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See if you can guess which countries are represented on each of the following slides
This countrys population makes up around a sixth of the total world population! Including its islands, this countrys coastline is over 7000 km (4300 miles) long, which is longer than the distance between London, UK and Entebbe, Uganda. The national animal of this country is the tiger.
Geographically speaking, this is the second largest country in the world and has the worlds longest coastline, at around 200,000 km (125,000 miles), which is around two thirds of the distance from the earth to the moon! There are two official languages in this country: English and French. The average temperature in January in the capital city of this country is around -10 C.
ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY WWW.THERCS.ORG/YOUTH
The capital city of this country is called Nassau. This country is made up of a large number of islands and is a popular tourist destination. The highest point in this country is around 63 metres above sea level. The name of this country sounds like the Spanish words for low and sea put together...
Many Commonwealth members are small; some are isolated island states, others are completely landlocked.
Some of today's most rapidly industrialising countries, such as India and Malaysia, are members. But so too are Mozambique and Tanzania which, are some of the world's poorest. All of the world's major religions are practised within the association.
ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY WWW.THERCS.ORG/YOUTH
Yet, despite this amazing diversity, all Commonwealth members are united by certain agreed common values and principles; a common heritage and language. They share similar systems of law, public administration and education. As voluntary members of the association, the Commonwealth's members work together in a spirit of cooperation, partnership and understanding. At Commonwealth meetings, each member has an equal voice, regardless of size.
ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY WWW.THERCS.ORG/YOUTH
The Commonwealths roots go back to the British Empire. Britain was sovereign over many nations (colonies) in the sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries; at one point covering a quarter of the worlds land area and population.
Canada gained its independence from Britain, starting in 1867, and was followed by Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the early twentieth century. These countries became known as the British Commonwealth.
After World War Two, many more countries in the British Empire wanted independence from Britain. In 1947 India and Pakistan became independent. In 1949 it was agreed they could be part of the Commonwealth without having the British monarch as head of state, and the modern Commonwealth was born.
Over the next few decades independence was granted to most of the countries of the old British Empire. Many chose to join the Commonwealth. The Head of the Commonwealth is currently the British Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, but the organisation is no longer known as the British Commonwealth. The UK has become an equal partner among the member states.
Some countries have now joined the Commonwealth that have no historical ties to Britain: for example, Mozambique and Rwanda. What unites members is a commitment to shared Commonwealth values such as human rights, democracy and development. Decisions about membership are made by Commonwealth countries at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) every two years.
ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY WWW.THERCS.ORG/YOUTH
Sometimes countries are suspended from the Commonwealth if they are felt not to be upholding the principles of the organisation (for example, not having a democratic government). A body known as the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) decides upon and reviews decisions relating to suspension.
ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY WWW.THERCS.ORG/YOUTH
The Commonwealth of Nations today has 54 member states who pledge to work together to promote diversity, development and democracy and to address global concerns such as education, health and climate change.
The Commonwealths two billion citizens have an important role to play in carrying out this work. That includes people like you!