Secretary
General’s Commonwealth Day Message 2014
Kamalesh Sharma
10 March 2014
What happens on the other side of
the world from where any of us calls ‘home’ can have as much impact on our
lives as the actions of neighbours next door. We see that the sustainability
and resilience of our communities – our very survival – depends on the safety
and wellbeing of all, and of this fragile planet. It is more important than
ever for all to work and act together – as is the spirit in the Commonwealth –
with mutual respect and understanding.
The Commonwealth stands out
globally both for the remarkable diversity of our membership, and for the way
in which we co-operate on the basis of our shared values and goals, advancing
democracy and development for all. There is a shared conviction that we belong
together and want the best for each other. Multiple levels of connection exist,
and an exceptional sense of being bound together as individuals, as
communities, and as countries.
The essence of a team is that –
like the Commonwealth – its members know the advantage of working together and
the strength of mutual support. The essence of a team also is that – like the
Commonwealth – it has shared aspirations and a sense of common purpose, and
relies on the range of contributions and different strengths of each of its
members. The essence of a successful team – such as the Commonwealth – is that
together it achieves more than the sum of its parts.
We connect, communicate, and are
committed to supporting one another.
Spread across six continents and
five oceans, the populations of our member states range from 10,000 to over a
billion. As with the best of sports teams, there are lively discussions about
tactics, and the occasional difference, but always shared goodwill and the
prospect of collective progress.
Commonwealth Day offers time for
each of us to reflect on how, as members of “Team Commonwealth”, we can turn
its goodwill and potential for practical action to positive effect. By making
connections from our workplace, or home community, and adding our own
contributions to those of the worldwide Commonwealth web, we can multiply our
opportunities and work to build a safer, fairer, and more inclusive
Commonwealth and world community. |
