The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about 500 km East of the coast of mainland South America. At various times there have been French, British, Spanish, and Argentine settlements. Britain re-established its rule in 1833. The islands were uninhabited when discovered by Europeans.The islands are a self-governing British oversees territory although Argentina disputes this and lays claim to the island. It is high time that the dispute was resolved. It has a native population of around 3000 that is mostly of British Descent and the islanders do not want to be a part of Argentina. They clearly wish to remain British as they have been for over a hundred years. Under the circumstances it is grossly inhuman and improper for Argentina to enforce its sovereignty on the Falkland Islands. Another alternative of giving the Falklands independence is also ruled out for two reasons. First the population is too small to survive as an independent state and secondly the islanders do not want that.
On the other hand, there is a need to strengthen the British identity of the islands. The new found oil wealth on the islands should encourage the British government to do this now with great speed. Here are some measures that will help and need a serious consideration,
1. An attempt may be made, subject to approval through a referendum in Falkland Islands to change the nature of governance to one similar to the governance of Isle of Wight, Anglesey, the Isles of Scilly, the Hebrides, and the island groups of Orkney and Shetland by Great Britain. This will speed the full integration of the islands into Great Britain. Historically this may not have been possible because of the distance involved but this is not so anymore with modern communication technology.
2. The government may allot around 1000 acres of vacant land to the Queen after approval of the Falklands under a referendum, under condition that she would establish a royal dukedom on Falkland through a letters patent that shall have the approval of the British government. This approval is likely to go through. The Queen may then proclaim Prince Harry or another royal personage as the Duke of Falkland with a seat in the House of Lords. This change would open the islands to further development. This should now be easily possible with new oil revenues. Some possible locations for the seat/castle of the Duke is around Estancia House or at a midway point on the road between Stanley and the Airport perhaps at the foot of Smoko Mountain.
3. A large defence cantonment containing army, air force and navy may be established to increase the population and development on the islands as well as protect them from any possible future invasion.
4. There is a need to expand industry on the islands. Immediate prospects exist for establishing an oil refinery and related chemical industry, tourist resort, fish canning and mining
5. There is a desperate need to plant more trees on the islands. Trees are the primary reason why the attention of this blogger was drawn to the Falklands in the first place. The Falkland Islands does not have many trees. One can drive for miles and miles without seeing a single tree. It's not because of the cold. Alaska is colder and has a lot of vegetation. The most promising species are Cupressus macrocarpa, Picea sitchensis (Queen Charlotte Islands origin), Pinus contorta, Pinus radiata and Nothofagus betuloides. Imported planting stock may be necessary due to the impracticality of raising sizable quantities in the Islands. Planting more trees will stabilise the climate, reduce winds and is likely to cause an increase in rainfall, all badly needed to make the islands more hospitable to life.
6.. There is a need to establish a University at Falklands, even a small one to begin with containing departments of language, Antarctic studies, forestry, fishery, petroleum technology, computer science, British Music, fine arts and drama, animal husbandry and agriculture. The university could be an offshore branch of the Cambridge, Oxford or another British University.
I am certain the British Government and the Falkland Islanders would find the proposals listed here as attractive. Hope they give credit to this blogger in case any are accepted.
36 comments:
"governance to one similar to the governance of Isle of Wight, Anglesey, the Isles of Scilly, the Hebrides, and the island groups of Orkney and Shetland by Great Britain."
Let me clarify this. Great Britain is the name of an island which includes England, Scotland and Wales. The islands you refer to are part of the United Kingdom, perhaps geographically but not politically distinct from Great Britain.
The precedent for what you suggest already exists in France, some of whose former colonies are now politically part of the mother country. See this Wikipedia article.
The chances of the British Government giving credit to you for the suggestion are low, I would suggest, but there are lower summits of fame that you could climb on the way to campaigning for such an outcome!
Anyway, I think it is a very good idea, apart from the university. I can't see who could afford the fares, and what the point would be.
In any event, Argentina would still be unhappy, so it does not begin to address a diplomatic solution, in my view.
Nor will it please the British taxpayer, myself amongst them. Keeping the Falklands is already far too expensive for the sake of 3000 people.
Vincent,
Thanks for the clarifications . It is good to hear that a precedence for what I have suggested already exists in France. Hope the British can follow suit.
I do not expect the British goverment to give credit but some falklander might.
A university would b central to a sound development of the islands. I understand there are very few local residents at the present time to make a university viable but if some of the suggestions are followed the population of the islands could go up to a million in ten years. Even half a million would make a university viable and then universities can start as very small and grow with time (provided the land has been reserved for them at the outset). Yes the fares would be out of reach of most in Great Britain but there is an English speaking population in South America. Some of them may like to study at such a university nd there would be few adventurous students from America too.
Yes as regards the expense that should not be a problem for the British Tax payer anymore with the new oil finds around the islands. Infact the islands could provide new opportunities for the British with employment oportunities shrinking at home.
