RCS Exchange by Redactive Media Group

The Royal Commonwealth Society Magazine

FEATURE STORY

Scribble, snap, shoot Meet the young winners of our creative competitions Page 6

Nkabom 2010

GreenHouse

Election Observers

Uniting young peace-builders

A Commonwealth Climate Challenge

Our team break new ground Issue 05 Oct-Dec 2010

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Silver Award: Tom Niu, Canada, age 16 Judges: “This photograph has been handled well technically, as it is a complicated subject matter. Tom rises to the challenge successfully within architecture photography.” Tom: “This is a night shot of the downtown Vancouver waterfront. Taken on the longest day of the year, I waited until sunset to capture the City of Glass fully illuminated, sparkling with reflections on its glossy surface. I was blown away at the sight of these glass concrete structures nestling themselves firm and sound on the edge between the mountains and the sea...” © Commonwealth Photographic Awards

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WELCOME

Welcome... As always, it’s been a busy few months here at the RCS. As we begin to hurtle towards the festive season, we have tried to pack as much news as possible into this edition of RCS Exchange. I am delighted that Searcys, the catering and hospitality organisation now responsible for operations in the Commonwealth Club, have settled in so well and I know that they are grateful for the warm welcome our members have shown them. You can read more about their exciting plans for the Club…and their CEO’s rather strange ideas about the Rugby World Cup… on page 19. While our partnership with Searcys is one part of our efforts to ensure that the Club remains a fresh, modern venue able to compete with the best of London’s premier event spaces, our members also remain at the very heart of our success. We are determined that members should be rewarded for their loyalty to the RCS and I encourage you to read the magazine for details of some special new offers and events designed to do exactly this.

In terms of our charitable work, we have been busy creating a packed programme of fascinating events, details of which can be found in our What’s on Guide on page 20. This autumn has already seen the culmination of months of hard work with the successful hosting of the Nkabom Commonwealth Youth Leadership Programme in Rwanda and our Young Commonwealth Competition winners will fly into London for a Gala Awards Ceremony within the next few weeks. We are also particularly excited about one of the RCS’s most ambitious new ventures. GreenHouse: a Commonwealth Climate Challenge will see 144 households across 12 Commonwealth countries compete over 12 months to reduce their environmental impact. Find out more about this project on page 8. I hope to see many of you around in the Club and at our events in coming months.

HIGHLIGHTS Don’t miss inside... Nkabom 2010

35 young leaders head to Rwanda

Competition Winners

Young people scribble, snap and shoot their way to top prizes GreenHouse

Our new Commonwealth Climate Challenge A unique election team

We bring observers to the UK General Election What’s on guide

Make sure you don’t miss out on our exciting events

Published by

The Royal Commonwealth Society www.thercs.org Editor

Joanna Bennett Editorial Assistant

Anushya Devendra Design

www.thiswayup.co.uk Front Cover Image

Danny Sriskandarajah Director

courtesy of Supriya Biswas, age 28, India (RCS Young Commonwealth Competitions 2010) If you would be happy to receive RCS Exchange by email, rather than in print, please contact Joanna Bennett at joanna.bennett@thercs.org, or call on 020 7766 9230. 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

Thank you… The RCS team works hard to fundraise for all its charitable projects. We are hugely grateful for the support often offered by our members. In recent months, this has come in the form of expertise and training, as well as financial gifts. We would like to express our particular thanks to Wendy Orr for her contribution to the Nkabom Commonwealth Youth Leadership Programme and to Helen Perry for her support of our young photographers’ competition. Wendy says, “Leadership development is close to my heart as it’s an area I’ve worked in for many years. Nkabom is a rare opportunity for young leaders from all over the Commonwealth to broaden and deepen their skills and experience together. It has to benefit us all.” Without contributions such as those made by Wendy and Helen, our charitable projects would not be possible. If you would like to find out more about how you can support our work, email joanna.bennett@ thercs.org or call 020 7766 9230.

Random fact

In 1958, a member of RCS staff founded VSO and ran it for the first 6 years from the basement of the RCS. Today, VSO is one of the world’s largest international development organisations.

NEW!

Direct Debit Scheme

46% of our members pay their membership fee by direct debit every year. This takes away the hassle of having to contact us to renew membership. If you would like to set up a direct debit to pay your membership fee, simply email membership@thercs.org or call 020 7766 9231. If you wish to spread the cost of your membership, you can opt to have your fee taken in 4 quarterly payments. But, from 1st January 2011, we will be introducing a new scheme – anyone that pays their full membership fee annually by direct debit will receive

13 months of membership for the price of 12! Don’t miss out… Please note: If you pay by direct debit, you will not receive a reminder that your membership is due for renewal. Payment will continue to be taken as you have directed until you cancel your direct debit mandate with your bank. If you wish to cancel your membership, please remember to do so 7 days before the direct debit payment is due to be taken. If you fail to notify us more than 7 days beforehand, the payment will be automatically debited from your account and no refund will be offered.

Women as Agents of Change… will be the Commonwealth theme for 2011. We will be celebrating the theme at the Commonwealth Day Observance on March 14,

as well as through our events programme and youth projects. Keep your eye on our website for more details.

Strengthening our branches… As early as 1869, the Royal Colonial Society (as we were then known) had ‘Corresponding Secretaries’ in far-flung corners of the Empire, who would report back to headquarters in London. From 1910, local centres or branches in the large cities of the UK, the West Indies, Ceylon and India began to be established. Today, the RCS has more than 80 branches and affiliated societies stretching across 46 countries. We recently invited all of our branches to take part in a review

designed to help us plan for the future and strengthen our international network. Many filled out detailed questionnaires on their activities, how they perceive the Commonwealth and how they see the future of the RCS. If any branch has not yet submitted their completed questionnaire, but would still like to, please email it to john.sutherland@thercs.org. We will be evaluating the results of this review in the next few months. If you’re interested in finding out more about our branches and where they are, visit: www.thercs.org/ society/branches

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Join the Club… From October, look out for our new series of ‘Club’ events. Whether you want to dine, network, hone your cooking skills or enjoy a tipple or two we have the Club for you! • The Networking Club: if you would like to mingle with other members and make valuable contacts in an informal setting over drinks, lunch or breakfast… • The Kitchen Club: if you’re keen to learn how to create some dishes sure to impress any guest at your dinner party…before enjoying them in our restaurant. • The Drinks Club: if you would like a Masterclass in the creation of beverages from alcoholic cocktails to virtuous smoothies. • The Supper Club: if you want to get to grips with big-name speakers before enjoying dinner with your fellow guests.

