Film Screening: Ahimsa-Gandhi: The Power of the Powerless 

 Tuesday, 21 November 2023, 6:30 - 9:00 pm
The Lounge at the NLC

On the 21st of November, the NLC Asia Circle, along with the Commonwealth Forum, is delighted to host a the screening of the film Ahimsa-Gandhi: The Power of the Powerless, followed by a discussion, from 6.30pm to 9.00pm in the NLC Members Lounge.

AHIMSA-Gandhi :  The Power of the Powerless

The film  is a captivating documentary that narrates the profound impact of Gandhian Nonviolence on a Global Scale, also highlighting how this powerful principles inspired and shaped the moments in history, such as Martin Luther King JR and the American Civil rights movement, the Lech Walesa Solidarity movement in Poland , the Havel revolution of Czechoslovakia and the Anti-Apartheid struggle in South Africa led by Nelson Mandela.  

The film will be followed by a short Q&A by former BBC Journalist Humphrey Hawksley with the producer and other VIP guests .

Yisha Xue will introduce the film.  

Please note that space is limited in the NLC members Lounge.

Please book on the NLC website to book your place  or email Yisha Chair of NLC Asia circle: Yisha.xue@cathayminearls.co.uk

Unifying Visions: “How A Tech A Startup Embodies the Commonwealth's Goals for a Prosperous Africa” with Sustainability Leader and Entrepreneur Isaac Aboah

 Tuesday, 10 October 2023, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
The Lady Violet Room at the NLC

On the 10th of October, the NLC Commonwealth Forum, along with the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council (CHEC), is delighted to host a reception from 6.30pm to 7.00pm, followed by a discussion (7.00pm - 8.00pm) to welcome Isaac Aboah, a renowned sustainability leader and entrepreneur, to the UK for a series of Commonwealth events. A meet and greet reception will be followed by a captivating talk, covering:

• Isaac's entrepreneurial journey and impact in environmental sustainability and climate action, focusing on critical issues like food, mobility, and climate justice.

• His experiences and contributions at the 26th and 27th Conference of Parties (COP26 and COP27) and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

• The journey and vision of Melo, aiming to revolutionize Africa's financial landscape.

Special Guest Introduction:

Chair of the Evening: The discussion will be chaired by NLC Commonwealth Forum Vice Chair, CHEC Honorary Secretary, and Climate Reality Leader, Emily Robinson.

Isaac Aboah is a force to be reckoned with in the fields of sustainability, youth education, and entrepreneurship. With his startup, Melo, he is on a mission to build the biggest financial services company in Africa. With his talk, he seeks to connect the dots between digitization, human ecology and the Commowealth’s vision for Africa. His work, including his thought leadership podcast, Change Africa has been featured on France24, CogX the biggest tech conference in the world, amongst others.

National Liberal Club Commonwealth Forum Event:

Howard J S Pearce, CVO: Experiences of a Falkland Island Governor

Howard J S Pearce, CVO, former Governor of the Falkland Islands 
and  Her Majesty's Commissioner for South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands 

Howard Pearce spent 34 years as a member of HM Diplomatic Service, serving overseas in Buenos Aires, Nairobi, Budapest, Boston (on sabbatical at Harvard University), Valletta (as High Commissioner) and the Falkland Islands (as Governor, as well as Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands), and in a variety of London-based roles. Following his retirement Howard has chaired a number of charities in the arts and environmental sectors, including the South Georgia Heritage Trust, which successfully carried out the world's largest rodent eradication project, with a dramatic impact on South Georgia's wildlife

At 6.30pm, in the Smoking Room, a Reception, hosted by Lord Monroe Palmer OBE, President, NLC Commonwealth Forum and Deputy Speaker, House of Lords.

At 7pm in the Lady Violet Room, 
Lord Monroe Palmer OBE,  will formally welcome  Howard J S Pearce CVO the guests

Ther eventing will be chaired by Nicola Williams, NLC  Commonwealth Forum Steering Group, Crown Court Recorder and Author who will introduce guest speaker:
Howard J S Pearce CVO, former Governor of the Falkland Islands
"Experiences of a Falkland Island Governor" 

Concluding remarks Sir Stuart Etherington, NLC Commonwealth Forum member, former chief executive of the NCVO 

The cost is £15 
Please register on the NLC website here.

Human Ecology and the Youth - Lessons from COP27 and CHOGM 2022 with Youth Environmental Activist Abhiir Bhalla

 Monday 23 January 2023, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
The Smoking Room at the NLC

On Monday, 23rd January the NLC Commonwealth Forum is hosting a reception from 6.30pm to 7.00pm, followed by a discussion (7.00pm - 8.00pm ) to welcome Abhiir Bhalla, a prominent Youth environmentalist, to the UK for a series of Commonwealth Roundtable events. The drinks reception (at £15 per person, payable in advance to the NLC, registration may be made on the NLC website) will be followed by a brief talk, covering:

• COP 26 (Glasgow, 2021) and most recently COP 27 (Sharm El Sheikh) in November 2022, where he attended the Youth Meeting just prior to the opening of COP 27. 

• Commonwealth Youth and Peoples Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, in June, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)

• Thoughts on India’s succession (from Indonesia) to the G20 Presidency for 2023

Lord Graham Tope CBE will welcome Abhiir and guests.

The evening will be chaired by NLC Commonwealth Forum Vice Chair and Climate Reality Leader Emily Robinson.

An active youth environmentalist at a global level, Abhiir has been working in the field of environmental conservation for over 8 years. Identified by the BBC World News as amongst the foremost youth environmentalists in 2020, Abhiir and his work have been featured prominently in the national and international media.

Tickets : £15 per person, which includes a wine reception at 6.30 – 7 pm
Please book your tickets here, or by calling the NLC directly.

Turning the World Upside Down Again: Global health in a time of Pandemics, Climate Change and Political Turmoil

 Thursday 8 September 2022, 6:30 - 8 pm
The Lounge at the NLC

The NLC Commonwealth Forum is organising a drinks reception followed by a presentation from Lord Nigel Crisp, former Chief Executive of the English NHS and Permanent Secretary of the UK Department of Health who will speak on “Turning the World Upside Down Again”,  describing how affluent western countries can learn a great deal about health from low – and middle-income countries and from poorer communities in their own countries. Combining learning from all parts of the world leads to a new ecologically based vision for health and new ways of improving health for ourselves, our communities and our planet. drawing on many examples and reflects on what has already been learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of climate change”.

The evening will be chaired by Hayden Greenfield and Rosie McLeod  will give closing remarks on behalf of the NLC Commonwealth Forum.

Tickets : £10 per person, which includes a wine reception at 6.30 – 7 pm
Please book your tickets here, or by calling the NLC directly.