The Commonwealth

[Anna B]

According to recent broadcasts the Commonwealth has 56 countries in it (which surprised me) and covers one quarter of the Earth's population. 

(I don't know if these figures are currently accurate or from when it was at its height.) 

The Queen was exceptionally fond of it, and spent much of her time paying visits to all the various countries in it, but can somebody tell me what it's for?

 

I know it's the remnants of Empire which was largely founded in the slave trade, but made us the richest country on the planet (which whether you like it or not every one of us has benefitted from,) but what is its relevance now? Yes it's nice to belong to a family of nations and all that, but didn't we just smack them in the face when we joined the common market and stopped taking lamb from Australia and New Zealand for example? Is it just a big Vanity project?

 

Some of the countries are clamouring for Independence in spite of being self governing entities, so what are they objecting to? Do they have to pay to belong by paying some sort of tax? Or do we subsidise them? I've never really thought about it much before. Is it a good thing or a bad? Is it important, and should it continue?

 

Your opinions?

Edited September 17, 2022 by Anna B

[cressida]

If they want independence then they have to look after themselves financially don't they?

[altus]

19 minutes ago, cressida said:

If they want independence then they have to look after themselves financially don't they?

You're confusing The Commonwealth with crown dependent territories/states. Members of The Commonwealth don't even have to have our royal family as their head of state.

[cressida]

I've always liked our connection to the Commonwealth

[cressida]

Well that was just plain spiteful 

[Anna B]

2 hours ago, altus said:

You're confusing The Commonwealth with crown dependent territories/states. Members of The Commonwealth don't even have to have our royal family as their head of state.

I thought members of the Commonwealth did have our Queen as some sort of figurehead, (isn't that head of state?) although these countries rule themselves independently. As for Cressida saying if they want independence they'll have to look after themselves financially, does that mean we fund them in some way? That's what I mean, do we really understand what the Commonwealth is about or what it's for? We've had a Commonwealth for 70+ years, why don't we know this stuff? 

Edited September 17, 2022 by Anna B

[ukdobby]

2 hours ago, HumbleNarrator said:

When Mozambique got it's independence from Portugal, the Portuguese filled the sewers (which the Portuguese built) with concrete before they left.

I think force was used to take Mozambique from Portugal. 

[Guest sibon]

31 minutes ago, Anna B said:

I thought members of the Commonwealth did have our Queen as some sort of figurehead, (isn't that head of state?) although these countries rule themselves independently. As for Cressida saying if they want independence they'll have to look after themselves financially, does that mean we fund them in some way? That's what I mean, do we really understand what the Commonwealth is about or what it's for? We've had a Commonwealth for 70+ years, why don't we know this stuff? 

Here you are Anna. 
 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations

 

The article does have a lot of words in it, and none of them are Jeremy, or Corbyn. But stick with it and you will find the answers to your questions.

 

We do know this stuff. Or at least, those of us with some basic curiosity do.

Edited September 17, 2022 by sibon

[Anna B]

😄 Sarcasm made me laugh, much appreciated.

 

Thanks for he link, very interesting, tho' not much wiser.

Beats the Wiki page I looked at which made no sense at all.

[Baron99]

6 hours ago, Anna B said:

According to recent broadcasts the Commonwealth has 56 countries in it (which surprised me) and covers one quarter of the Earth's population. 

(I don't know if these figures are currently accurate or from when it was at its height.) 

The Queen was exceptionally fond of it, and spent much of her time paying visits to all the various countries in it, but can somebody tell me what it's for?

 

I know it's the remnants of Empire which was largely founded in the slave trade, but made us the richest country on the planet (which whether you like it or not every one of us has benefitted from,) but what is its relevance now? Yes it's nice to belong to a family of nations and all that, but didn't we just smack them in the face when we joined the common market and stopped taking lamb from Australia and New Zealand for example? Is it just a big Vanity project?

 

Some of the countries are clamouring for Independence in spite of being self governing entities, so what are they objecting to? Do they have to pay to belong by paying some sort of tax? Or do we subsidise them? I've never really thought about it much before. Is it a good thing or a bad? Is it important, and should it continue?

 

Your opinions?

My bold. 

 

No there's 54.

https://www.royal.uk/commonwealth#:~:text=About the Commonwealth,-From Australia to&text=The Commonwealth is a voluntary,were formerly under British rule.