Random result

52% 14% of Britons think it’s cheaper to holiday abroad; only

think it’s cheaper to holiday in Britain.

Party at

the Palace In July, eight RCS members were lucky enough to attend the Queen’s Garden Party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. They were joined by Youth Programmes Manager, Claire Anholt, Director, Danny Sriskandarajah and Office Manager, Elaine Crisp (pictured left to right). Look out for our Garden Party prize draw next summer!

Check the What’s on Guide on page 20 to make sure you don’t miss out on the first Club events.

! NEW

Loyalty Scheme

Did you know that over 200 current members joined because they were referred by an existing member? We think that kind of sales success should be rewarded, so we’re changing our loyalty scheme to do just that. Under the new scheme, for every new member that names you on their application form, you will receive a FREE month’s membership for yourself. The person you refer will get their entrance fee waived, saving as much as £200! The royal commonwealth society 3608_Exchange_Summer_AW.indd 3

Don’t worry about remembering – we’ll record all this information for you on the system so that when it’s time to renew, you’ll know how many months of free membership you are entitled to. Your next year of membership will then start at the end of the free membership period. This new scheme will start on 1st October, so don’t forget to get your friends and family joining to take advantage!

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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Project Feature

Uniting young peace-builders In early September, 35 young people travelled from all over the Commonwealth to Rwanda. There, they took part in the 2010 Nkabom Commonwealth Youth Leadership Programme… “We are 35 people from 28 countries, living in 5 continents. Between us, we speak 30 languages. We live in every corner of the Commonwealth. We are from Tobago, Tanzania and Tonga. Malta, Malawi and Malaysia. Some of us are from huge countries like Canada or Australia. Others from tiny islands like St Kitts or Cyprus. We are Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and of no faith. Some of us are students, others are teachers. We are artists, scientists, lawyers, activists and more. What do we have in common? We are all young. We all share an interest in sharing ideas. And we all believe that young people can be agents for peace.” A flagship youth project of the RCS, ‘Nkabom’ means ‘coming together’ in the Twi dialect of Ghana, where the first Nkabom summit was held in 2004. The aims of the project are to develop a network of young leaders who can pioneer peace-building initiatives in their own countries; to actively engage young Commonwealth citizens in the discussion of international issues; and to foster friendships among delegates from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

Building on the success of previous Nkabom projects in Malaysia, Ghana, the UK and Cyprus, Nkabom 2010 took place in Rwanda between 5th and 15th of September. The participants, who were all between the ages of 18 and 25, were selected from over 500 outstanding applicants. All of them had already demonstrated a passion for international issues, a commitment to youth leadership and a desire to learn about other cultures. Nkabom takes place in a different Commonwealth location every two years. Rwanda was selected as the host country for this year’s programme for a number of reasons. It has a history of bloody conflict – but also of conflict resolution. It is the Commonwealth’s newest member state, not because of history but because of a commitment to the association’s ideals. Furthermore, it is a remarkably young country – the median age of Rwandans is just 18.6 years. The potential, and indeed the necessity, for young people to be agents of positive change is greater there than almost anywhere else in the world. Idealistic, impassioned and proactive, the 2010 Nkabomers came together to debate and dismantle the existing challenges to peace. And what better setting than Rwanda for the beginning of their journey? Look out for more photos and news from Nkabom 2010 in the next edition of RCS Exchange.

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What’s the point…? We all have stories. So many stories, in so many shapes, hues and tones. Coming together, as they do at Nkabom, they form a tapestry of astonishing diversity. Red and blue and all the colours in between – even the ones you can’t quite put your finger on. Anyone involved in the planning of a programme like Nkabom will be faced with the question: what is the point of this? How can a small gathering of young people make any difference at all? As a Steering Committee, we’ve taken a stab at answering. It’s important, we think, for people to hear more than one voice as they muddle through life – to be able to ‘see from both sides’ – and it’s even more important for aspiring advocates, activists, change-makers to be able to do so. This is why Nkabom is important: when you’re fished out of your little local puddle and cast into this immense ocean where race, religion, and nationality is as various as fish in the sea, how can you not develop a many-coloured voice? Nkabom’s size, too, is its strength: Nkabomers really get to know one another, where they come from, why they believe what they believe. Every mindset expanded is a milestone. Another thought that keeps us going: in a way, this patchwork of stories is also a protective blanket, a reminder that, for all that supposedly divides us, people are just people, really. Haven’t we all cried a little, laughed a little, lived a little? Alizeh Kohari, 20, is from Pakistan. A student at the London School of Economics, she was a member of the International Steering Committee, four dedicated young people who helped to develop and deliver Nkabom 2010.

Highlights of the 2010 programme included: • A meeting with His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda • Workshops on the causes of conflict, Rwanda’s experiences of conflict and young people as agents of change • Training in the facilitation of peace-building initiatives • A visit to Kigali Memorial Centre, the permanent national memorial to the victims of the Rwandan genocide • A visit to Murambi Memorial Centre, a memorial to the genocide housed on a site where 27, 000 people were killed

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Delegate Profile: Neema Shayo, age 22 Neema is from Tanzania. She is studying for her Masters degree in Developing Studies at the University of Dar-es-Salaam, having obtained her Bachelors degree in Education from the same university. She has a long-standing interest in conflict-resolution, specifically relating to ongoing tribal disputes in the Mara region of Tanzania. She is involved in local community activism through the ‘Tanzanian Youth Awareness Trust Fund’ and the ‘Dare to Dream’ women’s organisation. ”My values are love, respect, confidence and kindness; these are the things I practice daily in my life.” Delegate Profile: Fale Andrew Lesa, age 20 Of Samoan ancestry, Fale lives in New Zealand where he is currently pursuing his Bachelors degree in social work at Auckland University. He is a keen advocate of youth engagement, having participated in New Zealand’s Youth Parliament in 2007 and having served as a Youth MP for the Manurewa area of Auckland. He currently serves as a Youth Ambassador for New Zealand’s Ministry of Youth Development, and is a member of the planning committee for the inaugural ‘Pacific Youth and Sports Conference’. “An international perspective is a vital component for promoting the values of globalisation, diversity and multiculturalism.”

