Professor Philippe Sands KC joins Professor Catherine Barnard to discuss his latest book, 'The Last Colony', which tells the story of the illegal British occupation of the Chagos Islands; the UK's role in the world; as well as Russia's war against Ukraine, from the perspective of international law. 
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Philippe Sands KC is Professor of the Public Understanding of Law at University College London Faculty of Laws and Samuel and Judith Pisar Visiting Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. He is a practising barrister at 11 King’s Bench Walk (11KBW) and appears as counsel before the International Court of Justice and other international courts and tribunals. He sits as an arbitrator in international investment disputes and the Court of Arbitration for Sport. 

He is author of 'Lawless World' (2005) and 'Torture Team'(2008) and numerous academic books on international law, and has contributed to the New York Review of Books, Vanity Fair, the Financial Times, The Guardian and the New York Times.

His most recent books are 'East West Street: On the Origins of Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide' (2016) (awarded the 2016 Baillie Gifford Prize, the 2017 British Book Awards Non-Fiction Book of the Year, and the 2018 Prix Montaigne) and 'The Ratline: Love, Lies and Justice on the Trail of a Nazi Fugitive' (2020), also available as BBC and France Culture podcasts. His latest book is 'The Last Colony: A Tale of Exile, Justice and Britain’s Colonial Legacy' (2022). 

Philippe is President of English PEN and a member of the Board of the Hay Festival of Arts and Literature.

Chagos Islands, Ukraine and international law with Philippe Sands

AfricaNow! September 27, 2023 Black Workers & The UAW Strike; and Militarism & Colonialism’s Continued Impact on Displaced Chagossians

Topics and Guests: A rapid response organized by The Communiversity South (of which AfricaNow!’s Executive Producer and Co-Host James Pope is member of) focusing on Black Workers and the UAW strike: centering the long genealogy of the work of Black worker organizing in auto industry.   We will hear a recent point of entry and a critical conversation that centers the role of the black worker in the current UAW strike.  The conversation included: Nsea Brenda Stokely, longtime activist, Former President, AFSCME DC 1707; N.E. Regional Coordinator, Million Worker March Movement.  Clarence Thomas (a.k.a. The Real Clarence Thomas) is a 3rd generation retired member of International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 10 in San Francisco and a leading radical African American trade unionist. Past-secretary-treasurer and executive board member of his local, he has led or been a part of many historical rank-and-file struggles and solidarity actions at the point of production.  He is author of, Mobilizing in Our Own Name: Million Worker March—an anthology about African American trade unionists from one of the most renowned radical labor unions in the world.  Willie Brown, City of Durham public works; worker and member of UE150.  Robin DG Kelley, Distinguished Professor and Gary B. Nash Endowed Chair in U.S. History at UCLA, active-intellectual; and Board member, The Communiversity South.  The conversation was moderated by Menelik Van Der Meer, longtime activist, Chair of the Board of The Communiversity South, Senior Lecturer in Africana Studies at UMass- Boston.

Olivier Bancoult, Nobel Peace Prize-nominated Chagossian activist, leader of the Chagos Refugee Group (CRG) discusses the plight of Chagossians who were forcibly removed from their Indian Ocean homeland of Chagos Islands by the U.K. to clear the area for a U.S. military base on Diego Garcia.  For more information about the plight of Chagossians visit www.LetUsReturnUSA.org.

Event at Busboys and Poets 14th & V (2021 14th St NW, Washington, DC) tonight September 27 at 6PM featuring Olivier Bancoult and Philippe Sands author of THE LAST COLONY which will be available for sale at the event: https://www.busboysandpoets.com/events/th-evt-33706981/.

Fall FUNdraiser Happy Hour - 10/4 WPFW programmers invite you to join WPFW for a Happy Hour of Soulful House Music, Old School Music and Golden Era Hip Hop Music feat. Your favorite DJs on WPFW.  What:  WPFW Fall FUNdraiser Happy Hour.  When:  October 4, 2023 6-9 PM.  Where:  18th Street Lounge(ESL) now at 1230 9th St., NW.  Who:  YOU & your favorite WPFW Programmers.  Information at www.wpfwfm.org. 

MUSIC ON THE SHOW: intro--“GET UP STAND UP” BY BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS; break “HAW RIGHT NOW” BY PATRICE RUSHEN commemorating her birthday September 30 (September 30, 1954—); segment 2 and sign-off--“KURIMA” BY CHIWONISO MARAIRE; closing song--“GALOUPE BOSAN” BY CHAGOS TAMBOUR GROUP.

