#Barbados Independence from UK

[ayeforscotland]

As someone not from the UK, but supports Scotland's bid for independence, I'm hoping you can explain why it's not as easy for Scotland to declare their independence as it seemed to have been for Barbados. I'm sure it was more nuanced for Barbados than simply announcing their intentions. But it seems more complex for Scotland and I'm sure Wales and Northern Ireland.

Not sure if you’re conflating becoming an independent country and becoming a republic?

Barbados has been independent since 1966 and became a republic in 2021. As an independent country they could choose to become a republic.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland aren’t independent yet. I personally would love to see an independent Scottish republic, but it’ll require independence first before we have a referendum on becoming a republic.

Hope that makes sense!

[fatehbaz]

When Dr Harold Young [...] takes visitors on a journey around Belize City, the first stop is an unremarkable building, whose basement entrance is partly shrouded by creeping pink bougainvillea. Its padlocked gates and broken windows back on to a parking lot in the city’s historic centre. Most passersby ignore the innocuous plaque outside. Belize, a country of 400,000 citizens, is [...] a part of the English-speaking Caribbean. A former British settlement and then colony, it is one of the region’s eight remaining Commonwealth realms – independent countries where the monarch remains the head of state.

Belize is the only Commonwealth realm King Charles has never visited.

The building is blocked from public entry but is known locally as the former headquarters of a TV station [...] once owned by the Conservative peer Lord Michael Ashcroft, who has sprawling business investments around Belize. But for those who are aware, the building serves as a horrifying reminder of the brutality of British rule here. “It’s the last remnants of a holding dungeon for slaves,” Young says. “Before they were put out for sale.” 

Unlike the island states in the Caribbean, where plantation slavery underpinned the colonial economy, enslaved labour in Belize revolved around the logging of mahogany at camps in the country’s interior. [...] [T]he remnants of violent enslavement are now mostly absent from public view. The building’s story has been passed down for generations, and is noted in certain tourist literature. But the historic plaque outside, while acknowledging its use in the mahogany trade, presents its connections to slavery merely as “local folklore”. “When you live in a colonial environment, the colonialists don’t want you to prove what they were doing was a horrendous trade, right?” says Young, who is Belizean Creole, meaning of mixed African heritage. [...]

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History is still not fully told. Crimes remain unacknowledged. [...]

But as the United Kingdom prepares to crown its new king, the citizens of Belize are laying the groundwork for a similarly historic event: they could be the first nation to remove Charles as head of state. [...] The process, the prime minister [...] acknowledged in an interview [...] means it is “quite likely” that Belize will be the next country to leave the Commonwealth realm, following Barbados’s seismic decision to become a republic in 2021. [...] Belize is not alone [...].

[D]iscussions over the future of the British monarchy have accelerated throughout the region.

Now, officials in seven of the remaining realm countries in the Caribbean have indicated they will seek to follow the same path [...]. In Jamaica, [...] the government has committed to a vote before the next general election in 2025. In Antigua and Barbuda, the prime minister [...] said shortly after the death of Queen Elizabeth that he would hold a referendum within three years. [...]

Such debate is far from new to the English-speaking Caribbean and did not begin with Barbados’s decision in 2021, nor the death of Queen Elizabeth last year. Carried by a wave of Black nationalism and socialism, three former British colonies, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and the newly independent Dominica, removed the monarch as head of state throughout the 1970s. Alternatives to the crown had been debated in popular circles long before even then. [...]

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Still, symbolism and imagery of the current moment [...] matter, particularly as relations between the English-speaking Caribbean and the UK fall to new lows in the aftermath of the Windrush scandal and both the government and the monarchy’s recent refusals to go beyond passive expressions of regret and offer a formal apology for the atrocities of slavery.

In March last year, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s visit to the Caribbean marking the Queen’s jubilee was punctuated by a series of protests that cast a long shadow over the exercise in soft power. In Jamaica, photographs of the pair shaking hands with children through a chainlink fence and later parading in white clothing in an open-top Land Rover were decried as a throwback to colonialism.

In Belize, the couple were forced to abandon plans to visit a Mayan village in the country’s south, following protest. [...] “There’s only so much the fig leaf of public relations and exercises in ‘soft power’ can cover,” [...]. “These images and videos were widely shared on social media [...].” Outside St John’s Cathedral in Belize City, the remains of a semicircular brick wall mark the boundary from where, it is said, enslaved people were permitted to listen to services inside. The building itself was built by enslaved labour, but colonial authorities banned enslaved people from entering.

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Text by: Oliver Laughland. “‘Colonialism lingers’: Belize shrugs off coronation amid calls for repatriations.” The Guardian. 4 May 2023. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me.]

[qqueenofhades]

wait so what does the queens death mean for ireland and scottland? or other parts of the world too

Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales are all part of the United Kingdom. This does not affect them in any other way than it does from England, except that the Scottish independence movement in particular, which was previously defeated in 2014, may well gain momentum (as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been pushing for indyref2). It is also possible, though less likely, that Northern Ireland could seek to unite with the Republic of Ireland, which is a separate country. However, this would open the wounds of literal centuries, the Irish Troubles, and other violent loyalist/nationalist social divides.

The UK's head of state is now Charles, who fulfills the exact same roles as the Queen. The other Commonwealth countries who still retained the Queen as their head of state, since "Commonwealth" is just an updated name for "British Empire," likewise will recognize Charles as they did for Elizabeth. Unless they choose to pursue the path of becoming independent republics, such as has already happened in former British Caribbean colonies as Barbados and Jamaica. There has been speculation that this movement would accelerate once the Queen was dead, so we will have to see if that is true.

#annoyingpetekey #ask

[reasoningdaily]

Saint Kitts and Nevis is “not totally free” under King Charles III, the country’s prime minister has said.

The King is the head of the two-island sovereign state – with Saint Kitts the first Caribbean island that English colonists permanently settled.

Saint Kitts and Nevis prime minister Dr Terrance Drew also said he would welcome an apology from the monarchy for its historic links to the slave trade.

Buckingham Palace told the BBC that the King has pledged to deepen his understanding of the impact of slavery, something he takes “profoundly seriously”.

“That learning process has continued with vigour and determination since His Majesty’s accession,” Buckingham Palace said.

The palace noted that the King “has long acknowledged the discussion about constitutional arrangements”.

In a speech to Commonwealth leaders last year, the King said: “Each member’s constitutional arrangement, as republic or monarchy, is purely a matter for each member country to decide.”

Last month, Buckingham Palace said it was supporting and cooperating with an independent study into the relationship between the British monarchy and the transatlantic slave trade.

