Continuation of the Commonwealth imperative if global democracy is to be realised.
Click here to view highlights from the 2009 Commonwealth Lecture, delivered by Terry Waite, CBE
This was one of the important messages delivered by Terry Waite CBE at the 12th Commonwealth Lecture on Monday night. Speaking at the Guildhall Mr Waite gave a powerful address on the mission and responsibility of the Commonwealth to properly prepare its youth, as its next leaders, by educating and empowering them.
This was one of the important messages delivered by Terry Waite CBE at the 12th Commonwealth Lecture on Monday night. Speaking at the Guildhall Mr Waite gave a powerful address on the mission and responsibility of the Commonwealth to properly prepare its youth, as its next leaders, by educating and empowering them.
"To the young woman in Jamaica...who will enter the legal professions and engage in the battle for justice and the rule of law. To the students in Pakistan who will directly face issues of terrorism and extremism. To the young men and women of so many countries who will have to face the catastrophic consequences of climate change. You are the ones to whom the Commonwealth looks at this time. You are the ones who will carry forward what your forefathers have established. And we are the ones who now at this time must ensure that you are properly supported and equipped for the tasks that lie ahead."Mr Waite rose to the challenge of delivering the Lecture after the scheduled speaker, Archbishop Desmond Tutu was unable to attend due to ill health. Taking the theme "The Commonwealth @ 60: serving a new generation", the lecture explored aspects of the Commonwealth past, present and future, focussing particularly on three areas; climate change; terrorism and good governance. Speaking on climate change Mr Waite stressed the importance of the forthcoming climate change conference in Copenhagen as an opportunity that must not be missed by the Commonwealth. He cited Michael Levi, of the Council for Foreign Relations point that; "even if rich countries managed to reduce their emissions to zero and all other nations held theirs steady, the world would still miss the 2050 target." He went on to say that "those who are concerned about the welfare of this planet, and who want to give our children and grandchildren a chance of a decent life, then we must urge our leaders to take Copenhagen seriously."
Terry Waite leads a remarkable life as a diplomat and a humanitarian. He has devoted his life to humanitarian causes, inter-cultural relations, and conflict resolution. In the 1980s he garnered international recognition when, serving as a special envoy to the Archbishop of Canterbury, he successfully negotiated the release of hostages in Iran and Libya. Mr Waite was himself taken hostage in 1987 and endured a harrowing 1763 days in captivity.
