Calais people to people solidarity: action from the UK

[ViolentPanda]

Signed and shared.

 

[chainsawjob]

Signed and shared also.

 

[Thimble Queen]

Good luck to all who are out on the clean this weekend. Here's another clean up related blog post: They're still there

 

[Treacle Toes]

Jungala Radio
12 mins ·
A Judge will be visiting Calais Refugee Camp tommorow morning before hearing the court case tomorrow afternoon in Lille at 2pm. The case will decide if the eviction order that has been served to the people of the Camp will go ahead or if it will be postponed/delayed. The Adam Show and the Star Show joined forces on this special edition on how the camp residents feel about the upcoming evictions. Please feel free to share wide. Thank You.

 

[Manter]

Lots of experienced vols being asked for to get the residents out of bed at 9!

 

[Nanker Phelge]

.

 

[Manter]

Proper count done for the first time- 4597 in main camp, 1000+ in containers, then Jules ferry (c300 I think) Home - Help Refugees

 

[Thimble Queen]

Proper count done for the first time- 4597 in main camp, 1000+ in containers, then Jules ferry (c300 I think) Home - Help Refugees

Is that 4597 in the whole camp or just the south end?

 

[Manter]

Is that 4597 in the whole camp or just the south end?

South end

 

[Thimble Queen]

South end

Cheers. That's what I thought but was getting confused reading all the numbers!

 

[Manter]

Yeah, it is a bit of a headfuck. Some idiot released inaccurate numbers early and nearly screwed the court case too.

 

[Thimble Queen]

Yeah, it is a bit of a headfuck. Some idiot released inaccurate numbers early and nearly screwed the court case too.

I'm pretty sure I've seen more than one set of numbers going round. There's some on the cleaning thread too.

 

[Manter]

Yeah. The right numbers were l'auberge, help refugees produced with help from acted MSF and mdm (they compared count with rubbish produced and how often they had to clean the loos and litres of water used and all sorts. V clever) so the ones Annie Tee or Lliana posts.

 

[Thimble Queen]

Yeah. The right numbers were l'auberge, help refugees produced with help from acted MSF and mdm (they compared count with rubbish produced and how often they had to clean the loos and litres of water used and all sorts. V clever) so the ones Annie Tee or Lliana posts.

Yeah I read all of that info. Auberge/Help refugees are obviously the most credible.

 

[Manter]

This is difficult to watch without tears- the incomparable Liz Clegg and her letter to Jamil

 

[Anudder Oik]

Why don't these people settle in France?

 

[ViolentPanda]

Why don't these people settle in France?

"These people"? Cunt.

Because:

a) Many are Anglophone, not Francophone.
b) Many Syrians, Afghanis, Iraqis, Iranians and Libyans already have family here in the UK.
c) France has massive issues regarding racism - basically, if you're not white, you're jail-fodder - and also with anti-Muslim prejudice. This is institutional as well as public racism and prejudice.

 

[BigTom]

Plus loads of jungle residents are trying to claim asylum in France.

 

[Treacle Toes]

Plus loads of jungle residents are trying to claim asylum in France.

Many people in the camps have already claimed or tried to. Some are now scared to because they have seen other people's claims failing terribly. I had this very conversation with people the last time I was there, not for the first time either.

 

[skyscraper101]

Not sure if covered already but it was heartbreaking to see the wife of a UK citizen stuck in the camp and not able to legitimately cross the few miles to the UK because of the unlawful* minimum earnings threshold of £18,500 that the UK government has levied since 2012 on UK spouses of non-EU citizens.

I cannot think of any other country who does this. To deny them the right to live in the same country with their legitimate husband/wife as recognised by law, and the European Convention on Human Rights, Article 8.

*currently still being challenged in the supreme court

 

[Teaboy]

Many people in the camps have already claimed or tried to. Some are now scared to because they have seen other people's claims failing terribly. I had this very conversation with people the last time I was there, not for the first time either.

So are claims just being rejected out of hand without due investigation? Or are the French authorities simply ignoring the claims? I wonder the implications for someone who has had their claim rejected in France? I doubt they'd get past the initial process in the UK (regardless of the legitimacy of the claim) if it's been rejected by the French. Presumably this just leaves people in limbo for ever more?

 

[Treacle Toes]

Help Refugees
3 mins ·
CALAIS STATEMENT – COURT VERDICT – DEMOLITION TO GO AHEAD - WE WILL APPEAL

We are devastated to announce that this afternoon the court ruled against us and have upheld the decision to demolish the Southern section of the ‘Jungle’.

We will be appealing this decision immediately.

We are shocked that this verdict will strip refugees of their homes once again without adequate alternative provisions. Our census revealed 3455 refugees will be evicted and it was stated in court that only 1156 alternative places are currently available across France.

Our concerns particularly remain with the 305 unaccompanied children who will be evicted from their living quarters without proper assessment, safeguarding or suitable alternative provisions.

As a result of our court action it has been agreed that social spaces can remain. We understand these to include Churches, Mosques, schools, the library, the women and children’s centre and the youth centre.

We will do everything in our power to assist the refugees and minimise their trauma.

We have had no confirmation of when evictions and bulldozing will begin.

 

[Thimble Queen]

Fucking terrible. Where are people meant to go?!

 

[Treacle Toes]

They don't care. Not one fucking inch.

 

[Thimble Queen]

I'm so angry and upset. The residents will be feeling and more ×0000s.

I suppose the only positive thing I can think of is that more people are getting through atm. They all need to come through.

 

[Teaboy]

All part of the on-going European game to make your country look as unappealing as possible in hope refugees will go somewhere else, anywhere else.

 

[ska invita]

All part of the on-going European game to make your country look as unappealing as possible in hope refugees will go somewhere else, anywhere else.

Agree, though on top of that this is a deliberate act of spoiling - whats been achieved at the calais camp, despite the blocking of the french state, was impressive - nearly everyone who is about to lose their home now had a wooden shelter...some scrap of security better than a tent...and access to some community, food and culture....to me this comes across as a callous act of sabotage, designed or break spirits and stamp authority.

This will be the second clearance in recent weeks and will leave the camp at about a third of the size from where it was ... there is no doubt in my mind that the rest of the camp will be going soon...leaving behind those prison-like containers for those who dare interact with the french state....considering how theyve acted so far, who would dare do that?

 

[Teaboy]

leaving behind those prison-like containers for those who dare interact with the french state....considering how theyve acted so far, who would dare do that?

Could you point me to some reading or reports of what the French state has been up to? I mean beyond the brutality shown by the Police. Its just that the comment up thread about 'just claiming asylum in France' is a common one and I'd like to better understand the problems and implications behind that.

 

[ska invita]

Could you point me to some reading or reports of what the French state has been up to? I mean beyond the brutality shown by the Police. Its just that the comment up thread about 'just claiming asylum in France' is a common one and I'd like to better understand the problems and implications behind that.

I cant, but maybe others can
What theyve been up to though is a big dose of fuck all, with some fuck you on top. Plus extreme violence.

 

[Teaboy]

I cant, but maybe others can
What theyve been up to though is a big dose of fuck all, with some fuck you on top. Plus extreme violence.

That seems to be what I'm seeing from the various things written. A very slow bureaucratic nightmare which will probably lead to rejection and even if it doesn't no real chance of work or housing and extreme hostility from locals.