x20AC;? amit madheshiya, 2011 Commonwealth Photographic awards winner, considers the similarities between inhabitants of coastal cities. his photo essay is inside this edition of RCS Exchange.