Module 3- THE COMMONWEALTH & ME

Out of all questions, I picked two that I found I've something to say about , so here they are; 

First Question is....

What does The Commonwealth mean to you?

I personally feel privileged and take pride in being a part of the Commonwealth, which help us an individual to think about, explore how we can share and strengthen the bond of Commonwealth citizenship we are enjoying right now. As a country, we have received many opportunities, values on free trade, sustainable development,democracy, human rights etc,, and important advice, networks, support during crucial times in the past and present through this network and personally  programs as QYL is using such cultural connections to help bring us even closer together from across the globe to promote peace, security and a prosperous society-which was all made possible mainly as a result of being a part of this network. Profound connections as the Commonwealth is necessary for countries as ours to feel secured, recognized, inspired and supported and also to be held accountable for actions that can lead to the violation of the common values we have identified through this partnership. Very briefly, Sri Lanka has been a country that has closely associated with the commonwealth net work for years, with the Royal visits to the country marking various celebrations. And I think, Sri Lanka should be focusing on a few key areas at the upcoming CHOGM in April 2018. They are promoting women in the labour force, empowering youth,  sustaining democratic values and the rule of law- and I think that the CHOGM should take a firm hold against the powerful forces of nationalism, populism, and isolationism that are at odds with Commonwealth values and traditions as the present and past events in the country would prove this. Although it is unlikely to transform from a political grouping to a liberal economic organisation overnight, I strongly propose that the CHOGM 2018 should begin to blend the promotion of intra-Commonwealth trade with a reaffirmation of the importance of shared democratic values and institutions., which can help the country to economically progress with thoughtful politics, to tackle the challenges of a new and uncertain world order. 

Second Question question is....

           The Commonwealth Charter includes 16 core values and principles of The Commonwealth. Which of the Commonwealth values and principles do you hold as most important to you as a leader and why?

I've always been passionate about sustainable development and protecting the environment and here's why as it's a complex subject and has no one definition , it's essential to look at the importance of sustainable development in a holistic way that approaches the issue rationally., which I also did when I worked on the design of my project. 

If you ask anyone what sustainable development is, they are likely to say it is  is a strategic approach to development that takes the finite resources of the Earth into consideration,considering the future generations.  However, this can mean a lot of different things to different people be it corporate, public sector or general humans as "You and Me". It most commonly refers to the use of renewable energy resources and sustainable agriculture or forestry practices, which we also try to achieve through our project ESHKOL as it also covers the use of sustainable mineral use along with many other things. 

The whole idea and preference for this is to create a system that is "sustainable", meaning one that can keep going indefinitely into the future despite the unavoidable changes taking place on the planet Earth. Sustainable development is cleaner, has the potential to be more efficient, has long-term potential and is is the only way forward for a growing world economy. 

People already use a huge amount of the Earth's non-renewable resources to live their everyday lives. As more people join every year through improved child mortality rates, more of these resources are needed and the faster these resources are damaged. So, sustainable development will no longer be an option for people who want to feel good about their choices. It will be the only available option for cities and regional development. The question is whether Sri Lankans and humans in general have the will to make the transition toward sustainability on their own terms by transforming their business, homes and schools or if they will simply be forced to make a quick transition when all of the other options finally run out. Are the governments and leaders prepared or have thought about it?

If we say renewable energy sources, we think of wind power and solar power as excellent examples of development strategies that are sustainable. Their sustainability is understood by their reliance upon infinitely (abundant) available resources that are naturally occurring, constant and free to access. 

These factors tells us that these resources will be indefinitely accessible by humans, which makes them sustainable resources. On the other hand, sustainable development doesn't always refer to environmental sustainability or other Eco topics, which many think most of the time. Sustainable development also looks at economic and social sustainability into account in order to be a better fit within the boundaries of sustainable development. Still, i'd like to tell you why my passion and interest in this subject led me to be up against what I'm today , trying to solve a burning issue in the community, food insecurity. 

It's pretty obvious that the global population is on the rise, which is one of the greatest reasons why sustainable development is so important today especially discussed among commonwealth nations like Sri Lanka irrespective of where we stand in terms of our wealth and health. ESHKOL was born when the following concerns came into realization within a long journey, let's name a few. 

1. Access Very Basic Human Needs

Food, water, and shelter are essentials, however if energy is continually developed on finite fossil fuels instead of sustainable options, the cost and environmental toll of supplying even basic needs can become staggering, which has become the reason why most people especially in urban communities face issues as Food Insecurity, poor health today leading them to more vulnerability and poverty. 

2. Agriculture

So as highlighted above, agriculture will have to catch up with this growing population as well, looking at ways to feed around 20 million odd people than it currently does. Now imagine, if the same unsustainable seeding, watering, spraying and harvesting methods are used into the future, can we survive as a nation to be more prosperous for they can become very costly as fossil fuel resources run out. Isn't this why we depend on imported rice and grain to fulfill our basic food requirements today. It's important to note that sustainable agriculture practices like crop rotation and effective seeding practices can help to promote high yields, while protecting the integrity of the soil as it produces food for larger amounts of people. For example, the ancient locals used Ragi, Millet as their staple food, and it is easier to grow, however, today we depend largely on wheat flour, which is imported and expensive to buy. Ignorance of nutritious food and cultivation methods discourage farmers to grow these in their fields. If unsustainable agricultural practices are used in regard to pesticides, bees and other pollinators could be negatively impacted.  As any farmer would agree, without bees, sadly many major food crops would suffer and nearly 50% of the food in most grocery stores would not be there or we will have to rely on imported foods. Also, unsustainable development pollutes the oceans, Sri Lanka is an island, so we are a home to a significant amount of algae species that humans rely on for a significant amount of the oxygen they breathe. Recent projects as the Port City project needs some thought to it? 

3. Urban Community Development

As populations rise,  urban cities will need to become larger to accommodate the increasing populations. If these cities are developed non-sustainably, they will become more and more expensive to build and maintain over time, which is also an issue in the country today. Buying one's own house has become an expensive scenario today this is because the resources being used to build one will be finite fossil fuels that will only get more expensive as they run out over time, so how can building 1000 homes for urban dwellers wouldn't be a massive task and challenge set before the government?

 Also, the large quantities of these fuels required to produce energy for this larger population, that gets added on every year will also negatively impact the air quality of cities-leading to air pollution, an issue India is struggling with today due to industrialization. If the governments strive hard to make their cities use sustainable development practices, they can conceivably make way for new housing and business developments indefinitely. like eco housing, hybrid models using containers are some examples. 

4. Control Climate Change

Climate change is another issue that can be mitigated through sustainable development practices, where a lower use of fossil fuels, which are not sustainable and which produce greenhouse gases can change how Sri Lanka does businesses, build houses etc.,. When population rises, more people will need more energy, so will be putting an even greater strain on the world climate.

5. Provide Financial Stability

Sustainable development can also produce more financially sustainable economies throughout the world as the new concepts as Green TVET, skills programs help us work towards preparing future generations to take up Green jobs too. Jobs built unsustainable development simply have no place in economies of the future as these certification and educational programs show. Sadly,industries that continue to depend upon a resource that will not be accessible into the future will ultimately fail, leaving sustainable development as the only option moving forward. So the country needs to be forward thinking and be prepared to take up this challenge. 

6. Sustain Biodiversity

Biodiversity suffers through over consumption and unsustainable development practices when deforestation, unhealthy agricultural practices take place too. We also need to not forget that species are a part of a food web that humans rely on.