Remember The Falklands?

[Locutus]

Yeah, sovereignty, sheep, hearty people and rocks. And a brief war over it all.


Oil and the Falklands - the Saga Continues




Since the brief 1982 war between Argentina and Britain, the issue of sovereignty of the Falklands has lurked beneath the internationals diplomatic surface, an irritant but hardly threatening to reignite a new round of hostilities. Three decades on from that unfortunate confrontation the issue of the Falklands is again roiling Argentinean-British relations over the possibility that the archipelago contains beneath its surrounding waters something of value - oil.

British oil group Rockhopper Exploration has unveiled optimistic plans for a $2 billion oil infrastructure investment in the Falkland Islands announcing on 14 September that it expected to start pumping oil in 2016 from its four licensed Sea Lion concessions totaling 1,500 square miles, with a projected production rate of roughly 120,000 barrels of oil per day by 2018. Rockhopper Exploration said the fifth well in the Sea Lion complex "had found a high quality reservoir package and oil column."

Argentina is not taking the news lightly, declaring its intention following Rockhopper Exploration’s to both file an official complaint against Britain for oil exploration activities in Falklands/Malvinas disputed waters before the United Nations Decolonization Committee along with inviting the U.N. Special Committee of the 24 on Decolonization Chairman Francisco Carrion-Mena of Ecuador to visit Argentina to hold a meeting on the issue in Buenos Aires.

The Falklands now have the dubious distinction of joining the list of contested offshore maritime oil and natural gas concessions spewed by two or more countries.



more...


Oil and the Falklands - the Saga Continues at Oil Price



Maybe not a lot to fight and bicker over but all the same. Could get interesting.

 

[Colpy]

Argentina blew whatever miniscule claim it might have had back in 1982.

No negotiation.

No discussion.

Rule Britannia.

 

[Cliffy]

Gonna be expensive oil if Britain has to send a fleet of war ships to protect the project. Sad commentary on the present state of a once great empire, but like all empires, the mighty shall fall.

 

[Bar Sinister]

Argentina blew whatever miniscule claim it might have had back in 1982.

No negotiation.

No discussion.

Rule Britannia.

Right - and Argentina's claim was tenuous at best, consisting of claiming the islands because they had once been a Spanish possession a few years before Argentina became independent.

 

[Blackleaf]

Right - and Argentina's claim was tenuous at best, consisting of claiming the islands because they had once been a Spanish possession a few years before Argentina became independent.

And they were a British possesssion before they were a Spanish possession.

But this didn't stop the Spanish trying to kick the British off the islands even though we settled them first.

 

[Goober]

Gonna be expensive oil if Britain has to send a fleet of war ships to protect the project. Sad commentary on the present state of a once great empire, but like all empires, the mighty shall fall.

There will not be another War - And some agreement will be reached as the rigs etc will need support and the closest is guess who?
They have been fighting for years over the fisheries as well. Did you see a War?

 

[Blackleaf]

Britain and France both have better claims to the Falklands than Argentina does as they sighted and colonised the islands before Argentina even existed.

When English explorer John Davis, commander of the Desire, one of the ships belonging to Thomas Cavendish's second expedition to the New World, separated from Cavendish off the coast of what is now southern Argentina, he decided to make for the Strait of Magellan in order to find Cavendish. On 9 August 1592 a severe storm battered his ship, and Davis drifted under bare masts, taking refuge "among certain Isles never before discovered." Consequently, for a time the Falklands were known as "Davis Land" or "Davis' Land."


In 1594, they were visited by English commander Richard Hawkins, who, combining his own name with that of Queen Elizabeth I, the "Virgin Queen", gave the islands the name of "Hawkins' Maidenland."


In 1600, Sebald de Weert, a Dutchman, visited them and called them the Sebald Islands (in Spanish, "Islas Sebaldinas" or "Sebaldes"), a name which they bore on some Dutch maps into the 19th century.


