25 November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It’s also the launch of the 16 days campaign, backed by the UN and a range of Armenian organisations. When I arrived in Armenia four years ago, the subject seemed to be completely taboo. So it’s encouraging that there is some greater media interest. But many media still seem to choose to ignore it. I recently gave … Read more »The hate that dare not speak its name
Going for concrete
Last week I watched again the FCO’s “Going for Green” film about the 2012 Olympics and the sustainability agenda which is at the heart of London’s preparations. We were showing the film to some local architects, urban planners and are now planning to take it to show to urban planning students. Obviously the film is now a year old and a huge amount has happened at the Olympic Park. But … Read more »Going for concrete
Safe and secure in the networked world?
The first time I was really conscious of social media as an active force in Armenia was a campaign a year ago or so around a YouTube video of an army officer abusing conscripts soldiers. The debate that sparked has led the formerly defensive military to start to respond more openly to deaths and abuse in the armed forces. Soon after video of a teacher abusing his pupils led to … Read more »Safe and secure in the networked world?
Play sport, not war
In ancient Greece, the period of the Olympic Games was marked by a truce which allowed competitors, their families and spectators to travel in safety through potentially hostile neighbouring kingdoms. In 1992 the International Olympic Committee revived the idea, with the goal of promoting sport, not least for young people, as a means to increase trust and confidence and help peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts around the world. Since then, … Read more »Play sport, not war
Can broccoli change lives?
A broad, gold-toothed smile and an outstretched hand offering a ripe fig. It’s easy to forget that life is pretty tough for the women of Aknaghbuyr, Hermon and other Armenian villages who have gathered in a park in Yerevan to mark International Rural Women’s Day. Every village has a table to show off their produce: fruit, cheese, preserves and cakes, each with a group of cheerful women insisting I taste … Read more »Can broccoli change lives?
Scaling Aragats with Paralympians: guest blog by Deputy Head of Mission Gareth Wynn Owen
On Thursday 29 September I had an extraordinary opportunity to scale Mount Aragats. Under any circumstances, walking up Armenia’s highest mountain is a thrill in itself. But I was given the extra bonus of scaling these heights with a truly inspirational group of people – Armenia’s Paralympians. In countdown to the opening of the London 2012 Paralympics, the Embassy, along with the British Council and Armenian Paralympic Committee, organised a … Read more »Scaling Aragats with Paralympians: guest blog by Deputy Head of Mission Gareth Wynn Owen
Counting down to London 2012
It’s a pity chess isn’t an Olympic sport. Armenia is celebrating a well-deserved victory in the World Chess Championships – and would be favourites for gold - just as we’ve been marking the “One Year To Go” point for the London 2012 Olympics. Despite the time difference, we’ll be following the ceremonies in London as the IOC President, Jacques Rogge, invites the world’s finest sports men and women to prepare to compete in … Read more »Counting down to London 2012
Past meets future in Yerevan
It’s not often that Buckingham Palace echoes to the sound of a 160-strong choir singing Armenian music. But a concert on 15 June included the wonderful Bach Choir performing two pieces of religious music, ‘Surb, Surb’ and ‘Hayr Mer’, as well as the great violinist Maxim Vengerov playing a piece by the great Armenian composer Komitas for the first time in his career. The occasion was a dinner and concert … Read more »Past meets future in Yerevan
Sport for all
We are starting to focus increasingly on the Olympic Games in London next year. But in some ways the Paralympic Games, and the achievements of athletes with a wide range of disabilities are even more remarkable. This week I had the chance to attend the opening of the 9th annual Festival of Disabled Sport in Yerevan and to meet some of the competitors. And I was very pleased to have … Read more »Sport for all
Peace and partnership: The Queen in Ireland
I’ve been following with close interest the visit of Her Majesty The Queen to the Republic of Ireland. It’s extraordinary to think that the last British monarch to visit was George V, exactly a century ago when Ireland was still part of the UK. After many decades of conflict, the visit is evidence of the success of the peace process and the progress that has been made in recent years.Living … Read more »Peace and partnership: The Queen in Ireland