Support AfricaNow! and your community station WPFW.  Donate online visit https://pledge.wpfwfm.org/index.php and then on Step 1: Contribution scroll down to AfricaNow! to make your donation to the show. Or on our CashApp, which is $WPFW write it is for AfricaNow! and include your email address. Thank you.

Originally broadcast on WPFW 89.3FM, Washington, DC. Tune into AfricaNow! live on WPFW 89.3 FM in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area or visit www.wpfwfm.org on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00PM (U.S. Eastern).

Photos: Photo of Chagossians Protest from David Vine

AfricaNow! Sep. 27, 2023 Black Workers UAW Strike; Milit. & Colon. Impact on Displaced Chagossians

AfricaNow! November 6, 2024 UK-Mauritius Agreement—Will Chagossians Return Home?

Topic and Guest: Over 50 years ago Chagossians were forcibly removed from their Indian Ocean homeland of Chagos Islands by the U.K. to clear the area for a U.S. military base on Diego Garcia Island.  In exile, Chagossians have consistently struggled to return to their native land and sought proper compensation for the destruction their lives have faced.  In early October 2024, the UK announced that it had come to an agreement with Mauritius and that the UK would hand over Chagos Islands to Mauritius.  But under the agreement the UK maintains control of Diego Garcia.  Also, the agreement is subject to a treaty by the parties involved.  

David Vine joins the show to dissect the recent UK-Mauritius agreement and what it means for Chagossians who were forcibly removed from their Indian Ocean homeland of Chagos Islands by the U.K. to clear the area for a U.S. military base on Diego Garcia Island.   David Vine is a writer, collaborator, and political anthropologist and is part of the organization Let Us Return USA!  He is author of Island of Shame: The Secret History of the U.S. Military Base on Diego Garcia.  David Vine’s latest book is The United States of War: A Global History of America's Endless Conflicts, from Columbus to the Islamic State.

MUSIC ON THE SHOW: intro--“TAKE ME HOME” BY JONATHAN BUTLER ; break--“TRUTH DON DIE” BY FEMI KUTI; sign-off--“SO CLOSE YET SO FAR AWAY” BY JIMMY DLUDLU; closing--“GALOUPE BOSAN” BY CHAGOS TAMBOUR GROUP.

Support AfricaNow! and your community station WPFW.  Donate online visit https://pledge.wpfwfm.org/index.php and then on Step 1: Contribution scroll down to AfricaNow! to make your donation to the show. Or on our CashApp, which is $WPFWFM write it is for AfricaNow! and include your email address. Thank you.

Originally broadcast on WPFW 89.3FM, Washington, DC. Tune into AfricaNow! live on WPFW 89.3 FM in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area or visit www.wpfwfm.org on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00PM (U.S. Eastern).

Photo courtesy of Chagos Refugees Group.

AfricaNow! Nov. 6, 2024 UK-Mauritius Agreement—Will Chagossians Return Home

Today, 3rd March 2025, a key debate on the e-petition will take place at  Westminster Hall. https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/c0367db8-6dfe-490d-99c9-7d422c75c586?fbclid=IwY2xjawIyQ-9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSWMguH_T5yX7OfaGeh_RB4JBqfIP6jsQM76MtpC2pgX6RsiZRsjGs1FZg_aem_5XVLKKfkIzwrIJyzEclXOw
on the subject of VAT being added to independent school bills of 20% and rates relief. This educational reform is a key flag ship of the new labour government. Two court cases are due to be heard soon in support of children and their families being discriminated and charged an excessive amount on top of the school fee. The government claims it is a 'tax break' but education is never taxed as it is a 'merit good' for society and no European country can do this and this is enshrined in European human rights conventions. Greece is an example of where this experiment miserably failed. 

Some say that Change Labour's policy of closing down independent schools in the UK has been a long-standing ambition. Since July 2024 the Labour government has gone full steam ahead to bring this vision into reality with the imposition of VAT (20%) applied to school fees from January 2025. One of Change Labour's  leading proponents for implementing this policy has been Bridget Phillipson, the Secretary of State for Education (MP for Haughton and Sunderland South 
https://www.bridgetphillipson.com/.) Some say she is driven by a Marxist ideology and cares little for the children, teachers, parents and schools in her pursuit to give the 'best life chances' for all children.  The aim is to use the VAT income -  some 1.6 bln per year, to take off those fees paid and put that unfair tax some to fund more teachers and improve standards for the 94% of children attending state schools. She has started in this vein to provide 'subsidised' breakfasts for some 750 schools in England recently.

