France Still Has An Empire

[@layalumpar4218]

Unlike US's treatment of Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa, all of the French overseas territories that has a civilian population have full representation to the French Parliament. So French Guyana, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, etc. are to France what Hawaii is to the US. And that's one reason why half the population of these territories want to remain with France. They have representation. France subsidizes their government. The French military and science programs create jobs on their islands. And perhaps the most important thing, the French citizenship and passport. They can go to mainland France (and EU by extension) and work there and all they'll need is the plane ticket. They don't need visas nor work permits to do that. The French passport is very powerful too. They can visit most of the nations in the world visa-free.

[@cyber_baudelaire9962]

LOUDER. I'm tired of this hypocritical speech coming from the US. Their country's also not blameless...

[@magdelanax2122]

@@cyber_baudelaire9962 Are you serious? Many people try to keep up a consistent awareness about colonialism and racism in America. If we are surprised France has an Empire or that Belgium enslaved the Congo its not a hypocritical insult, its just surprise. I mean, for most of my life I was unaware of the initial colonialism in Vietnam. Americans mostly focus on our own role in events.

[@shreenathjraman3619]

@@cyber_baudelaire9962 I think you'll realize very quickly that the only thing American about Johnny Harris is where he lives.

[@mikemartin6748]

​@@shreenathjraman3619 And his entire worldview. Clearly very non-French. He gives many reasons for New Caledonia wanting to remain part of France, but ignores the most obvious: French patriotism. They're French and they love La France et la culture française

[@brunosanchez3427]

@@mikemartin6748 ???????

[@mathieuvitasse3280]

2:15 That’s not correct: Only 6 French overseas territories are part of the European Union as either fully part of the French Republic (Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyane, Mayotte, Reunion) or under a special status (St Martin). The other overseas territories are associated and often administered directly by France but are not part of the EU. For example French Polynesia where my family lives, I can live there as a French Citizen but someone from Germany or Italy would not have an automatic right to live there as it is not part of the EU.

[@1121494]

And even bigger Fauxpas, Greenland is very specifically not part of the EU after having very clearly voted themselves out of the EU by their 1982 referendum.

[@dinguswattle]

Been looking if someone already commented this as to not double comment

[@byblispersephone2.094]

AkCUtaLLy...

[@Birdylockso]

@@dinguswattle , same here.

[@mathisrenier]

Yes to make things clear the people living there are still European citizens though.

[@benjaminverdier3122]

Those territories have voted many times against independence and all of their citizens have French citizenship and rights (as opposed to American territories like Puerto Rico or guam)

[@BobbyAlThor]

Thanks for clarifying it !

[@EJK2099]

Last I heard, Puerto Ricans are in a way citizens and they were given independence referendum multiple times

[@seybertooth9282]

Exactly.

[@estebanod]

And most of them feel French, as much as people living on metropolitan France

[@FroyourHistory]

@@EJK2099 Yes Puerto Ricans are US Citizens. In every referendum Independence has lost with Status Quo and Statehood beating it in referendums. The latest 2020 Referendum had 52.34% in favor of statehood.

[@carldindial5369]

From french Guiana, currently living in nyc. Thanks for the shedding some light on french Guiana. Even though we are a continent away, we identify ourselves strongly as french.

[@marcelo497]

DO people from French Guiana identidy as Latin Americans or South Americans? Here in Brazil we barely have contact with Suriname, Guiana and French Guiana so it's curious to see one of you

[@carldindial5369]

@Marcelo in French Guiana, like any other country we do identify ourselves as French. I think this is a nationalistic bubble, but we are also aware that we are in Latin America, surroundedby Braziland Surinam. In French Guiana we have a lot of Brazilians. My neighbor was Brazilian. Very lovely and sweet people.

[@marcelo497]

​@@carldindial5369 Nice, didn't know about Brazilian imigration to French Guiana, but that makes sense as most of the country don't get many news from Amapá

[@isaacthegoat1432]

What a lie.

[@frenchy2410]

Not everyone there. Out of all the territories, Guyana has some of the strongest independentist movement.

[@perryli8296]

I'm from Reunion Island and we actually are patriotic to France. We consider ourselves and we are French citizen. We can vote for the president and all kind of stuff so it's not like France conquered us or what not. The French discovered this Island with nobody and sure they bought slaves and plantations to here but the Creoles here hold no anger against the "Europeans". Actually this island is so mixed that we have a strong Asian (Indian and Chinese) community too! Edit: 20/12 was actually the annual Slavery Remembrance Day( Abolition of Slavery) of Reunion. It shows how we still remember our past and understand it but we don't go beat up white people or the descendants of slave traders for it. It's in the past and we continue moving forward. Being French is a nationality, and not a ethnicity. We are French. Now I cannot say the same for the other "outre-mer territoires" because there were indigenous people living there before colonization but keep in mind that there were nobody living in Reunion island before the Europeans came.

[@anthonygianfrancesco6548]

Langetso ma. Bousto liki mama

[@JTProductions3]

Bonjour! Johnny Harris oublie l'île de Réunion !

[@perryli8296]

@@JTProductions3 ouai té nous lé francais aussi! Bena la oublie à nous (C'est kreole😉)

[@cyka4075]

Croissant baguette

[@JTProductions3]

@@cyka4075 bahaha. Yeah my French is a little rusty. Definitely cant speak Creole

[@ishanbaichoo7294]

I answered a comment, but let me put this here also : I am french, and I am Reunionese, so let me expand : Réunion island was a paradisiac island with a population of zero until europeans on the route to india found it, and used it as a water-and-food replenishment stop, for about a century. It changed hands, being owned by britain, France, and, if I'm not mistaken, the dutch at some point. Still with no continuous inhabitants, until it was used as a prison by europe. The contemporary population is a mix of descendants of various groups and cultures : the european sugar cane and coffee plantation owners, the slaves that worked in those plantations, from africa, the indian workers who kinda replaced part of the slave workforce when slavery was abolished, people from various islands of the indian ocean, mauritius and the comores archipelago, also a number of people of asian descent and finally new emigrants from metropolitan France. Nobody got colonized, because nobody was here, and nobody got brainwashed because we have a very strong local culture. But most of us aren't dumb, and know we are economically much better off with France and the EU subsidizing our crops. We get french education, french healthcare, and are very happy about it. Now, not everything is perfect, the unemployment rate is pretty high, but it is a piece of paradise on earth. We elect representatives to the french senate and parliament. We directly elect the french president (which is better than New Yorkers can say about their president - pardon my snarkiness) we have access to the french higher education system and schools with the same status as a parisian. We have french nationality, can travel and work around the EU like metropolitains. Now, I understand you don't want to do a very in-depth video. But presenting statements as undeniable facts when they are poorly researched at best and your conclusions with a righteous tone is, at best, very poor taste. Also Reunion island, which you bundled up with places with just scientists and wildlife, has a population of 860 000.

[@TrafficPartyHatTest]

We gotta get Johnny to see this

[@Agnitlafr]

The most populated French overseas département... Only place in the world where so many religions coexist in peace, I wish this could inspire Mainland France and other countries in the world. (My mother is from Guadeloupe, beautiful archipelago as well 😉)

[@Ihavebeenwatchingyou]

That's the difference you are French citizens with equal rights, unlike say the American empires treatment of it's territories like Puerto Rico.

[@lucasgrey9794]

@Mr M EVERYONE has an agenda.

[@Agnitlafr]

@@Raisonnance. *certains Arabes (je dirais même certains musulmans vu que tous les terroristes ne sont pas Arabes)

[@TerrickMansur]

Coming from a Dutch island (Aruba), regardless of history, I must say there comes a lot of benefits to being part of these European countries. You get a European passport, meaning you can work freely in Europe, and you are also protected militarily. If there will ever be a vote on leaving The Netherlands, I would vote to stay in.

[@alvaroop6307]

Do you also get financial aid for studying? I lived in Den Haag for a while and basically all of my friends were from Aruba. They were in The Netherlands studying on scholarships granted by the Dutch government. Fun fact: one of the guys was from Curaçao and he used to get shit from the boys ALL the time. It was all in good spirits, but so funny to watch!

[@TerrickMansur]

@@alvaroop6307 Yep, you get everything someone that was born in the Netherlands gets. There is no distinguishment legally.

[@snowy3896]

Thank you for explaining it. The way he portrayed the situation in the video made it sound like France is still running an exploitative, ruthless empire. It's for everyone's benefit, both of our on the continent, and of everyone away, to stay together. In varietate concordia :)

[@krateproductions4872]

Are there any reasons why you would vote to be in? And why do some vote for independence (other than historical/cultural reasons)?

[@AeromaticXD]

@@snowy3896 it is and was formed under exploitative conditions. The French Empire was formed under racist ideologies and it’s important to understand that; even considering the benefits of a European passport. We must acknowledge WHY a European Passport is strong, and Colonialism helped that.

[@FredericGaillot]

It sounds so awkard to speak on behalf of 3 million people, without knowing them, and telling they are under "the rule of France". The fact that there is no territorial continuity does not mean that people who live in these territories have no rights or no pride in being citizen from the same country. I recommend you travel in these places and meet people before you talk on their behalf. You will most likely be surprised on how much the connections between "Metropole" and these territories are strong and how long is the History in common.

[@AD-ry7br]

Let's call his opinion for what it is honestly: *it's racism.* These islands have been French for much longer than many of metropolitan regions have. Heck, at the time of the French Revolution, only people who lived in Paris and its close vicinity even spoke French at all. The majority in other regions originally spoke in their own dialects, so Paris technically "colonized" them. Meanwhile, the people of color of the overseas regions weren't even natives, they were brought there from other continents (many of them by force I concede but the point still stands). The only reason why he doesn't see our DROM as legitimate French land is because, *no matter how woke he probably thinks he is, in his mind, a French person has to be white.*

[@marchapar4859]

He forgot one thing : France don't own the overseas territory, France is defined by its overseas territories

[@gestiongmcg3717]

Être français, ce n'est ni une langue, ni une race, ni une religion. C'est quelque chose qui ne peut être compris par quelq'un qui vie dans une société racialisée comme aux USA. Ce youtubeur croit juste bien faire en dénonçant des faux problèmes.

[@tsenavi]

@@AD-ry7br facts

[@heroe1486]

​​@@gestiongmcg3717 La France est évidemment racialisée, personne ne croit à l'hypocrisie ambiante qui se limite à de belles paroles. Les USA sont juste un pays où la reconnaissance des différentes communautés est quelque chose de normal, ce qui s'explique par l'histoire et la réalité démographique du pays.

[@worldpoint3279]

2:20 "France should have decolonized 6 centuries ago" 6 centuries ago was 1420 and they did not even start to colonize places let alone decolonize places. I think you meant 6 decades ago. Edit: Thank you for so many likes!

[@gutsjoestar7450]

no, i think he meant what he meant, like colonisation shouldn't have happen but if you're hsitory nerd you'd know it was really crucial for the west's survival

[@jamier65551]

Yeah. Probably 1960 is what ge means.

[@bredrick.]

@@gutsjoestar7450 In order to decolonize, one first has to conolize. Someone who does not work cannot be fired, someone who is nude cannot undress.

[@Dan-mu5oy]

@@gutsjoestar7450 " like colonisation shouldn't have happen " America would not exist without it!

[@gutsjoestar7450]

@@Dan-mu5oy yes , true, if there wasn't colonisation we wouldn't know the sweet sweet taste of Sugar, potatoes, tomatos, spicies, the raw materials of north america; Hudson bay's fur trading

[@nightbotisahuman7388]

France has 12 time-zones while Russia has 11.

[@valac7820]

Vengeance for berezino🇫🇷😅

[@michaelkeaton5394]

@@valac7820 hoooo un jean !!

[@Hatbot-vn4py]

That can all change in time

[@valac7820]

@@michaelkeaton5394 heyyyy😁😁

[@equaals7552]

huh

[@Criegrrunov]

I can't sleep at night peacefully anymore knowing that France has a whole army of King Penguins.

[@mehdigourai911]

Emperor, actually.

[@Raphael-]

We will conquer you, not thanks to our nukes... But thanks to our Penguins

[@ardugaleen2231]

be aware

[@chucku00]

Manchots Empereurs, please.

[@financialproblems9308]

Hopefully they dont have a penguin guillotine

[@frosum179]

Ironically those territories that remain part of a European nation have enjoyed greater freedoms, far better democratic representation, and more prosperous livelihoods than those that sought independence. It turns out that being a single island does not provide much in the nation building without extensive natural resources or a developed-nation sugardaddy.

[@adriench.7148]

I think it can be more than that. A least two french territories have lot of ressources that can help them if they will hypothetically want to become independant. I speak about french Guyana and New Caledonia. The first have gold and great place for space launch or astronomy and the second have nikel mines. But they're still part of France territory. Why ? Maybe France can share a very integrative model despite of its imperfection.

[@jjqq9456]

My french sugar daddy 😳

[@hellblazersharif]

Yea but look what happened to Algeria

[@gamermapper]

@@hellblazersharif Algeria became French during colonialism, they didn't have equal rights, plus Algeria is too big, if Algeria had equal rights like those territories do, they'd outnumber the French

[@merlinthefrenchie]

@@gamermapper Well no they wouldn't outnumber the French ( 43.85 million for Algeria and 67.39 millions for France ). The size wasn't the problem, it was the lack of equal right. I come from a Kabyle ( Berber people in Algeria ) family and was born in France and they think that if they had equal right, they would be better with France than with the current Algerian government.

