Unlikely, for two reasons. One is that the US, among others, has a strong interest in keeping a buffer zone between North and Sub-Saharan Africa, and would rather that be in the hands of states we know and understand rather than an unknown (and potentially Islamist) government. We are already quite active in the region, and I think we would fight hard (though covertly) against any succession.
Secondly, there is no way a Tuareg state would not extend into Niger, and with Niger’s Uranium it’s again unlikely the powers that be would be comfortable with that.
The Tauregs are like the Kurds. They have a very good argument for statehood, but nobody can think of a way to make that happen that doesn’t upset some pretty delicate balances.
What are you on about?
Comparing Ireland to Albania?
I don’t think Albania is even in the same category as Ireland.
Regarding thisfactbook: Ireland is ranked in GDP 58 – Albania 118 – however, the EU is number 1
The Republic of Ireland - or the South as you put it, is a state of the EU – meaning that N.I. would join the EU and break from the stale and stagnant UK, drooling over their lost empire.
This also means that Ireland is part of the EU and therefore part of NATO.
Here some numbers and facts:
The UK has a higher Infant mortality rate than Ireland.
Irelands maternal mortality rate is half of the UK’s
Irelands GDP $183,900,000,000 at 4,722,028 population
UKGDP $2,290,000,000,000 at 63,047,162 population If Ireland would have the same population Irelands GDP would be $2,455,379,996,010 – which is just slightly higher than the UK’s GDP
The conclusion to this is – If Ireland is on the same standard as Albania – the UK is worse – meaning it’s a worse shithole than Ireland.
Your posts are just based on racial slurs - nothing else.
Well it could be based on racial slurs if I disliked, let alone hated the Irish.
But like most non N.I,. Brits I feel a strong affection for the Irish, so I’m afraid that my opinions are, unluckily for you, based only on the world as it is, not on how you’d like it to be.
If the Irish unsupported economy was so strong, I think that there’d be a strong and persistant trend in immigration from the U.K in search of work and a higher standard of living into the R.O.I. rather the other way round.
Why is that you think ?
And before you mention it, Irish Nationalists not so long ago made a big thing about Ireland having the highest standard of living in Europe.
Except that the poll carried out and filled in by each nations citizens was NOT about Standard of Living, but about quality of life, which are two very different things.
It could well be that the Irish genuinlly feel that they have the best quality of life in Europe.
Or it could be that being very, very patriotic, as members of small countries tend to be, they were just as loyal to their country when they answered the poll.
Especially as so many of those who obviously didn’t feel that their Q of L was the best, have emigrated, mostly to England, but many to the U.S. and Australia.
Year after year, decade after decade.
Who knows ?
As to the mention of Albania, maybe Hungarian citizenship, or Nigerian citizenship would make you feel better ?
I can assure you that the majority population of N.I. would be as equally reluctant to become citizens of the R.O.I. whatever comparison you could make.
If "reluctant, describing a desire to fight, literally to the death, not to become Irish citizens is really the right word.
The second biggest immigrant group in Ireland is from the UK so Ireland seems to be plenty attractive to UKians. Of course for decades there was much more economic reason for an Irish person to go across the water than a UKian to come to Ireland but that changed for a time in the '80s/'90s/'00s. Beyond your facile notions of Irish nationalism most people just want a decent job and decent treatment. They’ll take it in the UK if they can’t get it here and vice versa. But the UK as a global total is always going to have a much bigger economy than Ireland. It has 12 times the population for one thing. Doughbag was talking per capita. The UK is of course a magnet for Irish labour and will continue to be for a long time. By the way doughbag proferred cites, it’d be nice if you could do the same in your rants.
Now, after making clear that you are referring to material standard of living, you say this:
Your original comparison of the United States (per capita GDP $48,387, IMF 2011) with Canada ($50,496, IMF 2011) was reasonable, given the implied relationship between Northern Ireland ($45,439, OECD 2007, closest approximation to current N. Irish GDP per capita I can find) and the Republic of Ireland ($48,289, IMF 2011).
However, your subsequent comparisons of Irish standards of living with Albania ($4,020, IMF 2011), Hungary ($14,050, IMF 2011), and Nigeria ($1,522 for fuck’s sake, IMF 2011) are wrong and offensive.
Just go up to a few of the majority population of N.I. and throw figures around till your blue in the face, then ask them if they would even consider the idea of becoming citizens of the R.O.I..
Under any circumstances
Who knows perhaps your cites might do the job.
Might well change their whole perception of your nation and its citizens.
Back in the 1990s, I thought Hawaii was heading this route. There were several traditional markers of nascent nationalism emerging, such as greater interest in the Hawaiian language, a greater ethnic identification as “Hawaiian” (up from 800 in the 1980 census to 30,000 in 1990) and, anecdotally on my part, a general disinclination of Hawaiians to do business with “mainlanders” (unless they were taking mainland money, of course). I don’t think independence has made too many inroads since then, however–a look at the movement’s Wikipedia page doesn’t exactly conjure visions of a modern Pacific nation arising any time soon.
Standard of living has risen in Ireland drastically since the 80’s. This sure had something to do with being part of the EU and the EU pumping a lot of money into the R.O.I. – however, the EU is also the biggest market for the UK and where it gains most of it’s revenue
You certainly have your facts completely wrong.
