Thursday 14 August 2008

rcs key note speeches

Keynote address
A new agenda for global co-operation
Keynote: The Rt. Hon. Nick Clegg MP, leader of the Liberal Democrats
Chair: Stuart Mole, RCS Director-General

In this important keynote, the leader of the Liberal Democrats will outline his vision for building a new consensus for global change. Nick Clegg will explore the need to reassert the primacy of cooperation and multilateralism over unilateralism; and the imperative to create new global institutions and to reform the UN, EU and Bretton Woods bodies.
He will ask how we can uphold democratic values, justice and human rights within a liberal and equitable trading system and how, in cases of gross human rights violations, an effective mechanism for humanitarian intervention can be developed.
The speaker will argue that the neo-colonial era of unilateral, military intervention for 'democracy' is passing and that we must all now aim for a new era of global cooperation in support of democracy and justice. Finally, he will ask what role the Commonwealth can play in this new world order.
Thursday 2 October, 6.15pm
Keynote Address
The Commonwealth: The Way Forward
Keynote: H.E. Kamalesh Sharma Commonwealth Secretary-General
Chair: Sir David Green, KCMG, RCS Chairman
In this keynote address the new Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, will outline his vision for the modern Commonwealth and will set out the role he sees himself playing as Secretary-General.
He will argue that the Commonwealth must be more than a 'boutique' organisation if it is to respond to key global challenges.