So-called ‘migrant crisis’

MaizieD
similar exposees of 'slave labour' in the uk
These cases, as awful as they, hardly compare to the 100,000 (estimated) workers in the poly tunnels.
leave the country in protest
That's worth a ?

Snap oldbatty

On a lighter note my AC used to befriend children once they realised the cuisine in their homes was more exciting than Shepherds Pie!

I hope if they can stay we treat them better than the poor souls working in Almeria.

Yes, Maizie people have been prosecuted in the UK for keeping others in slave conditions.
But that seemed to be the norm for the workers in Almeria.

I now have that children's carol going round and round my head -
Rat a tat tat, rat a tat tat
No! No! No!
There isn’t any room
And you can’t stay here, There isn’t any room for strangers. The night maybe cold
And the wind maybe chill
And full of nasty noises in the dark
And dangers! No, there isn’t any room,
There isn’t any room,
There isn’t any room for strangers.
I hope those who bang on about refugees staying in different countries had a good Christmas!
With 4 million people using foodbanks how can 200 refugees be a problem? Ah but it's a good way to keep people busy!!!

Jalima I saw that programme and was appalled, which is why I have changed my shopping habits.

I am fortunate that over the summer we are self sufficient in salad and many vegetables as Mr.GG13 is teaching GS all about growing your own.

MaizieD I take it that you didn't see the BBC programme about the workers in the polytunnels in Almeria? I did post a link to it on another thread but perhaps you missed it.
The link is that the workers are African, treated like slaves - and this is all going on under our noses in the EU to provide us with salads, fruit etc, cheaply from supposedly civilised Spain.

What price our food?
What use are EU regulations when this is allowed to go on?
Not to mention the acres of discarded plastic feet deep polluting the water.

I think it was a Simon Reeve programme - Mediterranean, last episode.
It is an eye-opener and worth watching but be prepared to be angry and upset - or not, perhaps.

Gabriella, no, no-one should be forced to socialise or integrate if they don't wish to but the situation where a young child is not allowed to socialise with her peers, children she meets at school, rings alarm bells for me.
This may happen in cases where there is the possibility of neglect or abuse.

If, of course, it is because of religious or cultural differences, that is their choice, but the child may have a difficult time as she gets older, wants a career etc.

oldbatty - thought they were as your comment was under mine and sort of fitted iyswim!

That's the 2nd time recently I've done that

Maybe I should go back to just lurking

Can I just add that if we all had our DNA tested some of us would be surprised. Not me, I already know.

Dontaskme,no my comments were not aimed at you.

Just another link for petra on the 'cheap food' myth:

vip.politicsmeanspolitics.com/2019/01/04/debunking-henry-boltons-fantasy-brexit/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0xdKQvBbR73ucR62C5Io5tMwCl5UgpZIp_JRPG5UJeSb4q9j7z8WrU814

BTW I followed the link to the Almeria polytunnel workers. I have no doubt that what it says is true, though I thought it heavy on indignation and light on factual information. I'm not altogether sure what its relevance was to the discussion of Africa, but threads wander and petra rarely misses a chance to post something about the evil EU. I'd point out that there have been similar exposees of 'slave labour' in the UK; perhaps petra should leave the UK in protest?

It, sadly, happens all over the world because one half of the human race seems to be contemptuous of the other half and regard them as somehow sub-humans who they can treat appallingly because they have a hold over them.

Let's just Leave the whole world in protest?

not all are bad and not all are good, it’s that simple

oldbatty You have had some positive interactions, as have I. However it is also true that others have had less pleasant experiences. Each experience is as valid as the other.

Of course a whole race of people are not troublemakers or freeloaders, but it is also true that some are - and I am talking about all races.

oldbatty I take it that's aimed at me? I live in an area where we are overwhelmed with migrants who don't work, won't work, are disrespectful and intimidate locals. Fact.

We support people from this Country who are living on the streets.

Oldbatty unfortunately it is only the bad "fear" stories that are published in the media and passed on verbally.

Good happy news is not newsworthy nowadays.

What is " the migrant issue" Asylum seekers/refugees/people seeking work.....are they all the same?

Polish people/ African people?

Professional people/ non professional people?

I object very strongly to what you write. I do not recognise your description.

I have a female Sudanese friend who is a nurse. I have supported a Sudanese man with his University studies.

I once admired a ring and the owner immediately tried to give it to me. That is just a tiny little human interaction I share.

I think once we start assuming a whole race of people are
troublemakers we are in a very scary place.

I suppose it depends on your own circumstances as to whether or not you view the migrant issue as a crises.

It IS a crises where we are.

Many pages ago someone asked why they would leave the safety of France to come here. The simple answer is because when they get here they are given food, clothes, accommodation, money, health care - everything they could possibly want.

We have many many of them in our area and yes, they do live on benefits and no, they don't want to work. As for being a threat - women in the area now avoid going out after dark.

What I'd like to know is, why can't people choose not to integrate without being castigated for it. You can choose a particular religion, a particular school, a particular district, a particular way of dressing but if you decide that you don't want to associate with certain people from anywhere in the world, why is it a problem. Should we be bullied into it? I thought your friendship and social circle was a free choice.

I don't know any Sudanese but, from what I've read (and we all give/have given opinions on what we've read) I'm not of the opinion that the majority landing here illegally are fully qualified doctors, engineers, professionals in any way, otherwise they could go the legal route.
Their culture is not Western culture, in the main, however, if reports in the media are anything to go by, a lot of them land in trouble when arriving illegally here or in other countries.
We have enough trouble with our own troublemakers without accepting illegal immigrants who do not go through the proper channels.
Even the Isle of Man (with the exception of certain seasonal workers) only allows you to work if positions cannot be filled from the island population and there is rigorous checking, you have to be sponsored by your future employer and both if you have to go before a board and answer questions to which the board already know the answers, so there is no fooling them.
If a small island can do that, we, compared to other countries are small and should also go that route.
Canada, Australia and New Zealand, to name three other countries, have vigorous checks in place.
What will happen to the countries they leave? Only women and children left and who will provide for them? We can't go on like this. There has to be a point where enough is enough.

Perhaps it takes a few generations before people properly integrate? I worked with a French girl of Pakistani origin and she said she couldn't possibly go out with a boy who wasn't Muslim but, if she had children they could do what they liked. Of course she wasn't and asylum seeker but we have already gone off thread.

Apologies for typos. I should have checked before posting

We can put humans on the moon, explore outer space, build pipilines to transport gas and oil across continents, so why can we not pipe water from one Afrucan country to another?
Because the will is not there.

Chewbacca your story about the little girl is quite worrying - I wonder why she is being kept isolated?
We've had neighbours who are from India, Uganda, amongst other countries and we've all integrated and the children played together. We have several friends whose children have married those from other cultural or religious backgrounds too.
It sounds quite worrying - I wonder if the school is aware?

My next door neighbours are Pakistani. My daughter and their son are the same age, they have 2 daughters 6 & 7 years older.

Since the day they moved in and introduced themselves my D and their S have been friends (they were 9 & 10) she was always popping into their house, and he would come here. As they got older this didn't change, she would spend time with the older girls as well.

Now they have GC as do we the GSs know and play with each other.

I would be devasted if they moved. So you know the geography we are 3 detached houses on a small block of a long road.

I class them as friends first and neighbours second. I always look forward to Ramadan as we share such wonderful tasty food that they prepare for Itfar(hope I have got the spelling correct).

Integration can work, I feel that perhaps language and and ideas brought from their original countries along with a reluctance to change can cause hostility.

Always best to mix with professionals.