[@epicrandomperson1998]

To give a perspective on the way the French think of their overseas holdings. I was in Lille train station just before covid hit, and a drunk man walked up to someone and asked "what country are you from?" He replied "France." The drunk man said "ah me too! Which part of France?" "Guadeloupe." "Ah really, Guadeloupe is beautifu!l" I find this interaction reveals quite a bit. If somebody from Gibraltar or the Falkland Islands got asked what country they were from, they would reply with "Gibraltar" or the "the Falkland Islands". But to the people from the overseas departments of France, they are not islands colonised by France, the ARE France. The best parallel for understanding this is Hawaii. Most people in Hawaii don't think of the place as a colony of the United States, but as a PART of the United States as much as Vermont or Oregon. The French have a similar attitude with Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion, French Guiana, etc.

[@ravendrapratama372]

Perhaps, that is why many don't want independence. If this is true, then french has learned a lot of lessons from the Territories it lost, in this, how to treat people in their outer territories. Very good indeed.

[@fdsdh1]

The British ones are all self governing so it changes the relationship quite a bit. The French one seems weird to me as a Jerseyman. We have all our own laws and there is no way the UK could govern us properly, they can't even govern the UK most of the time.

[@epicrandomperson1998]

@@ravendrapratama372 from my understanding, sentiment for independence is a bit higher in New Caledonia and French Polynesia but very low in the rest of Overseas France, though if somebody else who knows more than me, they can correct me. In 2011, Mayotte voted to change from an 'Overseas Community' to a full département of France, equal to Paris or the Dordogne. The referendum passed with 95% support

[@epicrandomperson1998]

@@fdsdh1 it is true that the difference in status changes perspectives. But I'd also suspect that there is little support for any of the Crown Dependencies or Overseas Territories to become a 'core' part of the UK. They are quite happy being self governing territories with separate identities and laws. Whereas, as mentioned in my previous comment in this thread, Mayotte voted to become a département 9 years ago

[@daan8052]

THIS 👏

[@aubinmonteil2336]

I just think your video was very incomplete. First you didn’t mention that those territories elect their local gouvernement and also vote directly for the french president and assembly. I also didn’t like your ton of speaking when referring at « they want to » or other thinks like this. Those people have total right to vote, to demonstrate or even to form political parties. They also joy from the same liberty of speech than France metropolitan citizens, something that hasn’t always been liked everywhere. You also mention Guyana as a touristic destination which is not right, yes they are tourist but the island are more widely recognised as touristic destinations. Lastly, you have talked about lost of this island without mentioning their name such as the Réunion or others. You also didn’t mention that every big develop country share a part of Antarctica. At the end I just think you tried to tell the story you wanted it to be and not the complex history that lies between France and it’s overseas territories.

[@dkby]

My thoughts exactly. He seems to be quite narrowminded and hypocrit.

[@diceman3219]

@@dkby he's just American journalist.

[@diceman3219]

@Nouglas Terpine ok so, we should ignore fake news on the biggest video platform on the internet? Is that what you're saying?

[@yanistouhlali4571]

YES this is a not neutral at all

[@architmodi3031]

dude ever heard about a personal perspective?

[@france5074]

Those territories are the remains of the French Colonial Empire, just like UK, USA, Netherlands... But comparated to USA, those territories vote to stay or leave France. For example, French Polynesia is a part of France but still have a lot of autonomy. French polynesia have also a King, which makes France the only country in the world to have a President and a King in the country.

[@prussianowl233]

This

[@kapudanuderya]

Still France commited tons of genocides and war crimes.

[@Mr92Lmc]

Tons of genocides it's a bit exaggerated, but yes we did some as every others colonials powers, and it's a shame. Now what should we do next ? This is the true question

[@wiktoriajanecka675]

@@kapudanuderya and which country didn't?

[@shelv9538]

@@wiktoriajanecka675 Monaco?

[@rahmountaharzakaria115]

This video geographically accurate , historically not so much

[@underpressure1954]

it's geopolitically inaccurate too

[@jetaddicted]

This video is just another exemple of an Anglo thinking he is depicting an honest version of things while he is in fact spreading English born anti French fallacies. And they wonder why we piss on them…

[@nwlf34i1c4]

it is pretty accurate historically

[@axel6269]

@@nwlf34i1c4 Portraying the people of la Reunion, a deserted island before the French arrived, as "oppressed locals who would be better off out of France" is as historically inacurrate as it gets.

[@traveller596]

Of course it is not historically accurate. This guy is one of these superficial and woke minded Yankee keen on practicing French bashing.

[@guguss3804]

When you say that a lot of people in these territories want independence. This is actually not true, or at least it really depends where. The only french overseas territories with a really strong independence movement are New Caledonia and French Polynesia. And even in those 2, the independence movements are still a minority as you explained with the last vote in New Caledonia being 53% pro France. Other overseas territories with inhabitants are all hugely in favor of being part of France. The last vote in Mayotte (a french island in the Indian Ocean) in 2009 for example, 95% voted to become fully part of France. Most of these french islands in the Indian Ocean have nothing to do with french military activity by the way. Most are uninhabited, it's just that France regularly sends a ship to patrol the area and protect the waters from illegal fishing for example. The islands near Antartica have no military use too. They are just home to scientific missions. In fact the whole territory and huge part of its territorial waters are a protected natural reserve. I think you are mixing a lot of unique situations into a bag of "France's empire of evil". The story behind these overseas territories is way more diverse and complex than that. These territories are still part of France because its inhabitants actually decided to remain part of France and they all have the same rights as any french citizen. I get it that in your view, France should not have these territories because it conquered them. But for a lot of them, there was actually nobody there at the time and french people just settled there. For others, yes they were conquered, but that does not mean France should leave them today if the people living there do not want to and feel french. Otherwise, every country could just let go every territory it once conquered. The question is not "Should France give up these territories since it conquered them ?", it is "Do the people living in these territories want to be part of France ?", so far the answer is yes.

[@guguss3804]

@@ts8404 What does that have to do with french overseas territories ?

[@naner9443]

It should also be noted that the modalities of participation in the referendum on the independence of New Caledonia are very specific. The Kanaks (mostly independentists), represent only 39% of the New Caledonian population. This is why it was decided to exclude a large part of the people who have arrived in New Caledonia in the last twenty years, mostly French nationals from mainland France who were opposed to independence. These modalities, contrary to ordinary French electoral law, explain this result of "only" 53% of votes refusing independance. At least 15,000 New Caledonian residents have thus been excluded from the right to vote, for an issue as fundamental as the independence of the territory where they live, and to which they are attached.

[@theh5099]

@@naner9443 The model has been put this way during the negotiation for the Nouméa accord, as a way to ensure that mainland France wouldn't try and dump a shitton of mainland immigrants on the island as a way to swing the vote. As such, it's only the inhabitants who have been on the island since the 80's IIRC that can vote.

[@meggy6300]

merci ! We needeed some comments to qualify the subject !

[@h0wdyy]

Google don't know everything...unfortunately for some salty American

[@dramasoldier8669]

Just a reminder that most of us are not "locals who live under France's rule" but simply French citizens living in France just as Normans are French citizens living in France.

[@tonyhawk94]

Thanks you for stating the truth. Merci fréro, force à tous les compatriotes ultra-marins, j'en peux plus de ce genre de vidéo c'est hyper insultant...

[@chucku00]

@Nick Arjoma The status of the collectivity and the level of autonomy might change but all people who are born in overseas French territories are French citizens nonetheless. IE, all Neo Caledonians are French citizens but not all French people living in New Caledonia are Neo Caledonian citizens (only those who were living in NC since at least Nov. 8 1998, or any adult born after this date whose at least one parent is a New Caledonia citizen). Native French Guiana tribes people (Amérindiens de Guyane, around 10,000 persons) are also French citizens, even their territory status is specific. French Polynesia people are also French citizens, even if French Polynesia isn't in the Eurozone ( they still use the Franc Pacifique currency (CFP)), just like New Caledonia.

[@dramasoldier8669]

@Nick Arjoma You seem to have misunderstood my comment. I never claimed that, and there is a reason I said « most of us »

[@chucku00]

@Nick Arjoma Wrong : Puerto Rico citizens aren't real US citizens because They can't vote to elect the US president. Nobody claimed in this thread all French overseas territories are governed exactly like metropolitan France, only that every inhabitant who is born is these territories are French citizens with the same prerogatives than people who are born in metropolitan France. And they can vote to elect the French president.

[@chucku00]

​@Nick Arjoma "Complete bullshit, PR citizens can absolutely vote, just not in Puerto Rico" so they can't elect the US president when they reside in Puerto Rico. It's not BS, then. You"re answering in bad faith since I gave you the Neo Caledonian example, you knew exactly what I meant. And you don't even know there are also regional, senatorial, departmental, cantonal and municipal elections in France. So every French department, region and overseas territory has a governmental representation. To the contrary of Puerto Rico with the US parliament : "As a result of Puerto Rico's status as a U.S. territory, the citizens of Puerto Rico do not have any voting representation in the U.S. Federal government. Instead of outright representation through Senators and House Representatives, Puerto Rico has one non-voting Resident Commissioner in the House of Representatives." There's one bullsh!tter here, but it's not me.

[@larrends8297]

My geography teacher : where is france located ??? Me: EVERYWHERE😌

[@tavdy79]

Ditto the UK. We still have an empire upon which the sun does not set - although given the way politics is going here right now, there won't be a UK to have an empire for all that much longer, so what do you do with an empire when there's no central state to rule it?

[@sinoroman]

close your eyes and pick a random spot on the map, 50/50 chance you might land on france

[@haroonabassbatt]

😂😂😂

[@lemmino1846]

@@tavdy79 the future is now old man

[@lirazel2001]

larren DS :D

[@paulinel8805]

Decolonization isn't "leave or it's still a colony". That's a rather simplistic way to look at it and a bit patronising toward the native people of those places who made a choice for themselves. And while this is also going to be simplified, I think it's better to look at it in the sense of local population having a right to self-determination. All of those area have voted many times for their independance. In the case of New Caledonia, only a very specific group of people even has a right to vote in this referendum (I think they need to have lived in NC since the nineties so it's not like France can just send new people to skew the result), and it will be voted 3 times over. All of that to say that the tone of this video seem a bit disingenous to me, implying France still has colonies it won't let go of just like in the ninteenth century isn't true, and saying "locals living under France's rule" is downright insulting when those are french citizens living in France (some of those places have been French for longer than Nice, and yet nobody would say Niçois are "locals living under french rule"). Decolonization can take many shapes, and that include people from those places chosing more integration and gaining the same citizenship status as in the mainland (which is the case here, it's not the same as what Puerto Rico is to the USA). Mayotte is an interesting case to look at in that sense; a tiny island off the coast of Madagascar who decided to remain with France unlike its three neigbouring sister islands and has voted for even more integration within France in 2009. Just to be clear, I'm not saying France has been an angel here, I'm saying that this issue is more complex than this video implies as it seems to view decolonization in only one way.

[@addyred1861]

No disrespect, they get afraid of the growing pains like the one with Madagascar where there is famine like situation. Freedom is the way most will choose if the choice don't end causing watching ur child die of hunger. There's a reason west doesn't like China, China is the global south options. China ain't an angel but it is giving people options.

[@karanaima]

@@addyred1861 you look at it with such an outsider perspective, you have no idea just how much people living in our oversees territories feel and identify as french people the exact same way people living in mainland france do, and everyone in the mainland considers them to be french just as much as themselves. you have obviously no clue what the situation is in actuality

[@sillygooberment]

Cope. They are colonies. you invaded them. cope.

[@helioslegigantosaure6939]

@@sillygooberment nah you never understand

[@Nemesis5197]

The thing is, while I don't mind New Caledonia being a part of France, some of the people who voted in NC independence referendums were ethnic French people. So naturally they voted to stay a part of France. The result of the last referendum may have been different if the ethnic French was not allowed to vote.

