Hello again!

There have been several different themes on my mind this past month. To start with, we staged a showing of “The 11th Hour”, the Leonardo DiCaprio film about the effects of climate change and what we can do about it, to an interested and enthusiastic audience at the Szindbad Mozi. Why would the British Embassy want to associate itself with a Hollywood movie? Well, because a higher aim than cinematic nationalism is to promote green habits and a low carbon economy. We want to get people thinking collectively about how to achieve a more sustainable lifestyle because if we get this wrong our children will never forgive us.

The next theme is closely linked to that. I don’t suppose many people who are not specialists had even heard of Carbon Capture and Storage a year ago. But we had a sizeable and high quality turnout to a workshop on the issue at the Embassy. Although we need to see a massive reduction in use of fossil fuels, the reality is that they will continue to play an important role in electricity generation for the foreseeable future. Carbon Capture and Storage is frankly the only technology that will allow us to continue to use fossil fuels in a fully sustainable way. We need to make a concerted effort to exploit this new technology and deploy it globally.

On energy generally, the European Union needs to get its act together soon. We are now meeting annually with our Hungarian counterparts to share views on this issue and hopefully move closer together on energy policy – the aim is a common EU energy policy (which addresses the needs of all 27 member states) which safeguards our prosperity. Agreeing ambitious and robust targets for the European Commission’s 2020 package, securing a fully functional liberalised energy market and ensuring a secure and diverse energy supply are all key priorities for the UK.

On 16 May I attended a delightful ceremony to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Lord Kaldor. Nicholas Kaldor was born in Budapest and went on to become a famous economics academic and lecturer, who advised the UN, the British and several other governments on economic policy. Third World development was one of the main issues of interest to him, which we might bear in mind as governments worldwide are addressing the Millennium Development Goals. The ceremony was held at the Kaldor Miklos Kollegium and attended by members of Lord Kaldor’s family as well as various Hungarian dignitaries. Students performed poetry readings and songs and the high point was the unveiling of a bust by the sculptor Jenei Barna. Both countries should be very proud of Lord Kaldor, who symbolises the links between us.

We also had the pleasure of a visit to Budapest by the acclaimed social philosopher and author Charles Handy, once described as “the most advanced management thinker in the world”. Born in Ireland, he now lives in the UK where – many years ago – he helped launch the Open University Business School’s first course. (His work on organisational culture and change is still a major source for their excellent MBA courses.) Charles not only writes about trends in management and society, but predicts them and (many say) actually influences them. He gave a fascinating and challenging talk to a distinguished audience which gave all those who attended much food for thought. Among other things, Charles is credited with emphasising the need to find a soul in organisations. He is married to and collaborates with the talented British portrait photographer Elizabeth Handy, whose work was displayed in exhibitions at the British Residence and Kempinski Hotel.

After all this thought-provoking activity, it was good to see an extremely practical and tangible example of the bilateral relationship. A team from Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority were here over the holiday weekend to participate in the commissioning of a Rescue Tender to Pilisvorosvar, which they had driven here and presented some months ago. During the visit, it was announced that they will also present a fully equipped Fire Engine, together with associated training, later in the year. For those of us who dreamed as small children of being a fireman one day, the commissioning and celebration at Pilisvorosvar was an extremely exciting occasion. (“Tűzoltó leszel ’s katona! Vadakat terelő juhász!”)

Greg Dorey

British Ambassador
27 May 2008