Calais people to people solidarity: action from the UK
- Thread starter Geri
- Start date
Is this the same as what they did at Sangatte 5 or 6 years ago, just shut the camp and kicked everyone out? I don't know how the numbers in the two camps compare and if there have been other incarnations of the camp. This is at least the Jungle 2 if not 3, if I'm not wrong. I hope everyone there can stay safe, especially in the cold weather.
Treacle Toes
Time
The numbers are greatly increased... Other worries about what the 'intention' is are not far what most of us think/feel.
wiskey
Albatross Admirer
You are not unprepared. Nothing can prepare for it ...it is the festival at the end at the world.. because in terms of fesitvals we have the choice to leave, there is music, the toilets eventually get emptied, and at least someone claims us?
it was nowhere near as bad as I expected, not in any respect.
we have returned.
more manyana
Manter
Lunch Mob
Sangatte was a negotiated closure- repatriations, quite a few people given right to remain status in UK (hundreds- would need to look up exact #)
This is abuse of power pure and simple. Saturday community leaders, acted and MSF were working on the basis of a 100m zone and 7 days. This morning it became 200m and 3 days. Red line is bigger than 200m, timeline uncertain. The behaviour of the authorities today has been appalling. It was designed to be as unsettling and upsetting as possible. The officials were filmed laughing about the confusion and distress caused.
As of now the refugees don't want to go: their plan is peaceful resistance. We need to absolutely support them in that but also fundraise to the max so we have a contingency. (They are aware of the contingency bit and are pleased)
On a personal note I have never been angrier than I am right now. Either someone has zero knowledge of history and didn't know how the red line and crosses would resonate: or does and doesn't care. Utterly contemptible, spiteful behaviour
Treacle Toes
Time
Manter
Lunch Mob
Seems to leave most of the shops etc alone, but flattens the family field. Bizarre decision given the prefecture was complaining about a 'migrant economy'..... Toddlers don't drive a migrant economy, shops do! Looks like moving the residents back from the road to where they can't be seen to me.
Treacle Toes
Time
Creating a 'no man's land'.
Treacle Toes
Time
Help Refugees
36 mins ·
POWERFUL MEETING ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN CALAIS CAMP TODAY
"These are your wars not ours"
Every week in Calais a meeting is held for community leaders to come together and express what’s on their minds. Today the subject was Human Rights. One of our long term volunteers, Annie, attended and witnessed a beautiful, harrowing and powerful outpouring of emotion.
Also in attendance was a representative from the UNHCR - a rare sighting in Calais as the French have not recognised the area as an official ‘refugee camp’ meaning the UNHCR are unable to provide any aid or assistance.
Question were posed such as "Are human rights and international law for everyone or just for some?"
Another leader wanted to know "Where is the humanity when the police teargas me and hit me and shoot me and let fascists hurt me? All I want is asylum"
And the Syrian community representative summed up the mood when he spoke with great power and emotion saying “Why are we are here? It is not our choice, these are your wars not ours. We are now in the Jungle, we are seen as animals. As humans, our rights are to live peacefully anywhere, yet here they restrict our rights in order to "protect" their roads and borders. A solution can be found if France wanted to find one, but they use us to pressure Britain"
The UNHCR rep could only say that they share the same concerns and the situation needed to be solved at a political rather than humanitarian level.
As they left the meeting, one Syrian man made a desperate final plea “Please if you cannot help us, don't hurt us".
36 mins ·
POWERFUL MEETING ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN CALAIS CAMP TODAY
"These are your wars not ours"
Every week in Calais a meeting is held for community leaders to come together and express what’s on their minds. Today the subject was Human Rights. One of our long term volunteers, Annie, attended and witnessed a beautiful, harrowing and powerful outpouring of emotion.
Also in attendance was a representative from the UNHCR - a rare sighting in Calais as the French have not recognised the area as an official ‘refugee camp’ meaning the UNHCR are unable to provide any aid or assistance.
Question were posed such as "Are human rights and international law for everyone or just for some?"
Another leader wanted to know "Where is the humanity when the police teargas me and hit me and shoot me and let fascists hurt me? All I want is asylum"
And the Syrian community representative summed up the mood when he spoke with great power and emotion saying “Why are we are here? It is not our choice, these are your wars not ours. We are now in the Jungle, we are seen as animals. As humans, our rights are to live peacefully anywhere, yet here they restrict our rights in order to "protect" their roads and borders. A solution can be found if France wanted to find one, but they use us to pressure Britain"
The UNHCR rep could only say that they share the same concerns and the situation needed to be solved at a political rather than humanitarian level.
As they left the meeting, one Syrian man made a desperate final plea “Please if you cannot help us, don't hurt us".
frogwoman
No amount of cajolery...
A Look Inside Refugee Camps Along the Balkan Route
A comrade did this interview about a forthcoming documentary about the refugee route in Bulgaria
A comrade did this interview about a forthcoming documentary about the refugee route in Bulgaria
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Rob Lawrie is in court today for attempting to bring a little Afghan girl to her relatives in the UK.
I believe he's already pleaded guilty. I have a horrible feeling he's going to be made an example of
I believe he's already pleaded guilty. I have a horrible feeling he's going to be made an example of
Fingers
From Tuscany SE22
Rob Lawrie is in court today for attempting to bring a little Afghan girl to her relatives in the UK.
I believe he's already pleaded guilty. I have a horrible feeling he's going to be made an example of
Depends if he gets an arsehole of a judge I guess. Huge media coverage there this morning. The little girl is at his court hearing today.
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Treacle Toes
Time
Absolutely wishing Rob a positive outcome!
Fingers
From Tuscany SE22
There is a good article in Le Monde (in French)
They refer to it as a 'Crime of Solidarity'
Un Anglais jugé pour « délit de solidarité » après avoir aidé une fillette de 4 ans
They refer to it as a 'Crime of Solidarity'
Un Anglais jugé pour « délit de solidarité » après avoir aidé une fillette de 4 ans
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
If I had my own car, and more courage than I actually have, I probably would have done exactly what Rob did. To see small children in those conditions is absolutely crushing.
Fingers
From Tuscany SE22
Same, the first two time we came back through the Eurotunnel we would have got away with it. The third time was foot passenger Ferry so no chance
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
More than two or three. There were three jungles before this new one was set up, as well as various squats and makeshift camps in the town itself. Before those there have been many other camps and jungles, many of which are now fenced off but still empty plots of land. For all this talk of the 'migrant crisis' being a phenomenon that has arisen in the last 12 months, the French state has been playing whack-a-mole with migrant camps in Calais for over a decade.
The difference in the past was that the border controls were a lot sloppier so there was some turnover of arrivals an departrures and the numbers of people never got as high as they have now, although two or three years ago there were still over a thousand people living rough around Calais.
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
If he gets a fine then crowdfunding will pay for it.
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Treacle Toes
Time
Whoop! 
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