Will you open your door and host Ukrainian refugees- mothers, grand-mothers and their children?

Perhaps when you lived here you didn't go round bashing Britain or demanding to know what people were going to do to help others?

It's not because you were born elsewhere
Half my family was born elsewhere

It's not discrimination because you were born elsewhere, it's the constant criticism of Britain and British people which is wearying.

I wonder if your continual UK bashing post Brexit has anything to do with your perceived lack of popularity Kali2?

Never, ever, since 1970 in the UK have I ever felt any discrimination because I happened to be born elsewhere, in any way, shape or form- until I joined GN. Never ever- sad.

Rosie51

^The Reuters article said this has been stopped- the one you posted. Did you not read it?^

Kali2 Yes I did read it, did you? It said the 10% confiscation of earnings from refugees for up to 10 years was stopping from the start of 2018 but continued Switzerland will still require arriving asylum seekers to turn over to the state assets they have worth more than 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,014) to help offset costs they trigger, the State Secretariat for Migration said in response to an enquiry.

As far as I'm aware the UK does not do this, I'd be very upset if they did and would campaign to have it stopped. It is not racist to examine the policies of other countries. Nationality isn't race anyway.

The racism I'm presently getting concerned about is the accounts on the BBC website of black and Asian students trying to flee Ukraine being discriminated against by some racist officials.

Yes, Rosie. I have replied. In Switzerland (and it has nothing to do with this thread at all btw... but I will respond) it is the norm, for all people who receive social aid, in the form of basic wage, free healthcare, accommodation, etc, to repay a percentage of the help given, once they have a job, or receive funds like inheritance, etc. As explained, this is the NORM, for all Swiss, nationals or residents- and therefore, refugees too. Once they settle, and have a job and can repay a little over a long period of time. Just like students loans in the UK. It would be wrong for it not to be the case, if Swiss residents and Nationals are expected to do so.

I have been told on this site, again and again, and by many posters, not just on this thread, that I do not have a right to an opinion, as I was not born here, and have gone back to my country of birth to look after my very elderly parents. Was told today 'to put a sock in it' - and others have been digging dirt on Switzerland to throw back at me. As said, if someone who has been a British citizen for 52 years, and totally integrated- is treated like this, than yes, I do wonder how you treat real foreigners. And over a period of years, the above comments do add up to some form of bullying racism. Simple- fact.

If you were told in France, or in Italy or wherever- after becoming a full citizen of that country and living there all your adult life, with very strong ties to that country- that you were not allowed an opinion because you were born in UK and still retained UK citizenship - I think you would perceive it as the same.

MerylStreep

Dianne Abbot has got her Ukraine and Croatia confused

twitter.com/statsjamie/status/1498679514859196422

I hope to heaven above that Putin doesn't get that far but I wouldn't put it past him.

Do you think Diane Abbott got confused?

Ah, the old racism card hasn’t been waved for some time.
It’s always a good fallback position when loosing the argument.

No problem with Kali2 posting her opinions about the UK or the EU or anywhere else.

Problem with being told off about a less than serious post and no apology given the other day.

Problem with apparent virtue signalling. That’s all.

Just a gentle reminder, that none of us have to be resident in the UK to comment on GN, we have useful input from US residents and Australian residents, from posters living in France and Spain, some permanently, some temporarily so I fail to see why some get so over wrought when someone living in Switzerland posts her opinion.

The Reuters article said this has been stopped- the one you posted. Did you not read it?

Kali2 Yes I did read it, did you? It said the 10% confiscation of earnings from refugees for up to 10 years was stopping from the start of 2018 but continued Switzerland will still require arriving asylum seekers to turn over to the state assets they have worth more than 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,014) to help offset costs they trigger, the State Secretariat for Migration said in response to an enquiry.

As far as I'm aware the UK does not do this, I'd be very upset if they did and would campaign to have it stopped. It is not racist to examine the policies of other countries. Nationality isn't race anyway.

The racism I'm presently getting concerned about is the accounts on the BBC website of black and Asian students trying to flee Ukraine being discriminated against by some racist officials.

Kali2

If some here can be so discriminatory and 'racist' to someone who has been British for 52 years- I do wonder how you behave with 'real' foreigners- blimey!

I’ve reported your post. Calling people ‘racist’ when they are not just to cause more trouble is completely unacceptable.

Who has been discriminatory and 'racist' please kali2? I've gone back over my 2 posts and dispute your accusation if it was aimed at me.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

CrazyH
Is it not the vulnerable?. women/ children and the elderly, we should be thinking of ??? those are the poor souls who need help Do these pose a threat?

