And so it begins.

You're so right Petra

I was watching a friend's lap top and saw a film of a girl returning to Birmingham. She was dressed reasonably, however the howling mob of about 200-300 didn't think so. They invaded the street, stopped traffic. Police were present. What happened? Nothing.

The #u###m# shouted abuse at the girl who courageously stood her ground and tried to engage one of them to talk.

You won't read the account in the UK papers or on TV. It was on a foreign new channel and not the usual ones that are on offer from Sky.

We don't buy newspapers. No point as they only echo the owners views.

They are being distributed by various charities
Well, that is good anniebach although I know a lot of well-meaning people have been organising vanloads of stuff to take over to Calais.

I post clothing to Turkey but that is to a small charity who co-ordinate it and distribute it to where they know it is needed.

Yes, I couldn't believe some of the things people had donated when I saw a picture - high heels, ball gowns, tiered cake stands etc. Of course, they can all be sent to the charity shops to raise money.

Warm clothes, sturdy shoes, underwear, hats, scarves, gloves, rainwear would be more suitable.
The Red Cross, Refugee Action and other charities large and small know what is needed.
Winter is coming.

The programme following charity drivers to Calais and seeing what happened there is probably on i-player still.
They were telling the drivers to drop off all their stuff at a warehouse, but one van drove into the camp because they wanted to see what happened.
They had taken the wrong sort of clothing. They needed coats for the men, but there were few. She said she would drive straight back to Swindon and get a load of what was wanted.

I don't know about any other charities, but my nearest refugee action one is flexible enough to send stuff to other places instead of Calais if that is where it is needed.

Problem is, publicity takes time to reach those donating and information goes out of date. There are people acting unilaterally and independently and driving off with a carful of stuff to where they have heard that stuff was needed. Then they just open the boot and hand it to anyone who is near.

It all takes organisation and administration if things are not to go to waste or be grabbed by entrepreneurs to be sold for their own profit.

Best to donate through recognised groups who plan their procedures.

Anniebach. As you are not known for your sense of humour, I'm astounded at your comment about posting sweaters to Calais.
Africans. I've only just seen on another thread that you are not a traveller.
I have visited every country in Europe and I can tell you that Africans are everywhere. In the most bizzare out of the way places, you will find Africans.
Finland and Albania were the biggest surprise.
I don't know how you imagine Calais and Dunkirk to be, but I would suggest that as you have an interest in migrants you take a trip across the channel to see what it's like.

Rosequartz, if the clothes are delivered to the charities working there are you suggesting they would sell the clothes and pocket the money? I assume one cannot post a couple os sweaters addressed to - a refugee at Calais They are being distributed by various charities

One persons desperation is another person's business opportunity, sad but true. Anything that is surplus should be passed to another place in need, but surprise surprise they're being sold! This used to happen in Bangladesh years ago, Red Cross donations, complete with logos, were sold in the market, with the authorities apparently not noticing (caring). I had a friend whose husband worked in that country and she told me that it was common practice!!

It's a pity the clothes etc not needed could not be taken to other refugee camps and places where people are in need, eg the Greek islands, Turkey.
I suppose the logistics are too difficult.
I bet the money is not going for food for them. Like the traffickers are not doing it out of the goodness of their heart.

If more clothes than needed then good they can be sold, the money raised can buy food. Wonder why Africans are in business in Calais

We don't know that they are all refugees mariann
That is why the authorities really need to get a move on and process people before winter sets in.

I've heard that there is so much 'stuff' going into Calais that they have no more room to store it. Now Africans are buying it up very cheap and taking it to Morroco where they love the western clothing.

Don't think our immigration laws are going to be changing any time soon. This argument has been going on and on. Every viewpoint has been given. We'll clearly never agree. Its a microcosm of public opinion.

A baby's body just been washed up on the shore of Kos. They do not know what nationality yet.

Immigration laws can be changed, Jane10, and are all the time.
We will soon lose lots of NHS nurses because immigration rules have just been changed ridiculously.

The people coming from Calais are not immigrants they are at the moment refugees. I don't know why they want to come to Britain, I suspect a lot have family there and of course it is easier because they speak a bit of English. They will know that Germany expects them to learn German and they are sleeping now three to a bed in some parts of Germany, or at least until other beds can be found for them.
They seem quite desperate and I feel sorry for them.

Lots of people want to come to Britain but accept that they don't meet our immigration laws. Tough but true.

I repeat again, they are safe in France, it is just their choice to want to come over to Britain.

France should be interviewing and processing all at Calais, they are in a safe EU country and should apply to France to stay there.
Sending over tons of tents, clothes, phones and what have you is just encouraging them to stay there in order to make repeated attempts to smash through the fences, get on trains/lorries.
They will not starve in France, so stop all this misguided charity. They are mainly fit young men from all sorts of countries eager to gain illegal entry to Britain.

The same programme is on 130 now. They interviewed three men who made it to the UK. One has been living here for eight years without getting papers to get work. They are being fed in hostels.
However, all three of them said the same thing; they are safe.

Lying traffickers is a distinct possibility, but you'd think they would have heard how it is once they reached France. I suppose once they have set off on the journey they keep going - better going forward than turning back. The triumph of hope over reality?

Why do all these men still go to Calais? What do they think is going to happen? It has been made ultra clear to them that the UK isn't going to suddenly say 'oh all right then. In you come'!
Traffickers making lying promises?

On channel 130 now, volunteers going to Calais.

Re-act accept money donations too, and use it to buy stuff on the spot, or to pay the costs of transport etc.

Different organisations collect different lists of things to send. Things which are not currently useful are handed on to other groups, or other charities, so they are not wasted. However, everything has to be sorted into categories for efficient handing out, which takes much volunteer effort. Handling a lot of stuff that won't help the intended receivers takes time that could be used on what will.

The clothes and so on collected are going straight to refugee camps. They drive down lorry-loads.