[@acebalistic1358]

Fun fact: French Guyana in South America is home to the EU space agency launch pad, so the European Unions space agency only launches craft from South America

[@tigroujungle6287]

civil war in ivoiry coast the licorn force of the foreign legion arrived to defend the north part a giant production of ? cola ! it was the only production for pepsi cola ! and the bigest production in world ... 100 per cents fo the pepsico production who decide to put a part of the production in indonesia after that to make a diversification ... when the americans and france defend wattara against bagbo the french foreign legions was just defending the most big production of cola in world , for pepsi cola americans speaks about what they don t know really 75 per cents of the cacao is coming from ivoiry coast too ... i saw , the americans and french working together there ... first investor ? usa .... wake up ... interest of usa ans france and african west countries ? stop the chinese this month , different african west country enter in a economical war with their chinese investors that are ;;;;worst ;;; really worst for them the american service stopped since a long times to put the disorder there , now , its the russians in mali ? mines ? first investors ? usa the 90 s are finish boys wake up

[@tigroujungle6287]

in Vientiane you have a restaurant from belgium on the mekong 300 hundreds kinds of belgium beers , trappist beers ... french speakers ... i command a steack tartar made with french beef from limousin the 2 americans couple near me was nearly to vomit fresh beef meat uncooked ... it was not their cup of thea hahahaha the girl put her hand on her mouth like ho my god it was so funny ... they are doing french bread , a french delicatessen sooooo good english tell me , its the best pigs i never eat hahahaha the americans still don t know the french charcuterie is the best in the world and a so important part of the french food they have french cows , french beef , charolais ... the japanese know very well the beef of bazas near bordeaux is the only for them they can compare with the kobe beef its super expensive too ... the french massage and put music for the beef since a long time ... french cereals , african threes , brasilian threes ? in lao , they still have portuguese radios to listen the benfica match hahaha so funny but now they have french charolais limousin and other in japan , portugal , spain , korea ... seoul have more than 350 schools of french cooking the asians learn really more fast than the americans , and now the japanese are eating real french cheese when the americans still have no one idea of what are the best cheese of the world

[@tigroujungle6287]

chinese japanese understood what not understood the americans about french food first they are proucing now french fois gras they are now eating french cheese , especially japanese we deliver cheese in 48 hours in bangkok london hong kong tokyo especially the americans are still with their gouda and other shit hahaha the asians discovered the french charcuterie when the americans still don t know that and man , impossible to not speak about that , don t come to compare with the german delicatessen i make try french charcuterie to some american friends of the us army they was under the schok english friends are addict now www.bing.com/images/search?q=charcuterie%20fran%C3%A7aise&qs=n&form=QBIR&sp=-1&pq=charcuterie%20fran%C3%A7ai&sc=3-19&cvid=6B2B2D45C46142DBBDE2263F0C6F2C54&first=1&tsc=ImageBasicHover

[@tigroujungle6287]

are you stupid kourou base is french french spatial programm you transfert all the americans space satellits here during 20 years during the times you change the american space shuttle a lot of american test was made there eu ? its french not eu , the eu programm is french the first french spationaut , jean loup chretian , is working for the nasa , he just took his retirment , he was number 2 of the nasa interessant fact , he is the only man in world to have the most high ussr decorations and americans too , and french too he is the only man decorated of the most high national medals in ussr and usa i know

[@tigroujungle6287]

french military base look italian space programm there too kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6TLq2aqmqx8j7M its the first base of launching for the usa during 20 years yes its where is the euro space programm but its just the french historical base of the french psatial programm and its just a french military base one of the most protected in the world who send your satellits before space x but they still sending a lot of american stuff , not only satellits the americans are working there ... wake up man kzbin.info?search_query=kourour+guyanne+usa+programm

[@DanielCupakTUR]

Fun facts no one asked for: 1) Saint Pierre and Miquelon was the only thing that was left to France to have from Canada after the Seven year's war 2) Euro currency was first used on Reunion

[@anne12876]

Other fun fact, Newfoundland was only part of Canada in 1949. Before that, it was a British dominion.

[@robertwisla1669]

Its also one of only a few places where people can go to without a passport (or at least Canadians as far as I know)

[@anne12876]

@@robertwisla1669 You don't need a passport if you're Canadian and you're arriving from Canada. But you need a valid governmental ID. Anyone else need a passport, even French, since you have to pass through Canada to get there. While fact checking, I tumbled on this : www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/trip-ideas/travel-stories/5-really-cool-things-about-saint-pierre-and-miquelon

[@chaffee5792]

someone has also watched newest the grand tour special

[@abteen05]

My father taught English in St. Pierre while studying French at Memorial University of Newfoundland in the 70s and 80s

[@SOS_JA]

Be careful world... Because France🇫🇷 has an entire penguin army

[@rahhoujihane63]

I LOVE THIS

[@PeterBuvik]

So does Norway The uk Australia New Zealand Chile and Argentina too plus Norway has a Polar bear army

[@feister2869]

see see we would probably kill those penguins with the country’s smoke and carbon emits before they even can fight

[@baptistebrigand5882]

@@seesee2132 .

[@Drskopf]

Kowalski, private, Ricco and skipper probably will try to sabotage them!!

[@claragraal9762]

I usually love your videos, but this one is sadly full of bias and misinformations... As a french person, I can tell you that most, if not all of those territories voted to stay french instead of being independant. The citizens of those places are french and feel french, nobody is forcing them.

[@JL_Lux]

I mean we know what happens to a former colony if they leave and make you guys upset *cough cough* Haiti

[@andresjaramillofigueroa3025]

@@JL_Lux Haiti is the worst case, but also from a different era. Try a more recent case, like Guinea. When Guinea declared independence from France, France burned EVERYTHING on their way out to set an example for what it means to leave the French empire.

[@Jag3rKhan]

@@andresjaramillofigueroa3025 Indeed, as a french citizen, it's sadly funny to see all the comments saying "they choose to stay", "they feel french" or "if they want they can leave". It's oversimplifying the different situations those countries are in today and simply forgetting about History.

[@AjayMohanAggarwal]

From France and EU perspective, it's better that france put its focus on itself instead of controlling waters approx 15k km. If you want happy and great france, start focusing on yourself. NATO is made for peace and not for war.

[@heimlershistory]

Johnny, well done on this one. Your ability to show us what you mean rather than just tell us is freshly astonishing every time. And what’s more, you’re able to enchant a normally dull subject like geography in a way that makes our hearts beat fast. I’m very grateful for you...

[@bhsiao9352]

Hi heimler :o

[@simonkimberly6956]

Hey heimler.

[@kay6096]

Geography is not dull. I'm triggered. 😂

[@Whatsayoutuber]

whoever is teaching geography dully is teaching it wrong! 😋

[@michaeltnk1135]

My history teacher always uses your videos

Difficult topic. I'm French with many relatives living in La Martinique. Most of these territories have different status and ties with mainland France (we say, France métropolitaine not France métropole). Beside the fact of being French, one strong argument against any independent movement is the fear of becoming a new Haiti since most of these territories aren't self sustainable. Some of the islands next to Martinique and Guadeloupe are independent and really poor. One good example that maybe should have been discussed is Mayotte/Comore. The archipelago has voted for its independence in the 70's except one of its island: Mayotte. So the Comores except Mayotte became independent. However now Mayotte has to deal with a large influx of illegal immigrants from the rest of the Comores. To summarise: 1) most of us feel French and ARE French. Then 2) we know what will happen if we decide to be independent.

[@ryubix5724]

Et le pire c'est que les Comores tentent de récupérer Mayotte, et refusent de comprendre que ce n'est pas la France, mais Mayotte qui ne veut pas! x)

[@MyMelody5]

But isn’t Guadeloupe and Martinique still poor even if it’s a part of France and wow, you guys really have no confidence. You automatically think you will fail without even trying.

[@ryubix5724]

@@MyMelody5 Haiti tried and see where they are now. Multiple African countries are now poorer than during French control. Also, independence also means lack of protection against local powers that would likes to expand themselves. If New Caledonia or French Polynesia leaves us they will likely suffers from either USA, Japan, Australia or China's influence or even control.

@@MyMelody5 They are not "poor" they are poorer than some area in mainland France but not really poor. There living standards are pretty much equal. You maybe need to know that the entire economy is "funded" by mainland France, everything is imported. But then, the most important thing above all, what do you want us to "try" to go for independance if we don't want?

[@Hodoss]

@@MyMelody5 Many think Brexit was a terrible idea, well the same applies here. They have French and EU citizenship, they can go to mainland France and EU whenever they want. They have good living standards compared to surrounding "independent" countries (often unofficially under the thumb of another power). They have social security, universal healthcare and so on. I grew up in French Guiana, same story. Illegal immigrants from Haiti and Brazil seeking refuge on French territory. You tell them about "independence" they get upset, they didn’t come to be yet in another failing or exploitative country. Some wish their own country or region would be annexed by France. I know it’s counter-intuitive to the politically correct idea of "colonisation bad", but that’s the realities of our time,

[@chrisa3661]

Fun facts, those pinguins have better social security than US citizens.

[@alxmtncstudio2066]

Ah, true dat

[@Abhinav_Sengupta]

🐧

[@aroqga6085]

and speak french

[@FlyingPastilla]

@Ummmm pingouins even, they are French sacrebleu

[@Hodoss]

@@FlyingPastilla Wooah same profile pic!

[@danguid2753]

We feel a touch of bitterness in his words. France does not leave indifferent we love it or hate it. US President Thomas Jefferson said ,Every man has two countries his own and France.

[@regiltube7932]

Imagine going to Antarctica and saw a bunch of penguin 🐧 Argue in French

[@bigchungusdriplord2301]

Why did You drop the croissant LE PENGUIN BECAUSE I WANT LE BAGUETTE

[@GuilhemBARRIERE]

Je veux une baguette de pain. You have to learn french.

[@LostInLoading]

Me trying to touch a penguin because they are cute. The penguin : *Don't tuch my BAGUETTE !!*

[@bigchungusdriplord2301]

@@LostInLoading uhm... is that a weird sexual reference or just a normal stereotypy joke

[@LostInLoading]

@@bigchungusdriplord2301 I intented it as a normal stereotype joke but yeah, if you consider the baguette as something else It can be darker.

[@mateoenjalbert9494]

This tension you are talking about is not quite the same in all the French island. For example Réunion island never claimed for independence and nobody there is thinking about it. (I lived there for 10 years)

[@maazkalim]

Because Portuguese were there just only about less than a 100 years at max SO WHY WOULD THEY? It was originally uninhabited!

[@noem7157]

Non mais faut pas chercher les gens sont très heureux dans ces îles et on est très heureux d’avoir c’est personne faisant partie de la France , les américains toujours obligé de bâcher tout le monde alors qu’il sont loin d’être parfait

[@Raisonnance.]

Certaines îles sont absolument inutiles à la France. Saint Martin, Sainte Barthélemy, Mayotte. Des poids lourds financiers qui servent à rien. Pour les autres, certes c'est du vestige des empires mais ces îles sont bien bien contentes d'être sous protection française. Quand on voit le résultat des îles des Caraïbes pauvres on se dit que la Guadeloupe et la Martinique sont bien contents.

[@baptistebrigand5882]

@@Raisonnance. .

[@noem7157]

@maria de la vega del sol si de Nouvelle Calédonie 🇳🇨 et je n’ai jamais dit que la France et la métropole était parfaite . Chacun sont point de vue , je voulais nuancer par rapport au point de vu du mec de la vidéo il est américain à qu’elle moment il sait ce qu’il ce passe en France et plus particulièrement dans les îles

[@jeroenl8352]

Actually the reason France still has French Guyana is hecause the ESA (European Space Agency) has a space center there. Because of it' close location to the equator it is cheaper and easier to launch rockets here instead of mainland Europe. When looking for a place to build the ESA space center the EU (at that time the EC) it would be either Suriname (a Dutch former colony) or French Guyana. In the end they didn't chose for Suriname because it had a large independence movement and French Guyana didn't.

[@lowwastehighmelanin]

Whoa that's wild

[@David12scht]

Because you were talking about the EU you had me confused there for a while, because the EU wasn't formed until Suriname was already independent. That said, the launch site was built before independence, so you're correct on that part

[@David12scht]

Acutally I just looked it up and ESA is seperate from the EU and has several non-eu members

[@andrewcding]

I made a video on my channel about this detailing all the reasons why Europe's Spaceport is in French Guiana, some reasons include angular velocity and its position in relation to the Atlantic. I would appreciate it you could check it out!

[@arthurdiserbeau1736]

It's one of the reason, it's not the only one for sure

[@leonardopistolato9775]

Just two things to point out: - Greenland is presented in the map as part of the EU, but it is only an associated territory due to the fact that it's part of Denmark. To represent it as part of the EU in the map is a bit questionable. - France hadn't even begun colonising six centuries ago, it certainly couldn't have started decolonising before colonisation

[@Obreyze]

🤓

[@ryklii]

@@Obreyze?

[@heroe1486]

It's an associated territory of the EU because Denmark is part of the EU, what is controversial here ?

[@zockercam8122]

​@@heroe1486Greenland voted to leave the EU quite a long time ago. This means: Denmark proper = EU Greenland = Not EU Greenland = part of Denmark

[@CNHFTC2010]

There are two significant reasons why New Caledonia voted against independence. 1. New Caledonia has a large population (about 30% or so of the total) of ethnic French who are descendants of prisoners and other colonists. They have remained strongly loyal to the motherland. 2. The French welfare state. Once ties to France are cut, so is all that money.

[@jerryjerraldy6440]

exactly! and why would they want to loose their french/ european citizenship? a lot of them are going to france to study and work were they have way more opportunities.

[@mr.anderson2241]

@@jerryjerraldy6440 that’s true, as harsh as the French may have been to the locals in the past nowadays there’s more benefits to staying than leaving

[@lhb2108]

Yep. My country was a France's colony. I wish we was still a part of France.

[@shyamashyam391]

@@lhb2108 which one?

[@damienpeladan481]

@@lhb2108 which one is that ?