I have a nostalgia for the British Empire of the past over which the sun never set. Making the Falkland islands a part of the United Kingdom would revive this vision. Itis something that is within the easy reach of the British provided someone has the Victorian will of the past.
The faroe islands have a university and have 50,000 population. the land area is similar to the Falklands.
The australian alpine eucalyps may be suited to the Falklands as they grow with low rainfall and low neutiant acid soils.
regards John
Thanks for your comments John. I look forward to a great future for the Falkland Islands and believe that in some mysterious way it is tied to the future of planting more trees on the Islands. It could reduce winds (with associated rise in temperature)and increase rainfall. Certainly the wind turbines may become a little less attractive then but with new oil and fast reducing costs of solar PV that should not pose difficulties.
John, the Falklands can learn a lot from the faroes besides the university. There are a lot more trees in Tinganes in Tórshavn in the Faroes and the climate is similar. Both group of islands can gain through an exchange of information on flora and fauna as well as fishing common to both. This is the reason why universities are so important. They provide in addition to much else a place where experts can visit for fixed periods to learn from each other. I do not know if language would be an issue. Is it Danish for the faroe islands?
After I wrote the blogpost yesterday I realise that the woold industry had escaped my attention. The Falklands produce a good deal of fine wool and industries can be developed to process that in to fine tweeds and tartans perhaps learning from the region in Scotland on which the islands were named.
Additional Note: 14th Feb
In recent times the wool trade from Falkland has been facing stiff competition fro NZ and Australia. Two possible suggestions to improve are: If this wool is converted to tweed locally, that commands a high premium in world markets, a second possibility is to introduce Pashmina goats from the Himalayan region. They love harsh treeless cold climates similar to that of the Falklands. This wool commands a very high premium in the new emerging markets of Asia.
There is a chance in the Falklands that human occupation can leave a place better than it was before humans got there.
I think the stratergy of using european trees that are accustomed to good soils is likely to fail.
There is a number of australian Eucalypts that will thrive in the Falklands. specifically the snow gums and are so much more beauliful than pines they are establishing.
John
Hi Ashok
The falklands may be one of a few places in the world that may be better as a result of humans rather than have a degraded environment.
As for trees I think the stratergy using european trees that are accustomed to rich soils is likely to be problamatic.
There are a number of Australian eucalyps that would do well in the falklands, specifically the snow gums.
regards
John
Sorry for duplication i am not get this system working correctly
John, yes for sure the Australian alpine Euclyptus or snow gum appears to be a very good idea for the wilderness of Falklands. My guess is that if planted and cared for the first two years it would establish well in the wild.
The duplication is OK, I will clean it out sometime. I have done that with blogger too every now and then.
Yes there is an opportunity for mankind to illustrate that they can contribute towards imporoving the ecology of the planet rather than just destroying it. The Falklands are a virgin area for humans to demonstrate that.
As regards trees, we need as many suggestions as possible because it would be good to try a broad variety so that time may select the best ones suited to the islands and to have reasonable bio-diversity.
My own firm belief regarding trees is that they will grow and survive anywhere where humans can, and if some human habitations lack trees it is because the humans living there have not cared enough.
I'm getting a sneaky suspicion this scheme is not for the sake of 3,000 islanders, or for the sake of Britain or even Argentina; but for trees, and a resurrected British Empire!
And don't wait for the islanders to give you credit for introducing a million foreigners to their tiny space, and several million trees. If it was forced on them, I think they would emigrate. Some of them would track you down, and take vengeance!
You are right on in your suspicion Vincent but the islanders would benifit.
The million would be primarily British Vincent. That space is not tiny. The total area is about equal to the area of Northern Ireland. A million is about the minimum to have around four towns, two each in west and east Falkland and several villages besides. It includes an army plus airforce, navy of around a hundred thousand.
The credit part is the least important part of it Vincent. keeping the islanders free of Argentinians and the trees are a primary goal.
Some more research leads me to suspect that a lot of common trees even oak, weeping willows by the lakes and almonds etc. would grow easily on the island with minimal care in the first two or three years. It seems the reason there are no trees is because the natural currents have been such that trees have not reached the islands in a natural manner, and the humans have been too few and too busy with other things to have bothered enough so far. The temperature range is not very different from my childhood hometown Nainital (in the header picture) and it is full of beautiful trees including lovely oaks. Soil condition if not conducive are easily altered with modern soil additives.
Vincent, I just checked on the internet and tyhe current population of Northern Ireland is around 2 million and you would not call it a crowded place. A million is only half as much. However, that is the maximum projection and not central to the concept here. Even a population of 100 thousand can get the place going. The present 3000 appears to be a bit too small for any practical development.
I've just checked that the Falkland islands are a parliamentary democracy. I believe that the 3000 would have a lot to say about a million immigrants. They would also have strong opinions about the compulsory purchase of their land.
Whoever is investing billions of pounds in development will want to control what goes on, making the existing residents merely tenants in their own country. How are you going to overcome the people's objections?
