England
Written by: Vidur Srikrishna
Summary:
Queen Elizabeth II, the queen of England, passed away at 96 on Thursday, on the 8th of September, 2022. She reigned for over 70 years. Her coronation was the first to be broadcast on television. The New York Times article says that King Salman from Saudi Arabia said, “Her majesty was a role model for leadership that will be immortalized in history.” This article also states that she met every U.S. president since President Harry S. Truman. People from across the globe are sending their condolences. Vladimir Putin also sent a telegram to King Charles III wishing him “courage and perseverance.” It also says in the NYTimes article, “The former chairman of the African Union, President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, expressed “his sadness” on Twitter about the queen’s death, calling it ‘an immense loss for the United Kingdom and for the world.’”A plan was made in case a British Monarch died. This plan was called “Operation London Bridge.” This plan said that there would be an announcement of the monarch’s death, there would be a period of mourning, then there would be details of her state funeral.
Analysis:
The Queen’s death could have a major impact on the British people since some of them have only known Queen Elizabeth II as their monarch. It may take time for the Brits to get used to their new leader. They may not trust King Charles III as much as they are used to Queen Elizabeth II being their ruler. The new king also has big shoes to fill. It may be difficult for King Charles to gain a reputation due to him having to follow someone who has ruled for 70 years. If King Charles doesn’t get his people to trust him now, it’ll be tougher later on. He would also have to have a great start because otherwise, the people might not think he’s fit to be a king. Queen Elizabeth went as far as to not vote to maintain neutrality in politics. King Charles, on the other hand, has waded into politics. This could be a problem later on if he sides strongly with one side, giving it more power. The King has also been vocal about immigration policy and climate change, which could spur disagreement.
In a politico article, it says what problems Liz Truss has to deal with. Since these problems are national, it isn’t just something Liz Truss has to deal with, but rather the entire government has to deal with. Some of the issues that the UK has to deal with are spiraling energy costs, strikes, inflation, war in Ukraine, rising cost of living, and overall just a terrible economy. Like said earlier, it’s not just a problem for Liz Truss, but something that the government has to deal with and this includes King Charles. Something like rising energy costs can impact things like small businesses.
Call to Action:
Rising energy costs can heavily impact small businesses. In a World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) article published September 2nd, 2022, it says, “More than half of small companies in Britain fear that rising energy costs coupled with crippling inflation will force them to close.” It further says that the Federation of Small Businesses reports that 53 percent of firms are expected to collapse. Below are some small British companies to support.
British companies to support
Glaze me Pretty - Handmade ceramics
A one-woman business based in South West London that sells handmade ceramics.
Flickerwick Limited - General items for home
Fragrances are 100% natural and are created to help you sleep better, have less stress, and boost your energy. Eco-friendly and cruelty-free focused on non-toxic plant-based ingredients.
House of Lilah - Artisan candles and teas
Focuses on protecting the planet and making our world fairer by trading ethically, developing nature-friendly formulations, and using recycled or recyclable materials.
Juniper - Gift shop
Family-owned gift shop situated in the center of Aberdeen, Scotland.
Okiki Skincare - Skincare and candles
Founded in 2016 to handcraft beautiful and natural personal and home care products. Draws inspiration from Nigerian and Ghanaian. Cruelty-free London based.
Selfmade - Candles and candle-making kits
Vegan-friendly candles and candle-making kits from London that donates 5% of profits to Black Minds Matter UK.
Yeye Mi - Hair-care
Black-owned business based in London that sells textured hair-care products and partners with charities and educational initiatives.
Kilo - A variety of things
Local, zero-waste shop for general goods based in London.
Stirrd - Handmade fudge
UK-based handmade fudge that boasts of unique flavors, from Spiced Hot Cross Bun Fudge to Sicilian Lemon Coconut.
Keep - Eco-friendly candles
UK-based eco-friendly, zero-waste, and recyclable candles made from 100% natural wax, cotton wicks and pure essential oils.
