Why are the British public so resistant to finding out about the Commonwealth? It is not so in the other Commonwealth territories.I was in India last October, where New Delhi had transformed itself in honour of the Commonwealth Games. Visit any of the smaller states among the 54 nations in the Commonwealth and they will proudly boast of their membership of this multi-racial club. Zimbabweans recently visiting Cumberland Lodge attached themselves to a visit by Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows in the hope that their credentials could be logged for being re-admitted when their politicalclimate improves. When Mandela took over in South Africa his first action was to apply for his born-again country to be accepted back in to the Commonwealth fold. But ask a Brit what they think of the Commonwealth and they are more than likely to ask if it still exits, or damn it as a hangover of Empire.
Last month on Commonwealth Day (14th March) I was struck by the resounding silence of our press towards this spectacularly successful international concept. No matter that Westminster Abbey was jubilant with schoolchildren celebrating the day in the presence of The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, or that Her Majesty’s Commonwealth Day message had been heard by billions on radios around the world. In this country there was almost total indifference throughout our media to all that the Commonwealth represents. It has to be lazy ignorance that lies behind this, because in less than half an hour anyone could google countless examples of Commonwealth initiatives. They are not just in sport and education, but in technological and developmental partnerships, in voluntary associations and in political co-operation. Busy leaders devote time every two years to Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings. The thriving literatures of the Commonwealth are annually celebrated with the Commonwealth Writers Prize, which Cumberland Lodge used to administer.
Can anything be done about British indifference to all this? The Coalition has made a good start by warmly endorsing the Commonwealth ideal. Cumberland Lodge has promotion of the Commonwealth as part of its mission.We have conferences on Commonwealth themes, we host gatherings of Commonwealth bodies and two years ago we displayed a wonderful exhibition of gifts presented to The Queen on her Commonwealth travels. We do our bit. But it is going to require more active engagement in media training if the situation is really to change. I see a subject for a conference coming on here at the Lodge: The Commonwealth and the Media. Watch this space.
Alastair Niven
Principal
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