The memory of late Nelson Mandela misused by groups of countries promoting dubious cash schemes

It is sad to note that the late Nelson Mandela's name is misused by propagandists of two groups of countries promoting schemes to get almost unlimited free cash from rich industrialized countries:

LDC Chair‏@LDCChairUNFCCC 2h

"It always seems impossible until it's done." World can truly honor #Mandela by doing what seems impossible--agreeing 2 a bold climate deal.

What the Chair of Least Developed Countries means is that rich countries should pay almost unlimited compensation for "loss and damage" caused by non-existent human-made global warming.

CARICOM, representing 15 Caribbean nations and dependencies, is also misusing the memory of Nelson Mandela in an effort to force a number of "former slave-owning nation of Europe" to pay "reparations":         

 

The Executive of the CARICOM Reparations Commission met on December 9, 2013 in Jamaica at the Regional Headquarters of the University of the West Indies in order to define and set in train its plan of action.
It did so within the context of the global celebration of the life of Nelson Mandela, who, by his sacrifice and teachings, provided the world with a moral and ethical framework within which the diplomatic and political search for truth, justice, and reconciliation can be attained. The Commission affirmed its commitment to the principles inherent in the living legacy of Mr. Mandela.
The Commission affirmed the argument that Caribbean societies have been built upon transatlantic slave trading and chattel slavery, which have been declared by the United Nations as crimes against humanity. These societies are uniquely placed to advance the global cause of truth, justice, and reconciliation, within the context of reparatory justice for the victims and their descendants who continue to suffer harm as a consequence of these crimes.

The Commission called upon the former slave-owning nations of Europe - principally Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark - to engage Caribbean governments in reparatory dialogue to address the living legacies of these crimes.
The Commission noted that Caribbean societies also experienced the genocide of the native population, which was also declared a crime against humanity by the United Nations. The victims of these crimes and their descendants were left in a state of social, psychological, economic and cultural deprivation and disenfranchisement that has ensured their suffering and debilitation today, and from which only reparatory action can alleviate their suffering.

PS

The slave trade was of course a very sad and shameful chapter in the history of a number of European countries. However also African rulers profited from it:

When Europeans first came to Africa in search of slaves, the African leaders themselves were eager to contribute. Initially, the slaves were war prisoners, criminals or people in debt. However, as the European demand for slaves grew, African leaders turned to new ways to find slaves. Wars were started for the sole reasons of taking prisoners to sell, and many were simply kidnapped (either by people from their own tribe, or from competing tribes). Some African rulers earned great profits by controlling the regional slave trade.

Will CARICOM also call upon some African countries to "engage in reparatory dialogue"?

I mention this only to show that this type of "loss and damage" and "reparation" demands could lead to similar actions by hundreds - if not thousands - of countries, nations, tribes and other groups in different parts of the world - a completely impossible and uncontrollable situation.

The groups of Least Developed Countries and the Caribbean countries should abstain from this kind of bogus financing schemes, and instead start working on e.g. promoting democracy, better governance and rule of law in their respective countries.

Climate alarmist: Carbon taxes could badly hurt tourism in the Caribbean

"New carbon taxes and levies on air travel could have dramatic influences on the flow of tourists to the islands"

At a recent conference in London,  a number of  "experts" have discussed how to respond to climate change in the Caribbean. Judging from this report in AlertNet, the the London conference was an almost exact copy of all other similar climate alarmist conferences - the "experts" were competing with each other about who could present the worst possible doomsday scenario.

Here are just a couple of examples:

• With 70 percent of the region’s population and an equal share of its infrastructure along threatened coastlines, Caribbean nations could be spending close to a fifth of their GDP just to cope with climate impacts by 2080, said Murray Simpson, a University of Oxford researcher who has worked with the U.N. Development Programme in Barbados.
• If the Caribbean fails to adequately prepare, it faces “perpetual recession under these conditions”, Leslie warned, calling adaptation to the ongoing changes “an imperative”. (Kenrick Leslie, executive director of the Belize-based Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre)
• Most countries in the region are feeling the pressure already. Farmers in Jamaica are seeing an unusual combination of increasingly severe droughts and hurricanes, leading to a gradual depletion of their financial resources. (David Barker, University of West Indies)
• Shifting temperature and rainfall patterns also are likely to drive increases in tropical diseases like dengue and malaria, and worsen problems with heat stress and water-related diseases like cholera, said David Dodman of the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development.

However, Mr. Dodman must have amazed all the gathered alarmists with this statement:

New carbon taxes and levies on air travel, for instance, could have dramatic influences on the flow of tourists to the islands, he said.
“Regulations around trade and carbon are going to create very large shifts in our economies,” he predicted.

Dodman´s statement was a unique breeze of fresh air at a gathering of climate alarmists. But he will probably regret having said it. His fellow alarmists will never forgive him for having committed the mortal sin of pointing out the negative effects of carbon taxes and levies.

Drinking rum and cola - sponsored by EU taxpayers

Here is a hot tip for EU citizens: Why not celebrate the long awaited summer season with the classical Caribbean rum and coke drink! There is a special reason for choosing an original Caribbean rum: You already have contributed about €70 million to "making it export-ready" for you to consume! If you have any questions about why your money is used for this purpose, contact "Chef de file Delegation in Barbados":

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 654C BB11000 or Palm Beach Corporate Centre, Hastings, Christ Church, BB15156, Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies

Tel: 246 - 434.85.01
Fax: 246 - 427.86.87
E-mail: delegation-barbados@ec.europa.eu

The EU´s Caribbean "Rum programme" is described in the official EU document "Jamaica - European Community, Country Strategy Paper and National Indicative Programme for the period 2008 - 2013". You can download the document here

Integrated Development Programme for the ACP Caribbiean Rum Sector (regional programme: Chef de file Delegation in Barbados)
The programme aims to enhance the competitiveness of the rum sector by making it export-ready in the segment of branded products. Its three main components are: (i) institutional capacity building of the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA); (ii) plant modernisation and meeting environmental needs; (iii) implementation of a distribution and marketing strategy.
The total project cost is estimated at about €146 Million, of which 70 million will be founded by EC from intra ACP Resources.

PS
Do not hesitate to contact the "Chef de file". The EU "embassy" in Bridgetown, led by His Excellency, Sr. Valeriano Diaz has about 50 diplomats and other employees, so I am convinced that one of them, in spite of  the busy beach party season, will find time to answer your questions. If you so wish, you can also give your contribution to the EU rum programme by suggesting brand names for future EU-subsidised distilled Caribbean  beverages. Wouldn´t it  be nice e.g. to have a "Rompuy´s Reserve", a "Captain Barroso XO Extra Strong", a"Baroness Ashton´s Super Light" or perhaps a "Connie´s  Climate Candy Cane Rum  2030" to be enjoyed on very special occasions (like when new euro bail-out packages haven been agreed)?