Speaking about the study, Dr Drew said: “I think that acknowledging that ... something wrong was done, acknowledging it and apologising for it, is a step in the right direction.”

He added: “We are not just speaking about a monetary contribution, because we are not acting like victims.

“It is about real changes even within the systems that are still affecting people of African descent in negative ways.”

The then Prince of Wales in November 2021 during a royal visit to Barbados

(AFP/Getty)

During the then Prince of Wales’s visit to Barbados in 2021, Buckingham Palace said reparations are a political matter for individual governments to address.

There is widespread support for compensation for the descendants of enslaved Africans throughout the Carribbean. A 10-point plan was proposed in 2014 by the Caricom Reparations Commission, made up of 15 member states including Barbados, Jamaica, the Bahamas and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The plan includes cash payments, development funding, and formal apologies by states with historical links to the slave trade.

The King and Prince William have previously expressed personal sadness about slavery.

During a visit to Rwanda last year, the then Prince of Wales said he could not describe “the depths of his personal sorrow” at the suffering caused by the slave trade.

In April, prime minister Rishi Sunak refused to formally apologise for the UK’s historic role in the slave trade, saying: “Trying to unpick our history is not the right way forward.”

Last week, representatives from 12 Commonwealth countries joined forces to call on the King to acknowledge and apologise for the impact and ongoing legacy of British “genocide and colonisation”.

The statement called on the King to act on the royal family’s recent expressions of sorrow by beginning a process for reparations and returning stolen artefacts and bodily remains.

#St Kitts #Nevis #Saint Kitts and Nevis PM says nation ‘not totally free’ under King Charles #Martha McHardy #colonialism 2023 #english colonialism #british genocide and colonialism

[useless-englandfacts]

I'm pretty sure that the attempts to wipe out all Gaelic languages in the UK and shit like the Highland Clearances do count as colonialist violence though even if whether Scotland was 'colonised' is in question

(Also England also brought in monarchs from Orange and Hanover - they were rulers of those regions too, just as James I was ruler of Scotland - and those aren't part of UK, so...)

yeah i mean i don't want to pretend that the relationship between scotland and england has always been/is currently equal and i don’t want to ignore instances such as scottish children being beaten in schools for speaking gaelic as recently as the early 1900s, or how much england profits from scottish oil.

putting the rest under a cut because, as ever, this is a long answer (sorry)

on the specifics: the 1609 act that first banned scottish gaelic was passed by the scottish privy council, not by the english. this is not to say that subsequent acts weren't supported by the english - especially after the jacobite rising in the mid-1700s, though that was as much about religion and securing the british monarchy as it was about the scotland's relationship with england. obvs doesn’t make it okay though and the specifics aren't the point here (i don't think?)

the jacobite rising was also what led (in part) to the highland clearances, though it could be seen as a long-term result of the 1609 act which changed the role of clan chiefs from patriarchs into de facto commercial landlords. significant thing here though is that a lot of the clearances were funded by rich scottish nobles who were fans of social engineering, many of whom had found wealth in the british empire.

and that kind of leads to my most important point: i don't think it's correct to compare the relationship between scotland and england to that of, for example, britain and india or britain and barbados or britain and kenya or britain and australia (you get the picture).

scotland profited immensely from the british empire. scottish people were administrators, merchants, explorers, soldiers, etc. all over the empire, and so much of their wealth came from the trading of enslaved people and the commodities they produced like sugar and tobacco. the first prime minister of canada was born in scotland - the same prime minister that introduced residential schools for the forced assimilation of indigenous children.

there was a partnership between scotland and england that was founded on whiteness. scottish people were not racialised, enslaved, and dehumanised in the way that people in the colonies were, and i think that’s an important distinction to make (not that white people can’t ever be colonised but hopefully you understand what i’m getting at here).

i'm not saying this to absolve england of anything, or to bad-mouth scotland, or to say that one country is better than the other and i don't want this to turn into an argument along those lines in the slightest. i'm just saying that colonialism perhaps isn't the best framework to explain the relationship between england and scotland, and that it’s not as simple as good guys and bad guys. there’s a lot of nuance and shade in the history of anglo-scottish relations, and we shouldn’t ignore the fact that the question of scottish independence has become more pronounced since the ‘end’ (using that term loosely) of the british empire, when the partnership has become less profitable for the scots.

finally, on william of orange and the hanover monarchs: it's an interesting point, but i think it's ultimately a false parallel. william iii was the prince of orange which isn't equal to a scottish or english king. orange was a tiny feudal state in what is now france that, tbh, was barely worth having. france were vying for it during william’s reign and i believe louis xiv actually captured it at one point, so yeah the context is wildly different. william also married into the royal family, unlike james who was a descendant of the tudors. similarly, the political system in hanover was different to that of britain, being part of the ever-confusing holy roman empire, and so again it's not comparable to the scottish monarchy which had a relatively easy equivalent in england.

also worth mentioning that by this point, the nature of monarchy had radically changed compared to james i's time. there had been a civil war, we executed a monarch, there was a period (in england) of no monarchy, the monarchy was restored, the glorious revolution created a constitutional monarchy that was accountable to parliament, the divine right of monarchs had been questioned... the roles being offered to william iii and george i were very different - even to each other! - compared to that being offerened to james i.

sorry, you probably didn’t expect a thousand-word response, but i equally didn’t want people to think that i was taking the question of english colonialism lightly because it is a conversation worth having. and i’m sure that it’s a conversation that will be repeated if/when the indyref comes around.

#i am... so sorry that this is so long and i really hope i've got the tone right like. i really don't want this to read in the wrong way #and thank u for ur ask like it's important to have these conversations! #even if it is just on tumblr and like 5 people read it shfkjdf #asks #anonymous #Scotland #Admin Dominique

[adrestianflames]

Countries that were British colonies during the reign of Elizabeth the II, and fought to gain their independence from her rule:

Sudan, Ghana, Malaysia, Cyprus, Nigeria, the Somali Republic, Kuwait, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Malta, Zambia, the Gambia, Maldives, Barbados, Guyana, Lesotho, Yemen, Eswatini, Mauritius, Nauru, Fiji, Oman, Tonga, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Bahamas, Grenada, Seychelles, Dominica, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati, St Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Brunei.

Areas that are still British colonies, or UK Members with significant secession movements, that could not gain independence from Elizabeth the II:

The Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, some territories in Cyprus, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Saint Helena, Ascension, Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.

#the queen #ding dong the witch is dead #colonialism #lemme know if i messed smth up i put this together super quickly

[ausetkmt]

Barbados Announces Creation Of A Transatlantic Slavery Museum - Travel Noire

Fresh off the country’s status as the world’s newest republic, Barbados is breaking ground on a transatlantic slavery museum with the largest collection of British slave records outside the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley announced the creation of the Barbados Heritage District, which includes a “memorial, a major global research institute, and a museum located in Newton Plantation outside the country’s capital, dedicated to accurately recounting the historic and contemporary impact of slavery on Barbados and on the lives of individuals, cultures, and nations of the Western hemisphere.”

