Tonight the main UK commercial channel will show a documentary depicting two 91-year-olds strolling through a large garden, both hoping their appearance will help save the planet. One has already made a huge contribution towards this already. In discussing their plans, they reinforce the concept that we are merely renting our common home from the next generation — or generations in their case.
Now this might sound a little bizarre if one were not Sir David Attenborough and the other Elizabeth Windsor in her role as Head of the Commonwealth of (53) Nations and monarch of some of them. She has a busy week ahead as there is a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London starting today. In addition to hosting them, she will meet with all of them individually.
As well as marking the opening of the CHOGM, the documentary is to publicise a particular aspect. The meeting will include a celebration of a program to mark her work for the Commonwealth; the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, a scheme to preserve and protect native forests in all 53 nations.
You’ve all been waiting for the video so I have given more details about the meeting and the Commonwealth in general further below. Here is the preview that has already been released. Listen for the helicopter at 0.30.
Sir David’s recent series “Blue Planet 2” had a huge impact on public awareness of the problems with plastic pollution in the ocean.
The response on Twitter after the final episode aired was massive, with some tweets vowing never to use plastic bags again. The impact it had on viewers is clear from new data published by online search behavioural specialist, Hitwise. It shows that searches of ‘plastic recycling’ rising by 55 per cent following the programme’s appeal in the final episode.
There was also a significant growth in searches for conservation charities. The Marine Conservation Society saw a 169 per cent jump in traffic to its website and the number of people searching for the WWF charity increased 51 per cent after the first episode, and a 35 per cent increase in visits to the Plastic Oceans Foundation.
He has of course been raising environmental awareness through his TV documentaries for more than 60 years.
The progress of the Canopy fits in with one of the forum topics for discussion during CHOGM will be towards a more sustainable future.
Without urgent action to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience, the impacts of climate change could push an additional 100 million people across the world into poverty by 2030. This is particularly relevant for the Commonwealth as 39 of our 53 members are small or other vulnerable states. Each year across the Commonwealth, natural disasters affect 28 million people and cause economic losses of almost $8bn.
The Commonwealth is well placed to take action, underlining our on-going commitment to tackling climate change, protecting the environment and increasing the resilience of our members.
In Elizabeth’s lifetime the role of the British Monarch has changed from that of King-Emperor to a guiding role as head of a Commonwealth encompassing both monarchies and republics and recently two countries which were former colonies of other nations.
It brings together nations committed to the common values expressed in its Charter:
The Charter brings together the values and aspirations which unite the Commonwealth - democracy, human rights and the rule of law - in a single, accessible document.
The Charter expresses the commitment of member states to the development of free and democratic societies and the promotion of peace and prosperity to improve the lives of all peoples [2.4 billion] of the Commonwealth.
The Charter also acknowledges the role of civil society in supporting the goals and values of the Commonwealth.
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Membership provides considerable mutual benefits. Member countries are supported by a network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisations. If, say, there is a military coup in a member country, they will be suspended. (One immediate result is that citizens of that country lose their right to vote in all UK elections.) On a less formal basis, the political and other links, including sports, can help spread human rights.
Every four years there is a Commonwealth Games, two years separate from the Olympics. Tom Daly, the gold medal diver, last week expressed his hope that at the next Commonwealth Games, there would be fewer nations where being gay is illegal.
At the Glasgow Games three-and-a-half years ago, actor John Barrowman kissed another man as part of the opening ceremony.
And [Games chief executive] Grevemberg pointed out that since then, the number of Commonwealth countries that where homosexuality is a criminal offence has dropped from 43.
"We hope that the Commonwealth Sports movement is playing a meaningful role in the wider global conversation around tolerance, empowerment and legal recognition for all," he said.
www.bbc.co.uk/...
Slow progress but progress nevertheless. 2.4 billion people are in the Commonwealth and of those, 60% are under 30. The cultural, political, social, sporting and other ties that it fosters help influence them for the future and for the common good.