[@Alexandre-qz4uu]

You forgot to speak about "Mayotte" and "Wallis et Futuna" which are significantly populated island and interesting territories to talk about.

[@Yakodindar]

he also forgot to speak about La Réunion that has almost 1/3 of the french overseas population

[@tristan177771]

@@Yakodindar not true..

[@Hugo-cn9no]

@@tristan177771 of course true check datas, la réunion was 800 000 pop. 2 years ago and is going by 2025 to reach 1 millionn

[@MadManchou]

@@Yakodindar mdrr Yanis. Bonne année :p

[@loickpelaud8392]

Wayne is right La Réunion is 1/3 of french oversea citizen

[@LeucasAspera]

*Every time I see this guy, I feel so motivated to study better and research deeper, then I procrastinate it for his next video* 😵😂

[@cprow0997]

I watch this guy before I do homework, it weirdly helps

[@milankuruvilla9199]

സെബിൻ ജോണി ഹാർരിസ് ഫാൻ ആണോ

[@chaitanyadandale4569]

Ya man his accountable excitement was such a motivation for me to continue japanese but now I'm just watching shot on iphone memes and I want to know who is Linda h

[@LeucasAspera]

@@milankuruvilla9199 😍😍😍 ആണല്ലോ😂😂😂 മലയാളത്തിൽ Type ചെയ്തത് പൊളിച്ച്😎😎

[@itshenrique1753]

Me too bro, me too

[@teddytete.mp3]

As an official Saint Pierre et Miquelon 🇵🇲 expert there's a few things wrong with this video i would like to clarify: -The french spoken there has nothing to do with European french even though is not 100% super quebecoise (i would say 85%) , so it's the only EU place where Quebec french is spoken. Even though the majority of the people living there are ethnically Basque and they have that culture there, Basque is not spoken on the archipelago, probably because the French area of the Basque country speak a lot more french than basque, unlike in the Spanish part of the Basque country where Basque is spoken normally. -Saint Pierre et Miquelon is an archipelago and oddly enough the big island pointed out in this video is not Saint Pierre, is Miquelon-Langlade, and only 100 people out of the almost 6000 that live on the whole archipelago, live on that big island, the small one, Saint Pierre, where the capital is located is where most people live. - You forgot to mention in this video that Saint Pierre et Miquelon is probably one of the few places in the world (not only in Overseas France) where there was no colonization, due to the fact that there was not an original population there when the french arrived. If you take a look at the flag you can see it's made up of a bunch of flags, including The Basque flag, the Norman flag and the Brittany flag. People (mostly fisherman) from those regions of France went on to populate the island and there was nothing there when they came so they started from the bottom! -It is a very french place... To a degree. If you Google pictures or whoever visits there will soon realize that the houses are very colorful and are built in a Nordic sort of danish style... Just like the houses in rural areas of Canada, such as Newfoundland. So it's a very interesting mix of both cultures! ☺️

[@didiRlebon]

Hi, french guy here from La réunion in the indian ocean ! We as french are proud of ours storie, we know we have been ruled througth the colonisation. But this time is over and cultur of ours is still alive. French gouvernement put efforts to keep it, and now it's not like we are colonised but a part of the french culture and his futur in history.

[@infinityxtanishq8712]

Soooo you’re basically colonised and brainwashed.....got it

[@Topagendadolla]

@@infinityxtanishq8712 Bruh everybody is colonized and brainwashed. You think your current culture was the culture of your ancestors? Your ancestors have been beaten, tortured and raped for thousands of years. Each time being forced to change their culture to the one that conquered them.

[@seikokuu]

@@infinityxtanishq8712 oh no ! did the europeans really go and conquer a native empire that was enslaving its neighbors, practicing human sacrifice and canibalism, teach them to read and write, convert them to Christianity and give them modern ideas of sanitation? did they really DO that? how DARE THEY ! i feel so sorry for you guys.

[@sivmatt]

@@infinityxtanishq8712 how can we explain to you that the island was empty when the french arrived ? colonised and brainwashed by who ? xD

[@ishanbaichoo7294]

@@infinityxtanishq8712 I am french, and I am reunionese, so let me expand : Réunion island was a paradisiac island with a population of zero until europeans on the route to india found it, and used it as a water-and-food replenishment stop, for about a century. It changed hands, being owned by britain, France, and, if I'm not mistaken, the dutch at some point. Still with no continuous inhabitants, until it was used as a prison by europe. The contemporary population is a mix of descendants of various groups and cultures : the european sugar cane and coffee plantation owners, the slaves that worked in those plantations, from africa, the indian workers who kinda replaced part of the slave workforce when slavery was abolished, people from various islands of the indian ocean, mauritius and the comores archipelago, also a number of people of asian descent and finally new emigrants from metropolitan France. Nobody got colonized, because nobody was here, and nobody got brainwashed because we have a very strong local culture. But most of us aren't dumb, and know we are economically much better off with France and the EU subsidizing our crops. We get french education, french healthcare, and are very happy about it. Now, not everything is perfect, the unemployment rate is pretty high, but it is a piece of paradise on earth.

[@hamzapetridis206]

At least everyone in the “empire” has the citizenship, a French passport and can vote in the elections, go cover the American empire, oops, American territories. Also Jon I hope you noticed with the comments that your claim that people in those places live “under the rule” of France is pretty obviously wrong. Since they are French just as much as any of us in the mainland.

[@reinhart114]

He did, you should look at it. Actually he got like a series of "How the USA stole.." whatever your brain can imagine ( including, but not limited to guano, bat shit ).

[@hamzapetridis206]

@@reinhart114 will check it out, but I’ve seen so many mistakes and approximation in this video that I’m pretty sure I’ll have to double check everything he publishes now.

[@ramola5784]

I wonder if getting the French passport balances out the stealing resources and exploitating land.

[@simonjames9481]

@@hamzapetridis206 Can you name his mistake?

[@reinhart114]

@@hamzapetridis206 I'm not a French aficionado, so I can't deny your claiming, however I can assure he does his best to remain neutral, but when talking about Switzerland 😅( the irony ).

[@MrAlkylation]

It's really a wrong point of view to talk about an Empire. It's more or less like thinking that Scotland is a colony of England in the United Kingdom... Please do some investigations. France proposed to all those countries to become independent many times with votes of people citizens. They all wanted to stay in France because there are more advantages. Just being honnest is not so hard....

[@miss42310]

Technically it is ..England did the same thing to Scotland and where ever they went.. forced them to give up their language traditions culture and clothing and be more like the English.. they want to be a country

[@MrAlkylation]

@@miss42310 In France they are not forced to stay with France, France propose them to leave anytime they want but nobody want to leave. So to talk about colony in that situation is not honnest. We cannot judge a situtation today with the historical context 400 years ago. I don't mind about England by the way.

[@maiw4348]

@@miss42310 that’s not exactly true. Scotland’s never been subjugated state, the Gaelic language was outlawed after the Jacobean revolt, but the monarchy in charge of that decision was of Scottish decent rather than English. Scotland was already involved in colonialism before the union; voted to become part of the union and then participated and benefited from the empire. There was then a referendum in 2014, during which they voted to stay in the union. So it’s not like this whole things been forced on them.

[@maiw4348]

@@miss42310 I’ve actually just looked this up and it appears the Scottish parliament led by James 6th of Scotland outlawed Gaelic and other highlander customs, because it saw them as barbarian and unchristian. So not sure why you are blaming the English for that one.

[@melvincretois8734]

@@miss42310 go to vacations in French polynesia , you'll understand why you can't compare France and Britain at this point

[@siddharthsaroj3368]

It is wrong to say french empire France respect all of its citizens. Love from India 🇮🇳

[@billypilgrim1]

Johnny, I can't believe you missed out on telling France's crazy conflict with Mexico over the island of Clipperton, the story of that island alone deserves a video of its own.

[@uriels4097]

Yes and how the Marine National regulary travel to the island just to take down all the flags and rise the French flag, it's like a dance

[@constantinekorkousky3363]

Is that the one with Maximilian?

[@billypilgrim1]

@@constantinekorkousky3363 no, it happened at the beginning of the 20th century and it was solely a diplomatic conflict that went through a very long arbitration process.

[@billypilgrim1]

@@uriels4097 yes! Crazy stuff

[@johnnyharris]

Oh man. I almost went way into it. Gotta cut it off somewhere. But yeah it’s wild.

[@lordcanard4428]

I am french, my father was in the navy and got assigned to a ship (l'albatross) in Reunion Island so I grew up there, from living on a DOM (Département d'outre mer) I have to say that you got a lot of facts wrong in this video. First of all the were colonies indeed but became an integral part of france as they are recognised as either Department or Territory the difference is just wether it has a bit more independance or not. The DOM-TOM have their own local government and can vote for the presidential elections. you really pushed on the idea of "not letting go" our territories as if we are still in the colonial era so let me tell you this : most Islands that we still hold on didn't have any native population when we arrived there. In case of Reunion Island it was french mutineers who where the first to live on the island so no reason to abandon it. About the military presence in our waters well, my father as i said was in the navy, most of his operations were pirate hunting in the indian ocean and humanitarian missions. as of the TAAF (the antartic islands) we do not really exploit these islands, in fact the military there is exclusively there to prevent illegal fisherman to fish species into extinction and to help scientists by bringing them food and supplies from Reunion Island. So yeah thats a long text, but i can't stand people having any clue whatsoever trying to tell their story on this complex subject

[@camembertdalembert6323]

"locals who live under France's rule" this is so wrong... they are french and they live in France.

[@ntvm4749]

not new caledonia we have our own government.

[@stephanvelines7006]

“local Americans who live under US rule” would be something Americans would never say ironically

[@Spectre_T24]

No no no

[@zure9295]

Well technically but sometimes the law isn't applied the same way

[@elisabethbuchet-deak1795]

Si tu regardes ça du point de vue du colonisateur, ouais

[@gengis737]

Strange to speak of Guiana as a prison colony, when it was a plantation colony most of the time. And to forget about the Kourou spatial base, a strategic asset for European spatial industry (a launch base close to equator).

[@peachezprogramming]

France: nukes islands 200 times US: that’s cute

[@MsTribus]

Yeah but France is like one state big.

[@rehatbir.]

@@MsTribus yeah it's about the size of Texas.

[@antoinerasata3863]

the US did worse in the Pacific: www.latimes.com/projects/marshall-islands-nuclear-testing-sea-level-rise/

[@akrammaad7609]

They nuked the Algerian desert too, near to zones where there were algerian habitants. The test is called "Gerboise Bleue" it's 3 times more powerful then the US nakasaki. Untill this day, there are people who are born with damaged DNA and with all of kind slickness and paralyzed parts or missformed. It's a subject that nobody adresses.

[@dragonlord1225]

@@rehatbir. What does that have to do with anything? France is one State...

[@sivmatt]

Hi, i'm from Reunion Island (FR) just wanted to say this island was unhabited when the french discovered it around 1600 and colonized it around 1700 (lots of piracy back then in the indian ocean , it's famous for that) so there is no decolonization needed there , since it's ... well ... us the way france colonized this island in the first place is that they sent prisoneers and slaves to rot there. but as they saw that they were actually doing pretty well cause this island is plenty ressourcefull , they decided to live there as well . many reunioneers from now are decendents from slaves there and became french when slavery was ended . also wanted to point your little mistake cause reunion island is also a department like guadeloupe and martinique with the full french administration. we're basically like corsica but further away. and even if yes many reunionian child were send to france , they were french since at least 200 years... they got through the end of the french monarchy , the island changed name a few times ... also , slavery , not as an excuse but as a context. not saying that it was fine cause they fucking separated famillies and again slavery was still a thing back then if i remember ... but ye i just want to make sure there is no mistakes about this. over the years , african , asian , indian , and many other communities migrated to this island and now we all live together and it's a pretty good exemple of tolerance and harmony amongst plenty of origins. that's not called Reunion Island for nothing. it is a wonderful place and i'm very glad to live there.

[@maazkalim]

Wrong about the “discovery” part!

[@maazkalim]

*P.S.* I'm upset that "@Creeping Tornado" had to delete their comment.

[@alinhatnean6438]

@@maazkalim Yea, Portugal was first there but they abandoned tho. So France took it

[@dominictoretto9645]

@@alinhatnean6438 but before Portugal Arabs were there. It was largely uninhabited though and only the French populated it.

[@alinhatnean6438]

@@dominictoretto9645 There are no records about arabs populating Reunion before the portugese

[@kizo]

A few facts: -The EU uses French Guyana to launch rockets under the ESA because of it being close to the equator -France possess the largest exclusive economic zone (#2 is the US and #3 is australia, which shows the fact that the country doesn't have to be the biggest in the world to have the biggest eez)

[@LVRRR-r9r]

The ESA isn't a EU agency mate, it's merely an intergovernmental institution

[@karanaima]

I've always thought that france was second but you made me realize it's first lmao

[@shpeeva]

@@LVRRR-r9r ok, EUSPA also uses Kourou

[@ruralhobo]

The main reasons France wants to hold on to its overseas possessions are not economic or military at all. Economically they cost more than they bring in. Militarily France is mostly present in Africa and its biggest bases outside the Hexagone are in other countries, not in overseas territories. No, it's prestige, for a large part, and also fondness. And the reasons the local populations want to remain a part of France is because they paid the price in the past, and in the present have mostly benefits in the form of better opportunities and a better passport.

