Just now, Nick Carter icp said:

UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

About half of its members are African/Carribean

Coincidence?

15 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Was the UK, arguably the greatest force for good in the history of the world, not almost singly responsible for the eradication of the slave trade in the western world?

Where does this idiocy come from?

The UK was the original Evil Empire through colonization.

India: Britain extracted taxes, agricultural commodities, and other resources while restructuring Indian trade to favor British manufacturers.

Caribbean: British colonies were heavily based on sugar production, which depended for centuries on enslaved African labor.

Africa: Britain extracted commodities such as gold, diamonds, rubber, palm oil, and other resources, while imposing political control and reorganizing local economies.

Trade: Colonial markets were often integrated into an imperial trading system that benefited British merchants and manufacturers.

Labor: Colonial authorities frequently imposed taxes, land policies, or labor systems that encouraged or compelled people to work in export-oriented industries.

Infrastructure: Railways, ports, and roads were built in many colonies. These could provide genuine long-term benefits, but they were often designed primarily to move troops and export commodities rather than to develop local economies.

Famines: British policies during several Indian famines remain particularly controversial. Historians debate the relative importance of drought, local conditions, wartime circumstances, markets, and British policy, but there is substantial evidence that colonial policy could worsen the effects of food shortages.

Slavery: Britain was deeply involved in the Atlantic slave trade and plantation economy. Parliament abolished the British slave trade in 1807 and slavery in most British colonies in 1833, although compensation was paid to slave owners rather than to the enslaved.

Then there is the rest of Europe.

Spain Most of Central and South America, Mexico, much of the Caribbean, Philippines

Portugal Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Goa, parts of India and Southeast Asia

France Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, much of West/Central Africa, Madagascar, Indochina, Caribbean

Netherlands Indonesia (Dutch East Indies), Suriname, Caribbean islands, Cape Colony temporarily

Belgium Congo Free State / Belgian Congo, Rwanda, Burundi

Germany Namibia, Tanzania, Cameroon, Togo, parts of the Pacific — mainly 1880s–1918

Italy Libya, Eritrea, Somalia, and briefly Ethiopia

Denmark Greenland, Iceland historically, Danish West Indies, trading colonies in India and West Africa

Sweden Small colonies including New Sweden in North America and Saint Barthélemy in the Caribbean

Russia Siberia, Central Asia, Caucasus, and Alaska; technically a continental empire rather than primarily an overseas colonial empire

It's time for Europeans to pay reparations for their crimes against humanity.

Ms. AL-MISNAD Shaikha	Qatar	2030
Mr. BALCERZAK Michal Vice-Chairperson	Poland	2030
Ms. Boker – Wilson Pela	Liberia	2028
Ms. CHUNG Chinsung	Republic of Korea	2030
Mr. DIABY Bakari Sidiki	Côte d’Ivoire	2030
Ms. ESSENEME Régine	Cameroon	2030
Mr. GUAN Jian Vice-Chairperson	China	2028
Mr. GUISSE Ibrahima English | Français Vice-Chairperson	Senegal	2028
Mr. KUT Gün Chairperson	Türkiye	2030
Ms. POUSA CARIDE Carla Ivette Rapporteur	Panama	2030
Mr. RAYESS Vadili	Mauritania	2028
Ms. SHEPHERD Verene Albertha	Jamaica	2028
Mr. SIBANDE Chrispine Gwalawala	Malawi	2028
Ms. STAVRINAKI Stamatia English | Français	Greece	2028
Ms. TEBIE Mazalo	Togo	2030
Ms. TLAKULA Faith Dikeledi Pansy	South Africa	2028
Mr. TLEMÇANI Abderrahman	Morocco	2028
Mr. Saúl VICENTE VÁZQUEZ  English | Español	Mexico	2030

^^ Members

20 hours ago, TedG said:

I’m still of the opinion that the UK needs to pay reparations for its crimes against humanity. It’s the right thing to do.

Perhaps the UK might want to sue the

former colonies who soon bankrupted

the country once they achieved independant ,?

Back to undisputable facts.