English Captain John Strong sailed between the two principal islands in 1690 and called the passage "Falkland Channel" (now Falkland Sound), after Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland (1659–1694), who as Commissioner of the Admiralty had financed the expedition and later became First Lord of the Admiralty. From this body of water the island group later took its collective
name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands

And here's a bit about how the islands became British. Basically, the French settled the islands first. The British, not even realising the French were there, came along and claimed parts of the islands for Britain. Then the French gave their Falklands territory to the Spanish - fair enough - but, unbelievably, the dirty Spanish (aka the Argentinians) then tried to kick the British, who were there before them, off the islands so that they can have the whole lot.

France established a colony at Port St. Louis, on East Falkland's Berkeley Sound coast in 1764. The French name Îles Malouines was given to the islands – malouin being the adjective for the Breton port of Saint-Malo. The Spanish name Islas Malvinas is a translation of the French name.


In 1765, Capt. John Byron, who was unaware of the French presence in the east, explored Saunders Island, in the west, named the harbour Port Egmont, and claimed this and other islands for Britain on the grounds of prior discovery. The next year Captain John MacBride established a British settlement at Port Egmont. These events were nearly the cause of a war between Britain and Spain, both countries having sent armed fleets to contest the barren but strategically important sovereignty of the islands. In 1766, France agreed to leave, and Spain agreed to reimburse Louis de Bougainville, who had established a settlement at his own expense. The Spaniards assumed control in 1767 and re-named Port St. Louis as Puerto Soledad.


Meanwhile, the British presence in the west continued, until interrupted by Spain during the Falkland Crisis* from 10 July 1770 to 22 January 1771. As a result of economic pressures stemming from the upcoming American War of Independence, Britain unilaterally chose to withdraw from many overseas settlements in 1774. On 20 May 1776 the British forces under the command of Lt. Clayton formally took their leave of Port Egmont, while leaving a plaque asserting Britain's continuing sovereignty over the islands.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands

* The Falkland Crisis, 1770

In June 1770, the Spanish governor of Buenos Aires sent five frigates to Britain's Port Egmont, landing some 1600 marines.

The small British force present, left under the command there of George Farmer, promptly surrendered. When Parliament assembled in November, the MPs, outraged by this insult to national honour, demanded action from the North government. Many were angered by what they saw as Britain's failure to prevent France from annexing Corsica in 1768 and feared a similar situation occurring in the Falklands. The Foreign Office "began to mobilise for a potential war".

Amid this flurry of threats and counter-threats, the Spanish attempted to strengthen their position by winning the support of France, invoking the Pacte de Famille between the two Bourbon crowns. For a time it looked as if all three countries were about to go to war, especially as the Duc de Choiseul, the French minister of war and foreign affairs, was in a militant mood. But Louis XV took fright, telling his cousin Charles III that "My minister wishes for war, but I do not." Choiseul was dismissed from office, retiring to his estates, and without French support the Spanish were obliged to seek a compromise with the British.

In January 1771, the British were allowed to restore the base at Port Egmont (which they set up before the Spanish arrived on the
islands).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands_Crisis_(1770)

 

[ironsides]

Gonna be expensive oil if Britain has to send a fleet of war ships to protect the project. Sad commentary on the present state of a once great empire, but like all empires, the mighty shall fall.

What sort of fleet would they need, Argentina is not a problem any more, a few aircraft with satellite tracking would be enough. They probably have that now.

 

[Machjo]

Probably the best bet woud be for the UK to keep the Falklands but also to build stronger ties with Argentina, promoting visa-free travel agreements, maybe even labor-movement agreements, etc. This would benefit Argentinians who wanted to travel to or even work in the Falklands but perhaps even more so Britons living in the Falklands who'd like to have greater access to the Argentinian market. After all, a Briton living in the Falklands is more likely to benefit more from access to a nearby country like Argentina.

 

[Blackleaf]

Probably the best bet woud be for the UK to keep the Falklands but also to build stronger ties with Argentina, promoting visa-free travel agreements, maybe even labor-movement agreements, etc.