However, mercifully we have two outstanding opposition groups standing against this insidious policy: ENT Education Not Education https://educationnottaxation.org/ (not to be confused with ENT.... Ears, Nose and Throat!) and the ISC Independent School Council  https://www.isc.co.uk/about-isc/ representing independent schools through out the United Kingdom.


Many smaller independent schools (including faith and SEND schools) are finding it difficult to balance the books. Notably over recent months almost weekly announcements are made of impending closures due in part made by the VAT imposition, NIC contributions and the increase in rates.  This is a cruel and vindictive policy which seeks to punish hard working parents who have already contributed their share of taxes for their children's education) and those making sacrifices for their children. Many are not rich but are working parents and want the choice and also enjoy wrap around care so they can work and contribute to the wider economy.  The additional burden of the VAT will put the cost beyond many and thousands of children will be impacted and be required to enter  State education which will put more pressure on the State and will be counter productive as this policy will end up costing more than it raises. It will guarantee the disruption of the lives of young people and bring closures to great organisations that contribute to their communities and have done so for decades.


Change Labour must be prevented from delivering their ideological crusade to eradicate our proud independent schools and hopefully these legal actions this year, will end the absurdity of adding VAT to school fees.

I would like to thank and credit the artwork used in the thumbnail image which was published by https://www.spectator.co.uk to accompany the article by Peter Jones on 16th January.

Change Labour

AfricaNow! April 23, 2025 Plight of Chagossians--Update of the Mauritius-UK Agreement

Topic and Guests: David Vine contextualizes and provides updates of the Mauritius-UK agreement made in October 2024 and what it means for Chagossians who were forcibly removed from their Indian Ocean homeland of Chagos Islands by the U.K. to clear the area for a U.S. military base on Diego Garcia Island.  In early October 2024, the UK announced that it had come to an agreement with Mauritius and that the UK would hand back Chagos Islands to Mauritius.  But under the agreement the UK maintains control of Diego Garcia.  Also, the agreement is subject to a treaty by the parties involved.  David Vine is a writer, and political anthropologist and former professor of anthropology at American University.  David Vine is the author of the book Island of Shame: The Secret History of the U.S. Military Base on Diego Garcia.

We commemorate Earth Day (April 22) and continue to commemorate National Poetry Month with a poem from our archives entitled “PRIVITIZING LIFE” by Omékongo Dibinga.  Dr. Omékongo Dibinga--motivational speaker, trilingual poet, TV talk show host, rapper, and professor of cross-cultural communication at American University.

MUSIC ON THE SHOW: intro--“NABU CORFA” BY DOROTHY ASHBY commemorating Jazz Appreciation Month; break & intro to poem--“YOU DON’T SAY” BY MELBA LISTON commemorating Jazz Appreciation Month; background of poem “PRIVITIZING LIFE” by Omékongo Dibinga--“WATER NO GET ENEMY” BY FELA KUTI; sign-off--“AFRICAN MOON” BY JONATHAN BUTLER commemorating Jazz Appreciation Month; closing--“GALOUPE BOSAN” BY CHAGOS TAMBOUR GROUP.

Support AfricaNow! and your community station WPFW at WPFW 48th Anniversary Celebration on April 25, 2025 6:30PM, at Martin's Crosswinds which is located at 7400 Greenway Center Drive, Greenbelt, MD featuring a performance by Navasha Daya and more!  More information at www.wpfwfm.org.  Thank you.

Originally broadcast on WPFW 89.3FM, Washington, DC. Tune into AfricaNow! live on WPFW 89.3 FM in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area or visit www.wpfwfm.org on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00PM (U.S. Eastern).

Photos: courtesy of Chagos Refugees Group; book cover of Island of Shame by David Vine--The Secret History of the U.S. Military Base on Diego Garcia; and book cover of The Last Colony by Philippe Sands.

AfricaNow! Apr. 23, 2025 Plight of Chagossians--Update of the Mauritius-UK Agreement

In each episode of The UK in a Changing Europe Podcast, formerly known as UKICE (I Tell), we sit down with a new guest and explore their area of expertise. We investigate the key issues and discuss how and why it helps us better understand our society. The podcast was cited by the Guardian in 2022 as one of the best podcasts to understand British politics.

Enjoy listening and just occasionally singing (to myself) 'Bothy Ballads' from The North East of Scotland. Influenced in my teens by legendary folk singer Marc Floyd Ellington and Charlie Allan. 

'Written' a few very simple lockdown ballads in the 12 months since the global pandemic struck and tried to learn the guitar...it helps!

New tracks tagged #Chagos Islands