“I am delighted that the RCS chose to host the Commonwealth Youth Leadership Programme in Rwanda…In any country, the youth should be pillars for the future.” Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, speaking at the RCS in March 2010

“Nkabom changed my life! It’s what first sparked my interest in peace and conflictresolution. Now I’m about to start my MA in Peace and Reconciliation Studies at Coventry University and that definitely stems directly from my experience at Nkabom. ” Nkabom 2008 delegate: Olalekan Oshunkoya, age 26, Nigeria

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Project Feature

Young Commonwealth citizens get creative in our 2010 competitions

Scribble, snap, shoot... The RCS has been running competitions for young people for more than 100 years. For the very first time in 2010, these competitions were brought together as one awards scheme, comprising writing, film and photography categories. The theme for each competition was ‘Science, Technology and Society’. The Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world’s oldest and largest schools writing competition. Encouraging literacy and creative engagement with international issues, each year, the competition attracts more than 50,000 entries. In 2010, for the first time in 25 years, the top prize was awarded to a UK entrant, Lars Gladhaug, aged 18, while Sri Lankan-based Samm Pecht, 12, triumphed in Extract from A Festival of Lights: Lars Gladhaug, 18, UK (Senior Prize) That first year our balloon caused a sensation. It had floated above many of the neighbouring towns and villages, where the inhabitants thought it in equal measure a fallen star or a strange new species of bird, and stories of it were printed in newspapers throughout the county. Of course we never owned up to it, and soon speculation turned to myth. The next year we made five balloons, aided by some other boys in the village. And when five fiery lights floated in the sky that year people all across the moors stopped, and crowded the streets, and bore witness to what they thought was an unearthly migration. It is said that wherever the lights passed overhead, it was as if time itself stood still and held vigil. The following years others made balloons as well, inspired by our first winter launch. Thus began a tradition that exists to this day. Every year, when winter is at its coldest and stillest, people flock to our little village, and launch their own balloons; their own lights, which are borne always by a gentle wind to whichever corner of the compass the air fancies to journey. Of Benjamin, we know little beyond those early years. His family soon moved away, and we lost all contact with him. As for Alice and I, we went our separate ways, moved away. But every year, on the night when the balloons are launched, we go back to a hill overlooking the same field, and watch the lights take flight, and think of a little boy named Benjamin, whose dream still burns brightly in every flame. For there is not, I think, a dream so fanciful, or a world so remote, that a child cannot imagine it, and in his own mind inhabit it. 6

the junior category. Runners-up came from Singapore and Sri Lanka. Having been whittled down to an impressive shortlist by a dedicated team of examiners, the unenviable task of passing final judgement fell to award-winning children’s author Nicola Davies.

Extract from The Day the Computer Started Misbehaving: Zoe Chitty, 15, Malaysia (Special Award) She glances at the screen for a split second before her hand flits to the mouse. She wires up to the Internet. One by one, programs are opened. Servers are contacted. We warm up. She flexes her fingers. I open up a word processor. A blank page pops up on the screen. For a second, she stares, dumbstruck. She didn’t do that. Who did? Probably an accident. She makes to close the window. Words appear. Seemingly of their own accord. Me: You know, you have not turned me off for one hundred and two (102) days. She blinks. Rapidly. Her eyebrows shoot up her forehead. As a general rule of thumb, computers do not talk to people. It is simply Not Done. Computers talk to computers; people talk to people through computers. And maybe sometimes people talk to computers. Indeed we have the truly ingenious Hypertext Mark-up Language, and various other derivatives. But computers do not talk to people. On the other hand, I have here a special case. An anomaly. Rare and yet common. Computers the world over are meeting these sorts of people. Not just adolescents, either. One day she was probably going to blow me up somehow. And that would be a catastrophe. My systems would fail. She would probably die. I couldn’t very well do nothing. Actually I suppose I could – should, even – but contrary to popular belief, we machines are a conscientious lot.

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The Commonwealth Photographic Awards have existed since the 1990s, but 2010 marks the first year that they have been managed by the RCS. The only Photographic Prize of their kind to reach every Commonwealth country, more than 200 entries were received. Gold prizes were awarded to Madhabi Das

Bhattacharyya, 22, from India and Kimberley Sue, 16, of Trinidad & Tobago. Both silver awards went to Canadian youngsters. The talented panel of judges included photographer, Michael Hallet and Commonwealth Scholar and artist, Johan Thom.

Class A (18 – 30) Gold Award: Madhabi Das Bhattacharyya, age 22, India A tribal leader from the Naga community takes a photograph on his mobile phone during a social gathering in a remote village near Kisama, Nagaland, India. Class B (under 18) Gold Award: Kimberly Sue, age 16, Trinidad & Tobago A young woman dances to music on her iPod in an island setting. The image represents the happiness and freedom which advances in technology can bring to societies.

of the To view all entries shortlisted ’s Young r ea for this y ealth Commonw ns, please o ti ti Compe / hercs.org visit www.t s n petitio youth/com

The Commonwealth Vision Awards promote excellence in film-making and enable aspiring young directors to showcase their work on an international platform. Seven entries have been shortlisted for this year’s Vision Awards. The winners will be announced at the Commonwealth Gala Awards Ceremony at the RCS on 14 October 2010 (see page 20 for details of this event). The royal commonwealth society 3608_Exchange_Summer_AW.indd 7

The nominees come from South Africa, Cameroon, Malaysia, Kenya, Canada, and the UK. Their entries have been judged by a distinguished panel including former BBC news anchor Keshini Navaratnam and Michael MacMillan, founder of Academy Award-winning Atlantis Films. exchange