[@l_l8362]

that youtuber is an incult

[@adbt7502]

@@l_l8362 🇲🇫 Putain mais oui, vive la France, Grande et Puissante 🇲🇫

[@ad3l547]

And also in Indian see there are Comores that wanted independance...The results ? Well, really poor.

[@GRbobkaina]

Prestige?? All those places makes France with the 2nd most maritime power

[@Beyonder1987]

All of these French owned islands have full representation and acess to free health care and income support as ordinarily french people. So non of them want to leave.

[@niepowaznyczlowiek]

Makes sense. What will independence give them? A new flag?

[@mtk77621]

Meanwhile in America they still have territories without representation...

[@enzodimasi8248]

@@mtk77621 yup. 3.5 million Americans who can’t vote. It’s a national disgrace that not enough Americans talk about.

[@johndoe-cd9vt]

Don't break the dreams of ppl who like to bash France...

[@oscartheamazing6745]

@@enzodimasi8248 People in the territories can still vote, the territories just don't get electoral votes.

[@meneither3834]

Eh ? French's having oversees lands is controversial now ? I thought this was going to be about french presence in Africa. The oversea's territories of France are there from their own volitions, most of them have had referendum to leave or not, many of them were actual empty lands when french came to them. People living there have french (and European) citizenship and vote in french elections. All in all it's very comparable to Hawaii. The only possibly controversial one is new Caledonia but they got an Independance referendum coming in a while.

[@AlexC-ou4ju]

and new caledonia have had three referendum in 25 years, It's not like France is keeping them against their will.

[@samrevlej9331]

@@AlexC-ou4ju To be completely honest (I'm French), if you take into account the fact that the native Kanak population of the archipelago has become a minority due to past illnesses and massacres, not to mention confinement to reservations in the northern half of the island in the 19th century, and the European Caldoches have now become a still growing majority due to immigration, you can't really say native Caledonians want to stay in France. Add to that the fact that the Kanaks were given lesser education, were expropriated from much of their lands and were kept away from the economic opportunities of the mining industry, and you can understand why there was (and still is to some degree) such a desire for independence from them. I'm not passing judgement or saying one side is evil and the other is good, I'm just relaying an analysis of the situation I've come across.

[@AlexC-ou4ju]

@@samrevlej9331 I'm also French and I think this may be a little bit of an overly cynical view my friend, ultimately the referendums are only being voted on by 'natives', people who have lived there since 1998. According to wiki 'Vote restriction restricts the voting power of recent inhabitants-derogatively known as Zoreilles-and enlarges the voting power of native Kanaks' , This was a demand from the FLNKS ( independentists), that was agreed to by the French authorities. Suggesting that the votes in the last two referendms were done by natives as per FLNKS requests. Also the date of the last referendum was also pushed back by the french government at the request of the independence movement (presumably so that people wouldnt feel compelled to vote to stay with France just because they felt they would need it's Coronavirus support then and there). Futhermore the Noumea accords specified 'only' three more referenda 2018,2020 and 2022 but another one has already been agreed on top of the for this year 2021. I really don't think it can be argued that France is holding them against their will and instead rather France is giving new caledonia every opportunity to leave should they choose to.

[@samrevlej9331]

@@AlexC-ou4ju All right. Honestly, I don't think I have enough information on the subject to argue convincingly about it.

[@AlexC-ou4ju]

@@samrevlej9331 I respect that, more people should be able to admit to things they don't know about more regularly ( myself definitely included).Otherwise it leads to polarisation. I hope you have a lovely rest of the week.

[@presidentbobo1284]

Hello, I am French and I come from Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. So as not to go into details, and without any nastiness, you are talking strictly nonsense. A Martinican, Guadeloupean, Polynesian, Reunionese, or Guyanese will be proud of his origins and feel perfectly integrated into the hexagon. I find it particularly shameful this kind of video that discriminates against France as a "colonial empire that still exists". We are part of the European Union and this has brought us incredible economic development. In 1970, at the Réunion there were no buses or tractors for the sugar cane revolts. In short, for all foreigners who see this comment, don't trust this video and you are welcome in the territory of the eldest daughter of the church, in metropolitan France or elsewhere 😊

[@gutemberguefelix7108]

Americans get crazy if they are not dictating the rules.

[@tristanlotivio9501]

@@gutemberguefelix7108 TRUE. I think the big thing is we project because of our territory’s mistreatment in the form of Puerto Rico.

[@benjaminlamey3591]

same for other parts of metropolitan france. I come from Alsace, I am alsacian and french and european, my mother languages are both my local language and french, I am french + so to say, and for our fellow citizens in other area of the world it´s the same.

[@tejasmisra9115]

Are you of European descent?

[@edipires15]

@@tejasmisra9115 what does that have to do with anything?

[@ThomasLeRuineur]

The dude is saying that France rules over "those people" wtf, they have right to vote like any other French citizen! And they voted to remain French citizens!

[@cesruhf2605]

yeah he's the guy who tries to not be racist but is actually racist

[@jscorpio1987]

The fact that he appears to consider this an earth shattering discovery is hilarious.

[@zied6456]

He was like "Oh wow France have overseas territories!"

[@ScorpionBear_AG]

"Brutal, greedy, racist" lmao welcome to the real world France ain't the first, aint the last, wasn't even the worst 😂

[@IMG343]

@@ScorpionBear_AG Aa

[@jazzyjune5809]

I never knew this

[@uriNATE14]

A lot of us Americans have been taught that only America is an evil colonialist empire.

[@louisf2654]

The biggest reason for France to keep these places is because they're inhabited with French citizens. You could have mentioned Mayotte, the people there decided fairly recently to become as integrated into the Republic as the mainland.

[@yanamiseh2501]

C avant tt une décison pragmatique presque une question de survie etant donnée la réalité géo-politique du monde aujourd’hui.

[@personnequelquun8060]

Il faudrait que le reste des Comores soit de nouveau réunis car un flux de migrants Comorien y arrives ce qui empêche Mayotte et les Comores de fonctionner correctement

[@personnequelquun8060]

Peut importe que ce soit dans la France où à l'extérieur

[@personnequelquun8060]

@French& Scottish j'en sais rien mais pour réduire la surpopulation et l'immigration qui détruisent Mayotte c'est une bonne solution

[@ricorodriguez3159]

@French& Scottish en 1997 les îles d'Anjouan et de Mohéli (deux des trois îles principales des Comores avec Grande Comore) ont fait sécession des Comores pour demander leur rattachement à la France. En 2008, Anjouan a réédité la sécession (mais je ne me souviens plus s'ils ont demandé me rattachement à ce moment là).

[@bendixon8704]

I remember when I joined the Foreign Legion in 2012 and learned about all of Frances overseas territories and how we had troops all over the world. I was blown away. I have buddies stationed in French Guiana, interesting place.

[@maazkalim]

FrenchMAN???

[@blip666]

Are you French?

[@baptistebrigand5882]

.

[@fxz0uz202]

Merci pour ton service !

[@paullanison1541]

@@blip666 He's an ex-american, now new french because his service in the legion.

[@ComradeHistorian]

Good to see the comments calling you on your bull. Our "empire" consists of solely French citizens who voluntary remain under French rule.

[@thijsverweij9824]

His worldview probably doesn't go much farther than "white ppl bad"

[@adam974fr]

J'adore comment tu présente le truc 😂

[@guillaumefranck7155]

When France started decolonization, la metropole asked if territories wanted to stay with France or not. African countries wanted independence and territories like we have today wanted to stay French. If they want to leave France they have the choice and they’ll just have to vote and leave. Btw we just say la metropole not la France metropole otherwise it is la France métropolitaine.

[@DrMerkwuerdigliebe89]

So did Vietnam get to vote to stay or no?

[@writinghealth]

@@DrMerkwuerdigliebe89 true

[@hitsugayatoshiro9517]

If they want to leave they have to pay too

[@guillaumefranck7155]

@@hitsugayatoshiro9517 About that I can’t really say because it don’t know. I will search that later but I can tell you that France helped the countries being independent. I can’t remember if they still are giving money to these countries but for sure, even after their independence, they had money from France (African countries). The politic that they followed was to help them being independent.

[@guillaumefranck7155]

@@DrMerkwuerdigliebe89 After WW2 and even during WW2 all countries started decolonization :France, the UK, Spain and the others. It started with independence movements. But France is quiet complicated because we had different colonies that had different statuses. France had Algeria for exemple and it was a Region. The region is a title that is for parts of metropole. Even now the statuses are complicated. We have departments and regions ... I’m saying that because for the region (mostly) France didn’t want to lose them. Then they fought because they wanted to keep Algeria. For Vietnam they fought too. Some wars exploded but you must remember that France had a huge colonial empire. For African countries they didn’t fought (as far as I can remember). In the early 60’s de Gaulle gave African countries liberty (the were pretty free and autonomous) they had the right to have an assembly etc. Then the one that wanted independence, took it like Madagascar or Guinea but the others stayed into « la communauté française » and they walked together to decolonization. France fought against Algeria and l’Indochine française but they lost really severely and it was a shame for them (the Algeria war a complete defeat). So they helped the one that wanted to be independent be independent and the one that wanted to stay French stayed French !

[@Hepad_]

I am outraged by the sheer amount of bias expressed in this video. Most of these territories were integrated to France before some parts of Metropolitan France on which French legitimacy is never questioned ! Actually this video could make for a good case study of the clash between the Anglo-Saxon and the French ways of conceiving how people belong to a country. People belong to France based on their identity papers and respect of French culture (even though you'll find a lot of disrespectfull youth that was created by the admixture of American culture of race in France) instead of ethinicty. Stop demanding that every country adopts the (American) Anglo-Saxon way (also called identity politics). Actually this is the only kind of imperialism showed in this video.

[@kapudanuderya]

Still France commited tons of genocides and war crimes.

[@arno222444]

@@kapudanuderya We have never annihilated a full population like in North and South America.

[@kapudanuderya]

@@arno222444 A genocide doesn't neccesarily have to be a total anhiliation.

[@TheSquareheadgamer]

No? For one thing I've seen what french racist say about non-white french people. Don't pretend the French have transcended race. There are plenty of non anglo-Saxon English people who are English and American people who are American. Almost like there are entho-nationalists in all parts of the world... (Also super weird to start accusing others of identity politics when your name dropping an old tribal identity that's basically only used by historians and racists currently)

[@arno222444]

@@kapudanuderya Nope you’re right a total annihilation seems to be much better as there no more ppl left to blame you…..

[@julesthouzet4725]

France is the country which have the most time zones in the world

[@vanessaroper3028]

Interesting way of seeing it

[@a-z6806]

France has 13 different time zones With its overseas territories, while China is just one big time zone

[@foxpickaxe]

but remember The sun never sets on british empire

[@tasolyn]

9:50 96% voted to stay with France, not 53%

[@AbrahamCasillas-t3o]

No one wanted to stay in France!

[@v_112]

most of those territories aren't even colonies anymore. they're an integral part of France, some even are represented in the French parliament, and all of the inhabitants have a right or already poses French citizenship. They are to France like Alaska is to the US, at least some of them, so please stop with the hypocrisy

[@v_112]

@UCv5LrHOdIYNVy0MTxj4MlGg there're always independence movements. Heck there are independence movements in california, texas, oregon, washington, and puerto rico. Some of those french territories even held referendums for independence, that were unsuccessful. Johnny gave the impression like France is some sort of a despot that still holds an iron rule over it's depended territories, which is completely not true.

Why should France be allowed to rule over nations and people are are not white or European?

[@originalulix]

@ Because the majority of the people of these territories want to be part of France? With all the shit France pulled in the past, you can't fault them today. They have allowed independence referendums in basically all their overseas territories, multiple times in many cases.

[@mathisrenier]

@ These people are French and European. France isn't ruling over them, they are France. They are represented in the government and all of these territories except French Polynesia were uninhabited when they were discovered. Also being French has nothing to do with the colour of your skin. If you think non-white French people are not really French that's extremely racist.

[@gaelbalestra5581]

@ There has been like a dozen of referendum for Independence and these people always rejected it.

[@scygnius]

I’m assuming by “centuries” you meant to say “decades”

[@Groaznic]

Not sure he understands the difference.

[@tyvandm]

yeah... 6 centuries ago France had only recently finished the 100 years war; the hexagon had only just taken shape..

[@vsaucepuppet697]

yeah, I heard that part and I was like... what????

[@unoriginal9299]

@Who taught You To Hate Yourself your grammar my man

[@Nosirt]

He is making a joke about how colonialism shouldn’t have happened. But given that the collective IQ of this comment section is 2 digit, I didn’t expect most to understand the joke

[@laurentdrozin812]

Whaaaat, he said almost nothing about Réunion! Almost a million French live there!

[@valac7820]

La logique des anglo-saxons 🤷‍♂️

[@Kookanoodles]

Réunion doesn't fit the narrative because it wasn't colonized from anyone, there were no natives. Better to just gloss over it.

