Commonwealth Day!

Today is Commonwealth Day in the 53 countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations. In most countries it is not an official holiday and the majority of the population have no idea what it is or when it is.

Here is what the Royal Commonwealth Society website states about the Commonwealth Day Observance of 2014

"In London, Commonwealth Day celebrations are focused around a multi-faith service at Westminster Abbey. The Commonwealth Day Act of Observance, to give it its formal name, is the largest of its kind in the UK, and possibly in the world. It takes place in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, senior politicians, High Commissioners, Commonwealth dignitaries and over 1,000 young people, with approximately 2000 people attending in total. The aim of the Commonwealth Day Observance is to celebrate the unity, diversity and linkages of the modern Commonwealth and foster greater understanding of the Commonwealth’s achievements and role, particularly among young people. In 2014, the theme will be Team Commonwealth. The theme is intended to stress the importance of teamwork and collaboration both within and between Commonwealth countries. It also sets the tone for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later in the year. This theme will be reflected in the Observance and the throughout Commonwealth Week. "

 ^ I agree with the message of this year's Commonwealth Day and only wish more people understood and celebrated the Commonwealth. Right now the Commonwealth of Nations (CoN) is an organization that doesn't really have a clear role in the 53 countries that participate in it. There are some political groups that want to strengthen the political and economical ties between the CoN to make it on par with the European Union. I don't know if that will happen as the majority of countries in the CoN are extremely poor (from Asia and Africa) and would strain the organization as a whole. Some parties want to only strengthen the "old Commonwealth countries" of: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and leave the "new Commonwealth countries" to the side. All I know right now is that the CoN isn't much of an international player (outside of proving consular support to the Commonwealth citizens around the world) and that needs to change if it wants to be a respected, important organization in the 21st Century. ^