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Project Feature

Our Teams are in India, South Africa, UK, Malaysia, Canada, Australia, Maldives, New Zealand, Kenya, Samoa, Nigeria and Trinidad & Tobagoâ&#x20AC;Ś

INdia

KENYA

maldives

Daily per-capita CO2 emissions 3.7 kg (actual volume)

Daily per-capita CO2 emissions 0.9 kg (actual volume)

Daily per-capita CO2 emissions 7.9 kg (actual volume)

south africa

Trinidad & tobago

United Kingdom

Daily per-capita CO2 emissions 24.0 kg (actual volume)

Daily per-capita CO2 emissions 69.3 kg (actual volume)

Daily per-capita CO2 emissions 25.7 kg (actual volume)

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“ Climate change is the predominant global challenge. For many it is deepening poverty and affecting the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. For some of us, it is an existential threat.” Excerpt from the Port of Spain Climate Change Consensus issued at the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

These are undoubtedly impassioned words. But, in reality, the inter-governmental Commonwealth has made little headway in utilising the opportunities for environmental action afforded by an association of 54 states, landlocked and islands, rich and poor, large and small. The subject of climate change can seem inaccessible. The scale of the problem is so vast, we tend to think of it as a political issue that can only be tackled by world leaders at grand, multilateral conferences. But the RCS’s exciting new climate challenge, GreenHouse, will demonstrate how each of us, regardless of our lifestyle or location, can take meaningful action to reduce our environmental impact. A fun project with serious aims, GreenHouse seeks to build a sense of shared responsibility across the Commonwealth for action on sustainability; it will encourage knowledge of environmentally sustainable behaviour; and it will create a proactive network of partners across 12 participating countries. We want to create a uniquely Commonwealth voice on environmental issues and, to do that, we must show how the association can exploit its unique characteristics to play a pioneering role in the field of sustainability. GreenHouse will give 12 households in each of 12 cities across 12 Commonwealth countries 12 months to reduce their environmental impact. Having calculated carbon emissions baselines for our participating households, we will monitor their energy use throughout the year using real-time display units connected to the internet. Households will also take part in monthly challenges, ranging from ‘zero waste week’ to ‘cut your car use’. Each challenge is designed to help participants address a different area of their environmental impact.

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The families will share their successes and frustrations via diaries, photos and video-blogs on the GreenHouse website. They will also interact with each other to share tips and information about the particular challenges they face in their own community, city or country. At the end of the year, the communities’ performance in each monthly challenge will be combined with their proportional reduction in carbon emissions to determine a winner. But GreenHouse has far more ambitious aims than changing the behaviour of 144 households. It is hoped that, through local media and schools engagement, the households involved will inspire their city and region to adopt more sustainable behaviours. A wider network of households, partner organisations and city authorities will share experiences, building a sense of global responsibility for reducing environmental impact. Thus, built from the bottom up, an evidence base will be created to hold the Commonwealth to account on its environmental stewardship responsibilities. GreenHouse will be a unique experiment in how to motivate, measure and discuss sustainable behaviour across very different economic, environmental and cultural contexts. It will provide a platform to promote environmental issues and it will strengthen advocacy networks across the Commonwealth. If this interests you and you’d like to be part of GreenHouse, visit www.greenhousechallenge.org. You can get involved by taking on our do-it-yourself challenges, by interacting with the householders via their blogs, or by downloading our schools resources. We are still seeking financial support for this project. If you think you could help or would like to find out more, please contact Joanna Bennett at joanna.bennett@thercs.org / 020 7766 9230.

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Comment

Peter Kellner

Do the British public love the Commonwealth? The Commonwealth is the British public’s favourite major international organisation, according to a recent survey for Chatham House, the foreign affairs think tank. YouGov asked almost 2,500 people to rate each of eight intergovernmental bodies and international relationships on a scale from 0 (extremely negative) to 10 (extremely positive). As the table shows, the Commonwealth came first, with an average score of 5.6, just ahead of NATO and well ahead of the European Union, the IMF and – perhaps surprisingly – Britain’s “special relationship with the United States”. This is plainly good news for the RCS: it shows that we are working with the grain of public opinion. It is good news, too, for Britain’s new coalition government: William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, has made it a priority to strengthen Britain’s ties with the rest of the Commonwealth. However, we should not get carried away. The poll suggests two reasons for caution. The first is that more than half the public holds no strong views either way. Forty per cent give a middling answer – 4, 5 or 6 out of ten, while a further 13 per cent don’t know. The Commonwealth comes top not because that many people give it high marks (31 per cent rate it 7 or more out of ten) but because relatively few are antagonistic (15 per cent award it 0-3 out of ten). Secondly, it is clear that for many people the Commonwealth is a good thing not so much because it comprises 54 countries of all sizes, ethnic compositions and levels of wealth, but because of the role played by the “old”, mainly white, Commonwealth countries. This becomes clear from a second set of questions, in which we ask people to consider 34 countries and to pick those that they feel positively about, and those about which they feel negative. By a mile, the winners are Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In each case more than 40 per cent choose them as countries about which they feel positive. The next three countries – the United States, Netherlands and Sweden, barely reach 20 per cent. There were four other Commonwealth countries in YouGov’s list, and they 10

achieved much lower scores: South Africa (7%), India (5%), Malaysia (3%) and Pakistan (less than 0.5%). With Pakistan and India, more people hold negative views (a massive 36% and a more modest 9% per cent respectively). These figures are consistent with the Commonwealth Conversation research exercise conducted by the RCS last year: support for the Commonwealth in Britain is encouragingly wide but depressingly shallow. One of the challenges we all face in the coming years is to generate a fuller public understanding of what the Commonwealth does – and to prod Commonwealth institutions into doing more things that people in the 54 member states and beyond will notice. If this happens, then I predict that public attitudes to the Commonwealth will polarise – with more people liking what it does, and more people holding negative views. For my part, I shall be content if the enthusiasts we gain outnumber the detractors we lose. Peter Kellner is the Chairman of the RCS and President of YouGov On a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is extremely negative and 10 is extremely positive, how do you feel about the following institutions and relationships? Average scores Commonwealth

5.6

NATO

5.5

United Nations

5.3

G20 group of leading economies

4.4

G8 group of world’s biggest economies

4.4

International Monetary Fund

4.4

UK’s ‘special relationship’ with US

4.2

European Union

3.8

Full poll results can be found on YouGov’s website.