As I understand it, in India, wealthy financiers and industrialists can easily drive out poor peasants from the land they wish to take over, for the sake of lucrative development. It is not the British way, without extremely determined protest.
This needs more thinking through, politically and economically!
Vincent nothing should happen by compulsion. Every and any move is subject to approval by the existing residents. That is why the post suggests referendums repeatedly. They must be carried out before any move is approved. The islanders are the real owners of the island. Nothing must happen without their approval. That is why I do not regard the Argentinian claim seriously. The islanders do not want it.
The islanders would make the investments with their new oil wealth. If others make an investment for example a tweed manufacturer it will be controlled by UK law, the same as anywhere else in UK.
Do not regard the islanders as outsiders. They are your British brotherhood.
The entire process requires a referendum at the outset with the three following options asked from permanent residents of Falkland Islands
1. Do they wish to become independant country by a certain date to be chosen in a subsequent refendum.
2. Do they wish to become an integral part of UK, the same as any other part of UK.
3. Do they wish to become part of Argentina.
I suspect the majority would choose option 2. It is only under those circumstances that a letters patent as suggested in the original post can be considered.
If they chose option 2 then the existing citizens would have to vote accordingly in a referendum too.
Most would say no. Because we cannot afford another war to defend those people, brothers or not!
I mean the 60 million citizens of the UK.
Meanwhile, Scotland wants a referendum on withdrawing from the UK.
You will find I think that there are lots of islands north of Scotland which have hardly any trees. Check Orkneys and Shetlands!
Vincent I get the point you are trying to make but the UK is unlikely to hold a referendum within the UK on the matter. The Parliament will decide either way.
As regards within the Falklands a referendum would be necessary if a fundamental change has to take place in a matter that so affects the lives of Falklanders.
As regards the defence expenditure the UK has already commmited to the defence of the FalklandIslands even within the prevailing situation.
My own view is that an integration of the Falkland Islands into UK would not be an expense but rather an advantage over the long and medium term.
Hi Vincent,
I think the UK will defend the Falklands because there is oil there. The extraction of oil will increase the population.
Trees should be planted and are being planted because it will increase the productivity of the land. It’s not a new idea. It is simply no very successful.
There are 2 hectres of forest on the entire Falklands of 12,000 squared kilometres.
in 1982 there were about 1900 people, there are now about 3000. A sustainable Falklands both socially, economically and environmentally will need to be based on an improvement on the productivity of the land and a diversification of the economic base.
That is a choice for the Falkland Islanders and in part peoples of the UK, and just to reiterate oil reserves are in the interest of the UK, whose own reserves in the North sea are running out
Regards John.
Very well said John. I second that whole-heartedly.
I see, it's all about oil, is it?
No not just oil Vincent. But it is all about or almost all about oil paying for itat least to start with.
It is about the independance security and freedom of the Falklanders. It is about their right to choose their destiny and it is about a vibrant falkland island and a planet adorned with beautiful trees, vast grasslands and a thriving economy with diverse opportunity for the Islanders and others from the UK who wish to join them.
I just love your cynicism Vincent :). It so helps to clarify issues.
Well, to continue the cynicism line a little further, nobody cares much for the 3000 islanders. Politicians care for the next election, whether in Argentina or UK. David Cameron cannot be seen as too much of a wimp in contrast with Margaret Thatcher, though he does not wish to be seen as so unbendingly obstinate.
As for the Argentines, they all think that Las Malvinas are their own territory, and that's that.
And trees have no vote.
The Argentinias claim the Falklands because they say that Spain gave it to them. But Spain never owned the islands therefore this argument does not hold any water.
David Cameron loves to interfere in the business of others as for example the Eurozone countries. Hope he interferes in the Falkland issue in a positive manner after being advised of the issues from this blog by the home office which most likely monitors such blog posts as this one. He should talk to the Queen about it in the next meeting and she will give him some sound advice. Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge is already in the Falkland Islands, he could fill up on some details from location.
Vincent, thanks for pointing out the correction. I have corrected the incorrect spelling and reference. Is it OK now? You do a much better job in correcting language than you do in correcting policy :)
OK, I shall say nothing more about policy. I shall leave that to my interfering Prime Minister, who has my total support.
Aside from his interference, I too support your Prime Minister Vincent and as I have mentioned before your contentions do help to clarify issues and thus indirectly if not directy help in improving policy too. However, I think we have exhausted this debate between us and unless some new visitor joins in I shall move on to a new topic soon. Thanks for your contribution to this issue through the comments to this post. Time will eventually resolve this issue just as it resolves all other issues.
Have a look at this,
http://ebookbrowse.com/potential-role-for-trees-and-forestry-falklands-pdf-d78250455
trees are on the way
Thanks for that reference John.Looks like a very interesting ebook on trees and forests for the falklands. My browser messed up while downloading. I shall try again later. Just shows that with so many minds working on the issue a forested future full of trees is not too far away for the falklands. There is another reference on the topic here
forestry.oxfordjournals.org/content/59/1/59.full.pdf
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