Readdressing The Balance - George Monbiot #2
“Britain’s industrialisation was secured by destroying the manufacturing capacity of India. In 1699, the British government banned the import of cotton cloth from India. Forbidden because it was superior to our own. As the industrial revolution was built on the textiles industry, we could not have achieved our global economic dominance if we had let it in. Throughout the late 18th and 19th centuries, India was forced to supply raw materials to Britain’s manufacturers, but forbidden to produce competing finished products. We are rich because the Indians are poor.
Now the jobs we stole 200 years ago are returning to India.
There is a profound historical irony here. Indian workers can outcompete British workers today because Britain smashed their ability to compete in the past. Having destroyed India’s own industries, the East India Company and the colonial authorities obliged its people to speak our language, adopt our working practices and surrender their labour to multinational corporations. Workers in call centres in Germany and Holland are less vulnerable than ours, as Germany and Holland were less successful colonists, with the result that fewer people in the poor world now speak their languages.
The impact on British workers will be devastating. Service jobs of the kind now being exported were supposed to make up for the loss of employment in the manufacturing industries which disappeared overseas in the 1980s and 1990s.
For centuries, we have permitted ourselves to ignore the extent to which our welfare is dependent on the denial of other people’s. We begin to understand the implications of the system we have created only when it turns against ourselves.”
Everything balances out eventually. Read this book
T-Shirts
Danny
I love it when you get all historical, academical and just plain cynical.
Classic Lucan.
Back to T Shirts I see.
Obviously the Russian Bride Web thingy didn’t go to plan?
Lucan Industri... replied
Actually it’s going so well I have employed some of them to do the work for me. I am typing this from my yacht.
najeroux
Can you pass me the gin? If I move it will ruin my tan.
najeroux
Lucan Industri... replied
How foolish to put the gin so far away from you.
najeroux
I was going to gush about the tee, but again, the tan will spoil if I shift.
C’mon, Splishy Splashy. Gin doesn’t pour its self Mister.
najeroux
Lucan Industri... replied
“C’mon, Splishy Splashy. Gin doesn’t pour its self Mister.” this is good quality comedy wordage.
You’ll have to talk about the tee, no one else will, they’ll be terrified of the words over there and flee.
peter
And then there’s the small issue of China, tea and opium. The English developed a liking for tea and bought it with silver. Until they ran out of silver – whence they needed something else to sell to the Chinese. Enter opium (from British India). Only opium is not such a good thing so the Chinese said no. The English said yes … and sent in the gun boats. China lost. The Chinese still remember this humiliation (and injustice) like it was yesterday. More here
Lucan Industri... replied
Tea, opium and silver? There’s a tee in that.
Or a very good party.
najeroux
Let me get my smoking jacket and I’ll be right with you. Meet you in the drawing room over a brandy, or should we stick to the gin?
najeroux
Lucan Industri... replied
Drawing room? Brandy. Gin’s for the top deck. Better bring the matches.
Natalie Tyler
Thank you for some very nice type and some educational reading to go with my morning coffee. I’m not so terrified of the words on the right. More the words that tend to happen in this column when you’re involved. Good to have you back.
Lucan Industri... replied
Yes. Thank you. For. Mentioning the type. Because it took fucking ages and everyone. Else is talking. About gin. China and. Russian brides.
Danny
pffft
precious aren’t we?
you should be happy people are still noticing you deadboy
Lucan Industri... replied
Help, why is this photographer commenting on my work? Help.
Naf4d
Ah well, what goes around comes around.
Love the typography and can see why it took ages to do. Good work Sir.
Is this t-shirt getting printed in India or China by-the-way? If it’s India I’ll not both buying one as they’re nicking all our bloody jobs!
Lucan Industri... replied
I believe it’s made in America, both the shirt and the printing. They are also losing their jobs, but it’s the fault of Britain once again. I’ve no idea if buying this tee shirt helps the situation. But it helps my situation, which is valid enough.
transmute
Ahh yeah , the old post-colonial boomerang trick…
Danny
What’s Zimbabwe gonna give back to Great Britain?
The shits?