The first phase of the project will be the Newton Enslaved Burial Ground Memorial. This monument will serve as a tribute to the country’s enslaved ancestors and provide an avenue to remember and honor those impacted by the effects of forced migration. The development is expected to be a catalyst for significant job growth across multiple industries.

“Barbados is authentically enshrining our history and preserving the past as we reimagine our world and continue to contribute to global humanity,” said Mottley in a statement. “It is a moral imperative but equally an economic necessity.”

David Adjaye, who has been commissioned to design the project, shared his vision for the Barbados Heritage District.

“Drawing upon the technique and philosophy of traditional African tombs, prayer sites, and pyramids, the memorial is conceived as a space that contemporaneously honors the dead, edifies the living, and manifests a new diasporic future for Black civilization that is both of the African continent and distinct from it.”

At the inauguration of Barbados’ new president Dame Sandra Mason, who replaced the Queen as head of state, Prince Charles acknowledged the UK’s role in Barbados’ grim beginnings.

“From the darkest days of our past, and the appalling atrocity of slavery, which forever stains our history, the people of this island forged their path with extraordinary fortitude,” he said. “Emancipation, self-government, and independence were your way-points. Freedom, justice, and self-determination have been your guides. Your long journey has brought you to this moment, not as your destination, but as a vantage point from which to survey a new horizon.”

#Barbados #Barbados Announces Creation Of A Transatlantic Slavery Museum #Mia Motley #Barbados sugar #Diasporic awakening #Barbados Historical District #transatlantic slavery #slavery in Barbados #Slavery in the Caribbean #Sugar

[ingek73]

Royals, republicanism and reparations: Wessexes feel the heat in Caribbean

Weeks after William and Kate’s controversial Caribbean tour, more nations signal plans to ditch the monarchy

Shanti Das

Sun 1 May 2022 12.00 (CEST)

Follow Shanti Das

Sitting across from the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda last week, partway through a royal tour to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee, Prince Edward laughed awkwardly. Gaston Browne had just asked the prince whether he and his wife Sophie would use their “diplomatic influence” to push for the payment of slavery reparations to Britain’s former colonies. “We believe that all human civilisation should understand the atrocities that took place,” the Caribbean nation’s political leader told the Queen’s youngest son.

In the same meeting came a second blow. “One day,” the prime minister told the couple, Antigua and Barbuda – a former British colony where the Queen is still the head of state – would cut ties with the monarchy and become a republic. Prince Edward shuffled nervously in his seat. “I wasn’t keeping notes, so I’m not going to give you a complete riposte,” he said. “But thank you for your welcome today.”

Protesters in St Vincent

Protesters in St Vincent during the royal visit last week. Photograph: Kenton X Chance/I-Witness News

The painful exchange was one in a series of historic moments in the Earl and Countess of Wessex’s week-long tour of the Caribbean, the second royal tour to the region in two months to be mired in controversy.

By the end of the trip last Thursday, two Commonwealth nations had indicated their intention to cut ties with the royal family and become republics. St Kitts and Nevis also revealed its plan to review its ties with the monarchy.

“The advancement of the decades has taught us that the time has come for St Kitts and Nevis to review its monarchical system of government and to begin the dialogue to advance to a new status,” Shawn Richards, deputy prime minister, told reporters.

Prince Edward meets Gaston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda

Prince Edward meets Gaston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda. Photograph: Stuart C Wilson/Getty Images

The declarations follow similar moves by other Commonwealth realms, several of which signalled their own plans to cut ties with the monarchy following a separate tour of the Caribbean by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in March.

During that tour, William and Kate were accused of harking back to colonial days after they shook hands with crowds behind a wire mesh fence in Jamaica, and rode in the back of a Land Rover like the Queen did 60 years ago. Protesters accused them of benefiting from the “blood, tears and sweat” of slaves, while in the Bahamas they were urged to acknowledge the British economy was “built on the backs” of slaves and to pay reparations.

Jamaica’s prime minister Andrew Holness told William and Kate that his country was “moving on” and may be the next to become a republic, while a minister from Belize said it was time to “take the next step in truly owning our independence”.

The latest declarations mean six of the 14 countries beyond the UK that have the Queen as head of state have now indicated that they want to remove her – Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica and St Kitts and Nevis.

If they do they will join countries including Trinidad, Guyana, Dominica and most recently Barbados, which became the world’s newest republic in November.

The royal tours have also led to renewed calls for reparations – an acknowledgement of the history of enslavement and payment for the damage – from Britain and the monarchy, even from countries with no current plans to cut ties with the Queen.

In St Vincent and the Grenadines – which held a referendum on becoming a republic in 2009 that failed to pass when 55% of voters voted against such a move, and has no current plans for another vote – protesters as well as supporters greeted Edward and Sophie during their visit.

“This wrong was done against a sector of the human race by another and this wrong must be compensated,” said Idesha Jackson, 47, one protester who came out during the Wessexes’ visit.

The controversy has led to concern at the Palace. After returning to the UK in March, Prince William acknowledged the monarchy’s days in the Caribbean may be numbered. “‘I know that this tour has brought into even sharper focus questions about the past and the future,” he said, adding that the future was “for the people to decide upon”.

On Saturday it was reported that after getting home William and Kate summoned senior staff for a meeting to “clear the air”, with a source telling the Mirror they felt they had been “poorly prepared”. “If they aren’t in tune with what is going on in the world they will be left fighting for their futures,” the source said.

For now, future royal tours would be “unwise”, said Peter Hunt, the former BBC royal correspondent.

“The world has moved on in the wake of the Windrush scandal and Black Lives Matter,” he said. “Any future trips would be unwise. The role of Britain and the monarchy in the slave trade would feature, and the royals appear ill-equipped to rise to the occasion.”

