Privilege, Wealth and Inequality.

My school reunion Alnwick Garden May 2014

(Photograph credit - George Skipper <skipphoto@hotmail.co.uk>)

Privilege, wealth and inequality - no, I am not this time talking about Cambodia, but my home town Alnwick in the UK, thanks to the circuitous route of a Washington Post article reproduced in the Cambodia Daily.  The article (copied below) traces the landed gentry status of the Duke of Northumberland, who even today has inherited vast ownership of lands and business interests, plus to go with it considerable influence in public affairs. 

Now what the article did not include was the controversy that accompanied the plans for the Alnwick Gardens.  In this sense, Cambodian-watchers will see something more familiar. 

More to Saint Helenian Culture than Napoleon

This blog dates from 2015 when St Helena was in the throes of its greatest hopes in living history. Sadly as previously those hopes and ventures were shattered, leaving "Saints" once again to pick up the pieces. Then just as a glimmer of hope returned, Covid19 ills crossed its horizon. What next for St Helena?  Something really must be done about St Helena. See also my latest blog.

I have taken the title from my most popular blog to date*, to make the same point – before it is too late – for Saint Helenians not to lose their unique culture when the new airport opens up in 2016.

Just as for Cambodia’s indigenous peoples, and most such peoples around the world, are we seeing again a failure to appreciate the richness and rarity of Saint Helenian culture?