[@rangv733]

@@Kookanoodles Kinda true I guess

[@xenotypos]

@@Kookanoodles He seemed to consider it the same as the uninhabited islands in Antartica, as if it was just some random places for scientific purpose. Reunion island is the most populated French oversee territory... They sure didn't keep it just to have some "presence" in the area, but for far more reasons.

[@LegoBoy0132]

Just watch the grand tour special for more info on that :))

[@maximedumoussaud9042]

I think it's a problematic video because of the referential you used. Yes, if you view the french overseas territories through american exceptionalism, it's bad. Some of them have shady pasts, or even semi active independence movements, but their situations is mostly solved, and they're not culturally suppressed anymore. Moreover, I think those independence referendums hinged on the fact that the only positive outcome of independence for a tropical island is to get your own flag ; everything else, you're dependent on the outside. I don't think french people from Réunion or Guadeloupe are alienated by centuries of colonial oversight, just that they think they have more freedom in being a french citizen than in becoming independent and basically risking becoming a failed state. If you want to see a revolting situation, look at the influence of France over its former african colonies (and then at the growing influence of Russia and China, which manage to somehow make the former colonial power with active military presence on the ground look good by comparison). Sure, a point could be made about the "American Empire", but I think a better comparison would be if a French youtuber made a video on the systematic political and economical oppression in the US. Not about race or inequality, but about its rigid dogma of "the private sector is better by default" and "Socialism is inherently evil". I guess it would sound ludicrous to a US viewer and be a non-issue, but it would make a lot of sense for a french viewer who experienced the 20+ years of public service degradation since the French government started to privatize its public sector. That and the fact that socialist policies (and, gasp, even communist at a local level) were rather effective until the 1980-1990s in France. Using a "french exceptionalist" point of view, you could easily picture the US as evil for things US viewers would see as inherent advantages.

[@xXE4gle98Xx]

As a frenchman I believe that is is a quite complicated topic since the situation is very different in each of these former colonies and you really cannot put them in the same bag. Some a fully part of France and some are only somewhat part of France. Some use the Euro some don't. Some have a strong independance movement and some do not. Some are made of native population, some of former slaves, and some of metropolitan french.

[@baptistebrigand5882]

lol

[@splashnskillz37]

Lol if all nations in South America united as one country, *IT COULD END UP IN THE EU* , because of France

[@xXE4gle98Xx]

@@splashnskillz37 I think the EU would kick France out first lol

[@splashnskillz37]

@@xXE4gle98Xx probrably

[@firtlast1571]

France is still a colonial power. The most racist country of Europe.

[@jamesrobsonza7752]

After ww2 France gave its colonies the option to leave or remain in France. Most left but a few stayed part of France because being a part of a world power has its benefits. The overseas territories France still owns are what decided to remain part of France. It is literally the will of the people to be ruled by France, not France enforcing rule over some islands.

[@SachinSingh-vy7pm]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGjYmYN7a6mBj7c

[@nehcooahnait7827]

“Gave its colonies the option...” lol. Things were really freaking brutal in places like Algeria and the former French Indo-China.

[@mysticalwind4632]

@James Robsonza , really ??? Vietnam and Algeria wanted their independence and they fought hard to become independent from France. Of course westerners will always show no shame with their double standards to justify their constant hijacking of the high moral ground. Oh the hypocrisy is endless.

[@jamesrobsonza7752]

@@mysticalwind4632 Thats very bold of you to assume I am a westerner because I speak English. Based on your logic you would also classify as a Westerner. So a little about me, I am a native South African of mixed heritage, aka what other South Africans call Colored. I am aware that many countries had their independence movements brutally suppressed by the English, French, Dutch and Portugese. You will also notice I never said they gave them the choice willingly. By the late 1950s France was no longer a great power and didnt have the capacity to maintain her colonies and international sentiment had turned against Imperialism as both the USA and the USSR were anti-colonialists. I still feel my original point stands.

[@mokka1115]

@@nehcooahnait7827 The Algerian war and the Indo-China war were fought before the decolonization program. For Algeria tough the fight for independence took much longer because of it's financial importance and resource. But France found a way around that problem till it found a proper solution around 30 years ago.

[@vividesiles3763]

I'm French from one of those islands (Guadeloupe) you skipped over a looot of things.

[@zhantorebakhytzhanuly1779]

in terms of Guadelupa, i know Kingsley Koman who is one of the crucial players in Bayern

[@fazegodzilla4163]

@@zhantorebakhytzhanuly1779 You right, Thierry Henry too

[@valac7820]

C'est des anglais ils connaissent pas mieux la france que nous les français ^^, en plus la Guadeloupe est géniale 😁👌

[@katescooby8989]

Vive la Guadeloupe !

[@RyanBarroso]

Vive la Guadeloupe👌🏼

[@Hugo-kt8hm]

I'm amazed that you didn't mention the KOUROU spaceport in French Guyana. It is home to the launch of European Spacecrafts via the ESA (European Space Agency), which makes it incredibly valuable not only to France, but to the EU as a whole.

[@adithyanarayanrs]

2:21 He says "decolonised 6 centuries ago". Doesn't he mean 6 decades?

[@PHlophe]

Aaditia, no even 6 decades yet

[@fid29801]

No.

[@simetric6551]

Yes

[@yashsalwan7680]

Bro as an Indian, I legit had the same thought lmaoo

[@jasoncola6071]

Nah, he just wanted France to remain a bunch of decentralized medieval duchies.

[@afceric]

I come from Reunion Island, and sorry to say that you re wrong. Most of thr famous islands have NEVER BEEN COLONIES as they were not inhabited before hand. That s a big misconception and a cliche. And that s a bit a sense of superiority from your part, just assuming and asserting things you don t know and dont understand about other people and cultures. Also, indépendance is barely requested except in New Caledonia. For example it wouldnt reach 15% positive where I come from.

[@Alcide_-]

YES absolutely I was searching for someone to correct him on that thanks a lot

[@sanjayvaidya4925]

Réunion was first settled in the 17th century by colonists from France. Slave labourers were brought in from East Africa to work on plantations, and later Malays, Annamites, Chinese, and Malabar Indians were imported as indentured labourers.

[@afceric]

@@sanjayvaidya4925 A colony is a system settled in foreign land. Not in a discovered land. Otherwise we should call every human being a colonist.

[@BroJo676]

@@Poussindesdomtom Les "15%" représentent les indépendantistes de Nouvelle-Calédonie et pas de l'île de la Réunion... En 2020, les indépendantistes représentaient 46.74% contre 43.33% en 2018. Je vois que vous essayez de corriger des informations "vaguement énoncées" avec des informations encore plus erronées.

[@BroJo676]

@@Poussindesdomtom Très bien. J'ai fait une erreur et je le reconnais.

[@Hexstream]

New Caledonia decides to stay with France. France: "C'est nickel!"

[@sanguinarium1614]

Si tu pouvais éviter ....

[@Hexstream]

@@sanguinarium1614 C'est un fait accompli. ;P

[@whyzbt]

This comment should have a lot more likes :D

[@samrevlej9331]

For those of you who don't understand, "C'est nickel" is an expression in French which roughly means "Fantastic". However, nickel, the mineral, is also found in large quantity in New Caledonia, which is being mined for that purpose.

[@legiopatrianostra4702]

😂 😂 😂 perfect one ☝🏼

[@cecilelpt5808]

Seeing Americans judge other territories for not wanting independance, just because they did centuries ago piss me off. It's not colonialism anymore! Listening to him, you almost believe slavery is still present in France. He judge their decisions but completly look past the fact that those people have more freedom than a lot of americans, they have a better health care system, protection from not only the mainland but also the EU, an europeen passport allowing them to study, live, travel all over europe. A lot of school are only present in Metropolitan france because there is not enough inhabitant in those islands to open specific school that can maintain themselve financialy, and the mainland help them to be able to settle in metropolitain France so that they can afford acces to higher education. That's WAY more than american propose to american student after high school. For example, i did podiatry studies, and in my classes, we had a girl from Tahiti, one from Martinique, one from Guadeloupe, one from the Reunion, and not one person, with no exeption, considered them less french. Of course it's not all butterflies and some territories have issues with French government, but a lot of metropolitan french too, so...only making them more French

[@JL_Lux]

I love how all the Europeans get so defensive about this. These are colonies. Like Hawaii and PR and Guam is to the US. Your just mad because you can be self righteous

[@alessandro.calzavara]

You are right, more often than not Americans from all the political spectrum act like they know what's best for the rest of the world. Dear Americans, you're not the only ones who matters

[@cesruhf2605]

@@JL_Lux You should defend yourselves when people are spouting bs like you

[@cymbalbell1270]

Everyone: "So you share borders with 8 countries right?" France: "Well, yes, but actually no"

[@wdlaw4204]

If an island is uninhabited and the French got there first aren't they technically the natives of that island?

[@Daniel-jm7ts]

Yes they are. Also it wouldn't make sense anyway for those to be independent, their economies and populations are too small

[@EEGmaghrabi]

@Harley Ed It were the Dutch who came to australia first

[@kamanashiskar9203]

@@EEGmaghrabi It was the Polynesian natives who were first then it was the Dutch, then finally the British.

[@wdhyrhrj4414]

@@kamanashiskar9203 they're not polynesians. The indigenous people of australia are the closest to the melanesians. Also after the indigenous inhabited the continent, the Austronesians (Bugis) explored the area (especially the northern part) and established fishing villages.

[@rory6984]

@Angelo River anyone could rock up at any.time with a boat and a big gun and just do whatever they want. They're better off taking their chances with France since even by threatening secession they can force france to give them more subsidies, greater autonomy and more representation. Unless they find a huge amount of oil they're probably better off with france and even then they might still be.

[@hugoboulat33]

Ok maybe it wasn't intentional but it didn't sound objective at all. The way you count the story is like those territories are oppressed and are only a part of Frace so that metropolitan France can exploit their resources. This isn't true at all. The people that live on the island of La Réunion, Mayotte,, the ones in French Guiana, they all considered themselves as french citizens. They participate in french debates, votes for the French president and parliament, and also have special decisional rights (they can make their own rules if they want to) so that rules are fitted for the population and not dictated by a far government. Also for New Caledonia, you said that "they were on their way out of being a part of France" which is again not true. The plan was to give the population living there the right to decide on their independence or not through 3 referendum (2 of them occurred and on the 2 they said no to independence). This plan was agreed on after tensions occurred between the indepndantist and the ones that wanted to stay French in the 80's or something.

[@Keepone974]

Exactly. Also Reunion had basically no one living on it before, so no "colonization" per se, just settling there before others. Reunion has always been French or unclaimed (with a very short amount of time being British). Of course there was awful slavery going on but that's another subject.

[@thoughtfulsapien1235]

That’s Jon Harris. He is more of an opinion head than the neutral educator he pretends to be.

[@Oba936]

+

[@axm601]

It may not be true, but this territories are also lagging behind in terms of infrastructure (some of these don't have a water distribution network that is reaching everyone, hospitals need upgrades, ICU beds) and also supermarkets must import food and some goods from mainland France, unless you don't have it there, which results in prices being much more expensive than in mainland France

[@axm601]

Until recently, to cross the Brazil and French Guiana border, your goods had to go on a boat and physically go through customs in the North of Mainland France (in Le Havre)

[@randallshughart]

If you ever have the chance to travel to all these french so called colonies, you would see how happy those people are to be part of France, and how much it helps them to grow their communities and sustain their culture and way of life. Dig deeper mate.

[@zirofastable]

I felt something was wrong when you talked about " France Metropole" when it's call called " France métropolitaine " ( Which can be found after a 10 seconds search ), then you tell us about empires, colonies etc... These parts of France VOTED to remain in France, and they all possess the French citizenship, with all its advantages. Your video was kinda interesting, sadly your personal opinion kinda ruined it

[@wagenlowyikhang7019]

Just like Tibet, Xinjiang, Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan right ?

[@VeeranLegacy]

​@@wagenlowyikhang7019 Are you seriously comparing a totalitarian communist state to a recognized democratic Republic? Yes Metropolitan France has a lot to gain by keeping all those territories, but so do the territories, they gain access to the entire EU, the common market, advantages on trade within the EU's market, and much more. The citizens of those territories have all the economic, social, and logistic advantages of being French, in addition, there is the security of being a completely integrated part of France, one of the top global power, permanent member of the UN Security Council, powerful member of Nato and founding member of the EU. All those territories have representation in both the Upper and Lower Houses of the French parliament (representation is per territory so every inhabited territory has at least one representative per Chamber), citizens can vote in all national elections and referendums as well as European elections. They are all both French and European Citizens. You give examples that have no ground for comparison, all those regions have been either conceded by former colonial power (Macao and Hong Kong) in very recent years; have been forcibly annexed in the case of Tibet and Xingjiang; or are completely independent-even-though-disputed state in the case of Taiwan who is the Republic of China, the democratic one, and thus the complete opposite of the People's Republic of China, which is the totalitarian communist one, and I don't see what it has to do with anything here. A good example would have been Puerto Rico but it would only have proven my point since even though citizens of Puerto Rico are considered Americans, their representative holds no voting power on the US Congress. Yet Puerto Rico is an "Unincorporated Territory" of the USA, meaning part of the US Constitution applies, but not all of it, while still being under the rule of the US Federal Government. All this means that while Puerto Ricans are considered Americans, they cannot vote for the US President or Vice-President. The world isn't black and white, just because France kept former colonies doesn't mean the Overseas Territories are oppressed enclaves of non-citizen populations, they are an integrated part of France that benefits from every aspect of the Constitution, Laws, and Public Services.

