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| [ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, [2], 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ] |
| Subject: First Step | |
Author: Jim (Canada) | [ Next Thread |
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] Date Posted: 15:35:13 12/06/04 Mon This is probably impossible at the moment, but I think the first step towards a CANZUK Federation would be for the British Government to offer British Overseas Citizenship to all Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders in addition to their individual citizenships. That would create a common nationality and then we can move forward from there. The completion of Australia/New Zealand union would also be another initial step that needs to be done. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| [> Subject: Canada too | |
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Author: Ian (Australia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 15:58:38 12/06/04 Mon In fact, Canada could grant citizenship to all Britons, Australians and New Zealanders. That would get things off the ground equally well. Australia and New Zealand already have reciprocal rights. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: Yes | |
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Author: Dave (UK) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 16:25:20 12/06/04 Mon Indeed, common citizenship would be a core principle of the proposed FC. However, I feel you are right in your assessment of the present probability of such an occurrence, given that the UK is currently in the process of kicking out Commonwealth servicemen. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: Sorry Ian, I think that Jim is right. | |
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Author: Ed Harris (Venezia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 16:28:33 12/06/04 Mon I think that the first step must necessarily be on the part of the British government. The former dominions will never take the first step towards renovating ties with the UK. What the British govt must do is UNILATERALLY declare freedom of residence, employment, franchise etc. in Britain to all Australian, Canadian and NZ citizens, and make it quite clear at the time that no reciprocal privileges are expected from the former dominions in return (although now I think of it the franchise bit is already true). In this way and in this way only will Britain, which is ascendent in the world once more, make it quite explicit that this is not the first step towards repatriating power to London for Britain's sake alone. It would be a gesture of trust. Any suggestion that 'magnanimity' of this sort would not be passed by Parliament unless Ottowa, Melbourne and Aukland reciprocate in toto would bugger the whole thing, as this will send out entirely the wrong signals. The rhetoric must be about reconciliation, the debt which we owe to the above countries, and a gesture of making things up for the shameful way in which they have been treated by Britain (especially after our entry into the European concert). I have given some thought to this and I really think that this is how it must be. The only other way would be for the former dominions to have a go at federation without Britain, and make it so successful that Britain petitions to join on the others' terms. Ian's suggestion that NZ and Australia should lead the way in this respect is eminently sensible. So, Britain should be involved either first and gently or last and desperately. Frankly, I think that there is too much historical baggage for it to work otherwise, and it is very necessary to tiptoe around the sensibilities of people who have been taught that London is some weary but powerful titan which is just waiting for the opportunity to leap on people's necks and grind them into the dust in order to regain it's own greatness. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: yes | |
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Author: Ian (Australia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 23:00:02 12/06/04 Mon Well, you're right, I guess. A unilateral move from Canada would get things off the ground, but not "equally well". A gesture of magnanimity from Britain would make us colonials feel loved, which would have to be a good thing. I suppose now it is all up to you lot who vote in the UK to try and come up with a government that cares about ties with the Commonwealth and is prepared to do something about them. Which sort of puts us back to square minus several thousand, doesn't it? [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> Subject: Well... | |
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Author: Ed Harris (Venezia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 23:11:05 12/06/04 Mon When I'm PM, it's the first thing I'll do, I promise! Seriously, though, the first step is leaving the EEC, because then people will be literally forced to look around and think hard about where we go from there. If that first step be taken, then I think that it is inevitable that the British people will looked towards the Commonwealth. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> Subject: I'll vote for you... | |
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Author: Dave (UK) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 23:18:35 12/06/04 Mon If you promise to make me Governor of Bermuda... [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> Subject: Well... | |
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Author: Ed Harris (Venezia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 23:23:34 12/06/04 Mon You'd have to be prepared to give it up when I retire! [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: First step | |
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Author: Aussie [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 13:41:25 01/24/05 Mon >>>The completion of Australia/New Zealand union would also be another initial step that needs to be done.<<< absolutely not, im all for CANZUK, but not for ANZ, New Zealand are socialist, pacifist leeches who take and take without giving a thing, and a country so small would only damage Australia, not help. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> Subject: Funny you should say that... | |
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Author: Ed Harris (London) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 16:08:27 01/24/05 Mon When I bring up the FCS with British people, the reaction I most usually get is, "It's sounds all right, but dear God! would you want the bloody Kiwis with a veto over our foreign policy!" I point out that it's better than Europe, since we could at least out-vote NZ, but this is hardly a positive basis for Federation. I note, also, that we have more American members that Zew Zealanders. Funny that, hm? [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |