Here is a speech I had hoped to contribute to the Britain in the World debate – but unfortunately I didn’t get chosen for what turned out to be one of the most hotly contested line-up of speakers from the floor..

Good Morning Conference!

This week we have heard both our own Ministers and leaders of European sister parties, commend the work which our Prime Minister, and our Labour Government have achieved on the International Stage.

Our leading role in Europe enables us to shape and share the vision of a united, empowered, economic and social Union, which has the collective power to influence global trade, policy and wider co-operation. A vision which is underpinned by the only legally binding system of Human Rights in the world!

I have a special relationship with America because my sister, father and Guyanese cousins live there – and so I was delighted for them when it sterted to look like a black American might lead their nation, I was delighted for America when they elected him to office, and I was delighted for the world when Barack Obama stood forward with the conviction to rewrite the rules, and prioritise innovation, international co-operation and equality of opportunity. Priorities that I know are shared by every person here today.
Our Labour values are not limited to improving the conditions of the most unfortunate here in Britain – we work for an improvement in the lives of all those around the world who suffer daily from scarcity of resources. Scarcity caused by unequal levels of development – and scarcity caused by natural disasters, as our global climate changes.

So I welcome legislation for 0.7% to be spent on International Development, and I wholeheartedly support our government’s pledge for Copenhagen, but Conference, it is not only our Carbon Footprint which we need to think about.

Millions of people around the world do not have access to safe, clean, drinking water. Water scarcity is one of the effects of climate change which we do not have to imagine – it is with us today.

Therefore, I urge you all to think about your Water Footprint. This is not simply the amount of water you use to brush your teeth and run a bath – but also the 90% of global freshwater consumed by agriculture. When we import produce from water scarce countries, WE are drinking their water. Yet the good news is, your informed consumer choice can change this.

So from now on.. Watch Your Water Footprint!!

The debate was very broad, from Trident and Iranian nuclear proliferation, to humanitarian aid.

I was very lucky to be selected to ask Douglas Alexander and David Miliband whether their aims for international cooperation and dispute resolution are realised in supporting international river basin states to work together to promote regional cohesion and optimal management of water based resources.

The answer I received was very encouraging, with examples given from both Egypt and Ethiopia sharing the Nile, and Bangladesh receiving its waters from the Himalayas.

I shall have to dig deeper into these policy measures and achievements – hopefully on the DfID website.

Here I am with some other bright young things, welcoming the Prime Minister as he arrived to make his leader’s speech today.

My fantastic mum tracked it down on the iPlayer, so I’ve been able to capture the moment for posterity!

For me, I think this was the highlight of my Conference week, because I had the chance to speak directly to Baroness Ashton, who is Peter Mandelson’s successor in Europe, about the subject I wrote my Master’s thesis about. Virtual Water: the quantity of water used to create global traded produce, which could potentially be saved by water scarce importing countries avoiding water consumption for domestic products, but which must be supported to strengthen their ability to purchase using foreign currency. I was delighted when she invited me to contact her office with more information.

Bravo!!

Alcinoo & Bruno got married at Hackney Town Hall today. It was a really sweet ceremony filled with funky folks from their homelands of Italy & Brazil – then off to Vortex Bar in Dalston where we ate, drank, made merry and had a fabulous impromptu show from the Hackney Girls’ Street Dance Troup, who were practicing in the square all afternoon. The highlight was Brazillian coctails and a Cake Buffet!!

Sadly I had to leave early and hotfoot down to Brighton for the first exciting evening of the Labour Conference, where a London Delegate reception promised intimate contact with our magnificent Cabinet Ministers )

I love my subject & can’t wait to get submerged in it for real

What I have really learned from this process is the value of a precisely tuned question, with a clear remit and achievable scope.

So the true benefit goes to my Master’s thesis, which has transformed overnight from a vague question about the discourse over water disputes, to a study contrasting specific concepts involved in negotiating river basin projects.

After Theo’s sudden withdrawal from the selection process, we conducted a very highly contested selection meeting last night. Eventually selected were existing Councillors Nash & Heather, and new candidate Tulip Siddiq.

This is a form of healing which enables people to change the way they think and feel, to bring positive results in their lives.