Even if the British offered those things to the Argies the Argies would just reject them. The only thing they want is the Falkland Islands, but they aren't having them.

This would benefit Argentinians who wanted to travel to or even work in the Falklands but perhaps even more so Britons living in the Falklands who'd like to have greater access to the Argentinian market. After all, a Briton living in the Falklands is more likely to benefit more from access to a nearby country like Argentina.

You are right to say that the 2955 Falkland Islanders are British, but they aren't British in the sense they were born in Britain and moved to the Falklands. The vast majority of them were born on the islands and have lived there all their lives. About 30% aren't even descended from Britons. Also, they weren't given full British citizenship until 1983. But the islanders consider themselves to be British.

 

[Machjo]

Even if the British offered those things to the Argies the Argies would just reject them. The only thing they want is the Falkland Islands, but they aren't having them.

You sure like to speculate. Have the british made any such offer?

 

[EagleSmack]

Gonna be expensive oil if Britain has to send a fleet of war ships to protect the project. Sad commentary on the present state of a once great empire, but like all empires, the mighty shall fall.

A fleet?

Heck... it only took one British Submarine and one torpedo to force the Argentine Navy back to port.


Remember this gem?

 

[ironsides]

It is sad, the Phoenix made it through Pearl Harbor.

 

[Johnnny]

That ship isnt even the start of it. My translator and i were talking about the war and he said teenagers and young adults were forced to fight the british with next to nothing..... He also said the war made relations with Chile worse because the Chileans supplied the british wiith alot of information.... Thats right im in Argentina !!!!

 

[CDNBear]

That ship isnt even the start of it. My translator and i were talking about the war and he said teenagers and young adults were forced to fight the british with next to nothing..... He also said the war made relations with Chile worse because the Chileans supplied the british wiith alot of information.... Thats right in in Argentina !!!!

I have a friend that served in the war. You are absolutely right. They were sent out in foul weather, with inappropriate gear. They were under fed. They were threatened, coerced and beaten.

While the CO's lived lavishly.

 

[SLM]

Ricky Gervais - My Favourite War The Falklands War - YouTube

 

[Nuggler]

8O
Remember The Falklands



Is that a battle cry??


Yep, know them well.



Cute sheep.;-)

And they were a British possesssion before they were a Spanish possession.

But this didn't stop the Spanish trying to kick the British off the islands even though we settled them first.

How can somewhere be a POSSESSION ?

Christ, Blackie, it's the 21st not the 17th.

Even the Brits admit the Zulus (Africa don't ya know) kicked their ass..........despite the movie of the same name which gave a completely erroneous account of the happenings.

And Capt. Cook didn't fare too well either, and they had muskets and bayonets. Against a people who used sharpened pieces of wood.

You used to put some neat, informative stuff on here. Now yer all just rule Britannia, and all.

The sad failings of yer home turf are wearing on ya, old son. Get some rest.

 

[Spade]

When the Argentinians occupied the Falklands they insisted the good citizens of Port Stanley drive on the right side of the road. O, the horror. The cruel side of Libertad...

 

[ironsides]

Don't cry for me Argentina. Sung by the troops as they boarded the ships.

Don't Cry For Me Argentina - YouTube

When the Argentinians occupied the Falklands they insisted the good citizens of Port Stanley drive on the right side of the road. O, the horror. The cruel side of Libertad...

Oh no, worse than water boarding.

 

[gore0bsessed]

Britain and France both have better claims to the Falklands than Argentina does as they sighted and colonised the islands before Argentina even existed.




And here's a bit about how the islands became British. Basically, the French settled the islands first. The British, not even realising the French were there, came along and claimed parts of the islands for Britain. Then the French gave their Falklands territory to the Spanish - fair enough - but, unbelievably, the dirty Spanish (aka the Argentinians) then tried to kick the British, who were there before them, off the islands so that they can have the whole lot.

You were better when you were just posting news stories.