Calais people to people solidarity: action from the UK

[ska invita]

this situation is so fucked up, I've been seething all week.

terrible knowing that all those lovingly built shelters are now being destroyed along with their occupants worldly possessions in many cases, it's so senseless, and so against the rationale and commitments given in court and in the press just last week.

I keep expecting to see the classroom we built getting demolished, apparently it's not meant to be, but it's going to be a bit odd having the community spaces left far away from the remaining camp areas. I like to think that it'd take them a while to demolish it, we fixed the frames together with 2 runs of scaf planks around the base and middle of the uprights with decent screw fixings, so I think that would give their lump hammers and crow bars something to think about. They'd probably manage it eventually, but there'd be a lot of swearing going on.

the way i see it, its almost as if too good a job was done...the french state gave permission for the dunes to be used with the vision of people camping in despair in an inhospitable spot away from town. They did not expect a fully functioning wooden shanty down to be built. Ive said this upthread, but it seems to me that recently the dunes camp reached a level of relative stability and infastructure and I reckon thats exactly why theyve decided to knock it down....

Im not surprised Ashram kitchen has been destroyed...i fully expect everything to be gone but the containers before very long. Surely thats their plan and vision/


*Does anyone have any reports on the new mini-camps "down the road"? I picture a few stragglers in shit tents hiding in the woods with nothing....

 

[quimcunx]

Yep, I remember discussion on shelter building back when I first joined some of the groups saying that the 'downside' of building decent structures is the authorities could just bulldoze them. All that good will, time and money donated, all the effort shat on from a height. Over and again.

"If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever''

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

We have one of the least violent, least racist police forces in Europe. And still they're pretty fucking racist and pretty fucking violent. Sickening isn't it?

Everything is relative...

 

[free spirit]

Ashram kitchen is being destroyed. Volunteers and refugees are kettled in it at the moment.

ah ffs, I can see a build trip coming on - might have to spike all the wood in the builds to fuck up the chainsaws.

 

[ska invita]

Their tactic is to make everyone give up, volunteers and refugees alike ... I can imagine how frustrating it must be to see those buildings come down but no way can this be the end of it...

 

[free spirit]

I'm wondering how they intend to guard this no mans land, and for how long.

I suspect it will be rebuilt inside 6 months.

 

[Geri]

Has anyone posted this already? Might be helpful for people who live far from drop off points or don't have a car to take stuff in.

CALAIS/ DUNKIRK - URGENT call out for THICK BLANKETS, SLEEPING BAGS, small TENTS and ROLL MATS.
The demolition of Calais camp is leaving many refugees homeless and without possessions. There are not enough spaces in containers or centres being offered, and even those in the containers still rely on our aid. Our teams are handing out EMERGENCY PACKS for everyone displaced but we have COMPLETELY RUN OUT of SLEEPING BAGS and need your HELP.
Next week the makeshift camp in Dunkirk (Grand Synthe) closes with most residents being relocated to the new MSF built camp. BUT to contain scabies they can take NOTHING with them. We need to create 1200 EMERGENCY PACKS this WEEKEND for everyone in Dunkirk alone.
There are 3 ways you can help.
FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
Go to www.helprefugees.leisurefayre.com and select items to be delivered straight to our Calais Warehouse
IN LONDON
TODAY ONLY - SLEEPING BAG DROP from 8am-8pm
Big Yellow Storage, 401 High RD, N2 8HS
We can accept sleeping bags (winter grade 3 or 4 only please), roll mats & thick blankets. No other items.
IN CALAIS
Drop offs at the warehouse gratefully received. Email calaisdonations@gmail.com for more details.
We can currently accept sleeping bags, thick blankets, roll mats, thermal socks, jumpers, gloves, thermal underwear and small tents. Please note - the warehouse is some distance from the camp and you will not be affected by police action/ tear gas etc if you take goods directly to the warehouse.
A personal message from our warehouse manager Hettie:
"Though sun occasionally graces us with glimpses between the howling winds and bitter cold of Winter holding on before the spring; don’t be fooled into thinking those made homeless today are in any less need of warmth and protection ."
‪#‎Wecanhelpyouhelp‬

 

[Manter]

Please please please go on here: and buy some sleeping bags or an ecard for whatever you can afford (we'll add them up to make sleeping bags!)

Leisure Fayre - E-Commerce Web Store

We urgently need them as apart from the Calais evictions, we have also been told that in the Dunkirk move, no one will be allowed to take anything like clothes and blankets with them as there has been a huge scabies outbreak.

Anything you can do would make someone having an incredibly shitty time very happy x

 

[Manter]

Ha! Snap-ish Geri. My post is all part of the same campaign. But I can't get my photo to upload...

 

[Manter]

Their tactic is to make everyone give up, volunteers and refugees alike ... I can imagine how frustrating it must be to see those buildings come down but no way can this be the end of it...

We've done this little dance for decades. Refugees were moved from squats round Calais to the jungle, using teargas. Now they are being driven out again using teargas. After a few years of lots of little squats they'll be herded to one place again

 

[SpookyFrank]

Funnily enough the French authorities were told over a year ago that herding everyone into one big omni-ghetto was a doomed strategy.

 

[Manter]

But they always know better....

 

[Teaboy]

Please please please go on here: and buy some sleeping bags or an ecard for whatever you can afford (we'll add them up to make sleeping bags!)

Leisure Fayre - E-Commerce Web Store

We urgently need them as apart from the Calais evictions, we have also been told that in the Dunkirk move, no one will be allowed to take anything like clothes and blankets with them as there has been a huge scabies outbreak.