#royals #brf #colonialism #abolish the monarchy #prince william #kate middleton #prince edward #sophie wessex #duke of cambridge #duchess of cambridge #caribbean

[mixdgrlproblems]

Robyn #Rihanna Fenty (born February 20, 1988) is a #mixed #Bajan singer, actress & businesswoman. Shes the richest female musician w/ a $1.4 billion fortune, mostly thanks to her #FentyBeauty brand. Shes from Saint Michael, #Barbados. Her moms #AfroGuyanese, her dad is Bajan of #African #Irish #English & #Scottish descent. Her light skin caused her grief at school, where she was harassed by students. ”People hated me because Im fair in complexion. I had to develop a thick skin because they would call me 'White'." Today, she is interested in learning more about her #Celtic roots. Her dads ancestors were indentured servants transported to Barbados to work on sugar plantations in the 17th century. They were part of the Caribbean’s poor white community known as #Redlegs. With over 250 million copies sold worldwide, Rihannas the 2nd best-selling female musician of all time. Earning 14 #1's, 31 top 10 US singles & 30 top 10 UK entries. Her accolades include: 9 Grammy's 13 American Music Awards (including the Icon Award) 12 Billboard Music Awards 6 Guinness World Records 1 NAACP's President's Award & 1 Academy Award nomination Shes known for her humanitarian causes, entrepreneurial ventures & fashion. She founded the nonprofit, Clara Lionel Foundation. Fenty Beauty started the "Fenty Effect", revolutionizing the way cosmetic brands approached diversity. Now beauty houses extend their shade ranges to accommodate all skin tones. 40 shades is the new standard. “Diversity is about so much more than colour. As women, we are different shapes, different sizes & inclusivity is so important, we don’t want anybody feeling left out." Her lingerie brand #SavageXFenty is also inclusive of plus sizes & models with different looks & abilities. Shes the first woman to create a fashion house, Fenty for #LVMH & the first #WOC to lead an LVMH brand. Now shes the first to headline a Super Bowl halftime show while pregnant. She was appointed as an ambassador of education, tourism & investment by the Government of Barbados in 2018 & declared a National Hero of Barbados on the country's independence day in 2021, entitling her "The Right Excellent" for life. 🇧🇧🇬🇧🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (at Barbados, Caribbean) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cos1Rt6uqca/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#rihanna #mixed #bajan #fentybeauty #barbados #afroguyanese #african #irish #english #scottish #celtic #redlegs #1 #savagexfenty #lvmh #woc

[uncloseted]

Is there something bad about prince Charles now being king since she died? Like I don't know anything at all Abt the royals and their history, but it doesn't seem like this is necessarily a good thing even if people are glad that she's not in power anymore you know? Idk that's how my teacher was making it seem lol

This whole situation is kind of complicated, but I'll do my best to keep it brief here. The people who are glad that Queen Elizabeth died generally aren't against her specifically. They're against the British monarchy in general.

Queen Elizabeth was generally pretty well-loved as a figure. In 2012, at her Diamond Jubillee, she had an approval rating of 90%, and several surveys have found that she was the "most admired person in the UK". She became Queen at 25 years old, when Edward VIII abdicated the throne in order to marry Wallis Simpson, and served for 70 years. Throughout her time as Queen, she was largely apolitical and served only as a cultural figurehead. As a result, many people viewed her kind of like the "grandmother of England"- someone harmless and friendly, if a little formal. She provided a sense of stability in a turbulent world and fostered national pride in many.

Charles is not nearly as popular as Elizabeth was. His popularity with the British people was about 42% before he became King, and 46% of Britons wanted Charles to abdicate immediately upon accession to the throne, in favour of William. His public image is tinted by his treatment of his first wife, Princess Diana, as well as his affair with and eventually marriage to Camilla Parker-Bowles. He has been much more outspoken than other royals, both politically and in terms of how the press treats him. Perhaps in retaliation, he is regularly referred to as, “a prat,” “a twit,” and “an idiot" in media publications.

So, then, why are people against the monarchy to begin with? The most common criticisms fit into one of two categories: the idea that the monarchy is a financial drain on the British people, and that the monarchy is a symbol of the British empire, and, by extension, British colonization.

The first criticism is pretty straightforward. The British monarchy is estimated to cost British taxpayers about £202.4 million each year, making it the most expensive monarchy in Europe, and it is exempt from taxation on any money it makes. The funeral and coronation will reportedly cost gross domestic product an estimated 6 billion pounds when it’s all said and done. This is while the UK is in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, one that the government has been slow to intervene in. Understandably, people are upset that this money is going to the monarchy instead of to helping everyday people who are struggling to put food on the table. For example, a New York Times article quoted Mo Varley, a teacher in Sheffield, England, who said, “the royals seem to be adored by so many, and at times like this I find it a bit frustrating when so many are suffering and those in power don’t appear to care about that. I don’t think you can have a family paid for by the state be free of scrutiny.”

The second criticism is a bit more complicated. For this, it's important to know that at its height in 1920, the British Empire occupied 24% of the Earth's total land area. A total of 65 countries have claimed their independence from the British Empire. The last of these countries became independent in the 80s (Brunei was last in 1984), and Ireland was fighting to maintain its sovereignty until 1998. This is recent memory for a lot of people.

Britain also still retains sovereignty over 14 territories outside the British Isles. Plus, there are ongoing independence movements in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. An additional fifteen Commonwealth realms voluntarily continue to share the British monarch as their head of state, although this number is decreasing and will likely drop sharply now that Charles is the king. Barbados removed her as its head of state and became a republic just last year, and Jamaica seems likely to follow suit.

So, why does this matter? Part of the criticism is just that the monarchy refuses to acknowledge the harm it has caused. South African political party the Economic Freedom Fighters issued a statement saying that, “[Queen Elizabeth] never once acknowledged the atrocities her family inflicted on native people that Britain invaded across the world.” Many people, especially those from formerly colonized nations, feel that because the privileges the royals receive are built on the back of an exploited empire, the monarchy should cease to exist.

For example, Uju Anya, an associate professor of second language acquisition at Carnegie Mellon University, tweeted, "If anyone expects me to express anything but disdain for the monarch who supervised a government that sponsored the genocide that massacred and displaced half my family and the consequences of which those alive today are still trying to overcome, you can keep wishing upon a star.... I take deep offense at the notion that the oppressed and survivors of violence have to somehow be deferential or respectful when their oppressors die. There are people literally around the world, rejoicing at this woman's death, not because they're vile or cold but because her reign and the reign of her monarchy by extension was violent." Anya goes on to say that to this day, the crown continues to meddle in African affairs and act as an oppressor.

Jamaican-born Matthew Smith, professor of History at University College London, commented that, "I think when people voice those views, they're not thinking specifically about Queen Elizabeth. They're thinking about the British monarchy as an institution and the relationship of the monarchy to systems of oppression, repression and forced extraction of labor, and particularly African labor, and exploitation of natural resources and forcing systems of control in these places. That's what they're often responding to. And that's a system that exists beyond the person of Queen Elizabeth."