When the "colonial powers" left Africa, they left behind a functioning infrastructure. Administration, Railroads, functioning mining operations, international trade, modern agriculture, modern medicine and the idea of "democracy".

The "new rulers" of Africa plundered their own population. Lining their own pockets. Economic standstill for decades.

But (mostly) the African population still supports their "new leaders". = If we get plundered, at least we now get plundered by our own "leaders" instead of foreighn plunderes. This being considered as "liberation" from European "oppressors".

Like in the old days, voters dancing around a fire worshiping a modeern day Chieftain, knowing if they vote for him they will be payed 2 Dollars.

Good luck Africa, you had your chance.

Remedy: Board a rubber boat an head for England or walk to Europe.

48 minutes ago, swissie said:

When the "colonial powers" left Africa, they left behind a functioning infrastructure. Administration, Railroads, functioning mining operations, international trade, modern agriculture, modern medicine and the idea of "democracy"

Functioning operations run by slaves, trade controlled by the exploiters. Guess the Germans built roads to herd the Hererros into the desert to die.

11 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Was the UK, arguably the greatest force for good in the history of the world, not almost singly responsible for the eradication of the slave trade in the western world?

Where does this idiocy come from?

Who are you quoting ?

The Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron, also called The Preventative Squadron, freed an estimated 150,000 slaves over a period of nearly 60 years. 6% of the estimated total trade.

Its activities were initially limited by the conditions of non-intervention of the Treaty of Vienna to intervening mainly against British ships.

But with growing dominance of the oceans it was authorised to enforce what became known as 'Pax Britannica'.

3 minutes ago, ericbj said:

Who are you quoting ?

The Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron, also called The Preventative Squadron, freed an estimated 150,000 slaves over a period of nearly 60 years. 6% of the estimated total trade.

Its activities were initially limited by the conditions of non-intervention of the Treaty of Vienna to intervening mainly against British ships.

But with growing dominance of the oceans it was authorised to enforce what became known as 'Pax Britannica'.

I am not quoting anyone, who are you quoting?

Is it you position that the UK was not arguably the greatest force for good in the history of the world?

Is it also your position that the UK was not almost singly responsible for the eradication of the slave trade in the western world?

I did not say the freed all the slaves, I said stopped the trade, and I did not say they did it overnight.

So, if it was not the UK that eradicated the slave trade in the Western World, who was it?

A little bit of historical perspective doesn't go astray (v. Wikipedia under 'Slavery in medieval Europe'):

In medieval Europe most slaves and serfs were northern Europeans (not called 'Slavs' for nothing). And most of Muslim North Africa's slaves at the time were northern Europeans sold to them by Venice.

16 hours ago, swissie said:

Back to undisputable facts.

When the "colonial powers" left Africa, they left behind a functioning infrastructure. Administration, Railroads, functioning mining operations, international trade, modern agriculture, modern medicine and the idea of "democracy".

The "new rulers" of Africa plundered their own population. Lining their own pockets. Economic standstill for decades.

But (mostly) the African population still supports their "new leaders". = If we get plundered, at least we now get plundered by our own "leaders" instead of foreighn plunderes. This being considered as "liberation" from European "oppressors".

Like in the old days, voters dancing around a fire worshiping a modeern day Chieftain, knowing if they vote for him they will be payed 2 Dollars.

Good luck Africa, you had your chance.

Remedy: Board a rubber boat an head for England or walk to Europe.

I feel like this is an attempt to rationalize Europe's crimes against humanity.

Provide the name of everyone who was enslaved by each nationality (by the Arabs, the French, the Belgians and the Americans etc). This would mean compensation could be apportioned fairly (Americans would not pay for the Belgian slaves etc.

27 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Provide the name of everyone who was enslaved by each nationality (by the Arabs, the French, the Belgians and the Americans etc). This would mean compensation could be apportioned fairly (Americans would not pay for the Belgian slaves etc.

Why are you trying to minimize Europe's crimes against humanity?