Anything you can do would make someone having an incredibly shitty time very happy x

I'd encourage everyone to have a look at this website. There are blankets available from just a few quid.

I'll admit to being pretty frazzled about the politics of the whole situation but the humanity crisis is absolutely crystal clear.

 

[Manter]

Our sleeping bag appeal has raised 1175 of the 1000 target with 26 hours left to run.

People are great

 

[Treacle Toes]

Indeed

 

[Manter]

I don't know how fundraisers do it though. Maybe because I"m super-competitive, I've had a knot in my stomach since Thursday!

 

[Treacle Toes]

I don't know how fundraisers do it though. Maybe because I"m super-competitive, I've had a knot in my stomach since Thursday!

I think the deadline (100 hours) you set for it has an influence on that knot Because of knowing my time limitations and not wanting the worry/wanting to be able to contribute in a way that is managable to me I always make my fundraisers 'on-going' so that I can update, ask for sharing/donations...retreat back, buy and then distribute....repeat. I know you do this too in other moments.

The one you are doing at the moment works on many levels with the deadline, in light of recent events, as well as the great leisurefayre /direct buy and delivery link.

The tummy knot is inevitable I think, the weight of the situation and how utterly fucking awful it all is part of it. It's a great way for people to channel their disgust at what's happening/has happened, showing they give a shit, wanting to do something, even from a distance. Well done. Carry that tummy knot with pride.

 

[Manter]

 

[Treacle Toes]

I actually read that as a slighty wonky, knackered, excited, oh-fucking-hell, more-more-more smile.

Do correct me if I am wrong

 

[Manter]

No, you're spot on

 

[gosub]

**EMERGENCY CALL OUT**

Hi everyone!

As you may know, the warehouse in Calais is empty due to providing emergency supplies to refugees having their homes demolished and creating packs for everyone in the camp in Dunkirk, this past week.

They need pretty much EVERYTHING, so we (Calais Action) are doing a 1 day emergency collection here in Brighton to take over next Wednesday.

DATE: Monday 7th March
LOCATION: One Church Brighton, Gloucester Place, BN1 4AA
TIME: 2-6pm

In the meantime if you can start collecting any of the following, we'd be very grateful:
LIST OF MOST NEEDED ITEMS
MEN'S
Gloves (URGENT)
Thick socks, Men's underwear - S/M (URGENT)
Waterproof coats - S/M
Jogging bottoms - S/M (URGENT)
Long sleeve tops - S/M
Hoodies and fleeces - S/M
Trainers and Walking boots 40-43

WOMEN'S
Women's underwear, leggings and jogging bottoms - S/M

YOUTH (Boys) - ages 13-17
Long sleeve tops
Hoodies
Jogging bottoms
Underwear

Roll mats (URGENT)
Thick sleeping bags
Thick blankets
Tents (NOT pop-ups)
Shampoo
Conditioner
Shower gel
Toilet roll
Razors
Deodorant
Baby wipes
Hand soap (liquid far better and more hygienic)
Tinned fish / tinned easy cook foods
Bottled water

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Been spending a tad too far much on Leisure Faye, odd question; are there any registered charities that can do something similar? Caravans for Calais are still pending, but being a vicious capitalist pig I can pump a shit load
more shit via a registered charity than from my own pocket.

 

[Treacle Toes]

The Leisurefayre account is from L'auberge de Migrants...where you guys volunteered in the warehouse. Care For Calais also have a fundraising page. Salam too.

 

[bimble]

*Does anyone have any reports on the new mini-camps "down the road"? I picture a few stragglers in shit tents hiding in the woods with nothing....

This sounds pretty much exactly like what you were imagining.
Refugee crisis: Calais destruction grows new 'jungles'

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

 

[Treacle Toes]

This sounds pretty much exactly like what you were imagining.
Refugee crisis: Calais destruction grows new 'jungles'

He wasn't imagining it. We already knew it would happen and it was happening again. It happened last time, it has been happening for over a decade.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

He wasn't imagining it. We already knew it would happen and it was happening again. It happened last time, it has been happening for over a decade.

It's not as if the people are going to vanish in a puff of smoke, where the fuck do they expect them to go? Cunts

 

[quimcunx]

In light of the bulldozing and moves clean up weekends were suspended but now we're hoping to do easter weekend. Me Miss-shelf and Mation are hoping to go but we don't have transport. If any car owners in London area have been considering going and don't already have commitments for Easter weekend this could be the time to get involved!

 

[belboid]

We came over today. Pretty unclear as to what is actually going on. Will probably be at Dunkirk tomorrow, they need 150 volunteers a day and are only getting 50 at the mo. (The main warehouse now has a veritable mountain of unsorted donations)

I've never seen someone so happy to see a delivery of UHT milk.

 

[Manter]

Been spending a tad too far much on Leisure Faye, odd question; are there any registered charities that can do something similar? Caravans for Calais are still pending, but being a vicious capitalist pig I can pump a shit load
more shit via a registered charity than from my own pocket.

The leisured sure stuff is help refugees (a charity) and delivered to the l'auberge (charity!) website that thy find. There is a weird Hong in France where you have to have a certain number of French trustees to be a French 'association' which is why help refugees and l'auberge work together.

Care4 have their own fundraisers etc bit are not a charity or an association which limits what I can put through them

Salaam is an association but not a charity. Also some of their cooperation with French authorities dances perilously close to collaboration imo