Yesterday we commemorated the World Press Freedom Day. This year’s theme is “New Voices; Media Freedom helping to Transform Societies” . It is about how new media is bringing about massive social and political change by helping people freely express themselves and the aspirations of their wider communities. Not everyone supports this. So far in 2012, 6 ‘natives and citizen journalists’ have been killed and 121 imprisoned according to Reporters … Read more »World Press Freedom Day
Olympic Legacy
The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games are about legacy. One of our most important programmes is International Inspiration, which changed the lives of over 12 million young people around the world. I’ve met some of them in 2010, when I visited the schools in Alagoas and Pernambuco that are taking part in it. Last week I was thrilled to discover that one of those young people, Luan Celi, a … Read more »Olympic Legacy
Does Britain control the South Atlantic?
On my mind today are the recent comments by the Argentine Government on the Falklands and the South Atlantic. They have said that Britain is ‘militarising’ the South Atlantic. They have said we are setting up a network of military bases there to control it. We are accused of trying to control sea and air traffic and there is an implication that we might be bringing in nuclear weapons. These … Read more »Does Britain control the South Atlantic?
Visiting Falklands
The Falklands is a country. It has a government, parliament, courts, civil service, media. It manages its own budget; it has a surplus. Most of the people are UK and EU citizens. Like all of us, they want to decide their own future and not have it decided by another country against their will. We should listen to the islanders. Please read the article by islander Roger Edwards in The … Read more »Visiting Falklands
St David’s Day
We celebrate the Welsh National Day on St David’s Day, 1 March. This year again at the Embassy we shall raise the national flag of Wales, a red dragon. On this occasion, the ceremony will be performed by Colonel Marian Evans, Defence Attaché at the British Embassy, who is Welsh and a speaker of the Welsh language. We shall capture the ceremony on YouTube. The United Kingdom comprises four nations: … Read more »St David’s Day
The Antarctic: Zone of International Cooperation
You will have seen in the Brazilian media the story of the unfortunate fire at the Brazilian Antarctic base on Prince George’s island over the weekend. This is a reminder of the hazards of operating in such a remote and inhospitable region. But the importance of the scientific work undertaken by a range of countries in the Antarctic is without question. For the UK, the British Antarctic Survey is … Read more »The Antarctic: Zone of International Cooperation
The begining of a GREAT experience (by guest blogger Thiago Oliveira)
On 18 and 19 January the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, visited Brazil. While in Brasília he met the winners of the Embassy’s Essay Competition and presented their certificates. I will write more on the visit soon, but today I’ve asked the two winners to tell us about their experience of meeting the Foreign Secretary and their expectations of the prize: a trip to London. Good manners in the UK dictate that … Read more »The begining of a GREAT experience (by guest blogger Thiago Oliveira)
The start of a GREAT experience (by guest blogger Ana Cecilia Nunes)
On 18 and 19 January the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, visited Brazil. While in Brasília he met the winners of the Embassy’s Essay Competition and presented their certificates. I will write more on the visit soon, but today I’ve asked the two winners to tell us about their experience of meeting the Foreign Secretary and their expectations of the prize: a trip to London. Good manners in the UK dictate that … Read more »The start of a GREAT experience (by guest blogger Ana Cecilia Nunes)
Foreign Secretary in Brazil
Today I’ll welcome the UK’s Foreign Secretary William Hague to Brazil. This is his first official visit to Latin America and it is one more step on the promised escalation on our relationship with Brazil. As he stated in his article (published at O Globo this weekend) it “is a clear sign we in Britain do not consider Brazil to be an emerging nation any more: we believe it is already … Read more »Foreign Secretary in Brazil
The countdown begins… 200 days to go to London 2012
Today we mark yet another important milestone to the Olympic Games: only 200 days left until the greatest show on earth begins. The main construction is done and the Olympic Park is going through final fine tuning to ensure that the Games run smoothly. 2012 will be a GREAT year for Britain. Besides the Olympic Games, we will celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and the achievements of two of our … Read more »The countdown begins… 200 days to go to London 2012