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Comment Dasanayaka Dissanayake (Sri Lanka, Centre for Monitoring Election Violence); Hon. Chua Tee Yong MP (Malaysia); Lisa Hanna MP (Jamaica); Hon. Ababu Namwamba MP (Kenya); Innocent Chukwuma, (Nigeria, Transition Monitoring Group)

Commonwealth Team Observe UK General Election In early May, the RCS, in partnership with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK, brought a team of Observers to the UK General Election. This was the first time that any mission of this sort had been organised to elections in the UK. Indeed, our team were among the first to take advantage of new rules that allowed outside observers into polling stations and the count. Having been briefed by leading experts on the political system, the team, comprising seven young parliamentarians and four civil society experts from across the Commonwealth, spent time in constituencies around the country. Their final report concluded that the UK electoral system was “not corrupted, but certainly corruptible”. Though “generally impressed by the conduct of the election” and satisfied that it was undertaken in a “fair and free manner”, the team suggested several improvements, including more rigorous voter identification at registration and polling stations and closing the obvious loopholes in the postal ballot system. Their comments caused quite a stir and coverage on the front page of the Sunday Times, in the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, BBC Radio 4’s Today programme and Sky News ensued. Tellingly, not all the coverage was positive. Indeed, there was a palpable sense of indignation that ‘ThirdWorld’ monitors should dare to observe a UK election. One commentator, writing before the election, claimed that “to the astonishment of political figures, [the Queen’s] beloved Commonwealth has just dispatched an official delegation of election observers from such beacons of democracy as Rwanda, Malaysia and Sierra Leone, not to mention a former Miss World — to ensure fair play at this week’s poll. Never before has the Commonwealth sent an election-monitoring The royal commonwealth society 3608_Exchange_Summer_AW.indd 11

team to a developed country… But does the 54-nation Commonwealth seriously believe Britain deserves the same scrutiny as, say, Zimbabwe?” Patrick Mercer MP was quick to chip in by saying ‘I hesitate to say the lunatics have taken over the asylum, but surely this is putting the cart before the horse.” This kind of commentary misses the point. One of the core principles of the Commonwealth is the sharing of best practice, not through the one-way teacher-pupil relationship that once existed between Britain and its colonies, but through a network of equal partners. While the British democratic system, a heady mix of happy coincidence and historical accident, works well, it is far from perfect. The long queues outside polling stations and fresh evidence of the vulnerability of postal voting is surely evidence enough of this. Other countries around the Commonwealth, including some of those represented by our observers, have more rigorous, modern and efficient electoral systems by far. Election monitoring was pioneered by the Commonwealth, though the field is now a crowded one. By sending more observation teams to developed countries, the association could stay ahead of the game and strengthen the very characteristics which make it unique. Our observers came here to share and to learn. And, after all, isn’t this what the Commonwealth does best? To read the Commonwealth Election Observation Team’s Final Report, please visit: www.thercs.org/society/electionteam exchange

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MEMBER and staff PROFILEs

Up Close & Personal Name: Canon Chris Chivers Nationality: British RCS Member since: 2002 Occupation: Vicar of John Keble Church, Mill Hill, London; freelance journalist and presenter of Daily Service for BBC Radio 4; most recently Canon Chancellor of Blackburn Cathedral Interests: Music, my first ambition was to be a conductor and I do miss conducting; spending time with my three young boys; reading; politics; and I love football, specifically Blackburn Rovers. How did you first become aware of the RCS?

I decided to join after working with the RCS on the Commonwealth Day Observance, when I was Precentor of Westminster Abbey. It just seemed the nicest of the London clubs. I liked the diversity of the membership and the Commonwealth focus. What do you enjoy most about being a member?

I like that there are lots of members who I seem to know from various parts of my life, whether fellow clergy or media colleagues. When I lived in Blackburn, the RCS served as an excellent base in London for meetings and lunches. I think the food is of a very high quality, and the menu always highly varied. When I was working at Westminster Abbey, I used to escape to the RCS to write sermons – no-one could distract me here! Now that I’m living in London, I’m looking forward to attending more member events.

Are there any changes you would like to see implemented at the RCS?

I’d like to see more events that include a faith perspective. Considering the extent of religious belief and practice that exists in the Commonwealth, the RCS seems a bit nervous about reflecting this, even though it isn’t nervous about discussing controversial political issues. This wouldn’t necessarily mean events centred purely on faith, but bringing faith into the discussion of other issues; after all, theology is about God and humanity as a whole. Issues such as the post-apartheid reconciliation process in South Africa can’t meaningfully be discussed without touching on faith. You are a passionate advocate of inter-faith dialogue. What role do you think the Commonwealth can play in promoting inter-faith harmony?

The Commonwealth can definitely be used as a network for the discussion of faith, and the nuances of faith. Inter-faith dialogue shouldn’t be

about a mushy commonality or simply ‘culture-sharing’; it must be about people speaking from the integrity of their own faith to enhance the discussion about humanity and the issues we face. The focus should be on respecting difference. The concept of reconciliation is fundamental to all faiths: reconciliation as acceptance and even celebration of difference. The important thing is to get people talking, even if what they say isn’t always very nice to start with! 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 the people who use the Club regularly, as well as those who live farther afield. If you would be willing to be featured, please send an email to joanna.bennett@thercs.org

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A Message from the Membership Manager

Since we last spoke in the spring, it’s been all go in the membership department. We’ve been looking at how our members use the club and its facilities, as well as sorting out our internal systems.

So what have we managed to achieve so far? • New application and renewal forms – these are a more convenient way for collecting your correct contact information and credit card details • A member survey – over 100 of you replied with constructive feedback on how we can improve the membership experience • A new direct debit offer giving you 13 months of membership for the price of 12 • A clearer loyalty scheme giving you 1 month of free membership for every person you refer that joins us (See the News in Brief pages for full details of these new schemes.)