[@benjaminlamey3591]

@@wagenlowyikhang7019 I don´t know about Macao. However, I am pretty sure the others do not want to be part of China, at least for Taiwan it is pretty obvious and the protests in HK make it clear too. For Xinjiang and Tibet, maybe we hsould go and ask in the camp where the opponents are emprisonned to ask them ...

[@nathan_408]

They want it because of the EU passport, some people pay thousands of euros to have one and they get it for free

[@roshn.i]

Lol why are you so mad

[@jonathansleurink8324]

Everytime Johnny makes a video I'm like: What's the rabbit hole this time bois

[@StreetlightRock]

Johnny: "These islands have a ton of inhabitants, they're just not humans" Me: "Huh, French penguins"

[@mio1260]

my mind literally just went to the french canadian players on the pittsburgh penguins

[@benoitbvg2888]

Not just any penguins, *Emperor Penguins* . You can tell them apart thanks to their bicorn hats and they always keep a flap tucked in their jacket. Don't ever play chess with them, you'll lose everything.

[@ChenAnPin]

Royal penguins too.

[@sticktheok]

@@ChenAnPin *chop*

[@tigroujungle6287]

yes in saint paul and masterdam we send a mission some years ago its only since 2015 there is only 400 peoples ... in clipperton , the most small ecosystem in world , no one habitant , only some nuclear weapons lol crabs ... and sea birds that are eating the crabs but the rats survive to their coming in 1975 by a french military boat we dont know how theyr find water , and they eat the crabes ... we destroyed the most small ecosystem of the world with 2 species now we have 3 ;;;; LOL and yes ... saint pierre et miequelon , is just next the american territory , with nuclear submarines but wake up the exercice of the french navy in new york in 1962 was not an exercice we put nuclear bombs in the porth of new york and we took back 2000 tons of gild by the force the americans newspapers was lying after 24 hours the french navy , in the porth of new york was menacing to shoot an empty building with their canons we arrived in new york with no one resistancy , and witheout to tell it to the americans

[@Tortuex_]

"the queen of not letting go" okay let's just mention England - as you might have guessed, I'm french

[@ilikeoversizedcoats1837]

Australian here, and have been to New Caledonia multiple times! Nouvelle Caledonie is quite a complex and honestly tense place in their geopolitics, but a significant benefit of staying with France is ongoing support with infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Most students seeking university education from there go to France and enjoy their wonderfully publically-funded universities. As someone close to the region it is very understandable why the majority of people voted on staying with France. Similar to why Puerto Rico wants to increase ties with the US.

[@alexn.2901]

The majority of New Caledonia is made up of non-indigenous settlers

[@shyamashyam391]

Majority of New Caledonia voted to remain with France in the same way majority of Australia wanted to remain under the British Crown two centuries ago. 😂😂😂

[@Zhest-yu8rw]

@@shyamashyam391 France has no crown, they killed theirs own by themself.Also can't compare 2 century ago to today.

[@Drannn54]

Puerto Rico is the territory which part of the US unofficially, which will hold referendums to join the United States in 2021, but i guess it won’t happen because PR people speak Spanish and they are not similar to American people, unlike New Caledonia in which spoken French language

[@alexn.2901]

@@Drannn54 New Caledonia natives are not native French speakers. Also D.C wants to be a state but the white supremacist institution that are the United States won't let that happen.

[@gonzalle]

"All of these islands are the product of french colonialism, brutal greedy racist colonialism" Whooo ! that escalated quickly ! Where are you from Johnny ? Could you speak about the smooth , cool, generous, selfless international policy of your country ? Why don't you speak about Diego Garcia for instance ?

[@VerraNewsNetwork]

he does plenty of that lmao.

[@youbot1232]

@Clement Gonzalez he already talked about Diego Garcia and other islands... So I don't know why you are talking about him not talking about American territories that have been seized forcibly.

[@nassimasemmar7948]

Hi I'm french and he isn't totally wrong It is not a bad thing to say this, it is always important. Our president qualified colonisation as crime against the humanity. There are problems everywhere and he was just talking about french colonisation problems in a video about France soooo...

[@annilator3000]

It's funny how instead of debunking this claim you're just here to escalate things yourself 😂🤣

[@felix25ize]

@@nassimasemmar7948 Macron is not a real french president, and hates his own country's people. Only a valet of the mondialist financial oligarchy, elected by their possession of the medias. Not surprising that he spits his venom on our history...

[@thomasfrommweiler4392]

The difference between an empire and the current state of France, that I think is misrepresented, is that a lot of these places are 100% a part of France. They vote in French elections, have domestic flights to France, French education standards, they get French minimum wage, French retirement and social benefits and participate in French culture (sports, television, baguettes and of course COVID lockdowns). They are not being exploited and ransacked for resources, they are just a part of France like Alaska is a part of the US. The history is shameful, and we should not forget that. The present and future for these places, however, is far brighter when compared to independent countries in the same geographical area. I think a referendum should be held in all of the territories to determine if independence is the way the people want to go, but at the moment, calling it an empire is not representative of the modern state of France. Thank you for doing a video on this topic. Fun facts: -Because of the time difference, the first ever transaction in Euros took place in La Reunion, a French island near Madagascar, and therefore, nowhere near Europe -Because of the territories, France, the 41st biggest country in the world has THE largest exclusive economic zone.

[@sanjayvaidya4925]

In this short article I will try to explain how African countries that were colonized by France are still beholden to their colonizers. The current relationship between African countries and France prevents successful African development and sovereignty. 1. The former colonies have to pay a “colonial debt.” The newly “independent” countries are forced to pay for the country’s infrastructure that France takes credit for building during colonization. The amount of this debt varies depending on what country is paying the debt and how its infrastructure is developed. 2. France can automatically confiscate the African country’s national reserves. The African country must deposit its national monetary reserves into France’s central bank. France has held the national reserves of 14 African countries since 1961: Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville and Gabon. In fact, more than 80 percent of the foreign reserves of these African countries are deposited in so-called “operations accounts” controlled by the French Treasury. Two declared independent African banks - BEAC (Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale) and BEACO (Banque Centrale des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest) - have in practice no monetary policies of their own. The countries themselves do not know, nor are they told how much of the pool of foreign reserves held by the French Treasury belongs to them as a group or individually. Only a limited group of officials knows exactly the amounts of these operations accounts, where these funds are invested. France carefully hides this and other details from any African bank or government. It is estimated that France now holds nearly $500 billion of African countries’ money in its treasury and will do anything to keep it. Moreover, the African countries do not have access to this money. France allows them to access only 15 percent of the money in any given year. If they need more than that, they have to borrow at commercial rates from the remaining 85 percent - of their own money - that is held hostage by the French Treasury. To make things worse, France fixes a limit on the amount of money the countries may borrow from the reserve. The limit is fixed at 20 percent of their public revenue in the preceding year. If the countries need to borrow more than that, France vetoes it. In his recent video, the former president of France, Jacques Chirac said the French people should accept the fact that a large amount of the money in their banks comes precisely from the exploitation of former colonies on the African continent. 3. France claims the right to exploit any natural resource discovered in the country. France claims it has the first right to buy any natural resources found on the territory of its ex-colonies. The African countries are also not allowed to seek other partners freely. 4. France forces African countries to give preference to French interests and companies in the field of public procurement and public biding. According to government contracts, French companies must be considered first. Only after that can Africans connect with other foreign companies. It doesn’t matter if the African countries would benefit from a partner outside of France. As a consequence, in many French ex-colonies all the major economic assets are in French hands. For example, in Côte d’Ivoire French companies own and control all the major utilities - water, electricity, telephone, transport, ports and major banks. The same situation exists in the field of commerce, construction and agriculture. 5. France claims an exclusive right to supply military equipment and training to African military officers. Through a sophisticated scheme of scholarships, grants and “defense agreements” attached to the Colonial Pact (the document that sets up the common currency for all Francophone countries - the CFA Franc), African countries send their senior military officers for training in France. The situation in Africa now is that France has trained and nourished hundreds, even thousands of traitors. They are activated when France needs them to commit another coup d’état or create a disturbing political situation inside Africa. 6. France claims a right to deploy troops and intervene in the African country to defend France’s interests. Under the conditions of defense agreements and the Colonial Pact, France claims a legal right to intervene militarily in the African countries and also deploy its troops permanently on their military bases. 7. The African countries are obliged to make French the official language of the country and of education. The “Francophone” cultural and educational system, with several satellites and their affiliates, is supervised directly by the French minister of foreign affairs. African people are pressured to speak French instead of their own languages. That is extremely limiting. It has been suggested that if a person only speaks French, they will have access to less than 4 percent of humanity’s knowledge and information. 8. France’s former colonies are forced to use the colonial currency FCFA (the CFA franc). This evil setup acts as a milk cow for France. It has been condemned by the European Union, but France is not ready to get rid of such a system that drains the African countries of their wealth and brings to about $500 billion annually to the French treasury. 9. The African countries are obliged to send France an annual balance and reserve report. Without the report the African countries cannot get money from the reserves of the France central bank. Also, the central banks of ex-colonies are controlled and managed by the France central bank. 10. The African countries are prohibited from entering into any military alliance. The African countries in general have military alliances with their ex-colonizers. Moreover, France forbids the Africans from looking for any form of military cooperation and protection outside of that offered by the French government. 11. The African countries are obliged to ally only with France during a situation of war or global crisis. More than a million African soldiers contributed to the defeat of Nazism and fascism in World War II. However, this contribution is often ignored or underestimated. Since World War II, France has taken into consideration the fact that Africans may be used in the case of any military threat or war expectation. In conclusion, France has been addicted to looting and exploiting Africa since the times of slavery. There are still French military bases and soldiers in Africa under the pretense of protection. But in fact they are there to control and oppress the local citizens. A logical question is, why are there still 450 French soldiers in Côte d’Ivoire who are able to control a population of 20 million people? Why do the so-called liberated and free African countries still pay a humiliating colonial tax? Is it not time to stop this complete hypocrisy and inhumanity? www.pambazuka.org/governance/france-still-robbing-its-former-african-colonies

[@xammai9679]

I live in a French colony that was intimidated into voting against independence by using Haiti as an example. It’s grate! there is no social mobility and all the good Land and positions of power are given to white people. The indigenous population is almost completely eradicated and the blacks are 100% reliant on the French imports. The economy basically relies on The service industry tourism and government jobs its awesome 🤠 You either drink yourself to death or you be a good Christian and sever your masters. That’s the mentality of an island stripped of identity and strangled by colonialism.

[@xammai9679]

@@sanjayvaidya4925 I really hope people take the time to read this. Most are self righteous and would rather believe what ever makes them feel like a better person. Thank you for your efforts tho. It’s nice to see that some humans care.

[@antoinelallanne6217]

@@sanjayvaidya4925 any official / semi-official sources on these « facts »? Especially on the 500$ billion annual upstreamed to France (seems huge compared to their annual GDP). Thx

[@FoufouBe]

Algeria was also part of France and yet you know the story

[@ericcccccable]

You have a very simplistic view of the French overseas territories. They are not colonized peoples, but French people, with the same rights as the French people in mainland France. Why do you want them to ask for their independence? To fall into extreme poverty like Haiti or the Comoros? So don't be so sure of yourself, because you still have a lot to learn instead of exposing your mistaken view of the world.

[@ShutterAuthority]

Great video as always! Although the image at 3:24 seems to have slipped in by mistake. The abandoned church is the Presbyterian church on Ross Island in the Andaman Islands which is in India. We shot a VFX video there and I spent days tracking that shot, so I could instantly tell its that place!

[@mxmlnlcdcdffmnt2232]

Great but full off misinformation

[@coolguyishere8851]

Dammmm you gonna expose him like that

[@abasisc5391]

so they have a bigger empire

[@jamesrosewell9081]

Yeah he just used whatever footage from Storyblocks he could. You can see him reusing shots and in one instance he used a clip of a boat with an American flag in dark blue (AKA Atlantic) waters when describing French Guiana, lol.

[@Polo-rn8ly]

I thought he was gonna mention how french still colonizing africa but he just showed some shitty random İslands . Seriousluiy??? Wtf.????

[@badrtaib730]

"France still has an empire" Africans: You don't say !

[@JusdoinstuF]

the french exploitation of west africa needs to end now. and needs more attention.

[@rauhaan.]

most real comment ever

[@joelGi]

@L.K no it was law to back all foreign reserves in france and pay colonial tax and use the french lira until very recently regardless of the leaders

[@damienpeladan481]

@Hamid Hussein yes, Chirac said this once. However, this is not really supported by the facts, especially not today. Without African ressources, France would take a huge economical blow, no doubt, but it would never be enough to turn it into a third world country. It would probably be more akin to what a no deal Brexit will do to the British economy (something like a 5% recession according to economists).

