If the UK has to pay reparations, will other countries?

[Controversialname]

If the UK is made to pay reparations where will that leave other nations who were or indeed still are involved in slavery?

Quite a flippant remark about genocide

We didn't ask to though

It was decided by the powers that be

Have the prisoners transported to Botany Bay for minor offences ever received any recompense

The people that were there wanted to be left alone and to develop, themselves.

It wasn't just the Brits at it though - there were African tribes that were likewise violenty expanding and colonising at roughly the same time, eg the Lifeqane. UK involvement in that case was protective to some of the affected tribes, although arguably the Portuguese played a role in kicking it all off.

I'm disappointed that no one is getting on board with the idea of giving back the Sebastopol Bells.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastopol_Bell,_Windsor

one would hope you can see what a silly argument it is

I was responding to the notion that former colonies should prove how they are still affected by colonisation before they are worthy of reparations.

As for the "but we ended slavery", the UK also benefitted from it.

A genuine question that I don't know the answer to - once slavery was ended, what happened the slaves? Were they offered repatriation? Where land was seized from locals, was it returned?
I know that land was not returned to the Irish but did the UK return land to other countries?

But then how would we know when HRH has snuffed it?

I know that land was not returned to the Irish but did the UK return land to other countries?

Yes, there isn't a British Empire any longer and the countries all have independence, unless you meant something else.

Yes, there isn't a British Empire any longer and the countries all have independence, unless you meant something else

So the land was given back by the British peacefully after realising the error of their ways and ending slavery or did it have to be fought for by the natives in the same way Ireland had to?

So the land was given back by the British peacefully after realising the error of their ways and ending slavery or did it have to be fought for by the natives in the same way Ireland had to?

Varied by country really. You could probably look at wiki for independence of each former colony.
The protectorate I grew up in had an entirely peaceful handover.

Another factor is if the UK hadn't colonised the countries it did, they would have been colonised by the Dutch, Belgians, Portuguese or Spanish. Some of Britain's colonies were won off them. it's not like the areas in question would have been left in peace.

Pet?
@Danajune11 … your passive aggression is showing, you might want to tuck it in.

Another factor is if the UK hadn't colonised the countries it did, they would have been colonised by the Dutch, Belgians, Portuguese or Spanish

Oh absolutely; it's always better when the good guys get in first on the plundering and pillaging.

In terms of reparations specifically, I am wondering why the countries calling for reparations are only asking for reparations from European countries and not the African countries who were also involved in the Atlantic slave trade?

Oh absolutely; it's always better when the good guys get in first on the plundering and pillaging.

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.

I’ve not read up on this or the thread so sorry for my question , who would the reparations actually be going to? The descendants of slaves? Or the countries they were stolen from?

@MrsFishers the current demands are coming from CARICOM which is a group of fifteen Caribbean governments. They are asking for £205 billion as well as an apology and repatriation pathways (no idea how that will land with the African countries in question or how they'd determine where anyone wanting to return to Africa would be repatriated to).

Thankyou 😉 just had a look at Caricom. So that sort of explains why it’s the UK that’s being asked for reparations ? It ´s mainly old uk colonies ?

I don't think people should or would pay for something they had no responsibility for, and however would you decide who should contribute and who shouldn't?

It may be just as valid to ask who'd be getting anything which was paid

Unlike aid, much of which goes to companies/agencies tasked with delivering improvements, I get the impression CARICOM want these "reparations" paid directly to the local governments concerned - and good luck then to the populations who might hope to see something for it, given the issues with corruption in public life

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/mar/04/trouble-in-paradise-corruption-in-the-caribbean-has-become-normalised

Yes, thats it.

Wow they have some very rich politicians. Certainly make UK politicians look like paupers

So, basically some people believe the UK taxpayers should give billions to a load of corrupt officials, many of whom are already filthy rich - often having only acquired that wealth after taking office, whilst the citizens that voted them in have in many cases become poorer on a whole.

Yeah, fuck that!

Because they know they won't be getting billions from any African countries.

I am not guilty of my bloody ancestors. If they were my ancestors. My ancestry is predominantly Irish.

Even, if they were, where does it stop? Apologise maybe, yes. But I don't agree with paying for what scummy, arsehole racists did a few hundred years back.

I have never hurt anyone. And never would. And those say well we benefit from it. Yes around the world benefited at some point from the slave trade.

But there is history you know about slavery. And it is a fact, there were Africans that sold their own people. Are they going to pay their money back too? What about Spain? And other countries in Europe who also enjoyed colonisation. Where does it end?

The true responsibility/ culpability and correct response is to make SURE IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

That is a real apology and taking accountability is to act better now.

Just out of curiosity, how do you think they'd even pay that kind of money. Probably tax the shit out of us. 😏

Of course, you are not personally guilty.
However, you live in a rich country with very high overall quality of life and objectively rich. And the wealth was built on the back of the colonies.
Is it fair to keep that advantage?

"What about Spain?"

Must have been said about 20 times on this thread