Should the UK pay reparations to other countries.

[Clodbuster]

In my opinion NO, The UK has dished out fortunes to various countries without any improvement (Except a few individuals who do very well thank you) and they are back with the begging bowl constantly.

 

[Fagin2021]

In my opinion NO, The UK has dished out fortunes to various countries without any improvement (Except a few individuals who do very well thank you) and they are back with the begging bowl constantly.

No - the modern equivalent of Danegeld ('you'll never get rid of the Dane').

 

[MBE2017]

No.

 

[WaveJumper]

No

 

[IanSuth]

I think we should agree to sell them some green tech things like Wind Turbines at cost as long as installed/installation project managed by British companies. Use that as the kickstarter to grow those business areas here.

If they dont want to take us up on the deal they shouldn't whinge

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

For what?

 

[Clodbuster]

Apparently we've ruined their climate.

 

[DontAsk]

Apparently we've ruined their climate.

A lot have ruined there own chances of development through dictatorships, corruption and tribal/ethnic conflicts. Leave it to the chinese.

 

[japancool]

Apparently we've ruined their climate.

Oh, we didn't?

Who pumped out the most greenhouse gases? Who is STILL pumping out the most greenhouse gases? Who should pay for it?

 

[Paul Norman]

No.

This is a nonsense idea. It also would do nothing to improve the environment.

 

[UKSBD]

Oh, we didn't?

Who pumped out the most greenhouse gases? Who is STILL pumping out the most greenhouse gases? Who should pay for it?

Don't know how much of it was someone quoting stats to suit their own agenda, but I read the other day there has been more damage done since 1970 than the whole of the industrial revolution up until then,

And then you see this,

United Kingdom CO2 Emissions - Worldometer

Current and historical CO2 Emissions of the United Kingdom

www.worldometers.info

Pakistan CO2 Emissions - Worldometer

Current and historical CO2 Emissions of Pakistan

www.worldometers.info

 

[IanSuth]

Don't know how much of it was someone quoting stats to suit their own agenda, but I read the other day there has been more damage done since 1970 than the whole of the industrial revolution up until then,

And then you see this,

United Kingdom CO2 Emissions - Worldometer

Current and historical CO2 Emissions of the United Kingdom

www.worldometers.info

Pakistan CO2 Emissions - Worldometer

Current and historical CO2 Emissions of Pakistan

www.worldometers.info

Also something about china producing more emissions in last I think 7 years than the uk has in total since the industrial revolution

 

[japancool]

Don't know how much of it was someone quoting stats to suit their own agenda, but I read the other day there has been more damage done since 1970 than the whole of the industrial revolution up until then,

And then you see this,

United Kingdom CO2 Emissions - Worldometer

Current and historical CO2 Emissions of the United Kingdom

www.worldometers.info

Pakistan CO2 Emissions - Worldometer

Current and historical CO2 Emissions of Pakistan

www.worldometers.info

And what that shows is that Pakistan's highest year of emissions is lower than the UK's lowest year. If you totalled up all of those emissions, the UK outdoes Pakistan by probably a factor of 5.

 

[japancool]

Also something about china producing more emissions in last I think 7 years than the uk has in total since the industrial revolution

China should most certainly be amongst the countries paying for it, alongside the USA and Australia.

 

[UKSBD]

Also something about china producing more emissions in last I think 7 years than the uk has in total since the industrial revolution

I purposely didn't mention China because the OP was about reparations and assumed the OP meant countries, we have previously had control over (colonized, commonwealth, etc.)

 

[UKSBD]

And what that shows is that Pakistan's highest year of emissions is lower than the UK's lowest year. If you totalled up all of those emissions, the UK outdoes Pakistan by probably a factor of 5.

It also shows UK was down 6.38% and Pakistan was up 9.13%
Put another way - they could overtake us in 5 years (for total emissions)

Edit: if they haven't already, chart is from 2016

 

[scstock]

Give them back the Koh-i-noor instead

 

[scstock]

In my opinion NO, The UK has dished out fortunes to various countries without any improvement (Except a few individuals who do very well thank you) and they are back with the begging bowl constantly.

We did loot $45 trillion from India apparently (even the word loot is originally Gujurati)

How Britain stole $45 trillion from India

www.cadtm.org

 

[japancool]

Makes me laugh. The likes of Macron and other European leaders telling poorer countries they should stop using fossil fuels while Europe is busy buying up gas from all over the world and driving the prices sky-high.

 

[japancool]

It also shows UK was down 6.38% and Pakistan was up 9.13%
Put another way - they could overtake us in 5 years (for total emissions)

Edit: if they haven't already, chart is from 2016

Still means the UK has pumped out far more emissions in total. And that's part of their argument - you got rich while pumping out loads of emissions, why shouldn't we do the same?

