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Apologise for the slave trade - yes or no?
by Clive50
Slavery is a system in which people are treated as property and forced to work.
We should not apologize for slave trade, but we should question the slave trade that is happening around the world and here in the UK.
If you've ever found yourself in a cheap pound shop or a clothing outlet, do you ever wonder where these ... goods were made or where they come from?
Well the question is this how can these places sell goods so cheap could it be they are doing it from the goodness of their hearts or that they just don't care about making a profit or they are just plain crazy.
Think about this, you buy something that costs a pound, that Item has to be made from raw materials that costs money transported to the shop that costs money produced by a British factory by a British worker on minimum wage just over 5 pounds an hour that costs money.
Now put your business hat on where oh where can we make a saving, sorry folks I'm being a tad bit patronizing but you can see where I'm going, if you can get you goods produced at a fraction of the cost in India or china or wherever in the world most will choose that option.
So you contact some factory abroad and you are not completely heartless so you inquire over the welfare of the staff in that country, and the well mannered gent informs you that his staff are treated well,
But any rational person will know that in all likely hood young children are being forced to work long hours for a pittance in appalling conditions.
Supermarkets are the same, to sell cheap fruit and veg they use underpaid workers from EU countries it's the only way to make a profit, the government knows this practice goes on but chooses to turn a blind eye, why because the supermarket chains are very powerful bodies and many of the politicians are in the pockets of the directors of the supermarket giants.
Having said all this the dilemma we all have to wrestle with is this, is it better to have a job shelter food at any cost, or nothing at all, Its I guess was part of the equation when it was argued in parliament all those years ago be people like William Wilberforce it comes down to money and humans demand and finally one of the deadly sins greed.
So if you feel you need to say sorry to whomever then you'll be saying sorry until your dying day because there are still 12 million in slavery today and most of us contribute to its upkeep.
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Apologise for the slave trade - yes or no?
by Rostow
Whether or not Britain should apologise for the slave trade is naturally a sensitive issue and not one that should be argued without respect for the differing opinions that exist with respect to the issue at hand. The slave trade was a devastating period for Africa and its devastating effects are still being felt in parts of Africa. The ... exact numbers of African enslaved are debated but it most probably easily surpasses ten million. This makes it clear that there can be no disputing the fact that the slave trade, in which Britain was heavily involved, devastated large parts of Africa. There can be no doubt amongst rational human beings that the slave trade period was a shameful one in the history of Britain. Britain to date has still not apologised for its critical role in the slave trade although in 2006 then Prime Minister Tony Blair expresses a "deep sorrow" for the slave trade but he did not despite pressure accept a full apology.
There are many rational arguments for saying that Britain should apologise for the slave trade. In addition to this, considering the devastating impact of the slave trade and how it only happened a few generations ago it would seem reasonable for many people to feel that Britain should apologise for its role in the slave trade, especially amongst people from the ravaged African communities.
However, the reasons for not apologising for the slave trade may be even stronger. The most important issue to consider is that nobody alive today was responsible for the slave trade. Therefore are we morally obliged to apologise for our ancestors mistakes? I do not believe we are. If we apologised for the slave trade it would surely follow that we must apologise to all the countries who suffered under the British Empire with regard to economic, political or social progress. Apologising now would have potentially huge repercussions and would be, to use a clichéd metaphor, like opening a can of worms. Ireland most notably would also expect an apology because of the Irish famine of the nineteenth century and because of British interference in Ireland which led to its internal division and current day strife. And by apologising are we not opening ourselves up to having to pay compensation? Considering that this generation is not responsible for the slave trade it is not right that we should pay compensation for the mistakes of our ancestors. Although of course by modern standards the slave trade was wrong. Is it not conceivable to think that our ancestors were doing what was to them not so morally wrong? The slave trade occurred in an age when in Britain much of the population was living in almost slave like conditions. The morals which we hold today were at that time of rampant nationalism and commercialisation perhaps, or more likely probably, blurred. The distinction between right and wrong was more less clear than it is now.
Also, Britain was not the only country involved in the slave trade by any means. This alone should not stop us from apologising of course but when combined with the other factors mentioned above it again emphasises slightly more why we should not apologise explicitly for the slave trade.
What is the benefit of apologising? There is no benefit to apologising for anyone. It won't give Africans closure. An apology will only serve to reopen the deep wound caused by the slave trade at a time when the scab may be healing. It would be sensible to suggest that actions would in this instance most certainly speak louder than words. Protecting foreign aid spending is surely a much better way of showing Africa that this generation is not like that of previous generations and importantly giving Africa aid does not bring the slave trade issue to the fore, thereby allowing both Africans and Britons to try to move on and improve our relationships for the future. This is a great contrast with the devastating impact apologising for the slave trade would have.
