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The world reacts in shock and dismay as United Kingdom votes to exit the European Union. (Photo: Nicolas Raymond/flickr/cc)
Pandemonium and Upheaval as World Responds to UK's Brexit
Cameron resigns, markets roil, and right-wingers cheer as Brexit becomes reality
Jun 24, 2016
| A Twitter List by commondreams |
In the wake of Britain's unprecedented vote to leave the European Union on Thursday, the initial wave of reaction was tumultuous: Prime Minister David Cameron resigned, global markets plunged, and right-wing leaders across Europe cheered--stoking fears that other nations may hold similar referendums to depart the EU in the future.
"The British people have made the very clear decision to take a different path and as such I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction," Cameron announced to the press on Friday. "I do not think it would be right for me to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination."
At one stage the prime minister appeared close to tears, The Independent reports.
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who backed the "Remain" camp, is also facing a no confidence motion from some of his Labour colleagues, who are asking him to "do the decent thing" and stand down.
As the European left lamented the outcome, global financial markets were plunged into volatility in response to what most considered a surprise referendum result. "World stocks saw more than $2 trillion wiped off their value, with indices across Europe heading for their sharpest one-day drops ever," notesReuters.
The pound sterling dropped to its lowest value against the dollar since 1985.
Right-wing leaders across Europe (and beyond) celebrated the vote. France's right-wing nationalist party Front National (FN) "saw it as a clear boost for Marine Le Pen's presidential bid next year and momentum for the party's anti-Europe and anti-immigration line," writes the Guardian.
"The freedom of the people always ends up winning! Bravo United Kingdom. Now it's our turn!" tweeted the party's vice president, according to the Guardian's translation.
What follows is a roundup of what is certain to be a tumultuous day of European and world reaction, as politicians and political observers weigh in, human rights and environmental defenders fear for their causes, xenophobic ideologues express vindication, and various nations consider their next moves.
Endangered Climate Protections
Newly emboldened, anti-immigrant Brexiteers do not care much for the environment--Brexit champion and former London mayor Boris Johnson is a vocal climate change skeptic--and green groups now fear that Britain will slide backwards on its climate protection commitments.
"Some big name politicians will now use the referendum result to weaken wildlife protections," observes Craig Bennett, CEO of Friends of the Earth England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. "This means some of the UK's best loved wildlife sites at now in the firing line--including places like Cannock Chase, Flamborough Head, Dartmoor and Snowdonia. And the protection that the EU Habitats Directive gave to over 1000 animal and plant species and 200 habitat types is now in danger."
Fracking proponents are also already looking to take advantage of the Brexit to "fast-track" the controversial mining method in the UK.
"Many of the laws which my organization uses to ensure that nature and health are protected in Britain were drawn up with the UK's agreement in Brussels," said James Thornton, chief executive of Client Earth, a UK-based environmental law group.
Indeed, in a report (pdf) issued by Friends of the Earth earlier this year, Dr. Charlotte Burns of the University of York noted that "in the field of environmental policy, perhaps more than any other area, the EU has had an overwhelmingly positive effect."
Climate Change News' Ed King reports that the "first climate test of the UK's new politics comes next week, when ministers are due to approve greenhouse gas cutting targets through to 2030," adding:
Four-year carbon budgets are legally mandated under the 2008 Climate Change Act, but it's a piece of legislation long detested by many in an emboldened and swelling Brexit camp.
With government approval already delayed due to the referendum vote, Labour's climate envoy Barry Gardiner said he has "huge concerns" over the budget's future, despite an assurance from energy minister and leave supporter Andrea Leadsom it would be signed off.
King argues that EU leaders will also let climate change protections fall to the wayside as they reel from Britain's decision: "No mistake, this vote is a savage blow to the guts of the European Union, leaving governments across the region stunned. Few will have global warming as a priority."
Keep reading...Show less
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| A Twitter List by commondreams |
In the wake of Britain's unprecedented vote to leave the European Union on Thursday, the initial wave of reaction was tumultuous: Prime Minister David Cameron resigned, global markets plunged, and right-wing leaders across Europe cheered--stoking fears that other nations may hold similar referendums to depart the EU in the future.
"The British people have made the very clear decision to take a different path and as such I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction," Cameron announced to the press on Friday. "I do not think it would be right for me to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination."
At one stage the prime minister appeared close to tears, The Independent reports.
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who backed the "Remain" camp, is also facing a no confidence motion from some of his Labour colleagues, who are asking him to "do the decent thing" and stand down.
As the European left lamented the outcome, global financial markets were plunged into volatility in response to what most considered a surprise referendum result. "World stocks saw more than $2 trillion wiped off their value, with indices across Europe heading for their sharpest one-day drops ever," notesReuters.
The pound sterling dropped to its lowest value against the dollar since 1985.
Right-wing leaders across Europe (and beyond) celebrated the vote. France's right-wing nationalist party Front National (FN) "saw it as a clear boost for Marine Le Pen's presidential bid next year and momentum for the party's anti-Europe and anti-immigration line," writes the Guardian.
"The freedom of the people always ends up winning! Bravo United Kingdom. Now it's our turn!" tweeted the party's vice president, according to the Guardian's translation.
What follows is a roundup of what is certain to be a tumultuous day of European and world reaction, as politicians and political observers weigh in, human rights and environmental defenders fear for their causes, xenophobic ideologues express vindication, and various nations consider their next moves.