One of our key aims has been to revamp and streamline the membership categories and pricing. Our research has shown that there are many of you who wish to use the club predominantly in the evenings and for social reasons, so we are pleased to be launching a new category in October called Off Peak membership. We’ll be giving you more information in the October e-newsletter so keep a look out! The organisation is moving towards a much simpler, better value for money membership offer. We hope this will make renewing your membership more straightforward, as well as attracting new members to the club. This work is essential. After all, without our

members, we wouldn’t exist! We hope to have everything ready to launch in the new year of 2011. Until then, I hope to see you around the club!

Kerrie Fuller, Membership Manager

Meet the team RCS staff under the spotlight Name: HANS SCHRADER Position: OPERATIONS MANAGER & DEPUTY CLUB MANAGER

erman-born Hans eschewed his teenage ambition of becoming a pharmacist to join the hospitality industry, training as a chef in the picturesque Lake Constance area of southern Germany. The medical profession’s loss was the RCS’ gain. Having joined back in 2000, Hans is now one of the longest-serving members of staff at the Commonwealth Club. Outside work, he is something of a wine connoisseur and enjoys cooking ‘good German food’ as well as experimenting with Thai and Japanese cuisine. Having played the cello for twenty years, Hans loves attending classical music concerts. The royal commonwealth society 3608_Exchange_Summer_AW.indd 13

What first attracted you to working at the RCS?

My first impression was that it was a very stylish venue. I liked the combination of bar, restaurant and conference work, rather than just working in a restaurant. I also liked the idea of working with members, the sort of regular client base that you don’t get when working in a hotel, for example. What have been your most memorable moments here?

The day the Queen came to open the refurbished Club in 2006 was very memorable; I helped organise the event, and shook her hand. Another highlight

was when Tony Blair brought his whole Cabinet here – the Club Manager was on holiday, so I was in charge with only an hour’s notice! There must have been some challenging moments over the years too?

Yes, of course. One such time was when the Club and the hotel next door were being refurbished, around 2004 and 2005; it was a very trying time, with so much noise and disruption. I think I developed my first grey hairs then!

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Food & Wine

Kitchen

Our Chef, OLIVER TOBIAS, gives you a guide to making the perfect Commonwealth dishes.

Slow-baked salmon with a kalamata olive crust and south coast cockles Serves 2

Ingredients For the fish

2 x 140g pieces of skinned salmon 30g of stoned good quality kalamata olives 2 slices of sour dough bread (a couple of days old is preferable) 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil Zest of 1 lemon Salt and pepper For the salad

50g of drained cockles in vinegar 50g runner beans 100g fresh broad beans in pod 100g cucumber 4 spring onions Diced cooked new potatoes A few mint leaves For the dressing

100g of vine cherry tomatoes 1 tsp sherry vinegar/white wine vinegar 25ml olive oil 1 small clove of garlic ½ bunch of mint ½ tsp sugar ½ tsp salt Pepper to taste 14

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Method For the fish 1) Ensure that your fish has been allowed to come to room temperature for a few minutes before baking. 2) Pre heat your oven to 140°C. Season the fish with salt, pepper and a little extra virgin olive oil. Place on a non stick tray and bake in the oven for around 11 minutes. Use my top tip to help you judge when the fish is cooked. 3) While the fish is cooking, place the olives, bread, olive oil and lemon zest into a blender and blend to form a crust for the fish. This should be a pliable texture. 4) When the fish is cooked, remove from the oven and allow it to cool. Mould the crust on top of the fish as best as you can – try to cover all of one surface. For the salad 1) Clean the runner beans before cooking them in lightly salted boiling water until just tender. Chill in iced water. 2) Pick the broad beans from their pods and cook in lightly salted boiling water for 2 minutes before chilling in iced water. 3) Drain the water from all the vegetables. Remove the outer skin of the broad beans to expose the bright green bean. (You do not have to do this, but you will find that it will take away the bitterness of the bean.) Cut the runner beans and spring onions on an angle so that they are about the same size as the broad beans. Cut the cucumber in half length ways and remove the seeds (but save them); dice the cucumber into pieces that are roughly the same size as the beans and spring onions. 4) Chop the mint and mix together with all the vegetables, potatoes and drained cockles. For the dressing 1) Place all the ingredients, plus the cucumber seeds, into your kitchen blender and blend until smooth. Pass the mixture through a fine sieve. To serve Turn on a grill to maximum temperature. Season the vegetables with salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. Place the salmon under the grill until the crust firms and fries a little. Place the salad on a plate, the fish on top and spoon around the dressing. Top tip When testing to see if the fish is cooked, simply place a cocktail stick into the centre from the side, and pull it out slowly. If there is very little or no resistance the fish is cooked perfectly.

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Drink with…

Deputy Club Manager, Hans Schrader, recommends a wine to match this meal.

“Salmon is quite an oily fish and we need a white wine which has enough acidity to cut through the richness. This dish also has an abundance of flavours like garlic, mint, lemon and olive. My choice would be a 2009 Riesling from West Brook Winery in Marlborough, New Zealand. Rieslings from the New World are richer and more powerful than Continental style Rieslings. They have a high acidity content which brings a huge amount of freshness. The West Brook Riesling has aromas of mandarin flesh, lime zest and apple blossom with a graceful minerality and apricot and lime notes on the palate.”