You need to read this link and educate yourself.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2025/10/why-do-reparations-for-colonialism-and-slavery-matter/

Slavery, the slave trade and colonialism are not only harms of the past. For racialised people, including Indigenous Peoples, the legacies of slavery, the slave trade and colonialism persist in present day structures of racial discrimination, subordination and inequality.

10 hours ago, mfd101 said:

A little bit of historical perspective doesn't go astray (v. Wikipedia under 'Slavery in medieval Europe'):

In medieval Europe most slaves and serfs were northern Europeans (not called 'Slavs' for nothing). And most of Muslim North Africa's slaves at the time were northern Europeans sold to them by Venice.

I agree with what you say that in the mediaeval period slaves in the Ottoman Empire came mainly from the Slavic peoples, which includes for instance Greeks, Serbs, and Rus. And the word slave is derived from 'Slav'.

As regards the slaves taken by the mutually antagonistic minor empires of Venice and Genoa, according to the following video they seized only muslims as slaves.

The video offers a somewhat sociological view, describing very differing outcomes for different categories of slave, depending on gender, age, and skills.

Venetian and Genoese slaves may have included coerced or converted Muslims of Slavic blood from the eastern seaboard of the Adriatic. They would likely have been relatively easy pickings. Those parts were under Turkish rule and Christians had to provide regular quotas of their youths, male and female, to the service of the Sultan. The bitterness of those times lingers on. The Greek War of Independence was won as result of destruction of the Turkish-Egyptian fleet by the combined Russian-British-French fleet at the battle of Navarino in 1827.

A particularly brutal aspect of Arab slavery was the castration of many of the males. As well as preventing procreation with female slaves, this was considered to make them more dependable. It resulted in the death of many of them.

In the realm of settling old scores, if that were to be done, one should recall the Islamic invasion of Europe which was finally halted at Poitiers in 732 by the forces of Charles Martel. From 719 to 759 the Islamic forces conducted razzias (raids for plunder or slaves) ravaging the southern part of what is now France. Their control of the Iberian peninsula or parts therefore, begun in 711, ended in 1492 with the fall of Grenada.

However, if old debts are to be paid, clearly the Mongols are going to become well and truly bankrupt. Little need to enumerate their conduct of a perfected war-by-terror, from the Baltic to the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. In addition to the habitual exactions of a conquering people they brutally exterminated all inhabitants of any city that offered resistance. This encouraged other cities to surrender without a fight.

2 hours ago, TedG said:

I feel like this is an attempt to rationalize Europe's crimes against humanity.

You tell us what you "feel" but give no reasons as to why you feel it.

Is one to deduce that you have no evidence to explain your feelings ?

Nothing wrong with feelings. But to convince others they need to be seen to have some substance.

On 9/17/2026 at 4:30 AM, TedG said:

I’m still of the opinion that the UK needs to pay reparations for its crimes against humanity. It’s the right thing to do.

Bank on Ted, if i set up a go fund me, you want to chip in?

19 hours ago, swissie said:

Back to undisputable facts.

When the "colonial powers" left Africa, they left behind a functioning infrastructure. Administration, Railroads, functioning mining operations, international trade, modern agriculture, modern medicine and the idea of "democracy".

The Chinese seem to agree.

I'm a Briton. I lodged a claim against the Romans, the Norwegians, the Normans, and the Saxons. Still waiting for a court date - not holding my breath.

Edited Friday at 03:58 PM4 days by Gsxrnz

12 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

I am not quoting anyone, who are you quoting?

Is it you position that the UK was not arguably the greatest force for good in the history of the world?

Is it also your position that the UK was not almost singly responsible for the eradication of the slave trade in the western world?

I did not say the freed all the slaves, I said stopped the trade, and I did not say they did it overnight.

So, if it was not the UK that eradicated the slave trade in the Western World, who was it?

You write

"Was the UK, arguably the greatest force for good in the history of the world, not almost singly responsible for the eradication of the slave trade in the western world?"

as if you had come across this statement somewhere.

But it now seems to be just a figment of your vivid imagination. You could be a successful writer of popular fiction.

