Mile-long procession a patriotic blur of red, white and blue
Acts as a message from islanders who want to remain under British control
Follows frantic week where Hollywood actor backed Argentina in dispute
By Lee Moran
Last updated at 12:05 PM on 17th February 2012
The Falkland Islands put on a show of strength against Argentine aggression and outspoken left-wing Hollywood actor Sean Penn – with a mile-long convoy of 4x4s.
Dozens of Union Flag-waving Falklanders snaked their way out of the capital Stanley yesterday afternoon in a patriotic blur of red, white and blue.
The procession, which looked at times like a summer carnival parade, is unlikely to scare Argentina into not launching an attack on the dispute archipelago.
It is also doubtful it will force Penn, who has consistently backed Argentina in recent days, to keep his mouth shut.
But it does act as a message from the 3,000 islanders who, amidst increasing tensions between Britain and Argentina, remain keen to stay under London’s control.
Patriotic: A mile-long convoy snaked its way out of Stanley as Falklanders stood united against Argentine aggression
Rally: Around 130 vehicles carried 300 people in the red, white and blue blur of patriotism
The 4×4 convoy followed a frantic week for the Falklands, which has seen it hit the headlines worldwide 30 years after war.
Last Friday, Argentina lodged an official complaint with the United Nations, saying that the UK was ‘militarising’ the area.
It was based on the Type 45 destroyer Dauntless being ordered to the region, as well as Prince William’s deployment in his role as a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot in the RAF.
Left-wing actor Penn, who was yesterday pictured with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, further inflamed the situation on Monday when, during a week-long tour of South America in his role as Haiti’s ambassador-at-large, he called for the islands to be handed back to Argentina.
Line: The procession, which looked at times like a summer carnival parade, is unlikely to scare Argentina into not launching an attack on the dispute archipelago
Colourful parade: The procession was good natured, but had an underlying serious tone
British and proud! Drivers took to the Falklands roads in a show of strength against Argentina
He was condemned as ‘moronic’ by Tory MP and former Army officer Patrick Mercer for claiming Britain’s continuing hold on the Falklands was ‘colonialist, ludicrous and archaic’.
In two days of attacks the double Oscar winner, meeting Argentine president Cristina Kirchner in Buenos Aires and then Uruguayan president Jose Mujica in Montevideo, savaged Britain.
It prompted a huge outpouring of anger, and within hours became one of the most commented stories ever on MailOnline. By this morning, more than 5,300 people had vented their fury at the outspoken ex-husband of Madonna.
Penn, who has received praise from crackpot Venezuelan Chavez, insisted he was proud of America’s long-standing alliance with the UK but felt he had the responsibility to criticise when criticism was due.
Proud: With a queue of motorists behind them, Bill Chater and wife Victoria lead the procession
Takes all sorts: The vehicles came in all shapes and sizes as they paraded through the Falklands countryside
And he said that while he understood and respected the wish of people living in the Falklands Islands to remain British, they should also understand the need for Argentina and Britain to negotiate the sharing of the islands’ natural resources.
Falklands hero Simon Weston branded Penn an ‘idiot’ and a ‘fool’ over his comments.
Former Welsh Guardsman and father-of-three Weston, 50, who was terribly injured in an Argentine bomb attack that killed 48 people in 1982, said: ‘Sean Penn is living, breathing proof that just because you are famous doesn’t mean you know what you are talking about.
He told The Sun: ‘Penn is an idiot. It’s bad for people to think you’re a fool. You don’t need to open your mouth to prove it. By opening his mouth on this, Sean Penn proves he is a fool.’
Friends: Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez (left) has a good relationship with actor Sean Penn (right) whom he met yesterday
Meanwhile TV adventurer Ben Fogle – who is a close friend of Prince William – also attacked Penn for criticising the Royal’s deployment to the Falklands.
Fogle, who – with his wife Marina – was a guest at William and the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding, said he wanted to place Penn in the mouth of crocodiles over his comments.
War of words: Simon Weston has come out fighting in supporting Britain over the Falklands
Fogle has recently dived with crocodiles for a new television series – describing it as the ‘scariest, most terrifying thing’ he has ever done.
But he told followers on Twitter: ‘I would like to take Sean Penn and place him in the jaws of one of those crocodiles.’ He also challenged Penn to a public debate on the Falklands.
‘Let us not forget that 253 airmen, soldiers and sailors lost their lives protecting the Falklands,’ wrote Fogle on Twitter.
‘We are all entitled to our own political opinion on the Falklands but it’s up to the islanders not actors to decide their future.’
A total of 255 British soldiers were killed retaking the islands after an Argentinian military junta invaded the ‘Malvinas’, as the Falklands are known in Spanish, in 1982, while 649 Argentine troops died.