[@damienpeladan481]

@Hamid Hussein So am I

[@Mah0urse]

Wait, it's all France ?! Ça l'a toujours été

[@eliahanin6242]

Always has been.

[@Willybean08]

Il a oublié beaucoup d'îles. Je vis à Fatuma et nous sommes tout aussi remarquables que les autres îles. Bien que j'aie apprécié cette vidéo.

[@Willybean08]

@@efrdx2239 quoi

[@Willybean08]

@@efrdx2239 je le sais

[@88Vosges88]

@@Willybean08 Il a oublié aussi Le Domaine national français en Terre sainte, la France est le seul pays présent sur tous les continents du monde.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

France still has monarchs too! A country well known for its revolution that ousted a monarchy, has monarchs. Because of Wallis and Futuna, an overseas collectivity. Wallis and Futuna is ruled by three kings. The King of Uvea, Alo, and Sigave. Three times the irony Also the last "really beautiful island" that you showed at 8:54 is Rarotonga, which is NOT French but rather a part of the Cook Islands (a self-governing country in free association with New Zealand). And those "weird islands" off of Canada is the last remaining vestige of what was once New France. So while it doesn't look like much, they're still very unique.

[@TheHugolob]

French here didn't know about that ! An other unknown fact about France and Monarchs is that the french president (Macron currently) is the co-prince of Andorre with the king of Catalonia if i remember right

[@sherlan1886]

I am from Saint Lucia 🇱🇨, a small island in the Caribbean that was fought over 14 times by the French and British - the French overseas territory of Martinique is our neighbour. Although England won the final battle, the influence of France is still very much present in the names of our places, our second language, French Creole and other little things like the way we cook. I’ve been told that even though we mainly speak English, one can still hear the French in our accent. This video wasn’t an eye opener for me but a reminder of how different yet similar we are to our neighbour, Martinique. It’s also pretty cool that we get to freely visit Martinique (and vice versa) and even get opportunities to study both in the overseas territories and on mainland France.

[@revolvency]

This need to be higher

[@Prodigious1One]

I've been to St Lucia and yes the accent does sound like it has French influence.

[@cyrildu972]

As a Martinican, really appreciate your comment. I would like to add that we (Martinican) are and feel french but carribean in the first place, and we should consolidate relation betwen St Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe, St Marteen, Barbados, St Vincent and all the other caribbean island, we are neighbour, we share the same history and culture, we dance on the same music, we look alike and we have the same lifestyle, greating from Martinique

[@Prodigious1One]

@@cyrildu972 I taught English in Martinique. I really enjoyed living there. It's a beautiful place. I like the Express des Iles ferry. Maybe it could go to more islands. For now it goes to St Lucia, Martinique, Dominica and Guadeloupe.

[@jasonsine]

France hasn't let go entirely in St Lucia, the French embassy and alliance are in Castries. St Lucia is also a member of La Francophone and celebrates Fracophonie day. St Lucia's closest relationships are with Martinique, Dominica, and Guadeloupe.

[@dm_5000]

The assumption here that these overseas territories are some sort of injustice is just plain wrong. France does it the right way. These territories are legally France. The people there are French citizens who carry French passports and use the euro. They have the rights of any other French or EU citizen and get to vote in French and European elections. It's true that French Guyana, New Caledonia, and Tahiti don't have independence. So what? Neither do Lyon or Paris.

[@florimond.]

Ye I totally agree, this video makes it seems like France oppresses these people and only keeps these territories for its resources and naval waters... Which is not true

[@futuro2]

hahahahha yeah right...

[@DeSpaceFairy]

Oui c'est le système français et l'Europe, mais en moins bien. En Guyane tu fait rien de ta vie avec 1200€, népotisme oblige, tu n'auras rien, si ta famille est pas déjà riche ou/et dans la politique, bien-sûr y'a la sécu pour tes problèmes d'alcool, drogue et le sida, mais bonne chance si tu dois allez aux urgences, dans l'un des trois hôpitaux et trouver l'un des rare médecins compétent qui ne soit pas surexploiter. Dans tout ça le pire c'est les moustiques.

[@elenastewart3963]

No Euro in DOM/TOM or at least in FP and NC

[@elenastewart3963]

@@Poussindesdomtom nope no euro in French Polynesia and New Caledonia. Out of all countries colonized by France, these 2 are a bit special cause they have what’s call “Intern Autonomy” meaning they can make laws and make decisions without waiting for the approval of France, in a way this makes them a bit independent (not fully obviously). But all sorts of issues arise from this, the worst is Bargains with France, if they want something it can be what ever let’s say money (don’t forget the money value is nearly nothing cause they’re still running with Francs) France will ask something in return which is going to decrease Intern Autonomy of these countries = in some way France regains more and more control over them. This shit is a bit fucked up but hey what can we do about it. So in a way it benefits France that these countries are still running in Francs cause it allows a certain control over them despite their interne autonomy. And also you’ll have to be part of the EU to have Euro. They’ll have to first let go of the interne autonomy and be fully part of the Republic to have access to the EU. I don’t think they’ll do it cause it means giving up all controls to France. You simply can’t govern those countries like France is being governed it’s just impossible there, things have to adapt. The locals or native Polynesians makes French Polynesia so unique and still the way it was long time before it was colonized, so it’s important that Laws adapt to the way people are living in these islands to maintain its integrity otherwise a lot of things are going to be lost.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Oh I’m sure the penguins wants independence...

[@Champstarrable]

@Koolkid Who are you to decide?

[@brigadierbraveheart3173]

@@Champstarrable we get to decide because we were the victim of colonial suppression which destroyed our futures and people don't change, france is still that same racist france of the colonial era just disguised under the cover of Democracy.

[@brigadierbraveheart3173]

@@Champstarrable look at 7:44 to jogg your bias and ignorant memory

[@brigadierbraveheart3173]

Well that wouldn't be a problem if France didn't have a history of suppression and terroristic activities, refer to 9:06 for more

[@GamingWithChf]

@@brigadierbraveheart3173 Yes but does this apply to uninhabited islands? Should the penguins have the right to self-determination?

[@le_souverainiste_francais7420]

Vive la France 🇨🇵 Vive l'Empire Coloniale Français 🇨🇵 🇩🇿 🇲🇦 🇹🇳 🇲🇬 🇲🇱 🇲🇷 🇳🇪 🇹🇩 🇨🇫 🇨🇲 🇹🇬 🇧🇯 🇧🇫 🇨🇬 🇬🇦 🇸🇳 🇬🇳 🇻🇳 🇱🇦 🇰🇭 Vive la France D'Outre-Mers 🇨🇵 🇬🇫 🇳🇨 🇹🇫 🇼🇫

[@dims7672]

Ptdrr va dormir

[@neutralboi1984]

Germany

[@surprise_]

​@@neutralboi1984 confédération du rhin

[@byblispersephone2.094]

A lot of people want to remain French. They get French/European citizenship so they can go to France to study and work freely. Its a great deal really.

[@byblispersephone2.094]

@@Poussindesdomtom its actually a very apt word. If they voted for independence they would not be French. One could ask the people of Scotland if they wanted to remain British which they voted on in the 2014 referendum on independence.

[@leonidatimus]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/apzTl4qIlqipppY

[@MarnixUwU]

As CGP Grey once said: "France took the easy solution to empire; just keep it."

[@MarnixUwU]

oh shit I wasn't even at the actual CGP Grey inset when I typed that

[@91838072]

Not really. Cause all the people in these “colonies” have the political rights to assemble themselves and declare independence if they so choose. They chose to remain in France for the generous social welfare and the financial support for their institutions and infrastructures. It might be bizarre to you but under abject poverty, people will chose to remain in France. The Comorros had seek to rejoin France only to be rejected. France do not need to own the land to control their resources. They had done so in Africa without holding sovereignty over them. US had control over Middle East without holding sovereignty over them.

[@MarnixUwU]

@@91838072 Yeah? Obviously, it's better to be inside the empire than to be outside of it. I don't even need any complex theory to prove that. France made the choice that it would be better to keep their possessions and include the people in these territories than it would be to lose all of them. It's still imperialism though.

[@91838072]

@@MarnixUwU its still imperialist and France is definitely evil. But you know what happened to all those decolonised states, they are filled with corrupted officials with incompetent rules. There are exceptions.

[@MarnixUwU]

@@91838072 Glad we can agree that France is evil. So I would agree with you if it wasn't also European empires' fault that ex-colonies are not doing so good. Because of that, I think that it's France's responsibility to make sure these countries are stable, in whatever form of government they might choose.

[@vladpoofin1759]

An interesting thing about French Guiana is that besides being a former prison colony it's now where France launches the majority of its rockets.

[@dodovomitory3496]

idk why this wasn't mentioned

[@Jocko_Homo]

Mostly part of the european space program. (ESA)

[@alxmtncstudio2066]

France has no rocket. ESA has.

[@adriench.7148]

@@alxmtncstudio2066 ESA has because France has.

[@Mark-Wilson]

@@alxmtncstudio2066 lol only reason esa even ghas stuf fis cus of countrtries idiotf rance made it

[@french_government]

Great Video Young Man 😉

[@strider7273]

I don’t get why you say they “shoud’ve decolonized” if those territories clearly voted not to.

[@andreitapus2302]

Well, having lost their own ability to properly govern and have an identity nearly 6 centuries ago, they realize that even if they are free, they will still have to behave and govern themselves as most european nations. And since the French are already there, profiting off the national resources, but also governing them.

[@91838072]

@@garrett9945 the reason why they are in is because of the generous welfare system France have. Believe or not but a huge section of France would love to grant this region independence because France has the military and economic ability to bend the region to their will without spending money on their social welfare. (Just like France’s influence in Africa) Just like how USA wants Puerto Rico to be independent but PR does want to do so.

[@Ronor]

Some of these territories are still colony. If we take the Caledonian example, 53% of all the people have voted to stay as a french territory, it include both the newly arrived french people and the native inhabitant, and there is a stark contrast on who voted for what. For Guyana, while it's considered a departement (so like mainland france) the standard of living is really low and investment aren't compensating. The independance mouvement is strong and in 2017 a huge social mouvement and a general strike showed that there is unease in this departement, and they either feel abandonned by france or colonized, being used for lunching rockets and rare timber but not recieving anything in return. But for island where nobody live permanently, yeah that's not really colonialism.

[@91838072]

@@Ronor ​ @Ronor According to Noumea accord. New Immigrants do not have the right to vote in the referendum. Only people who are already residents of Nouvelle Caledonie are able to vote. The Noumea Accord is written in favour of a Caledonian independence if they so choose. The vice president of the assembly must be pro-independence if the president is anti-independence.

[@kazuki741ify]

@@91838072 i think that what he meant by "newly arrived" was the wave of french caucasian that came a few generation ago

[@caseyjones6677]

If you don't want to dive into geopolitics or international relations than please don't use a moral narrative of history you're not even willing to unbiasedly explain...

[@flxdrv5020]

Lmao true

[@kapudanuderya]

You are a slave owner or what?

[@flxdrv5020]

@@kapudanuderya the only part of french overseas teritories with active independentist movment is in new caledonia, and understandably so, for a long time the native population were harshly treated by the europeans on the island. but everywhere else it's nothing like that, but just former inhabited island that were claimed by the french, biggest one of which is "la reunnion" with 850k people living on it. slave were imported on some of these islands for plantation, but that doesn't mean that these islands are not french. just like how place where there were plantation in the USA are still part of the USA, they have a grim past but in terms of territory there is no debate it's own by the USA. So no, it's normal that almost all of these teritories have the vast majority of their population that wants to remain part of france, and that's for good reason (mainly economics, and military cover/stability offerd by france) This video overlooked vastly how these teritories were inhabited and he just put the usual colonial=bad stigma on it, coming from other colonial territories even though french current overseas teritories and former massive colinial empires have nothing in common. This reddit comment on why french colonies aren't independent already should explain every question you have:www.reddit.com/r/geopolitics/comments/if72e5/why_have_the_french_territories_not_gone/g2n24mh?context=3

[@miss42310]

He's just calling it what it is.. french British Portugal have racist and an inhumane past

[@flxdrv5020]

@@miss42310 eh, french colonial presence in north america (nowdays quebec) were much nicer towards native american then british were to them, french traded fur with them and had mariage between native american and french setller, they also worked with each other to try to kick british out of north america. too bad i can't say the same about french presence in africa. but french colonial history was not as cruel like other colonial power at the time in some instances

[@cornheadahh]

So the people voted to stay part of France and this guy is butthurt? Bro a lot of these places are nothing without France. A democratic vote matters even if you don't agree with it.

[@wololo3781]

piss your pants maybe ?

[@IamGodSon]

They never voted to stay. Check your information

[@omairshafiq1998]

Problem with democracy is that 53 percent win and the 47 percent lose

[@spartanrolv4553]

They stay not because they like France, nor the French, but because they love the French Social system keeping them alive without doing anything ! Once the real French will have disappeared, this system will too. We are very close to this end !

[@hjyglik5030]

Yeah proud french from overseas here. No rage we have a better life as black people than you Will never ever reach staying in US. You are the the "Afro-American" while we are just French.

[@andrewgriffiths7754]

Thanks