My position is as stated by myself. At some length, I might add. You perhaps do not grasp the fact that complex issues are not commonly understood, still less resolved, by simplistic answers and posturing.

Finally, if you are dissatisfied by what you have learnt here about the slave trade, I would encourage you to pursue your studies elsewhere. I wish you the best of luck with that.

Edited Friday at 04:48 PM4 days by ericbj
misspelling, changed article to pronoun

On 9/16/2026 at 1:35 PM, riclag said:

Marxist /colonialism is attempting to re invent the wheel/ misinterpreting history. Throughout human history, virtually every major civilization had slaves.

Extreme Progressivism is exhausting in their Social justice causes.

In other words, you're a racist white supremacist and likely MAGA.

"The United Nations wants the United Kingdom to transform its streets, monuments, and school curricula as part of a ‘reparations’ policy". That's the first line of the quoted story. The UN made no "demands". They don't have the authority to make or enforce demands . That's not their function. This entire post is based on gross distortion and the use of that story as racially polarizing propaganda. The UK as well as the US, post MAGA, are clearly a hotbed of racial hatred and bigotry and both need to be pushed in the direction of truth and reconciliation, as many African countries have done after their own civil wars. Nobody's asking for handouts, just that the truth be recognized and acknowledged and due respect afforded. In other words, all they're asking is for a little humanity, which many here seem to be lacking.

Edited Friday at 05:29 PM4 days by Jonathan Swift

2 hours ago, ericbj said:

I agree with what you say that in the mediaeval period slaves in the Ottoman Empire came mainly from the Slavic peoples, which includes for instance Greeks, Serbs, and Rus. And the word slave is derived from 'Slav'.

As regards the slaves taken by the mutually antagonistic minor empires of Venice and Genoa, according to the following video they seized only muslims as slaves.

The video offers a somewhat sociological view, describing very differing outcomes for different categories of slave, depending on gender, age, and skills.

Venetian and Genoese slaves may have included coerced or converted Muslims of

Correction: Venetian and Florentine slaves NOT Genoese - according to the video. Maybe have Genoa on the brain as a putative ancestor fought the Genoese on behalf of the Corsicans in a vain attempt to secure the latter's independence.

6 hours ago, Jonathan Swift said:

"The United Nations wants the United Kingdom to transform its streets, monuments, and school curricula as part of a ‘reparations’ policy". That's the first line of the quoted story. The UN made no "demands". They don't have the authority to make or enforce demands . That's not their function. This entire post is based on gross distortion and the use of that story as racially polarizing propaganda. The UK as well as the US, post MAGA, are clearly a hotbed of racial hatred and bigotry and both need to be pushed in the direction of truth and reconciliation, as many African countries have done after their own civil wars. Nobody's asking for handouts, just that the truth be recognized and acknowledged and due respect afforded. In other words, all they're asking is for a little humanity, which many here seem to be lacking.

Firstly. The word 'demand', derived from the French 'demander', signifies to ask for something, although with a more forceful connotation than in the French. It does not imply a right to the thing demanded.

Secondly. It is now established that the organisation is not DIRECTLY controlled by the United Nations.

However, here: https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/cerd we find this:-

"Treaty Bodies

COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies"

CONTACT INFORMATION

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Palais Wilson - 52, rue des Pâquis

CH-1201 Geneva (Switzerland)

Mailing address

UNOG-OHCHR

8-14 Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneve 10, Switzerland

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @UNTreatyBodies

I cannot find information about who funds them. Perhaps someone can fill in the gap? As we all know "He who pays the piper calls the tune."

Some doubt about the CERD creeps in when reading this sort of thing:

"Geneva, November 28, 2024, SPA -- Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC) President Dr. Hala bint Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri, who is heading the Kingdom's delegation to the 114th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in Geneva, yesterday affirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH the Crown Prince, has implemented substantial reforms that have reinforced its unwavering principles of justice and equality."