Oliver Tobias: our new Chef

at the Commonwealth Club

Born in Devon and raised in Dorset, one of Oli’s earliest memories is the taste of cockles in vinegar and the fresh sea smells of Poole quay. Working his way up from a local pub in Somerset, via a Relais and Chateaux in St Tropez, to London’s Royal Opera House, Oli is thrilled to find himself at the Commonwealth Club. We caught up with him between busy shifts. Welcome to the Commonwealth Club! Are you excited to be here? I’m very excited to be here. It’s a lovely place; everyone is so friendly and it’s a really unstuffy atmosphere. I like the influence from all the different countries; I can see great potential for the restaurant here. What kind of menu would you like to create? Well, my aim is to subtly work Commonwealth influences into my own cooking style, which is generally FrenchMediterranean-British. The dish I have put together for this edition of RCS Exchange is a good example – a mix of Cyprus and the south coast! What do you like best about being a chef? I have a real passion for restaurants and food in general! Every day is different when you’re a chef. You’re never bored, either in terms of the dishes you cook or the people you meet. I like having the opportunity to be creative. Of course it is a stressful job, but I’m much calmer than I used to be! Send Oli your feedback and ideas: Oli is keen to hear from members. Have you eaten in the restaurant recently? What did you think? Is there anything you would like to see on the menu? Send your feedback directly to Oli at Oliver.Tobias@searcys.co.uk. exchange

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travel Travel

Inside

the Maldiv

The Maldives comprises 1,190 islands in the Indian Ocean. Only 200 are inhabited. People and Place Capital: Malé Languages: Dhivehi Peoples: South Indian, Sinhalese, Arab Religion: Sunni Muslim Size (sq km): 300 When to go The climate is hot and tropical. The best time to visit is between December and April. The southwest sees monsoon weather from May to November and during this time the whole country is likely to be cloudy and extremely humid.

Highlights Beaches: Well, isn’t this why most people want to visit the Maldives? The country’s plethora of tropical, palm tree-lined islands have made it one of the most desired holiday destinations in the world. For many, it is the epitome of island paradise, with soft white beaches, tall coconut trees and warm turquoise waters contributing to its picture-postcard appeal. In recent years, honeymooners have joined the ranks of scuba divers and water sports enthusiasts under its spell.

Malé: Although most visitors only pass through the Maldives’ capital on the way to their resort island, it has some interesting character of its own. Good quality local handicrafts are sold in its shops and bustling fish and vegetable markets abound. The National Museum houses some impressive artefacts, including sultans’ thrones and palanquins. Malé also has more than 20 mosques, the most beautiful being the golden-domed Hukuru, or Friday Mosque. Banana Reef: Diving is one of the main draws of the Maldives. Vast numbers of tropical fish scutter about its reefs, but that’s just the start of

it. With turtles, napoleon wrasses, mantas, morays, whale sharks, nurse sharks, hammerheads and rays, it’s like being in your own personal aquarium. Banana Reef, reached by boat from North Male Atoll, enjoys a wellearned international reputation. It’s characterised by dramatic cliffs, caves and overhangs, together with beautiful coral and reef fish including jackfish and bluestriped snapper. The Maldive Victory: Another diving highlight is the wreck of the Maldive Victory, a site alive with coral and fish. This cargo ship hit a reef and sank in 1981. Today, tilting between 15 and 30 metres below the surface, the ship’s structure remains almost intact and provides a home for coral, sponges, and large schools of fish.

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The Maldives vs London

ives

Consuming pleasures Food & Drink: All food besides seafood is imported and most resorts serve international cuisine. Seafood like tuna grouper and octopus are excellent and curry and kavaabu (deep fried snacks made from rice, tuna, coconut, lentils and spices) are popular. The ‘Maldive Lady’ is the local cocktail. Shopping and Souvenirs Lacquered wooden boxes, reed mats, jewellery with mother-of-pearl. Do not buy coral or turtle shell items, as export is prohibited.

WEXAS Recommends – Vivanta By Taj Coral Reef is a hip, luxurious yet affordable solution to holidaying in the Maldives. Chic and comfortable accommodation coupled with an innovative food and beverage experience and levels of service synonymous with the Taj Group at nature’s very own Coral Reef lagoon ensures a holiday of a lifetime in the truest sense. Located on Hembadhu Island, less than 32 kms from Male airport, Vivanta by Taj – Coral Reef has been The royal commonwealth society 3608_Exchange_Summer_AW.indd 17

Akyas Naushad, 15, interned at the RCS this summer. He is a GCSE student in London, where his father is the Maldivian Deputy High Commissioner.

t’s always sunny and hot, filled with over a thousand sandy beaches and crystal clear sea. The Maldives is where I call home. I moved to London a little over two years ago because of my Dad’s job. At first, it was the big difference between the weather and the environment that struck me most. I liked the cold rainy weather. It was good to have a change. One interesting thing for me was that people in London behave the same as people in the Maldives. They are both busy and seem to be busy all the time, except for maybe a few minutes each day. Right now in my life, I would rather be living at home than here in London. All the friends I have known since primary school are still living there and most of my family who I love are there as well. Plus, after this school year, all of my friends in refurbished and redesigned to offer a personalised holiday experience for families and couples alike. Boasting one of the best spots for diving, amateurs and professionals can explore the resort’s very own house reef and shipwreck. The less intrepid can take stock and relax in the property’s Jiva Spa, inspired by the Indian philosophy of wellness while appetites of all ages will be whetted by the variety of fresh and enticing culinary options created by their talented chefs brigade.

the Maldives will get a huge holiday which I will miss because of the difference in term time. But in the future, who knows? The Maldives might be a heavenly, exotic holiday destination, but it isn’t a place made for work, starting businesses, or making a living in fact! There are more job opportunities here in London and to escape the hot, steaming sun and return here would be my choice. But a person can’t always leave their home forever. When the time comes I will have to choose a place to live. I would strongly recommend that people travel to the Maldives on holiday! Where else would you find the sand, the sea and the sun all in the same place? The colourful corals under the glittering sea, the abundant number of spas and the relaxing views from the villas are just a few of many reasons that you may want to enjoy the Maldives.

WEXAS OFFER: Stay between 1 October – 23 December and receive 7 nights for the price of 5, a complimentary upgrade to Half Board and complimentary return speedboat transfers. 7 nights from £1599 per adult based on 2 adults sharing a Beach Villa on Half Board including return scheduled flights and speedboat transfers. (A saving of £1810 per couple.) To book this holiday or to discuss a tailor-made trip anywhere in the world please call WEXAS on 0207 664 2257. exchange

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History

Did you know? A fascinating 142 year history

17 May 1968 Couples dancing at the RCS Centenary Ball

1968 marked 100 years since the founding of the Royal Commonwealth Society. By this stage, the organisation had already undergone a number of transformations. Originally founded in 1868 as the Royal Colonial Society, in 1870 the Society became the Royal Colonial Institute and, in 1928, the Royal Empire Society, before finally taking the name the Royal Commonwealth Society in 1958.

great certainty that “Whatever any authority in this country may do, let me say here and now that under no possible circumstances are we going to call ourselves the Royal Commonwealth Society”.

