Quest for Decolonization #13: OTR

The blog Overseas Territories Review is a great resource, this is something I've reiterated numerous times on this blog.

One reason why there is little to no momentum globally with regards to decolonization is the fact that most of the remaining colonies in the world are far flung, midget land masses in the middle of vast oceans. They are small and far away and that combined with the overall apathy that the world feels with regards to continuing forms of really existing colonialism, creates an easy recipe for taya'ya'ya. 

Knowledge and information can lead to networks of solidarity, ties of political and social imagination that can make the plight of the remaining colonies of the world feel more important, more relevant, more significant than the complaints of islanders who will never be self-sustainable.

If you do not already follow this blog, please begin to do so. Here is a sampling of the recent articles you will find posted there:

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19 June 2015

Virgin Islands economic ties with Asia continue to grow

BVI continues to work with China 

to deepen business relationships

By Nadia James-Harris

The Qianhai-British Virgin Islands (BVI) Cooperative Development Forum in Shenzhen, China

SHENZHEN, China -- The government of the British Virgin Islands has indicated that it is ready to continue to working with China in the deepening of business relations between the two countries.

This was highlighted during the recently held Qianhai-British Virgin Islands (BVI) Cooperative Development Forum in Shenzhen, China, on May 26.

The forum was hosted by deputy directors-general of Qianhai Authority: Li Qiang, Peng Shuping, and Tian Min, who provided updates on Qianhai’s latest developments, achievements and future plans.

Over 200 financial practitioners and enterprise representatives participated in the forum, which was themed, “Development for cross-border finance under new economic circumstances.” Topics related to the BVI business opportunities, legislation, and Qianhai-BVI cooperation were widely discussed.

 

Director of BVI House Asia, Elise Donovan delivered the keynote speech titled, “The BVI – Your International Business Partner”, and introduced the British Virgin Islands financial services and advantages.

The director listed the advantages of using BVI company structures and the diverse usage of BVI companies in asset protection and wealth/fund management and showed the BVI is ready to work with China to deepen bilateral relations and open a new era of future success.

Donovan said, “Qianhai has made remarkable strides in its economic development in a relatively short time, and the BVI’s proven track record in financial services provides a platform for success for the BVI-Qianhai relationship.”

A panel discussion titled “How to promote the interaction and development of Qianhai and BVI cross-border financial business” was held and the panel explored the topics of cooperation between Qianhai and the BVI. 

BVI premier and minister of finance, Dr Orlando Smith, while reflecting on the outcome of the forum, stated, “The successful first official forum between Qianhai and the BVI creates a platform for mutual success going forward, and paves the way for further cooperation and development between the BVI and Qianhai.”

The British Virgin Islands is ranked as the leading offshore financial jurisdiction in the Global Financial Centres Index, and China continues to be the territory’s important partner in Asia.

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25 June 2015

Truthout: Hawai‘i’s Legal Case Against the United States

Hawaiian Kingdom Blog

Weblog of the acting government of the Hawaiian Kingdom presently operating within the occupied State of the Hawaiian Islands.

By Jon Letman
 Truthout

“You can’t spend what you ain’t got; you can’t lose what you ain’t never had.” – Muddy Waters

“How long do we have to stay in Bosnia, how long do we have to stay in South Korea, how long are we going to stay in Japan, how long are we going to stay in Germany? All of those: 50, 60 year period. No one complains.” – Sen. John McCain

Imagine if you grew up being told that you had been adopted, only to learn that you were, in fact, kidnapped. That might spur you to start searching for the adoption papers. Now imagine that you could find no papers and no one could produce any.

That’s how Dr. David Keanu Sai, a retired Army Captain with a PhD in political science and instructor at Kapiolani Community College in Hawaii, characterizes Hawaii’s international legal status. Since 1993, Sai has been researching the history of the Kingdom of Hawaii and its complicated relationship to the United States.

Over the last 17 years, Sai has lectured and testified publicly in Hawaii, New Zealand, Canada, across the US, at the United Nations and at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague on Hawaiian land issues on Hawaii’s international status and how Hawaii came to be regarded as a US territory and, eventually, the 50th state.

To explain why he and others insist that Hawaii is not now and never has been lawfully part of the United States, Sai presents an overview of Hawaii’s feudal land system and its history as an independent, sovereign kingdom prior to the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani on January 16, 1893.

Sai likens his lectures to a scene in the film The Matrix in which the character Morpheus tells Neo, “Remember, all I’m offering is the truth. Nothing more.”

READ THE FULL REPORT IN TRUTH OUT

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23 June 2015

Okinawa parties submit proposal to block landfill off Henoko

News

NAHA, OKINAWA PREF. – Ruling parties in the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly have submitted a draft ordinance that is apparently aimed at preventing landfill work off the Henoko coastal district in the city of Nago in a bid to block the transfer of the U.S. Futenma base to the area.

The ordinance, to be put to a vote next month, will likely be approved with majority support, including from the Social Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party. It is expected to take effect Nov. 1.

The draft calls for restricting the transportation of sand used for reclamation into Okinawa from outside the prefecture.

The stated aim is to prevent alien species from getting into Okinawa of alien species via the sand, according to the parties.

The ordinance would require companies to submit sand transportation plans in advance and take measures to ensure that no invasive species is included. The governor of Okinawa would be authorized to order the cancellation of such plans if necessary.

“We need to pass Okinawa’s beautiful nature to future generations at a time when a plenty of sand for reclamation is planned to be carried into the prefecture,” Satoru Nakasone, an assembly member from the SDP, told Tuesday’s meeting of the assembly.

At a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said he will carefully watch the course of debate on the ordinance.

“I expect the Okinawa assembly will shed light on why the ordinance only targets sand used for reclamation,” he said.

U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, situated in a densely populated area in the city of Ginowan, is slated to be relocated to the Henoko area under agreements between the Japanese and U.S. governments. Many people and political leaders in Okinawa are opposed to keeping the base within the prefecture.