Other concerns about the monarchy include that it's undemocratic, elitist, and unfair, that it elevates people who are unqualified to lead, that it's incompatible with the multiracial and multicultural British society of the 21st century, that it imposes a state religion, that it causes harm to would-be monarchs, and that the monarchy is not accountable for its actions.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 2.22

Holidays

Ag Teacher Appreciation Day

Antarctica Day (Argentina)

Argentine Antarctica Day (Argentina)

Bear Tie Ball (Chicago, Illinois)

Be Humble Day

Black Orbit Day

Branch Day

Call Somebody "Boo Boo" Day

Cat Day (Japan)

Celebrity Day (Scientology)

Crime Victims Day (EU)

Day of Fraternity and Cohesion (Algeria)

A Day Without News?

Dimanche Gras (Trinidad and Tobago)

Donkey Races Day (Virgin Islands)

European Day for Victims of Crime

Five and Ten Day

For the Love of Mike Day

For the Love of Pete Day

Founder's Day (a.k.a. B.P. Day; World Organization of the Scout Movement)

Gentle Giant Day

Girl Guides Thinking Day (UK)

Give FFA Day

Golf America Day

International Agunah Day (Fast of Esther)

International World Thinking Day

Katsuyama Sagicho (Fire Festival; Japan)

Margaret Herb (Bellis Percanis) Day

Marie Day

Miracle on Ice Day

National a Day without News Day

National Breastfeeding in Public Day

National California Day

National Cat Day (Japan)

National Chosen Family Day (Canada)

National Defibrillator Awareness Day (Israel)

National Encephalitis Day

National Festival of the Sun (Argentina)

National Ginger Awareness Day

National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day (Canada)

National TWOodles’ Day

National Wildlife Day [also 9.4]

No Smoking Day (Ireland)

Play More Cards Day [also Last Monday]

Privet Day (French Republic)

Public Holiday (Russia, Zimbabwe)

Recreational Sports and Fitness Day

Rihanna Day (Barbados)

Showa-Shinzan International Yukigassen Tournament (Snowball Fighting; Japan)

Sports Day (Bahrain)

Supermarket Employee Day

Takeshima Day (Japan)

Tex Avery Day

2Twenty2 Day (Illinois)

Unity Day (Egypt; Syria)

Walking the Dog Day

Washington's Birthday

Woolworth’s Day

World Encephalitis Day

World Sword Swallowers Day

World Thinking Day

World Yoga Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Big Block of Cheese Day [original date; 1837]

National Cook a Sweet Potato Day

National Margarita Day

Popcorn Introduction Day

Powder Day (Sierra Nevada Brewing)

4th Thurday in February

Discover Girl Day [4th Thursday]

Great American Spit Out [Thursday of 3rd Full Week]

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (a.k.a. Discover Girl Day) [Thursday of National Engineers Week]

National Chili Day [4th Thursday]

Independence & Related Days

Empire Hugo (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

Founding Day (Saudi Arabia)

Kaetania (Declared; 2022) [unrecognized]

Saint Lucia (from UK, 1979)

Festivals Beginning February 22, 2024

BlendFest on the Coast (San Simeon and Cambria, California) [thru 2.25]

Dublin International Film Festival (Dublin, Ireland) [thru 3.2]

Hong Kong Arts Festival (Hong Kong, Hong Kong) [thru 3.22]

Inlander Restaurant Week (Idaho) [thru 3.2]

Jaisalmer Desert Festival (Jaisalmer, India) [thru 2.24]

Montana Beer Awards (Helena, Montana) [thru 2.24]

Newport Seafood & Wine Festival (Newport, Oregon) [thru 2.25]

New York Farm Show (Syracuse, New York) [thru 2.24]

Oregon Truffle Festival (Eugene, Oregon & Surrounding Area) [thru 3.1]

South Beach Seafood & Wine Festival (South Beach, Florida) [thru 2.25]

Vilnius Book Fair (Vilnius, Lithuania) [thru 2.25]

Whooping Crane Festival (Port Aransas) [thru 2.25]

Wintergrass Music Festival (Bellevue, Washington) [thru 2.25]

World’s Championship Bar-B-Que (Houston, Texas) [thru 2.24]

Feast Days

Abu Simbel Festival (Ancient Egypt; also 10.22)

Appreciate Dragons Day (Pastafarian)

Baradates (a.k.a. Baradat; Christian; Saint)

Beating the Bounds (England; Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Caristia (Family Reunions Festival, a.k.a. Day of Peace in the Family; Ancient Rome; Pagan)

Concordia (Old Roman Festival of Goodwill)

Day Sacred to Charistia (Ancient Rome)

Edna St. Vincent Millay (Writerism)

Edward Gorey (Writerism)

Eric Gill (Artology)

Eric Liddell (Episcopal Church (USA))

Feast of Hastseltsi (The Red God, God of Racing; Navaho)

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter (Roman Catholic Church)

Festival of the Perpendicular Sun (Ancient Egypt)

Handing Back of Goblin Orphans (Shamanism)

Horace Pippin (Artology)

Hunter S. Thompson Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

I.C. DeForrest (Muppetism)

Isabel (Christian; Martyr)

Luis (Rowan or Mountain Ash; Celtic Book of Days)

Margaret of Cortona (Christian; Saint)

Rembrandt Peale (Artology)

Thalasius and Limneus (Christian; Saint)

Tibullus (Positivist; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 53 [16 of 72]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

#Holidays

[brookston]

Holidays 2.22

Holidays

Ag Teacher Appreciation Day

Antarctica Day (Argentina)

Argentine Antarctica Day (Argentina)

Bear Tie Ball (Chicago, Illinois)

Be Humble Day

Black Orbit Day

Branch Day

Call Somebody "Boo Boo" Day

Cat Day (Japan)

Celebrity Day (Scientology)

Crime Victims Day (EU)

Day of Fraternity and Cohesion (Algeria)

A Day Without News?