Endangered Climate Protections
Newly emboldened, anti-immigrant Brexiteers do not care much for the environment--Brexit champion and former London mayor Boris Johnson is a vocal climate change skeptic--and green groups now fear that Britain will slide backwards on its climate protection commitments.
"Some big name politicians will now use the referendum result to weaken wildlife protections," observes Craig Bennett, CEO of Friends of the Earth England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. "This means some of the UK's best loved wildlife sites at now in the firing line--including places like Cannock Chase, Flamborough Head, Dartmoor and Snowdonia. And the protection that the EU Habitats Directive gave to over 1000 animal and plant species and 200 habitat types is now in danger."
Fracking proponents are also already looking to take advantage of the Brexit to "fast-track" the controversial mining method in the UK.
"Many of the laws which my organization uses to ensure that nature and health are protected in Britain were drawn up with the UK's agreement in Brussels," said James Thornton, chief executive of Client Earth, a UK-based environmental law group.
Indeed, in a report (pdf) issued by Friends of the Earth earlier this year, Dr. Charlotte Burns of the University of York noted that "in the field of environmental policy, perhaps more than any other area, the EU has had an overwhelmingly positive effect."
Climate Change News' Ed King reports that the "first climate test of the UK's new politics comes next week, when ministers are due to approve greenhouse gas cutting targets through to 2030," adding:
Four-year carbon budgets are legally mandated under the 2008 Climate Change Act, but it's a piece of legislation long detested by many in an emboldened and swelling Brexit camp.
With government approval already delayed due to the referendum vote, Labour's climate envoy Barry Gardiner said he has "huge concerns" over the budget's future, despite an assurance from energy minister and leave supporter Andrea Leadsom it would be signed off.
King argues that EU leaders will also let climate change protections fall to the wayside as they reel from Britain's decision: "No mistake, this vote is a savage blow to the guts of the European Union, leaving governments across the region stunned. Few will have global warming as a priority."
Keep reading...Show less
| A Twitter List by commondreams |
In the wake of Britain's unprecedented vote to leave the European Union on Thursday, the initial wave of reaction was tumultuous: Prime Minister David Cameron resigned, global markets plunged, and right-wing leaders across Europe cheered--stoking fears that other nations may hold similar referendums to depart the EU in the future.
"The British people have made the very clear decision to take a different path and as such I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction," Cameron announced to the press on Friday. "I do not think it would be right for me to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination."
At one stage the prime minister appeared close to tears, The Independent reports.
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who backed the "Remain" camp, is also facing a no confidence motion from some of his Labour colleagues, who are asking him to "do the decent thing" and stand down.
As the European left lamented the outcome, global financial markets were plunged into volatility in response to what most considered a surprise referendum result. "World stocks saw more than $2 trillion wiped off their value, with indices across Europe heading for their sharpest one-day drops ever," notesReuters.
The pound sterling dropped to its lowest value against the dollar since 1985.
Right-wing leaders across Europe (and beyond) celebrated the vote. France's right-wing nationalist party Front National (FN) "saw it as a clear boost for Marine Le Pen's presidential bid next year and momentum for the party's anti-Europe and anti-immigration line," writes the Guardian.
"The freedom of the people always ends up winning! Bravo United Kingdom. Now it's our turn!" tweeted the party's vice president, according to the Guardian's translation.
What follows is a roundup of what is certain to be a tumultuous day of European and world reaction, as politicians and political observers weigh in, human rights and environmental defenders fear for their causes, xenophobic ideologues express vindication, and various nations consider their next moves.
Endangered Climate Protections
Newly emboldened, anti-immigrant Brexiteers do not care much for the environment--Brexit champion and former London mayor Boris Johnson is a vocal climate change skeptic--and green groups now fear that Britain will slide backwards on its climate protection commitments.
"Some big name politicians will now use the referendum result to weaken wildlife protections," observes Craig Bennett, CEO of Friends of the Earth England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. "This means some of the UK's best loved wildlife sites at now in the firing line--including places like Cannock Chase, Flamborough Head, Dartmoor and Snowdonia. And the protection that the EU Habitats Directive gave to over 1000 animal and plant species and 200 habitat types is now in danger."
Fracking proponents are also already looking to take advantage of the Brexit to "fast-track" the controversial mining method in the UK.
"Many of the laws which my organization uses to ensure that nature and health are protected in Britain were drawn up with the UK's agreement in Brussels," said James Thornton, chief executive of Client Earth, a UK-based environmental law group.
Indeed, in a report (pdf) issued by Friends of the Earth earlier this year, Dr. Charlotte Burns of the University of York noted that "in the field of environmental policy, perhaps more than any other area, the EU has had an overwhelmingly positive effect."
Climate Change News' Ed King reports that the "first climate test of the UK's new politics comes next week, when ministers are due to approve greenhouse gas cutting targets through to 2030," adding:
Four-year carbon budgets are legally mandated under the 2008 Climate Change Act, but it's a piece of legislation long detested by many in an emboldened and swelling Brexit camp.
With government approval already delayed due to the referendum vote, Labour's climate envoy Barry Gardiner said he has "huge concerns" over the budget's future, despite an assurance from energy minister and leave supporter Andrea Leadsom it would be signed off.
King argues that EU leaders will also let climate change protections fall to the wayside as they reel from Britain's decision: "No mistake, this vote is a savage blow to the guts of the European Union, leaving governments across the region stunned. Few will have global warming as a priority."
Keep reading...Show less
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