Gross domestic product (GDP) as a measure of national progress is woefully inadequate. As Grant Duthie, 18, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Brisbane, reports, it fails to consider the planet’s ecological limits and long-term sustainability. As world leaders meet for the Rio+20 summit in Brazil, UNEP executive director Achim Steiner has called on the world to …

“As world leaders meet for the Rio+20 summit in Brazil” Read More »

Gross domestic product (GDP) as a measure of national progress is woefully inadequate. As Grant Duthie, 18, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Brisbane, reports, it fails to consider the planet’s ecological limits and long-term sustainability. As world leaders meet for the Rio+20 summit in Brazil, UNEP executive director Achim Steiner has called on the world to …

"As world leaders meet for the Rio+20 summit in Brazil" Read More »

Rising demand for cheap labour caused by an insatiable desire among consumers to possess the latest gadgets and apparel – from phones to T-shirts – has provoked a new area of modern-day slavery, says Ariela St Pierre-Collins, 15, from Barbados. How many slaves work for you? “What? Slaves work for me?” Human trafficking has existed in …

“Slavery can be found in almost every aspect of the supply chain” Read More »

Rising demand for cheap labour caused by an insatiable desire among consumers to possess the latest gadgets and apparel – from phones to T-shirts – has provoked a new area of modern-day slavery, says Ariela St Pierre-Collins, 15, from Barbados. How many slaves work for you? “What? Slaves work for me?” Human trafficking has existed in …

"Slavery can be found in almost every aspect of the supply chain" Read More »

Libya has undergone a significant transformation since the toppling of dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. As efforts to turn the war-torn country into a flourishing democracy accelerate, young people are playing an increasingly pivotal role. Francis Ventura, 22, a Commonwealth Correspondent based in Melbourne, Australia, asked Ms Ayat Saleh Mneina, the Founder of Shabab Libya, the Libyan Youth Movement, about the country’s …

"We want to interact with the world as we begin to rebuild Libya" Read More »

Around 80% of the world’s waste is produced by North America, Western Europe, Japan and South Korea, despite only accounting for 35% of the planet’s population. But as Tayo Elegbede, 23, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Nigeria, learns, this does not mean Africa can afford to ignore its own growing garbage problem.  With a population of over 1 billion …

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Forty years after the end of Mao’s effort to create a classless society, a middle class has emerged in China, writes Osmi Anannya, 25, from Dhaka, Bangladesh. It’s a sector of the population that is making a mark on Chinese society. The Communist Party in China is facing increasing criticism from the country’s middle class. …

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A surge in political violence has economic impact on Bangladesh, writes Osmi Anannya, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Dhaka, Bangladesh. The trend may be linked to upcoming elections, but there are concerns about an adverse effect on both investors and domestic markets. Episodes of political violence in Bangladesh have been ongoing since February 2013, with …

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 Rum is strongly associated with the Caribbean and has a major impact on island economies. But Khadija Holder, 24, a Correspondent from Trinidad and Tobago, says changes to subsidies and trade agreements could threaten jobs and income across the region. Caribbean rum’s distinct brew and strength is internationally recognized.  Whether it’s St. Lucia’s Chairman’s Reserved …

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The size of a small nation is a great advantage. It can facilitate efficient use of resources and good governance. Although larger states are more influential in international affairs today, small states are increasingly making meaningful contributions through strong coalitions, argues Latoyaa Roberts, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Trinidad and Tobago.  The distribution of states …

“Small states' success is not the tyranny of the weak” Read More »