Things Noticeable this week

[palo5]

Originally Posted by DTravel

Spain wants the UK to turn Gibraltar over to them. Its been a dispute for hundreds of years.

I thought that probably had something to do with it, but didn't they have a referendum some time ago, and 99% of them voted to stay British? It's almost impossible to act against a majority like that

About 25 years ago, Russia wanted to settle an issue with Japan concerning the Kuril Islands. They were taken in WW2, and Russia wanted to give them back because they wanted better relations with Japan

So they sent a delegation to talk the population into moving to the Russian mainland. But although the people there are very poor and have almost no chance of improving their conditions, nearly every one of them said they would rather fight than move or be moved

The issue is still unresolved

[Brecht]

95.9% of the voters in Gibraltar said they want to remain in the EU. What's so interesting about that island anyway except it being a tax haven and perhaps the last refuge of the neanderthals in Europe?

[haroldeye]

Well it's not an island for a kick off and I'm sure the inhabitants would object to being insulted in the way you have called them Neanderthals.

It does control one entrance to the Mediterranean which gives it a great deal of strategic importance.

[otokonomidori]

Originally Posted by palo5

the English Defense Department.

Didn't know England had a separate defence ministry from the UK

[palo5]

Originally Posted by haroldeye

I'm sure the inhabitants would object to being insulted in the way you have called them Neanderthals

He didn't say that. He was referring to the archaeological record, which says that the last known living place of Neandertals was in that region. Apparently, they died out 23,000 years ago, so he did not mean present day inhabitants

Originally Posted by otokonomidori

Didn't know England had a separate defence ministry from the UK

Sori, it's a habit of almost everyone on earth to refer to the UK and its people as "England and the English", in the same way that everyone refers to Russia and its peoples as "Russia and the Russians" even if they are Kazaks, Tajiks, Ukrainians or even Mongolians

I understand what you mean, but I'm afraid we have to live with it

[Brecht]

Originally Posted by haroldeye

Well it's not an island for a kick off and I'm sure the inhabitants would object to being insulted in the way you have called them Neanderthals.

It does control one entrance to the Mediterranean which gives it a great deal of strategic importance.

I didn't call its inhabitants Neanderthals. What I was referring to is the generally accepted theory that Gibraltar served as the last refuge of the Neanderthals in Europe over 20.000 years ago.

Yes, Gibraltar is a "peninsula" when in fact it's an integral part of the Iberian peninsula which makes the argument in Spain's favor even stronger. Much has changed since the 18th century and I don't see what strategic interests the UK can claim in that area today.

[palo5]

Originally Posted by Brecht

I don't see what strategic interests the UK can claim in that area today.

Money-laundering & tax evasion, of course!

But otherwise you're right. These days it has nothing like the strategic value it used to have, because they can't actually stop anyone like in the age of pirates

[Wendigo]

Originally Posted by Brecht

Yes, Gibraltar is a "peninsula" when in fact it's an integral part of the Iberian peninsula which makes the argument in Spain's favor even stronger.

As I said earlier the Spanish aren't that vociferous when their own Gibraltar style possessions in Morocco are mentioned, the arguments Spain uses about Gibraltar could be used by Morocco about Ceuta and Melilla.

Uno rule for uno .....

[haroldeye]

Palo - You must remember that in Britain the Civil Service thinks it runs everything to it's own rules and that anyone who disagrees must be ignored or neutralised. The Ministry of Defence is not about producing an effective force to defend the UK, it is there to produce a well run civil service Dept following the rules of the Amalgamated Union of Guardian Readers and Politically Correct Morons.

[CARLTON BROWN]

Originally Posted by palo5

Sori, it's a habit of almost everyone on earth to refer to the UK and its people as "England and the English", in the same way that everyone refers to Russia and its peoples as "Russia and the Russians" even if they are Kazaks, Tajiks, Ukrainians or even Mongolians.

There was a time when everything produced in the UK seemed to be stamped Made in England. Not sure if goods were ever marked as made in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Scotch was/is probably marked Scotland, although I've never looked to be honest. Do details of where things are made matter any more? Almost everything I buy seems to be made in China. I do sometimes wonder if trade with the rest of the EU matters that much when vast quantities of European consumer goods are made in China, maybe South Korea or Taiwan and badged with European names.