Naf4d
I also think Britain is solely responsible for global warming, space junk and the extinction of the dinosaurs… oh, and the ‘Hummer’...
Can you do some of the same sort of designs for them please?
Lucan Industri... replied
And Pop Idol. We are responsible for Pop Idol.
Per Ove Sleen
Love the art, the typography AND the comments…find it all great.
I must admit that I am myself all over this situation where us pale (rich, self-centred, egoistic, self indulgent, decadent…aso.) ones in the world have a huge obligation to change and do something about the horrible situation huge parts of the world finds it self in as a direct consequence of our “wasting away all/imperialistic” life style.
We as artists has an obligation to point it out. And to do so we must educate ourselves of the situation, and the history of it.
History is also important when one tries to comprehend the world today … and tomorrow(also a part of our job). So educate, educate, educate…..yourself and those around you…..and let us never forget our mistakes and our sins, thus not to repeat them…..and maybe sometimes even make good again some of our forefather’s mistakes/crimes…...but most of all, make sure we do not repeat the mistakes…
So keep up the good work…..
POS
2009
Lucan Industri... replied
Shhh, pass me my skinny soy decaf botox latte, I am reading about Paris Hilton’s new underpants.
Kitsmumma
So the Brits are also to blame for all the marketing calls we receive from call centres in India?
Lucan Industri... replied
Well the companies themselves (which are still Australian/English whatever) are to blame for the calls.
But the fact that the person is in India;
YES it is the fault of GREAT BRITAIN.
Per Ove Sleen
:)
Scott Robinson
Damn I`ve missed this, by this I mean well thought out, and exceptionally executed T`s from you. Sorely lacking in my diet.
Every time you upload something, I just sit, and stare, and absorb.. then I`m inspired to get scribbling again.
Well done, very bloody well done.
Lucan Industri... replied
Cheers. And yes, get scribbling, never stop scribbling, always scribble. Just for us. You are most good at it.
Naf4d
Hmmm all too true I fear, but thinking about this, long and hard, I’m starting to believe some of this blame HAS to fall at the feet of the Welsh… surely? Catatonia, for example, have to take responsibility for their selfish, arrogate ways.
Lucan Industri... replied
I have a feeling someone like Evelyn Waugh said something awfully clever like:
”...... we can trace almost all the disasters of English history to the influence of Wales.”
and
“The Welsh,” said the Doctor, “are the only nation in the world that has produced no graphic or plastic art, no architecture, no drama. They just sing,” he said with disgust, “sing and blow down wind instruments of plated silver….”
Although this could be considered ‘racist’.
LazerBears
Nice, powerful stuff my friend!
Very sobering though!
Naf4d
Oh, don’t get me onto racists!
najeroux
The reason why the sun never sets on The British Empire is because God doesn’t trust the British in the dark.
And neither do I. Gets you into all sorts of trouble that their girlfriends just don’t understand when you try to explain it to them over their duvet.
najeroux
Kaiju
funny…. that’s india..right?... yes. return call. ... HA!
Cathie Tranent
Very topical. Bloody well executed.
Oh and btw – I’ve heard you call Danny a lot of nasty things .. but photographer – geez, that’s rough. ;p
Lucan Industri... replied
I know, I know, sorry. Hot headed I am. He’s not a photographer.
Grandia
great design! the details are great also
Ange
i like this one more than generation…
btw the i had sex with my husband t shirt is a winner post preg too
works well with vomit on the left shoulder.
Lucan Industri... replied
Oh I am sure it does. Most of my shirts look better with vomit on them.
Miss you around here. Luca’s gain is our loss.
ayarti
Nice to see a shot of the raw sketch. Lovely type and message, as usual.
sjem ©
Yes yes good fucking work what with the typeage and all in freehand, lovely.
So … when does the penal colony rise up to kick your pasty skinned arses ?
Lucan Industri... replied
You have to be independent first. You’re still suckling at mother’s nipple.
Hena Tayeb
this is brilliant. great work
peter
This tee is like that tune that you just can’t stop humming …
Lucan Industri... replied
You mean this tune?
peter
nahh this one