 

[UKSBD]

Still means the UK has pumped out far more emissions in total. And that's part of their argument - you got rich while pumping out loads of emissions, why shouldn't we do the same?

Since when have 2 wrongs made a right?

 

[MBE2017]

Since when have 2 wrongs made a right?

Might have happened in China.

 

[japancool]

Since when have 2 wrongs made a right?

Depends whether you think allowing a poorer country to enjoy the benefits that the richer countries have already enjoyed is wrong.

 

[simon field]

As long as we can keep dumping our rubbish on them, then yes.

Here in sunny Norfolk, we’re unable to deal with our own recycling, so we ship it halfway round the world to Taiwan and Malaysia.

Seems rather counter productive to me!

 

[japancool]

As long as we can keep dumping our rubbish on them, then yes.

Here in sunny Norfolk, we’re unable to deal with our own recycling, so we ship it halfway round the world to Taiwan and Malaysia.

Seems rather counter productive to me!

Those countries are starting to turn away shipments of UK rubbish.

And they don't want our recycling either.

 

[IanSuth]

Definitely we (and other western nations)_ got to where we are by exploiting our own natural resources and then exploiting others.

But i don't see how we could (or should) just send a cheque to cover it.

Which is why i suggested we kill 2 birds with one stone, we help them decarbonise with cost price renewable installs whilst using that programme to kickstart/improve green industries here (because if we don't someone else will)

Win WIn

 

[DontAsk]

I purposely didn't mention China because the OP was about reparations and assumed the OP meant countries, we have previously had control over (colonized, commonwealth, etc.)

China is relevant since Ed Millibland included it as one of the countries we should pay.

 

[Karimbo]

I imagine if the boots were put in the other foot. Should Russia pay reparitions to Ukraine the answers will be very different.

But it's base survival instinct. If Britain had to pay reparitions to all the wealth extracted from other countries. We'd be like a Bulgaria or Romania in gdp.

 

[japancool]

Well, hey, the developed world can't exactly go telling poorer countries to decommission coal fired plants when Germany is opening new coal mines now, can it?

 

[Clodbuster]

But it's base survival instinct. If Britain had to pay reparitions to all the wealth extracted from other countries. We'd be like a Bulgaria or Romania in gdp.

They must then pay for the infrastructure that was installed in those countries - don't forget I am a colonialist.

 

[Karimbo]

They've paid for it serval times over. You're talking like colonising those countries with done by consent. Those nations asked Britain to come and take over their countries like its a business contract. "Invade us so you an build railways here and we can export our raw materials to europe"

I wonder if the same argument would fly if germany argued that they built a few railways in Europe so that's a fair trade off for invading the country, decimating people and decimating the economy.

 

[Clodbuster]

They've paid for it serval times over. You're talking like colonising those countries with done by consent. Those nations asked Britain to come and take over their countries like its a business contract. "Invade us so you an build railways here and we can export our raw materials to europe"

The country I am from had a population of under 400000 but now 140 million in 140 years. They were subjected to regular slaving attacks by other Africans, had not invented the wheel or a bow and arrow. Not sure if you are English - I am 6th generation African yet I was told personally by a prominent politician that I could never be an African and I've now had my citizenship removed because I now have a British passport. Yeah sure - we did stuff all for them.

 

[DontAsk]

Well, hey, the developed world can't exactly go telling poorer countries to decommission coal fired plants when Germany is opening new coal mines now, can it?

No, but we can encourage them to skip it and go green instead, whilst fleecing them by selling them the kit

 

[Avilon]

I believe a terrible future awaits the West in general, not only UK. Power is shifting the East again and they will enjoy every second of it.

 

[Clodbuster]

The country I am from had a population of under 400000 but now 140 million in 140 years. They were subjected to regular slaving attacks by other Africans, had not invented the wheel or a bow and arrow. Not sure if you are English - I am 6th generation African yet I was told personally by a prominent politician that I could never be an African and I've now had my citizenship removed because I now have a British passport. Yeah sure - we did stuff all for them.

I've just read this - not 140 million - 14 million. Duh.

 

[Clodbuster]

How far do you go. Should all the Church of England churches and cathedrals built prior to 1550 be returned to the Catholic church??

 

[clyde123]

How far do you go. Should all the Church of England churches and cathedrals built prior to 1550 be returned to the Catholic church??

Not Church of England here, but we did have a Reformation. I think the view of the people and certainly the current congregations would be that these buildings belonged to the people. It was their ancestors who built and paid for them, as local churches, no matter what organisation's name they might have been in at that time.

It's a hard question, dealing with ancient wrongs. Much of my own city centre was built from profits from the slave trade. But the present population had no involvement with that.
Personally I feel this is a rich country and we can afford to give a little to those countries we took so much from. How much? Dunno. At least make a gesture.