Only twenty years earlier, the Society’s Chairman had reacted with anger to a suggestion from London Country Council that Empire Day should become known as Commonwealth Day. He lost no time in declaring with

Do you remember a special event in the history of the RCS? If you have any photos or memories you would like to share with other members, email the Editor at joanna.bennett@thercs.org.

The above image forms part of the RCS Library Collections. It is reproduced by kind permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library.

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Searcys

“Searcys are delighted to have been appointed as the managing agents for the delivery of catering and hospitality services at the Commonwealth Club. Founded in 1847, Searcys has a long history of delivering the highest quality food and drink to both private member clubs and public facing entities. Our focus is very simply on providing an outstanding hospitality and service experience. As we ease ourselves into the day to day running of the club, I do hope that all members will see changes in both food and service that demonstrate our commitment to making the Commonwealth Club a special place and The royal commonwealth society 3608_Exchange_Summer_AW.indd 19

an exciting venue for food, drink and events. We see the Commonwealth Club as a great partner to sit alongside our other iconic venues and we look forward to developing a relationship that provides tangible reward to the members and to the club’s reputation. As a Kiwi, I look forward to seeing all that is great about the Commonwealth, represented in our development of catering and hospitality. (Oh…and to watching New Zealand win the 7th Rugby World Cup in 2011.)” Doug Tetley, CEO Searcys exchange

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Events Diary

What’s on guide For full, up-to-date details of all our events, please subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter or visit our website.

September

OCTOBER

Monday 6, 6.50pm The Real Immigration Question Damian Green, Minister of State for Borders and Immigration, will launch the coalition government’s new immigration policy at the RCS.

Thursday 14, 6.30pm Commonwealth Gala Awards Dinner This Gala dinner will celebrate the winners of the 2010 Young Commonwealth Competitions in writing, film and photography. The young winners will fly to London from all over the world to receive their awards from our Guest of Honour, acclaimed film director, Gurinder Chadha OBE (‘Bend It Like Beckham’, ‘Bride and Prejudice’). As well as fine food and wine, this event will showcase the Commonwealth, and the work of the RCS, at its very best. Please visit our website for full details.

Wednesday 8, 6.15pm Moving Beyond the MDGs This panel debate, held in partnership with International Alert, will explore the future of overseas development aid. Friday 17, 7pm Nigeria at 50 This dinner will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence. Guest speakers include Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria, and Tunde Akogun, Leader of the Nigerian House of Representatives.

Wednesday 20, 7pm to 9pm, £20 The Drinks Club: a Masterclass in Cocktail Making Our new series of ‘Masterclass in…’ events kicks off with learning to shake, muddle and roll two perfect cocktails. Tuesday 26, 10am to 1pm, £28.50 The Kitchen Club With a live demonstration by our Head Chef, our Kitchen Club gives you the opportunity to learn how to create amazing dishes. Join the Chef for a tutorial in our kitchens before sitting down to a two- course lunch of the food you have just seen being prepared. A glass of wine and coffee to finish will round off the treat. Thursday 28, 8am to 9am, £15 The Networking Club: Breakfast Our new Networking Club is the perfect opportunity to meet your fellow members and make those valuable contacts, so why not join us for breakfast?

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Don’t miss out! Please note that this What’s on Guide gives only an indication of the range of events we have planned for the coming months. To receive full details of our events programme, plus important membership news and information, please subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter by sending your email address to membership@thercs.org. You can book places at all of our events through our website, but if you have any questions, please contact Events Manager, chi.kavindele@thercs.org / 020 7766 9210.

November

december

Thursday 11, 7pm to 8pm, £25 The Drinks Club: a Masterclass in Wine Tasting Come and learn the secrets of wine tasting and perfect your techniques for appreciating this fine tipple.

Tuesday 7, 10am to 1pm, £28.50 The Kitchen Club Kitchen Club continues into December with this lunchtime event. A live demonstration by our Head Chef will give you the chance to create some delicious new dishes. Join Chef for a tutorial in our kitchens before sitting down to a two-course lunch of the food you have just seen being prepared. A glass of wine and coffee to finish will round off the treat.

Wednesday 17, 6pm to 7.30pm, £10 The Networking Club: Drinks Reception Come and meet your fellow members over a glass of wine or two. Tuesday 23, 6.30pm to 9pm, £28.50 The Kitchen Club Welcome to the evening edition of Kitchen Club! With a live demonstration from our Head Chef, these events give you the opportunity to learn how to create amazing dishes. Join the Chef for a tutorial in our kitchens before sitting down to a two-course dinner of the dishes you have just seen being prepared. A glass of wine and coffee to finish will round off the treat.

Wednesday 8, 12.30pm to 1.30pm, £15 The Networking Club: Lunch Come along and meet your fellow members and guests over a buffet lunch. Monday 13, 12.30pm to 2pm Members’ Christmas Lunch Join us for a special lunch to welcome in the festive season. Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones – the ‘Black Farmer’ and 2010 Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Chippenham – will be our speaker and the Club’s Chefs will be preparing a delicious meal inspired by the Black Farmer range of products. Wednesday 15, 6.30pm Commonwealth Carol Service & Christmas party Get into the festive spirit with Christmas carols and celebrity readers at the beautiful St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Trafalgar Square. Join us after the service for a special Christmas party at the Commonwealth Club. This annual event is definitely not one to be missed. Please visit our website for more details.

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Bronze Award: Lewis Jarrett, Australia, age 20 Judges: “There is a spooky, magical beauty to this image. It has a strong, almost surrealist quality.” Lewis: “Shot in Southern Tasmania, Australia, I wanted to create a scene that epitomized the relationship between man and the logging of old growth forests. Choosing to mask my model suggests that those logging the forests are conscious of their actions, subsequently wanting to preserve their identity…” © Commonwealth Photographic Awards

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