Dimanche Gras (Trinidad and Tobago)

Donkey Races Day (Virgin Islands)

European Day for Victims of Crime

Five and Ten Day

For the Love of Mike Day

For the Love of Pete Day

Founder's Day (a.k.a. B.P. Day; World Organization of the Scout Movement)

Gentle Giant Day

Girl Guides Thinking Day (UK)

Give FFA Day

Golf America Day

International Agunah Day (Fast of Esther)

International World Thinking Day

Katsuyama Sagicho (Fire Festival; Japan)

Margaret Herb (Bellis Percanis) Day

Marie Day

Miracle on Ice Day

National a Day without News Day

National Breastfeeding in Public Day

National California Day

National Cat Day (Japan)

National Chosen Family Day (Canada)

National Defibrillator Awareness Day (Israel)

National Encephalitis Day

National Festival of the Sun (Argentina)

National Ginger Awareness Day

National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day (Canada)

National TWOodles’ Day

National Wildlife Day [also 9.4]

No Smoking Day (Ireland)

Play More Cards Day [also Last Monday]

Privet Day (French Republic)

Public Holiday (Russia, Zimbabwe)

Recreational Sports and Fitness Day

Rihanna Day (Barbados)

Showa-Shinzan International Yukigassen Tournament (Snowball Fighting; Japan)

Sports Day (Bahrain)

Supermarket Employee Day

Takeshima Day (Japan)

Tex Avery Day

2Twenty2 Day (Illinois)

Unity Day (Egypt; Syria)

Walking the Dog Day

Washington's Birthday

Woolworth’s Day

World Encephalitis Day

World Sword Swallowers Day

World Thinking Day

World Yoga Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Big Block of Cheese Day [original date; 1837]

National Cook a Sweet Potato Day

National Margarita Day

Popcorn Introduction Day

Powder Day (Sierra Nevada Brewing)

4th Thurday in February

Discover Girl Day [4th Thursday]

Great American Spit Out [Thursday of 3rd Full Week]

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (a.k.a. Discover Girl Day) [Thursday of National Engineers Week]

National Chili Day [4th Thursday]

Independence & Related Days

Empire Hugo (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

Founding Day (Saudi Arabia)

Kaetania (Declared; 2022) [unrecognized]

Saint Lucia (from UK, 1979)

Festivals Beginning February 22, 2024

BlendFest on the Coast (San Simeon and Cambria, California) [thru 2.25]

Dublin International Film Festival (Dublin, Ireland) [thru 3.2]

Hong Kong Arts Festival (Hong Kong, Hong Kong) [thru 3.22]

Inlander Restaurant Week (Idaho) [thru 3.2]

Jaisalmer Desert Festival (Jaisalmer, India) [thru 2.24]

Montana Beer Awards (Helena, Montana) [thru 2.24]

Newport Seafood & Wine Festival (Newport, Oregon) [thru 2.25]

New York Farm Show (Syracuse, New York) [thru 2.24]

Oregon Truffle Festival (Eugene, Oregon & Surrounding Area) [thru 3.1]

South Beach Seafood & Wine Festival (South Beach, Florida) [thru 2.25]

Vilnius Book Fair (Vilnius, Lithuania) [thru 2.25]

Whooping Crane Festival (Port Aransas) [thru 2.25]

Wintergrass Music Festival (Bellevue, Washington) [thru 2.25]

World’s Championship Bar-B-Que (Houston, Texas) [thru 2.24]

Feast Days

Abu Simbel Festival (Ancient Egypt; also 10.22)

Appreciate Dragons Day (Pastafarian)

Baradates (a.k.a. Baradat; Christian; Saint)

Beating the Bounds (England; Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Caristia (Family Reunions Festival, a.k.a. Day of Peace in the Family; Ancient Rome; Pagan)

Concordia (Old Roman Festival of Goodwill)

Day Sacred to Charistia (Ancient Rome)

Edna St. Vincent Millay (Writerism)

Edward Gorey (Writerism)

Eric Gill (Artology)

Eric Liddell (Episcopal Church (USA))

Feast of Hastseltsi (The Red God, God of Racing; Navaho)

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter (Roman Catholic Church)

Festival of the Perpendicular Sun (Ancient Egypt)

Handing Back of Goblin Orphans (Shamanism)

Horace Pippin (Artology)

Hunter S. Thompson Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

I.C. DeForrest (Muppetism)

Isabel (Christian; Martyr)

Luis (Rowan or Mountain Ash; Celtic Book of Days)

Margaret of Cortona (Christian; Saint)

Rembrandt Peale (Artology)

Thalasius and Limneus (Christian; Saint)

Tibullus (Positivist; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 53 [16 of 72]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

#calendar #Holidays

[speedyposts]

Israel’s war on Gaza: List of key events, day 123

Here’s how things stand on Tuesday, February 6, 2024:

At least 27,478 people have been killed and 66,835 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.

A convoy of trucks waiting to bring food into the Gaza Strip was hit by Israeli fire on Monday, according to UNRWA director Thomas White. There were no casualties but goods were damaged.

The Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City received a “surge of injured people” after the “rapid deterioration” of al-Shifa Hospital, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Some 6,000 people are also waiting to be evacuated from the Strip for crucial medical care, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says.

Around 8,000 people sheltering in al-Amal Hospital were able to leave after two weeks of siege, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS).

OCHA says 66 percent of planned humanitarian missions to distribute food and water and to provide hospital support were denied by Israeli authorities in January. Meanwhile, Jordanian and Dutch troops jointly airdropped aid supplies into Gaza, as well as medical supplies.

At least 27,478 people have been killed and 66,835 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.

A convoy of trucks waiting to bring food into the Gaza Strip was hit by Israeli fire on Monday, according to UNRWA director Thomas White. There were no casualties but goods were damaged.

The Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City received a “surge of injured people” after the “rapid deterioration” of al-Shifa Hospital, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Some 6,000 people are also waiting to be evacuated from the Strip for crucial medical care, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says.

Around 8,000 people sheltering in al-Amal Hospital were able to leave after two weeks of siege, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS).

OCHA says 66 percent of planned humanitarian missions to distribute food and water and to provide hospital support were denied by Israeli authorities in January. Meanwhile, Jordanian and Dutch troops jointly airdropped aid supplies into Gaza, as well as medical supplies.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting the Middle East to push for a truce between Israel and Hamas as well as the release of captives in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

A Barbados-flagged, UK-owned cargo ship was attacked by a drone in the Red Sea, 57km (around 35 miles) west of the Yemeni city of Hodeidah. Yemen’s Houthis have been attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea since November in protest at Israel’s war on Gaza.

The UN has appointed an independent panel to investigate its aid agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, following accusations that its staff were involved in Hamas’s October 7 attacks in southern Israel, and the subsequent cut to funding from main donors like the United States and Germany. 

China and Russia representatives at a UN Security Council meeting said the US is escalating tensions and had impinged on other countries’ sovereignty by carrying out air strikes in Syria and Iraq over the weekend. The strikes were in response to the killing of US troops in Jordan last week but the US has admitted it did not give Iraq prior notice of strikes.

Amir Ohana, speaker of the Knesset, met with UN national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Monday and said Israel’s goal in Gaza was the “complete defeat of Hamas”. Ohana also said that “the Iranian-led axis of evil must feel the resolve of the free world in the shape of a diplomatic and military iron curtain”, referring to rising tensions in Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting the Middle East to push for a truce between Israel and Hamas as well as the release of captives in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

A Barbados-flagged, UK-owned cargo ship was attacked by a drone in the Red Sea, 57km (around 35 miles) west of the Yemeni city of Hodeidah. Yemen’s Houthis have been attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea since November in protest at Israel’s war on Gaza.