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Chewbacca

^For those who are interested in what people are doing for those in Ukraine, there is an amazing^ Facebook group called host a sister

I don't think it is of much interest to most of us what other people are doing for those in Ukraine; just so long as they're comfortable that what they're doing is as much as they're capable of. There's a great deal of virtue signalling being done on social media groups which often bears no relation to what is being said to be done vs actually being done. Best to keep your light under its bushell.

I posted in case anyone is interested. You are not- that is fine. Your prerogative.

The Reuters article said this has been stopped- the one you posted. Did you not read it?

However, this is the norm here for anyone, Swiss or otherwise, who become dependent on social help (not Unemployment, that is totally separate, and massively more generous than UK- 80% of salary for 2 years) - to have to repay once they have a job or inherit money, win the lottery, or otherwise. My brother had to repay part of the social help he received when he returned pennyless to Switzerland after years abroad, when he inherited on the death of our parents. Seems quite normal to me, actually. But it has no relevance whatsoever to this thread, none.

GillT57

GrannyGravy13

I can remember a recent thread whereby folks were berated for posting about their charitable activities.

So now it’s ok?

Nobody is boasting on this thread? Just discussing what is best to send

I didn’t mention boasting in my post Gill57

For those who are interested in what people are doing for those in Ukraine, there is an amazing Facebook group called host a sister

I don't think it is of much interest to most of us what other people are doing for those in Ukraine; just so long as they're comfortable that what they're doing is as much as they're capable of. There's a great deal of virtue signalling being done on social media groups which often bears no relation to what is being said to be done vs actually being done. Best to keep your light under its bushell.

GrannyGravy13

I can remember a recent thread whereby folks were berated for posting about their charitable activities.

So now it’s ok?

Nobody is boasting on this thread? Just discussing what is best to send

Honestly, I have no idea. I can assure you I can be just as critical about anything wrong and bad done in Europe or Switzerland, believe me. All I know is that Switzerland has joined sanctions, which was a very tricky thing to do due to the very long historical concept of neutrality (and I could write pages to explain how it came about), that railfares have been dropped and visas and that plans are being made to host and support.

GN is not about Switzerland, and the fact that some here are spending time searching the Internet to find anything bad to say about Switzerland- to attack me personally- is just appalling, disgusting and, well yes, pretty much racist bullying. It has been going on for a long time.

Rosie51

MerylStreep

Callistemon
If the Swiss do decide to take some of these poor souls I hope this practice has ended.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35323315

www.reuters.com/article/us-swiss-refugees-idUSKBN1DF28D

It seems that the practice was still in force at the end of 2017. I do hope it has now been abandoned. Can you confirm either way Kali2?

Obviously you don't have to answer Kali2 and maybe you can't find out either. Google isn't very forthcoming for me.

For those who are interested in what people are doing for those in Ukraine, there is an amazing Facebook group called

host a sister

The Swiss billionaire, Hansjorg Wyss, is doing his bit too:

Roman Abramovich's future as Chelsea owner is in doubt after a Swiss billionaire, Hansjorg Wyss claimed he has been offered the chance to buy the club.
He told Swiss newspaper Blick that Abramovich "wants to get rid of Chelsea quickly" after the threat of sanctions was raised in Parliament.

karmalady

Two women, running a riding school in sw are driving a horse lorry to poland soon, filled with donations. That is extremely kind and very courageous.

I read somewhere that primary age children, carrying placards, have been arrested in russia, I saw a photo of them in the back of a police van with bars

I also read that pakistan is collaborating with russia, to bi-pass sanctions and will be buying russian gas. They get a massive amount of taxpayer funded foreign aid from the uk

Is switzerland doing anything to help ukraine?

Yes- all over Continental Europe individual and groups are collecting, driving buses and minibuses to the border, picking up total strangers, and people are offering accommodation, again to total strangers. All over Europe. For animals too- families with pets, and supplying animal refuges.

And yes, Switzerland has joined other EU countries in sanctions.

karmalady

We cannot let unidentified ukranians in kali2, russian agents will be trying to slip in as per the salisbury poisonings. Worse case, they could be carrying very toxic poison such as ricin. Ukranians going to a relative will be traceable. The unidentified with evil intent will simply vanish in the crowds, poisoning reservoirs etc is very feasible. Uk cannot and must not, let its guard down

Maybe you should pass your concerns onto the treasurer of the Tory party? Or the security at the House of Lords?