Bristol Commonwealth Big Lunch

Bristol joined cities and towns across the country in holding a Big Lunch to celebrate the Commonwealth and the 53 member countries of the Commonwealth.  Many people have either outdated ideas about the Commonwealth or know little about the good it promotes.  Lord-Lieutenant Peaches Golding OBE explained that member countries are ‘free and equal’ and are united by a common language, history, culture and shared values of democracy, freedom of speech and the rule of law.  Among the programmes active across the Commonwealth are the Queen’s Canopy (a project to plant a new forest in each country), the Queen’s Trust (enabling young people in the Commonwealth to help others in their community), the Commonwealth Games, to name but a few.  This week, more than 2,000 people from the 53 member countries will assemble in London for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit to discuss issues as wide-ranging as the environment and climate change, increasing economic development and trade, and improving health and education.  People attending the Big Lunch not only ate delicious food, but also had an opportunity to try on a sari, listen to the Bristol Reggae Orchestra, learn songs from Zimbabwe sung by Millicent and Chadwick, dance and share stories and opportunities.  Master of ceremony Sibusiso Tshabalala, from South Africa, encouraged everyone to participate in the event organised by the Bristol Commonwealth Society.