As regular ASEANnow readers will know, the Jamaican Government is petitioning Britain for compensation for the slavery their forebears endured. They can see a prospective opportunity. As per africarising.org:

"This is not the first time that Africans have had a say with the British monarchy. In 2021, Africans Rising co-signed a letter to Queen Elizabeth II demanding reparations and historical accountability. That letter was symbolically raised on the Houses of Parliament; a testament that our voices will not be silenced. In a legal case brought by the veterans in 2009, a group of the Kenyan Mau Mau veterans successfully petitioned the British government for torture and abuse they suffered during the Kenya Emergency and were paid £19.9 million in compensation 2013."

Incidentally, the success of the censure motion against the British Conservative Government of the time was, according to Labour M.P. Barbara Castle, due to the "brilliant speech" of the supposedly racist Enoch Powell. In a long ago recorded speech I have myself heard Powell speak of "my deep love for the peoples of India". It was, and presumably still is, on YouTube. Coloured members of his English constituency who went to him have spoken of his politeness and attention to dealing with their problems.

Edited Saturday at 12:24 AM3 days by ericbj
substitute "call" for "play" (typing error)

On 9/17/2026 at 10:20 PM, Yagoda said:

Functioning operations run by slaves, trade controlled by the exploiters. Guess the Germans built roads to herd the Hererros into the desert to die.

I believe we can simplyfy it by asking a simple question.

Are the little people of Africa better off today than under "colonial rule"?

If yes, I don't understand why the youth of Africa wants to head for Europe.

Do you know why ?

Just now, swissie said:

I believe we can simplyfy it by asking a simple question.

Are the little people of Africa better off today than under "colonial rule"?

If yes, I don't understand why the youth of Africa wants to head for Europe.

Do you know why ?

Benefits

19 hours ago, Jonathan Swift said:

he UK as well as the US, post MAGA, are clearly a hotbed of racial hatred and bigotry and both need to be pushed in the direction of truth and reconciliation,

Is it really the dystopia that you make it out to be?

4 minutes ago, swissie said:

I believe we can simplyfy it by asking a simple question.

Are the little people of Africa better off today than under "colonial rule"?

If yes, I don't understand why the youth of Africa wants to head for Europe.

Do you know why ?

Since the 1960s, the West has sent around three trillion dollars to Africa. What are the results? Africa faces significant challenges due to the people of Africa.

19 hours ago, Jonathan Swift said:

"The United Nations wants the United Kingdom to transform its streets, monuments, and school curricula as part of a ‘reparations’ policy". That's the first line of the quoted story. The UN made no "demands". They don't have the authority to make or enforce demands . That's not their function. This entire post is based on gross distortion and the use of that story as racially polarizing propaganda. The UK as well as the US, post MAGA, are clearly a hotbed of racial hatred and bigotry and both need to be pushed in the direction of truth and reconciliation, as many African countries have done after their own civil wars. Nobody's asking for handouts, just that the truth be recognized and acknowledged and due respect afforded. In other words, all they're asking is for a little humanity, which many here seem to be lacking.

Obama stoked the racial hate and bigotry up in the US.

Just look at the numbers before he took office, and after.

11 minutes ago, Mr Awesome said:

Since the 1960s, the West has sent around three trillion dollars to Africa. What are the results? Africa faces significant challenges due to the people of Africa.

Yes. Africa had it's chance, The people of Africa blew it by adhering to the traditonal tribal/chieftain concept. Accepting that the chieftains wold line their pockets, hoping that some "crumbs" will fall off the chieftains table just as long as one worships the chieftain.

Elections are taking place between "tribal frontiers". = The largest tribe will automatically get the most votes. It has been like this and it will remain like this.

1 hour ago, swissie said:

Are the little people of Africa better off today than under "colonial rule"?

yes. they have a voice, minimal as it may be

1 hour ago, swissie said:

If yes, I don't understand why the youth of Africa wants to head for Europe

one has naught to do with the other

4 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

yes. they have a voice, minimal as it may be

one has naught to do with the other

Thanks. This proves that you have detached yourself from the "real world" concerning Africa.

As well as you have detached yourself from the Russian/Ukrainian war, still claiming that the Ukraine will eventually win this war. Something that is impossible.