WatTyler
Revolting Peasant
So it's 30 years since the Falklands War between Britain and Argentina, and Argentina are getting rather heated again. They want those islands, or rather the oil under the EEZ. So who gets it? I'm interested in the international perspective on this here on FC.
For those that don't know, in a nutshell, the Falklands are a British Overseas Territory about 250 miles off Argentina and 7'900 miles from Britain. However, there's only been a brief history of colonisation of the islands, and since the 1600's it's been British, French, Argentine and Spanish though none of them were permanent settlements until the British in about 1830 something when they kicked off some newly arrived Argentine settlers. The Argentines have maintained a claim a varying volumes ever since, and some will remember they invaded in 1982 and had a brief war with Britain. The population of about 3'000 are mainly of British descent and fiercely wish to remain British.
The UK government seem pretty committed to defending this. At first glance it reeks of the last remnants of the British Empire, and indeed some fuckers still talk about them as territories belonging to Her Majesty the Queen, but it's generally presented differently- more as preserving the islanders right to self determination to remain British.
I don't believe for a moment this is the reason, and that initial interpretation seems closer to the truth IMO. 3'000 individuals wishes means nothing to a government- they're prepared change more lives than that at the stroke of a pen without blinking, if it fits the agenda. This is purely about exploiting valuable resources.
I've heard that the UK had a deal on the table with Argentina to split the oil revenues, but that the Argentines withdrew from that agreement up in 2007, leaving them with nothing. So they're pretty pissed about it and ramping up the intensity of their claims.
It's unlikely to be war, I hope. If they invade again then I guess the UK are pretty committed to defending the territory, but I don't think that's likely now- it was a fascist military junta that undertook the '82 invasion. Very different times, but never say never. They've accused the UK a militarising things down there recently.
So what to do?
The Argentines want change, and I think it needs to happen. It's archaic that Britain should maintain a territory 8'000 miles away on the other side of the world, and I can't see a long term future for such structure- it's just not very 'modern'. I know if the Argentines were the wealthier nation claiming ownership of some islands and valuable resources a couple of hundred miles off of my coastline then I would have pretty strong feelings about it. IMO that oil should rightfully be benefiting the local populations, rather than a comparatively wealthy government across the globe.
I kind of of the opinion that the UK should still give the citizens their UK passport and a ticket to the UK if they want it, and then gracefully get out and relinquish sovereignty over these islands. Or at the very least a somehow shared sovereignty (though I don't know if the Argies are up for that). Argentina is now a democracy and we wouldn't exactly be leaving the islanders to the mercy of the junta, like the last time. I'm sure they could maintain their way of life.
So like I said, as well as being opinionated, I'm interested how the rest of the world sees it and if the UK are assholes for maintaining a sovereign claim over the Falklands? Or should the UK deliver what the residents of the Falkland Islands want?
For those that don't know, in a nutshell, the Falklands are a British Overseas Territory about 250 miles off Argentina and 7'900 miles from Britain. However, there's only been a brief history of colonisation of the islands, and since the 1600's it's been British, French, Argentine and Spanish though none of them were permanent settlements until the British in about 1830 something when they kicked off some newly arrived Argentine settlers. The Argentines have maintained a claim a varying volumes ever since, and some will remember they invaded in 1982 and had a brief war with Britain. The population of about 3'000 are mainly of British descent and fiercely wish to remain British.
The UK government seem pretty committed to defending this. At first glance it reeks of the last remnants of the British Empire, and indeed some fuckers still talk about them as territories belonging to Her Majesty the Queen, but it's generally presented differently- more as preserving the islanders right to self determination to remain British.
I don't believe for a moment this is the reason, and that initial interpretation seems closer to the truth IMO. 3'000 individuals wishes means nothing to a government- they're prepared change more lives than that at the stroke of a pen without blinking, if it fits the agenda. This is purely about exploiting valuable resources.
I've heard that the UK had a deal on the table with Argentina to split the oil revenues, but that the Argentines withdrew from that agreement up in 2007, leaving them with nothing. So they're pretty pissed about it and ramping up the intensity of their claims.
It's unlikely to be war, I hope. If they invade again then I guess the UK are pretty committed to defending the territory, but I don't think that's likely now- it was a fascist military junta that undertook the '82 invasion. Very different times, but never say never. They've accused the UK a militarising things down there recently.
So what to do?
The Argentines want change, and I think it needs to happen. It's archaic that Britain should maintain a territory 8'000 miles away on the other side of the world, and I can't see a long term future for such structure- it's just not very 'modern'. I know if the Argentines were the wealthier nation claiming ownership of some islands and valuable resources a couple of hundred miles off of my coastline then I would have pretty strong feelings about it. IMO that oil should rightfully be benefiting the local populations, rather than a comparatively wealthy government across the globe.
I kind of of the opinion that the UK should still give the citizens their UK passport and a ticket to the UK if they want it, and then gracefully get out and relinquish sovereignty over these islands. Or at the very least a somehow shared sovereignty (though I don't know if the Argies are up for that). Argentina is now a democracy and we wouldn't exactly be leaving the islanders to the mercy of the junta, like the last time. I'm sure they could maintain their way of life.
So like I said, as well as being opinionated, I'm interested how the rest of the world sees it and if the UK are assholes for maintaining a sovereign claim over the Falklands? Or should the UK deliver what the residents of the Falkland Islands want?