The UN has appointed an independent panel to investigate its aid agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, following accusations that its staff were involved in Hamas’s October 7 attacks in southern Israel, and the subsequent cut to funding from main donors like the United States and Germany. 

China and Russia representatives at a UN Security Council meeting said the US is escalating tensions and had impinged on other countries’ sovereignty by carrying out air strikes in Syria and Iraq over the weekend. The strikes were in response to the killing of US troops in Jordan last week but the US has admitted it did not give Iraq prior notice of strikes.

Amir Ohana, speaker of the Knesset, met with UN national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Monday and said Israel’s goal in Gaza was the “complete defeat of Hamas”. Ohana also said that “the Iranian-led axis of evil must feel the resolve of the free world in the shape of a diplomatic and military iron curtain”, referring to rising tensions in Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria.

Israel has been accused of withholding the body of a 14-year-old Palestinian boy, killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank on Monday, from his relatives. Defence for Children International, a civil society organisation, said the action violates international law.

Israeli forces have arrested a minor from the village of Aqqa and two young brothers from the village of Asfi, both in the hamlet of Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, the Wafa news agency reports. Raids have been reported in five other areas of the West Bank in the past few days.

Israel has been accused of withholding the body of a 14-year-old Palestinian boy, killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank on Monday, from his relatives. Defence for Children International, a civil society organisation, said the action violates international law.

Israeli forces have arrested a minor from the village of Aqqa and two young brothers from the village of Asfi, both in the hamlet of Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, the Wafa news agency reports. Raids have been reported in five other areas of the West Bank in the past few days.

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[reasoningdaily]

Though millions across the world mourned, many also saw the Queen’s passing as a bitter reminder of the British empire’s violent exploitation of countries throughout history, resulting in decades of economic and social devastation.

The death of Queen Elizabeth II revived longstanding criticism over the monarchy’s enrichment from the British empire’s violent colonization of African, Asian and Caribbean nations.

A lot of young Africans shared images and stories of their own elders, who endured a brutal period of British colonial history during the Queen's long reign. 

Travel was restricted for Kenyans under British rule

"I cannot mourn," one wrote on Twitter, posting an image of what she said was her grandmother's "movement pass": a colonial document which prevented free travel for Kenyans under British rule in the east African country

Men taken away from their families

Another wrote that her grandmother used to narrate to them how they were beaten and how their husbands were taken away from them and they were left to support their children alone during colonial times.

Cruelty and economic deprivation

Karen Attiah, an African-American journalist tweeted: “Black and brown people around the world who were subject to horrendous cruelties and economic deprivation under British colonialism are allowed to have feelings about Queen Elizabeth”.

Decades of violent upheaval

Harvard University history professor Maya Jasanoff wrote in the New York Times that the Queen’s stoic presence in life as a “fixture of stability” underlied a “solid traditionalist front over decades of violent upheaval”.

The Mau Mau uprising

Jasanoff pointed out that months after Elizabeth II learned of her father’s death and became queen, British colonial authorities in Kenya suppressed a rebellion against the colonial regime known as Mau Mau.

No apologies from the Queen

Cornell University professor Mukoma Wa Ngugi pointed out on Twitter the Queen never apologized for slavery or colonialism or urged the crown to offer reparations for “the millions of lives taken in her/their names.”

An “absurd theater”

“As a Kenyan, I feel nothing. This theater is absurd”, Wa Ngugi added.

The British monarchy represents inequality

University of Cambridge postcolonial studies professor Priyamvada Gopal said on Democracy Now news broadcast that the British monarchy has come to represent “profound and grave inequality”.

Parallels between the British monarchy and the US

She drew parallels between the British monarchy and the concentration of power in other places like the United States.

Colonization of Puerto Rico

Before its independence, the US was once ruled by the British monarchy and now effectively colonizes Puerto Rico and other island nations.

Concentration of power

Gopal added that “power, privilege and wealth are in the hands of a few, which the rest of us are then invited to worship and think of as perfectly normal”.

The future of the Commonwealth

Melissa Murray, a law professor at New York University whose family is from Jamaica, tweeted that the Queen’s death would “accelerate debates about colonialism, reparations, and the future of the Commonwealth”.

Head of state for 32 countries

The Queen was head of state for as many as 32 countries in her 70-year reign, but by the time of her death, just 14 other than the UK remained.

Change underway

While Barbados’ decision to become a republic last year was the first such exit in almost 30 years, the accession of Charles III has many of his subjects across the Commonwealth asking if the time is right to install a less remote head of state.

Antigua and Barbuda

Gaston Browne (pictured), Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, said on Saturday that his plan for a referendum was not an act of hostility, but “the final step to complete that circle of independence”. 

Jamaica

The removal of the monarchy appears more straightforward in Jamaica, where a simple majority would be enough, a threshold which polls have indicated would probably be met.

Independence for Jamaica

The prime minister, Andrew Holness (pictured), told William and Kate last year that Jamaica intended to be “an independent, developed, and prosperous country”.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where protesters called for slave trade reparations during William and Kate’s visit, the prime minister, Ralph Gonsalves, proposed a referendum in July but said it could only go ahead with bipartisan support.

Possible change in the Caribbean

The Bahamas, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia all require a simple majority, while Grenada requires a two-thirds vote.

Racism in the royal family

While the Queen’s role in colonialism continues to gnaw at many, the latest generation focused on the racism that stems from the royal family.

The first mixed-race royal member

Particularly through the Queen’s relationship with her mixed-race daughter-in-law Meghan Markle.

Meghan Markle’s accusations

In 2021, Meghan Markle, said in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that “someone” in the royal family had expressed concern about her child’s skin color.

Ethnic minorities were banned from office roles at Buckingham Palace

Shortly after, a set of documents discovered at the National Archives by The Guardian, revealed that the Queen banned “coloured immigrants or foreigners” from serving in office roles in the royal household.

Ethnic minorities were only allowed servant roles

This racist rule was in place until, at least, the late sixties. However, ethnic minorities were always  allowed to work as servants.

No response to the BLM movement

Furthermore, a year before, people in the UK and everywhere, complained that the Buckingham Palace had no official response to the murder of George Floyd and the global Black Lives Matter Movement.

The Queen failed to address racism

“It’s hard to imagine the Queen showing support for BLM and anti-racism in general”, wrote a journalist for Insider in 2021.

Racism in the institution of the royal family

“In her 69 years on the throne, she has failed to address the racism that undeniably exists in the institution of the royal family,” she noted.

