David Miliband

Congratulations on a really important environmental initiative by the British Government. The world's oceans and fisheries have been trashed in the past decades and it is urgent that large new marine protected areas are created to allow havens for fish and marine life to breed and recover. That helps people because there will be more fish. Your project should be good for the countries of the region around the Indian Ocean.

Posted by Andrea Michelli on November 11, 2009 at 05:46 PM GMT #

Congratulations, Mr Miliband, I am the Secretary of the Chagos Conservation Trust-US. The Chagos Marine Protected Area will be a great practical contribution to dealing with urgent global environmental problems. I hope that there will be good UK/US and wider international cooperation on this important project. I look forward to working with you in the future. Warm regards, Carol Garner

Posted by Carol Garner on November 12, 2009 at 12:06 PM GMT #

This is an extremely positive step and I welcome this move from the government. We have a perfect window of opportunity to maintain one of Earth's last pristine marine environments. What a change this could be from previous 'last resort rescue' situations. Due to The Chagos Archipelago's largely unspoilt condition and remoteness, it provides a barometer for the rest of the world's fringing reef systems. It is also a refuge for a comprehensive chain of species showcasing a wonderful bio-diversity. If this consultation is successful, it will be important maintain this fragile area's remoteness and should limit human visitation. I feel strongly that the atoll of Diego Garcia should be included within any proposed boundari

Posted by Clive Bremner on November 12, 2009 at 07:49 PM GMT #

Dear Mr Miliband, I would like to congralutate you for the consultation you are currently organizing on the future of Chagos Islands. But I think you should introduce a little more the history of the islands : there was a people, Chagossian living there before British Government decided to expell them in 1969 to build a military base. Nowdays the US military base is still working and Chagossian, who are now full British and then European citizen keep being denied the right to return living on their birthplace. British and US army are helped by Sri Lanka, Mauritian and Philippines workers while Chagossian are systematically refused the right to work there. I strongly support your idea of making Chagos Islands a marine protected area but you should also study the question of Chagossian right to return. It is mearly unacceptable that British government dared to expell its own citizen from their birthplace. It is mearly unacceptable that today's British government keep denying the right to its own citizen to live in their birthplace.

Posted by Guillaume Richard on November 22, 2009 at 12:47 AM GMT #

You say, "I hope that those with an interest in protecting the environment are able to participate." Unfortunately, those who were sent into exile continue to be unable to participate in protecting the environment of these islands.

Posted by Bob in Anguilla, British West Indies on November 26, 2009 at 10:36 AM GMT #

Dear Mr. Milliband, I join those who congratulate you on the much needed MPA. In the global picture it is necessary and it could easily be lost forever if we turn our backs on it. I also join those who support the Chagossians, and those Chagossians who want to return, and those who do not want to return. I support all Chagossians who are owed much more than we can ever hope to repay them. The MPA is a once in a lifetime opportunity - to have the largest marine protected area on the globe and at the same time - to bring about great healing - to honor a people who have survived because of their very goodness, their belief in family and home, and their unshakable faith - a people who have never set out to hurt anyone --even as they had everything they loved taken from them. What is it that offends us most about the Chagossians? That they are bigger than we are - their values higher? If you stepped into their kitchen and you were hungry - they would feed you. I have lately met Chagossian youth who are proud to be British, proud of the opportunities open to them, and too they are proud of the Chagos and want to preserve it. Can you blame them if they dream of going there to be a part of their own heritage - can you blame them, as proud British citizens, if they want to preserve enviroment, wildlife, history, art, culture and songs and share these things with the world? These youth are dedicated and they are part of this great opportunity as are all youth coming along now who will benefit from what you are doing today. This MPA then, represents 2 great endeavors - 2 great successes - Those who would rather sell it out for heavy development, ruin and profit must sit back and sharpen their pencils and rethink their definiton of profit. With this great opportunity comes great responsibility not just to those who have gone before and those who suffer now, but those who rest now on the brink. All deserve to be involved in this great cause. If we have forgotten that Chagossians have a lot to give and share with the world and are an asset and great resource themselves - let us remember not to forget and to preserve this too.

Posted by Valerie "ariel" Van Haltern on November 27, 2009 at 02:36 PM GMT #

The islanders were removed from Diego Garcia and the entire Chagos Archipelago to make way for a huge U.S. military base. Would the U.K. government have done that to the Isle of Man or the Falklands? I don't think so. Would they have spent vast amounts of money in legal fees to keep the Falkland Islanders from returning to their homeland? I don't think so. Goodness, I nearly forgot: the U.K. went to war to keep the Falklanders on their islands a decade after forcibly exiling the Chagossians from theirs. Yes, we need to preserve the environment but that is not incompatible with a basic human right: to live in freedom on one's own land. The Chagossians must have looked after their home environment well enough in the past for it to be worth preserving now.

Posted by CELIA WHITTAKER on November 28, 2009 at 09:13 AM GMT #

All I want to know Mr Miliband is did you, your office or this government EVER make a full and sincere, genuine APOLOGY to the poor Chagossian people who were so wickedly intimidated, despoiled and whose lives were totally wrecked by a previous labour government who have already ruined Diego Garcia by turning it into a huge US nuclear arsenal and launch pad. British arrogance and Imperialism has destroyed not only their lives, but also the lives of their future generations. In my opinion, this government's cruel actions of fighting our Lord Justices' decisions in the Islanders' favour with millions of pounds of taxpayers' money was deplorable and has brought further shame on this country. Most intelligent people will see this "Marine Protected Area" as yet another method of enforcing the exile of the indigenous population. If you really wanted to preserve the beauty and NATURE, you would surely remove the Nuclear Weapons, all the Uranium and the biggest threat to this planet's very survival, THE US Military. Their lease ends in 2016. Will this country do the right thing and re-instate the rightful Chagossian inhabitants or will we renew the lease to the US war machine to pursue more Vietnam style un-winnable and immoral wars. We had the Communist witch hunt, now we have the Muslim witch hunt, who will be our next enemy, the Buddhists maybe or the Pacifists? Will this be published as it would be were the UK a REAL democracy? Or are we already half way towards George Orwell's prophesies in the UK?

Posted by Borntorunsailor on December 04, 2009 at 11:33 PM GMT #