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Bonfire Night in the UK
by zombieflesh
Remember, remember the 5th of November. Known to most as Bonfire Night or Fireworks Night, this day was originally titled Guy Fawkes Night and is celebrated to mark the anniversary of the failed Gunpowder Plot way back on the 5th of November 1605. Nowadays this day is marked as an excuse to gather in big crowds to watch things burn and ... explode.
There are many safety hazards to be taken into account around this time of year, and although us people might get our kicks from big fireworks displays, it is vitally important to remember to keep your pets safe and secure. This can be a very traumatic time for animals, but with a little consideration you can help to minimise the effects that these festivities will have on your pets and any nearby wildlife.
As some may know from my previous reviews, I have 2 pet rabbits and a guinea pig, along with two tropical aquariums. The advice that follows here is from my personal experience and will suggest ways to make small pets feel more comfortable. For excellent advice specifically relating to dogs, see broxi3781's review about keeping pets safe during Halloween.
The first thing to consider is that fireworks displays are not limited to the 5th of November. We attended a firework display last night, and seeing as the 5th falls on a Friday this year I expect there to be plenty more displays going on this evening and then through the weekend. I will not really consider it over until Monday the 8th, when things should have died down again. Also bear in mind that fireworks might be set off any time after it gets dark. With the recent clock change the night is drawing in earlier and it is fully dark outside by 6.00pm. If you won't be home in time to sort things out before dark, then make arrangements before you leave the house in the morning.
The biggest piece of advice I can give is to bring your pet inside. All of my small pets live within my home as part of our household, and I do not really understand why people would buy small pets like rabbits or guinea pigs and then leave them to live outside. If you are having your own fireworks or bonfire in your garden this is especially important. It may also be worth checking with neighbours to see what their plans are. Rabbits or guinea pigs left outside in a hutch will not only be subjected to the bitterly cold weather, but the loud crashing noises along with bright flashes of light and possibly even flames from bonfires will terrify your animal in no short order. These small pets are essentially prey animals, and have a very sharp instincts that lead them to respond to fear in certain ways. If they get into a state of shock or panic then it is quite possible that this would cause them to have a heart attack and die, this obviously being the worst case scenario. If you are unable or unwilling to bring the pet into your house then consider moving them into a shed, garage, or anywhere that provides some extra shelter, but whatever you do, do not leave them exposed.
All pets are different and have their own personalities as well as likes and dislikes. However, I must make a sweeping generalisation here and say that regardless of how your pet normally behaves, most small animals will respond to fireworks in the same way: with fear. If you have been able to bring your pet inside (or if they already live inside anyway) then choose a place where they will be happy to spend the night. One of my spare bedrooms houses my pets' cages, and although they usually have free run of the room it is best to keep them confined during this time. What your pet will want to do is hide. You can help your pet to feel protected by taking some simple precautions to make the room comfortable. I make sure that I shut my pets into their individual cages as soon as I get home from work, just before it gets dark. I then fully close the windows and draw the curtains over so that the room is dark inside. Once that is done, I make sure they have plenty of food and fresh water topped up, as this can help to distract them from being caged and will help them to settle down and be calm before it all starts up outside. Small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs live in burrows in the wild, so make sure your pet has some sort of roofed bedding area that they can retreat to. If you don't have this sort of item already, you can improvise by using a small cardboard box with a "doorway" cut into it. I then also cover the sides and back of the cage with a fleece blanket, to make sure that they stay warm and secure and are also hidden from some of the light flashes. These steps are all very simple and require little effort, but they will provide the best possible environment for your pet and although they will still be scared of the noise, you have done the best you could to minimise the effects of the experience.
You may feel like you want to be with your pet to try and comfort them, but in my opinion it works best to leave pets well alone at this time. Their normal actions and behaviours will be changed by the impact of fireworks, causing them to want to flee and hide. If you try and force your pet to stay with you then they may lash out in their frightened state, as they will feel cornered. The best thing you can do is avoid adding extra stress to your pet, and avoid getting yourself bitten and scratched in the process. It may be difficult for you, but once you've set up their bed areas I would strongly recommend leaving the pet alone for the rest of the night. Your pet will be on a high alert level and even once the fireworks have stopped they are likely to still be on edge. Fussing over your pet when they are still feeling this way can continue to add to the distress. I would leave it several hours after the fireworks have finished before quietly entering the room and giving them a quick check up to see that, yes, they are all right. This is more reassurance for us owners, as the pets usually cope ok even if they have been scared. As long as the precautions have been followed then my pets get along without having any lasting negative effects.
The following day it would be best to let the pet get some exercise and play during the day, and then I will repeat the shutdown operation before the next lot of fireworks starting that night. Fireworks Night can be a real worry and a nuisance for small pet owners, but by employing a bit of common sense and planning things out in advance you can minimise disruption for your pet and make the whole process a lot easier. The main rules to remember are: keep your pet inside, keep the area dark, provide a bed or somewhere they can hide, and keep them shut in until it's all over.
Stay safe and have a happy Fireworks Night!
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