4 Commonwealth 21 Marlborough House What9s the Commonwealth? India It became the first republican member state of the Commonwealth in 1949. It did not swear allegiance to the British Crown, an essential prerequisite to enter the organisation at that time, and accepted the British crown simply as the symbol of the association. This cleared the way to the modern Commonwealth. The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 56 independent countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific. It is a cultural and economic network of states, the majority of which were former territories of the British Empire and are still connected to the UK through the use of the English language and historical and cultural ties . Origins : The origins date back to the decolonisation of the British Empire in the first half of the 20th century when the self-governance of the British territories increased. It was founded in 1949, when eight countries (Australia, Canada, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the UK) decided to reform their association of former British colonies into the modern Commonwealth, modernising the community through the admission of republican countries and the declaration of equality for each member state. Members : The Commonwealth members, spread across all the continents, are diverse, and include big and small countries, monarchies and republics, as well as advanced and developing economies. glossary allegiance: fedelt commitment: impegno former: ex, precedente to pursue: perseguire tie: legame Population : 2.5 billion citizens live in the Commonwealth countries, with more than 60% aged 29 or under. Goals and values : The Commonwealth countries work together to pursue common goals and share common values. The Commonwealth Charter, the 2012 document which unites the Commonwealth countries, expresses the commitment of each member state to the development of several values like equal rights, democracy, peace, and prosperity. Politics : Every two years, leaders of member countries meet at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to decide on priorities and policies together. All Commonwealth members are of equal importance, regardless of size or wealth, and contribute to shared budgets and programmes. 1 2 READING Match the beginnings and endings. The Commonwealth Charter... 1 is a document of the values and& 2 expresses the commitment of member states in& 3 recalls that the Commonwealth is& 4 affirms that the strength of the Commonwealth& 5 recalls that each state co-operates to the& 3 WRITING SPEAKING " What it was 28 READING WRITING Answer the questions. 1 What is the Commonwealth and what are its member states? 2 What are the main purposes of the association? 3 Are there any European Commonwealth member states? Find information on the net. a b c d e lies in the combination of its diversity. development of free and democratic societies. the promotion of world peace. aspirations which unite the Commonwealth members. a voluntary association of equal sovereign states. GROUP WORK Find information about the British Empire and present it to the class. Include: " Its origins " Its climax " Its decline