Fogle told followers on Twitter: ‘I would like to take Sean Penn and place him in the jaws of one of those crocodiles.’ He also challenged Penn to a public debate on the Falklands
Acts as a message from islanders who want to remain under British control
Follows frantic week where Hollywood actor backed Argentina in dispute
By Lee Moran
Last updated at 12:05 PM on 17th February 2012
The Falkland Islands put on a show of strength against Argentine aggression and outspoken left-wing Hollywood actor Sean Penn – with a mile-long convoy of 4x4s.
Dozens of Union Flag-waving Falklanders snaked their way out of the capital Stanley yesterday afternoon in a patriotic blur of red, white and blue.
The procession, which looked at times like a summer carnival parade, is unlikely to scare Argentina into not launching an attack on the dispute archipelago.
It is also doubtful it will force Penn, who has consistently backed Argentina in recent days, to keep his mouth shut.
But it does act as a message from the 3,000 islanders who, amidst increasing tensions between Britain and Argentina, remain keen to stay under London’s control.
Patriotic: A mile-long convoy snaked its way out of Stanley as Falklanders stood united against Argentine aggression
Rally: Around 130 vehicles carried 300 people in the red, white and blue blur of patriotism
The 4×4 convoy followed a frantic week for the Falklands, which has seen it hit the headlines worldwide 30 years after war.
Last Friday, Argentina lodged an official complaint with the United Nations, saying that the UK was ‘militarising’ the area.
It was based on the Type 45 destroyer Dauntless being ordered to the region, as well as Prince William’s deployment in his role as a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot in the RAF.
Left-wing actor Penn, who was yesterday pictured with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, further inflamed the situation on Monday when, during a week-long tour of South America in his role as Haiti’s ambassador-at-large, he called for the islands to be handed back to Argentina.
Line: The procession, which looked at times like a summer carnival parade, is unlikely to scare Argentina into not launching an attack on the dispute archipelago
Colourful parade: The procession was good natured, but had an underlying serious tone
British and proud! Drivers took to the Falklands roads in a show of strength against Argentina
He was condemned as ‘moronic’ by Tory MP and former Army officer Patrick Mercer for claiming Britain’s continuing hold on the Falklands was ‘colonialist, ludicrous and archaic’.
In two days of attacks the double Oscar winner, meeting Argentine president Cristina Kirchner in Buenos Aires and then Uruguayan president Jose Mujica in Montevideo, savaged Britain.
It prompted a huge outpouring of anger, and within hours became one of the most commented stories ever on MailOnline. By this morning, more than 5,300 people had vented their fury at the outspoken ex-husband of Madonna.
Penn, who has received praise from crackpot Venezuelan Chavez, insisted he was proud of America’s long-standing alliance with the UK but felt he had the responsibility to criticise when criticism was due.
Proud: With a queue of motorists behind them, Bill Chater and wife Victoria lead the procession
Takes all sorts: The vehicles came in all shapes and sizes as they paraded through the Falklands countryside
And he said that while he understood and respected the wish of people living in the Falklands Islands to remain British, they should also understand the need for Argentina and Britain to negotiate the sharing of the islands’ natural resources.
Falklands hero Simon Weston branded Penn an ‘idiot’ and a ‘fool’ over his comments.
Former Welsh Guardsman and father-of-three Weston, 50, who was terribly injured in an Argentine bomb attack that killed 48 people in 1982, said: ‘Sean Penn is living, breathing proof that just because you are famous doesn’t mean you know what you are talking about.
He told The Sun: ‘Penn is an idiot. It’s bad for people to think you’re a fool. You don’t need to open your mouth to prove it. By opening his mouth on this, Sean Penn proves he is a fool.’
Friends: Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez (left) has a good relationship with actor Sean Penn (right) whom he met yesterday
Meanwhile TV adventurer Ben Fogle – who is a close friend of Prince William – also attacked Penn for criticising the Royal’s deployment to the Falklands.
Fogle, who – with his wife Marina – was a guest at William and the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding, said he wanted to place Penn in the mouth of crocodiles over his comments.
War of words: Simon Weston has come out fighting in supporting Britain over the Falklands
Fogle has recently dived with crocodiles for a new television series – describing it as the ‘scariest, most terrifying thing’ he has ever done.
But he told followers on Twitter: ‘I would like to take Sean Penn and place him in the jaws of one of those crocodiles.’ He also challenged Penn to a public debate on the Falklands.
‘Let us not forget that 253 airmen, soldiers and sailors lost their lives protecting the Falklands,’ wrote Fogle on Twitter.
‘We are all entitled to our own political opinion on the Falklands but it’s up to the islanders not actors to decide their future.’
A total of 255 British soldiers were killed retaking the islands after an Argentinian military junta invaded the ‘Malvinas’, as the Falklands are known in Spanish, in 1982, while 649 Argentine troops died.
Fogle told followers on Twitter: ‘I would like to take Sean Penn and place him in the jaws of one of those crocodiles.’ He also challenged Penn to a public debate on the Falklands
