100 Not Out!

Another blog milestone has been reached, with visitors from a hundred countries. 

Since I set up a new visitor counter a couple of months ago called NeoCounter In that short period there have been over 5585 visitors from a hundred different countries from various locations around the world. 

The number of real countries in the world varies at any moment in time. Caused as some countries divide and others come together. Take North Korea, who claim sovereignty over South Korea whilst at the same time South Korea claim sovereignty over North Korea. Or take China as an example, which has invaded and taken over Tibet. There are nations within nations such as the Tamils in Sri Lanka. There are nations spread across several nations such as the Curds in Iraq and Turkey.

We Brits are also a case in question....

The United Kingdom is a Commonwealth realm consisting of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. As I write the Scots are slowly voting for and accepting the idea of "home rule" and the Scottish National Party is heading up the idea of a full split. Northern Ireland has a long history of dispute amongst its people over being a part of the United Kingdom. The Welsh have similar ideals when they are not burning second homes.

Britain has sovereignty over three self-governing Crown dependencies of  Jersey,  Isle of Man and Guernsey, with three dependencies of Alderney, Herm and Sark

Great Britain also has the following overseas territories: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Saint Helena, Ascension, Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Pitcairn Islands. As well as military bases in Akrotiri and Dhekelia (On Cyprus)

Then there is the British Indian Ocean Territory (disputed by Mauritius and Seychelles)

The island of Diego Garcia is part of the Chagos Archipelago. Forty years ago its population then numbering some 2,000 people, were expelled by the British government to Mauritius and Seychelles to allow the United States to establish a military base on the island. Today the exiled Chagossians are still fighting to go back to their homeland, claiming forced expulsion and dispossession. The island took its name from the Spanish navigator Diego García de Moguer, who discovered the island in the 1500s. 

Falkland Islands (disputed by Argentina) We have been there, done that and have the tee shirt. But there is reputed to be oil in the region, so that's a wrap then.

Gibraltar (status disputed by Spain) The gateway to the Mediterranean so it is very strategic for muscle rippling at our neighbour's.

British Antarctic Territory (disputed by Argentina and Chile)

It goes on and on.....


But like the Roman Empire, our time has been and gone. We should give back all that we appropriated. With the caveat that the people living there now get to rule themselves or choose to bind with another nation for the greater good.


In time the question will be asked about Scotland. I think its up to the Scots to decide their own future and the rest of the Kingdom should have no say in the matter. Its highly likely that the Government of the day will want to involve everyone to swing the vote. (there are massive gas reserves waiting to be plundered) There is already a movement by non Scots to boycott any such vote.

Later.....