In the news

No, the something we're discussing is a pile of money - the NCQG - which is intended to underwrite renewable transition projects, subsidize the closure of coal plants and/or protect carbon sinks like forests, and pay for mitigation and adaptation (ie, flood defences).

If the countries that are going to find themselves underwater don't think they can afford the necessary flood defences, why shouldn't they complain? Why shouldn't they walk out, or negotiate however they choose?

Yes, it could be the case that some leaders are padding their costs to skim some off. It could also be the developed world are low-balling them.

I don't know, and I doubt @Ben689908 does either. Half a flood defence is not, in many cases, any better than no flood defence.

Was that real or an urban myth?

I saw it... so, real.

@atz that sounds like a fischeli and weiss sculpture to me, but i don’t know, neither can I spell

It could be I suppose... a bloke I spoke to from the Tate said it was an unfinished room but maybe that was part of the spiel.

The confusion was intended to be an integral part of the piece, no doubt

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/nov/25/singer-sweden-british-husband-refused-leave-to-remain-brexit

I may be sounding unsympathetic here, but I live in the EU and although I have an EU passport as well as a UK one, I know lots of British migrants who had to "normalise" their status. Not a single one that I know "forgot" to fill in papers or was "unaware" that they had no right to remain by default (even though it was a formality if you filled in the papers). People I know even had time to learn the language and get citizenship when the hard Brexit was becoming inevitable.

Perhaps where I live is different as the country is MUCH smaller, but I'm getting the shits with people who go to the newspapers explaining how it's not their fault. My assumption is that as a guest in a foreign country, the onus is on you to make sure you understand how you're able to remain where you live. Particularly given how the UK treated people from the EU and continues to do so...

There are some cases, like the lady with dementia who was in the papers that I absolutely sympathise with and can understand, but the entitled, head in the sand, unaware, "it doesn't mean me" people can get back in the sea.

He's a musician.

I found his insta... that's generous.

Article says he's an actor with seven restaurants and barber shops.

I may be sounding unsympathetic here, but I live in the EU and although I have an EU passport as well as a UK one, I know lots of British migrants who had to "normalise" their status.

Yeah, you are pretty unsympathetic. You live in the EU but the 27 countries all have different immigration admin and procedures. You don't know how well Sweden publicised the procedure, it's perfectly understandable that someone living in country for over a decade might expect to receive a letter.

Should he have been a bit more proactive, yes, but you know life moves and sometimes you miss things. Wouldn't you go to the paper if you have been kicked out of your home of over a decade and split from your family?

There are some cases, like the lady with dementia who was in the papers that I absolutely sympathise with and can understand, but the entitled, head in the sand, unaware, "it doesn't mean me" people can get back in the sea.

Man made a mistake, probably meets all the requirements for citizenship anyway but it's OK he deserves it?

Agreed. When you (have to) introduce new layers of bureaucracy, some people will just be caught out. You can always blame the victims, of course, but it's not a recommended option.

I look at it from the very simple perspective

You should probably preface all your posts with this.

Man made a mistake, probably meets all the requirements for citizenship anyway but it's OK he deserves it?

I don't disagree the Swedish approach seems a little nuclear but if, as he said, he's been there for a couple of decades, he should have thought about the impact of Brexit and looked to citizenship after the vote or paperwork when the rules were created. I checked my EU passport was on my residency documentation not long after the vote and am working towards citizenship where I live "just in case". Ultimately, unless you're a citizen of a country, you're a guest of that country and of whatever winds of change are blowing.

Ultimately, though, you have to take responsibility for your own action or inaction in life.

Ultimately, though, you have to take responsibility for your own action or inaction in life.

Sure, but that's not the point. Look at the Windrush Generation; many simply didn't realise they needed particular paperwork because they'd lived in the country for so long, contributed, paid taxes, and so forth. And in the present case, his living there for decades is likewise more of a reason for him not realising what became required in this case. People just live and care about the day-to-day, and we all make mistakes.

As ever when such cases come to public attention, there will be plenty of others still being ground through the mill. Bureaucracies have to make allowance for such edge cases, as they will always happen, and ultimately it's in everybody's interest to resolve them, both the person's and the state's interest.

he should have thought about the impact of Brexit and looked to citizenship after the vote or paperwork when the rules were created.

It's such an easy thing to say, just because you did it and it was obvious for you, that doesn't just automatically apply to everyone else.

Ultimately, though, you have to take responsibility for your own action or inaction in life.

Yes, but this is basically just an admin error, he meets all of the requirements, he just forgot to fill a form, the Swedish government seemed happy to take his taxes for 3 years past the deadline and not say anything. I'd say there's plenty of blame to go around.

OK. Then. I was imagining more of a Superhands character smoking drugs.

Superhands?

The Dutch government at least tried to find all UK citizens in NL. Its not that hard to send people letters based on their registration details at the local council & tax details.

If individuals have responsibilities perhaps governments should have some too?

I think the UK government really let down Brits abroad and I say that as a citizen of nowhere in the UK. We got somewhat protected as the EU has clout, the monitoring board on EU citizens in the UK is actually not a chocolate fireguard and actively engages.

The Brits were hung out to dry and I choose a bit more solidarity with each other as we all got stomped on by Brexit.

Don't be a cunt all your life, mate.

You don't choose cunt life, cunt life chooses you.

https://x.com/VeloUK/status/1861312289640751253

"Choose towels.."

https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/indian-civil-servants-spark-culture-war-with-use-of-white-towels-td7qcls29

When I was at uni, me and a friend were walking along the pavement one time carrying our skateboards, when a man and his 7yr old son came in the opposite direction. We moved aside to let them past, and the dad said that exact phrase to us.
A bit baffled, because we'd no idea what we'd done to deserve that, maybe just carry skateboards, but my mate replied with "Why, is that what you decided to do?"

Strange comment by the dad, considering you were polite. Good response from your mate.