Commonwealth
December 18, 2007
Uganda is a member of the Commonwealth, which is “an association of 53 independent states consulting and co-operating in the common interests of their peoples and in the promotion of international understanding and world peace.” You can find out more from the Commonwealth website at www.thecommonwealth.org. The BBC also has a good summary page at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/1554175.stm. All of the member states, except for Mozambique, have experienced direct or indirect British rule, or have been linked administratively to another Commonwealth country. All member states have English as a common language. (Rwanda is part of La Francophonie which is a collaborative group of French-speaking nations.)
The Commonweath Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) was in Uganda from November 23-25, 2007. You can find the final notes here: http://www.thecommonwealth.org/document/34293/35232/173044/chogm2007finalcommunique.htm, and you’ll also find information at http://www.chogm2007.ug/
If you look on the Commonweath home page www.thecommonweath.org you will find something called the “Ingram Column” where “Veteran Commonwealth commentator Derek Ingram shares his views on events from CHOGM 2007 in Kampala, Uganda.” His profile is at http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Internal/172867/. Derek is my cousin (well, first cousin, twice removed!)
Rwanda’s Banned Plastic Bags – Will Berkeley Ever Catch Up?
December 15, 2007
Quick news from Audrey
BBC reports that last winter, Rwanda banned plastic bags – beating even San Francisco in this critical environmentally-sustainable social step. The idea is for folks to use locally-made baskets, and to not create so much waste. There has been some controversy, with folks saying that paper bags are too expensive for small shopkeepers.
It will be interesting to see how this ban is going on the ground two years later. I think I will bring some canvas bags as gifts for our Rwandan hosts. Eco and legal!
We are in business
December 11, 2007
Hi,
Welcome to the blog for the participants in “From Immersion to Solidarity: Christian Witness in Uganda and Rwanda.
