Commonwealth Day 2010

Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations (normally called The Commonwealth), this year’s theme is Science, Technology and Society. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of independent countries, nearly all of which were once British territories.

● There are 54 members including the United Kingdom, which co-operate in the common interests of their people.
● The Commonwealth promotes international peace and security, democracy, liberty and equal rights, as well as economic and social development.
● The modern Commonwealth came into being with the London Declaration in April 1949. It now represents nearly two billion people – almost a third of the world's population.
● New members must generally have a direct historical or administrative association with another Commonwealth country. However in 1995 Mozambique became the first country admitted without any former colonial or constitutional links
● Rwanda, the newest member joined in Nov 2009 becoming the second country admitted without direct links.

The Commonwealth and other major International Organisations from the Award winning Collins Student World Atlas (2009). Click to enlarge.
















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