Climate change poses enormous risk to Jamaica’s economy through crippling impact on its tourism and agriculture industries, writes Advira Shand, 25, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Manchester in Jamaica, who urges leaders to speak up for Caribbean interests at climate change negotiatons. It is a fact that the Caribbean is by no means immune to the catastrophic …

“Caribbean leaders must fight climate change” Read More »

A potential re-examination of Britain’s membership in the European Union may create opportunities to strengthen Commonwealth ties, writes Jake Elson, 21, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Bunbury in Australia.  May 20, 2015 may well go down in British history for two reasons. One, David Cameron’s shock majority, which avoided the need to form a coalition with either the …

“Back to the future – the Commonwealth rises” Read More »

Your morning cup of coffee is a matter of economic importance to farmers in Guatemala, writes Dilshan Jayasinghe, 18, a Correspondent from Mississauga, Canada, who says entrepreneurship can bring equity for producers. My brother, Gihan Daniel Jayasinghe, went to Guatemala recently. He is an associate fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society and traveled with a team …

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Frequent floods are a deadly fact of life, writes Fariya Abubakari, 25, a Correspondent from Bawku, Ghana, who argues that better solid waste management could mitigate disaster. It was on Wednesday evening in June, 2015, that a heavy downpour of rain killed Mr. Boamah’s wife and children and displaced his property. His house gushed fire …

“Are residents to blame for floods in Ghana?” Read More »

Bangladesh is a partner in space research but so far has no astronaut of its own, writes Monica Islam, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Dhaka in Bangladesh, who examines some of the issues in the country’s space industry. The Convocation Plaza of a private university in Bangladesh was packed with enthusiastic youths when NASA astronaut Ronald J. …

“When will we see a Bangladeshi in space?” Read More »

Human activity has been blamed for contributing to environmental disaster in the oceans, but as Ariela St. Pierre-Collins, 18, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Barbados writes, the sea occasionally fights back. Picture this: a peaceful looking soybean plantation in the Amazon where trees used to be. Look closer, and you’ll see a stream of water running through …

“Environmental devastation on our doorstep” Read More »

Fariya Abubakari, 25, a Correspondent from Bawku, Ghana describes the life of woman farmer vulnerable to climate change as she argues the need for gender sensitivity in climate change policy. Kubura is an energetic young woman farmer from Binduri in the Upper East Region of Ghana who spends hours each day hauling water for her family, …

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Inflation and devaluation are hurting Zambia’s economy, writes Mercy Zulu, 24, a Correspondent from Lusaka in Zambia, as she examines factors behind the economic trend. I first moved to the vibrant city of Lusaka, Zambia in 2011 and instantly found myself thrown into an unaccustomed and much larger environment. Travel to my destinations evolved into …

“Chasing the dollar: the plunge of the kwacha” Read More »

Limiting global warming is the focus of the upcoming Paris Climate Conference, writes Geetha Kanniah, 19, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Malaysia, who argues the real work will start once the agreement is reached.  With the highly anticipated COP21 rapidly approaching, organisations are promoting renewable energy as fast as they can, hoping to accomplish more in the …

“Looking for green progress at COP21” Read More »