On Monday March 10, Commonwealth week started with a multi-faith observance at Westminster Abbey. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who is Head of the Commonwealth, in her message said that all actions which help protect the environment can “have a real and positive effect on the lives of others.”

The Queen also said that it is “important to remember that the environmental choices available in some countries may not be an option for others.”

Her Majesty urged more support for young people, whom she described as both energetic and able to confront climate change. She added that governments, businesses, communities and individuals should each strive to “match words and good intentions with deeds.”

“Whatever we do, wherever we live,” said the Queen, “our actions in defence of the environment can have a real and positive effect upon the lives of others, today and into the future.”

On 11 March, the Foundation, in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Royal Commonwealth Society, organised a climate change briefing which was given by Professor Mohan Munasinghe, Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Professor Munasinghe spoke on making development more sustainable. He was optimistic and said that while the problems are serious, an effective response can be mounted to make development more sustainable, provided it is initiated immediately. He talked about the innovative sustainomics framework and practical applications that he believes in. He explained about the key elements and interconnections of the sustainable development triangle and encouraged everyone to start addressing the challenges ahead.

On Wednesday 12th March, Dr David Suzuki gave a demonstration of his compelling oratory style at the 11th Commonwealth Lecture, organised by the Commonwealth Foundation. Dr David Suzuki, Emeritus Professor in Sustainable Development, University of British Columbia and Co-Founder of the David Suzuki Foundation, is an award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster. Dr Suzuki said that the theme chosen by the Commonwealth: "Our Environment: our Future" is the most important issue of our time.

Dr Suzuki started the Lecture by urging people to consider the collective impact of 6.6 billion human beings living in one planet. Although every human being is created by the four elements – earth, air, fire and water – “we are failing to respond” to the damaging effects our actions are having on the environment, Dr David Suzuki has said.

He argued that these four elements need to be seen as “sacred substances” because “whatever we do to [them] we do to ourselves”.

Speaking on the particular relevance for Commonwealth countries, Dr Suzuki said, "We need the perspective of many small island states in the Commonwealth. They are the canaries in the coal mine. I was there at Kyoto when the small island states pleaded, with no effect, for environmental redress." Dr Suzuki said developed countries need to lead by example.

Dr Suzuki said that as human beings we are created out of the elements of the earth. "We are in the environment. We are the environment. The crisis of the environment is a crisis of human beings."

"By continuing current living trends “we are using up the rightful legacy of our children and grandchildren,” Dr Suzuki warned. It is essential, therefore, to look at “how we impact on the environment”.
“What we eat, how we move and where we live” are three areas highlighted by Dr Suzuki which need to be assessed, so that this “rightful legacy” is not ignored.

The Commonwealth Foundation also hosted a joint seminar with the Quebec Government in London on engaging with cultural policy. The seminar, entitled Sharing strengths: Commonwealth and Francophone engagement with the UNESCO Cultural Convention marked a new relationship of Commonwealth-Francophone co-operation in the field of culture. This was very much a follow-up to the things we were talking about in the culture workshop at the CPF, which are reflected in the Kampala Statement.

Delegates represented a wide spectrum of those with an interest in the issues raised by the Convention, from cultural coalitions and other civil society organisations, to representatives of Commonwealth governments – British and Francopfone, and senior delegates to UNESCO.
Commonwealth Countries were urged to ratify the UNESCO Convention. Malta has already done so.

Apart from the meetings, the Friends of the Commonwealth, in association with the Foundation, brought together a wide range of events in the first Commonwealth Week Festival, which showcased the cultures of many different countries of the Commonwealth. Many took place in London and all the events and activities had a Commonwealth connection and all helped to demonstrate the rich and diverse cultural connection that extends throughout the Commonwealth today.

The last three days of Commonwealth week were dedicated to Civil Society Advisory Committee (CSAC) work. For three full days the committee met under the leadership of the elected Chair, Warren Nyamugasira from Uganda. During these few days, we presented regional reports, had talks on a range of ongoing Commonwealth Foundation activities related to sustainable development, culture, governance and democracy as well as an overview of the work related to youth, gender and trade done by the Commonwealth Secretariat. We discussed in detail some Commonwealth programmes, such as Civil Roads to Peace, Climate Change and ComHabitat, the Gender Plan of Action and CEDAW, Culture and Development Priorities and civil society involvement in different processes. We discussed the Vision and Strategy for the Commonwealth Foundation 2008-2012 with the title of “Civil Society: A Force for Transformation”. We started the process of the Commonwealth People’s Forum, with proposals for Trinidad and Tobago in 2009. All ideas will be developed further over the coming months.
 
The Commonwealth Week is an opportunity to promote understanding on global issues, international co-operation and the work of the Commonwealth, which aims to improve the lives of its 2 billion citizens. Doris Bingley NCW Hon General Secretary and CSAC Member of the Commonwealth Foundation participated in these events.

The week ended on Friday night with a colourful celebration in Marlborough House. Performers from the five regions entertained the guests with lovely music, exotic dancing and beautiful singing. Malta was represented by Ms. Degaetano a dancer with Esspressivita