#white supremacy #england #british racism #elizabeth #charles #The dark legacy of Queen Elizabeth: a look at the monarchy's colonial past #Kenya #MauMau #caribbean #colonialization

[globalhint]

Britain's King Charles Hosted in Kenya

Britain's King Charles visits Kenya. The first time visiting a former colony, King Charles of Britain will spend four days in Kenya on a state visit. He will be acknowledging "painful aspects" of a common history that includes nearly seven decades of colonial authority. Charles arrived in the East African nation overnight with Queen Camilla at his side. On Tuesday morning, Kenyan President William Ruto will greet him in Nairobi. According to Buckingham Palace, the visit reflects the two nations' close collaboration on security, climate change, and economic development. Charles intends to see wildlife facilities and meet entrepreneurs from Kenya's thriving digital community. He and Camilla are also going to Mombassa, a port city in the southeast. The majority of Kenyans, however, are most interested in what Charles has to say about the atrocities committed during the colonial era, such as killings, torture, and extensive land expropriation—much of which still belongs to British individuals and businesses. Near the conclusion of British control, the 1952–1960 Mau Mau rebellion in central Kenya, was the most notorious phase of British rule. An estimated 90,000 Kenyans were killed or maimed during the revolt, while 160,000 were arrested, according to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC). Kenyans refer to this period as "the emergency," and the UK government has previously apologized for atrocities committed during that time. In 2013, an out-of-court settlement of around 20 million pounds was reached. Charles and Camilla are going to visit a recently opened national history museum, go to the location of the 1963 Declaration of Independence, and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. In a statement, Buckingham Palace stated, "His Majesty will take time during the visit to deepen his understanding of the wrongs suffered in this period by the people of Kenya."Charles's visit coincides with a growing number of former colonies reassessing their relationship with the monarchy and calling for Britain to take greater responsibility for its colonial past. Barbados deposed Queen Elizabeth as head of state in 2021 in order to become a republic, and Jamaica has hinted that it would follow suit. At the Commonwealth summit last year, Charles—then still the heir apparent to the throne—astonished many by admitting that slavery had a part in the founding of the voluntary association of nations that sprang out of the British Empire. Charles should go one step further and express his regret openly, as many former British colonists desire, by supporting reparations. Among them are leaders of the Nandi people in Kenya, whose chief Koitalel Arap Samoie spearheaded an uprising for ten years until he was killed in 1905 by a British colonel. The majority of their cattle and land were taken by the British in the years that followed. Kipchoge areas Chomu, the great-grandson of Samoie, acknowledged that the British had contributed to Kenya's public health and education institutions, but he also stated that historical injustices needed to be made right. "We have to demand a public apology from the government of the British because of the atrocities they meted on us," he stated to Reuters. "After apologies, we also expect a reparation." ALSO READ The US is to remove Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda from the trade program Read the full article

[cheerfulomelette]

Queer wins in 2022

Inspired by a Medium article by Kaylin Hamilton, Ph.D

Queer rep in politics

US:

Two womn share the title of first openly lesbian Governor: Maura Healey (MA, Dem) and Tina Kotek (OR, Dem)

First openly gay immigrant member of Congress: Robert Garcia (CA, Dem)

First trans man ever elected to any state legislature in U.S. history: James Roesner (NH, Dem)

First Black queer person ever elected to statewide office in US history : Erick Russell (CT, Dem)

First non-binary candidate elected to the Montana state legislature: SJ Howell (Dem)

First openly trans woman to be elected to the Montana state government: Zooey Zephyr (Dem)

Worldwide:

UK - First openly trans member of British parliament: Jamie Wallis (Con)

Argentina - First openly lesbian government minister: Ayelén Mazzina (PJ)

India - First ever transgender woman to state office: Bobi Kinnar ( AAP)

Trinidad and Tobago - First openly transgender senator: Jowelle De Souza (Independent)

Queer rep in the media

First Pixar movie to feature an on-screen lesbian kiss: Lightyear

First Disney animation with a gay lead character: Strange Worlds

First openly trans Golden Globe winner for an acting role: Michaela Jaé Rodriguez

Conversion therapy bans

Full conversion therapy bans:

New Zealand

Canada

Vietnam

Paraguay

Mexico (Sonora, Hidalgo, Puebla, Baja California, Jalisco. Nationwide ban is pending)

Partial ban or criminalisation, with an exemption for religious organisations:

Cyprus

France and all its overseas territories and protectorates (Réunion, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, French Southern Territories, Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana)

The US state of Pennsylvania has prevented any state-funding of organisations that engage in conversion practices

Greece’s ban left a loophole for those not receiving remuneration for practicing conversion therapy (such as religious organisations)

MSM blood donation restrictions lifted

Ireland

Canada

Austria

Slovenia

Lithuania

France

Ireland

Malta

Greece

Same-sex marriage and adoption

Legalised same-sex marriage:

Mexico (Previously legal everywhere except Tamaulipas, now legal nationwide)

Cuba

Slovenia

Switzerland

Chile

Legalised same-sex adoption:

Taiwan (ambiguous: the Legislative Yuan is yet to codify with legislation)

Mexican state of Nayarit

Croatia (same-sex marriage not legalised)

Slovenia

Cuba

Forward movement:

The US federal government passed the Respect for Marriage Act, obligating American Samoa to recognise foreign same-sex marriages.

India heard two petitions with a view towards recognising same-sex marriage across the country

Japan allows same-sex partnerships

The Ukrainian president suggested allowing same-sex civil partnerships in the future

Same-sex activity

Singapore (also dropped censorship for LGBT+ media content)

Saint Kitts & Nevis (also equalised age of consent)

Antigua & Barbuda (also equalised age of consent)

Barbados

Chile equalised the age of consent

Trans and non-binary rights

Recognised non-binary identities:

Colombia

Brazil (Bahia, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Rio de Janeiro)

Mexico (Hidalgo)

Chile

Canada (Quebec)

US (Vermont)

Costa Rica (recognises foreign documentation for non-binary and ‘not indicated’ genders)

US - North Carolina and Montana now allow legal gender change without surgery

India - Ruled that trans people can compete in sport for their lived gender

Germany - The German football (soccer) federation allows transgender, intersex and non-binary players to choose whether to play in men's or women's teams

Kuwait - Ruled that a law which criminalises people for ‘imitating the opposite sex’ is unconstitutional

Scotland - Lowered the age of legal transition to 16, removed the neeed for a gender dysphoria diagnosis, and lowed the ‘lived experience’ requirement from two years to three months.

Intersex rights

Kenya - Genital surgery on intersex babies is now punishable by a 5000$ fine, introduced an ‘I’ gender marker

Greece - Introduced a full ban on intersex genital mutilation

#trans rights #transgender #lgbtq rights #lgbtq issues