[ul]
[li] Ireland has an educated work force, otherwise, they would not find work abroad so easily[/li][li] Ireland has industries , one of these is Farming and it cranks out a lot for such a small country, depending on the commodity up to 95% of what the UK can produce (the UK is eating a lot of food produced in Ireland) Cite[/li][li] Medical Industry Cite[/li][/ul]
This is not saying that Ireland does not have it’s problem, but there is no country in the world that doesn’t.
So, whatever you want to think, is only that – whatever you want to believe in – UK grow up, the Golden Ages of the UK are long over.
Regarding your last bit, don’t worry on that score, I’m well aware of it, believe me.
And I’ve no doubt that your cherry picked figures are accurate, but the fact is the majority population of N.I., even excluding their widespread antipathy (being very polite there) for your citizens, who rightly or wrongly are perceived by them, as at the very least giving tacit approval to the the Republican attrocities inflicted on their familes etc.
They STILL regard leaving the U.K. for the R.O.I. as leaving a first rank nation for that much much lower down the scale in world terms.
If your standard of living WAS actually better then that of the U.K.( and believe me it isn’t) then that still wouldn’t alter the point of my analogy.
I said to Americans, imagine becoming Canadians.
Even if Canada became fabulously wealthy beyond all dreams most Americans wouldn’t even consider it (And vice versa of course).
Just as most Americans wouldn’t consider becoming British.
Britain actually HAS a better standard of living generally then many Americans have, but America is an incredibly powerful nation whith a hell of a lot of prestige worldwide and in history.
N.I. citizens as a majority consider themselves to be British, not Irish people living under Britiish rule.
Just as say, hispanics in the U.S. are Americans, not Mexicans (Or whatever) who happen to live in the U.S.
A question thats always intrigued me is that when the Irish are selling themselves as a work force to foreign countries, they always mention the “Trained workforce”, bit.
How is this different from any other European nationality ?
As we all have education systems up to degree level, as do North Americans, Australasians etc.
**An Gadai ** commented on large numbersof Brits emigrating to the R.O.I..
Is this skilled and semi skilled people moving to Ireland permamently to find work ?
(As is the migration the other way )
Or is it people with specialist skills in say civil engineeing etc. going for a fixed contract to carry out tasks that cannot be carried out by the locals while retaining their homes and families back in the U.K. ?
Or maybe its British pensioners going there to retire ?
I must admit that I’ve never in my life met anyone who was about to, or wanted to emigrate to the R.O.I..
Except ironically myself.
But I suspect that wouldn’t be a very good idea now, for health reasons.
Perceptions are not facts; neither do they need to be bases on facts.
N.I. joining the R.O.I is basically a decision to become a member of the EU. This talk about protestant and catholic is idiotic – in the R.O.I church has NO say whatsoever anymore and I’m not arguing that it did in the past. However, this has changed dramatically in resent times.
The UK is a full member of the EU, just not part of the Eurozone, so N.I. and the R.O.I are already each a state of the same “nation” so to say – if people realize this or not is another thing. But for the most part driving from the ROI to NI is just like driving from Cork to Kerry (or Utah to Nevada) – meaning there is NO boarder control or customs.
I really do not understand you - most people in the R.O.I. do not care anymore about N.I. joining them anymore - that is just some problem up in the North for the most part.
So, the Irish have a tradition of traveling and emigrating. Nothing to do with the standard of living.
Also, if you choose to come here from the UK, there are no health issues as such – many people actually do.
Plenty of English people living here, so do Polish, Americans (US) or Germans like myself.
As I said before, the standard of living has risen here majorly in the last decade alone to a relative good European standard. That great standard of the UK you are talking about is not that great either. Cite
Then why have Irish Republican terrorists been, murdering, torturing and kidnapping N.I. Protestants for so long, as an attempt, according to THEIR publicity , to make N.I. a part of the R.O.I. ?
And as to perceptions, you really don’t get it do you ?
Rightly or wrongly, thats how they percieve you.
And thats how they react to you.
During WW2 the Japanese civilians were told that the allies would kill them all after raping them.
So on Onkinawa at least there were mass suicides.
It was lies.
But the majority population of N.I. have actually SEEN their family members, neighbours and workmates murdered, tortured and kidnapped, almost at random.
For being Protestants.
You’re not going to change their opinions in a hurry.
Off topic I knew a very pretty girl who was at University in Cork, and she travelled round Germany.
Though for some strange reason she put a false name on her i.d while travelling.
Irelands such a small place, I wonder if you’ve ever met her ?
Sure sure, all the people of Ireland meet every weekend in my backyard having piss-up and torture a few protestants. :smack:
Your posts just shows that you are ignorant to facts to an unknown limit.
Sure enough, IRA & RIRA have committed atrocities – but don’t forget events like Bloody Sunday, where British Soldiers opened fire on civilians. It’s not as black and white as you like to paint it.
Conclusion: You are just a narrow minded offensive racist.
Well, right, that’s the question. “What will be the next independent country?”
If some area’s already a country, then most likely (but not definitely) it’s independent. So why mention it?
Basically, the OP is asking this: what area – that is currently not an independent country – will be next to become an independent country? So for the input of this OP, the area(s) in question are not independent, nor countries. So, just as Quebec is still a province of Canada, Texas is a state of USA. They possibly (but not probably) could become independent countries, Quebec more likely to.
I happen to be in Texas now. Despite the rest of the US’s opinion that Texas is full of a bunch of right-wing yahoos that would love to be independent, the truth is that we’re about 50/50, just like every other state. And being a substitute teacher, I’ve seen the curriculum of most subjects taught in 3 school districts, I’ve not seen any indication that creationism is being taught at all in Texas schools.