Why do Asylum Seekers cross the channel on small boats

You won't find me sneering, Cadeby I've met refugees and heard their stories. I think it's impossible for some people to imagine what it's like to be a refugee because some media dehumanises refugees by turning them into "numbers" whereas other media sources tend to report the personal tragedy when children drown or die. So I guess what media people choose to consume will reinforce their view of the world rather than challenging it. Having worked in an educational setting with refugees I've seen how much they wanted to improve their English, get a job and support themselves, most held the hope of being able to go home at some point and they all missed their families, friends language and culture. My friend hosted a Ukrainian GM, mother and 5 year old son for a year, they went home twice during that time desperate to see the husband and father. They are still here and still finding the separation difficult but there's a small Ukrainian population in the area and they support each other . Would they prefer to be home in a safe country living normal lives? Yes and I think that's true of most refugees.

Those who claim it must be true because they saw it on the news, was it the GB channel? It most certainly isn't classed as a news channel by any reputable source.

I often wonder if it’s posters who have no first hand experience of asylum seeking people or families, who express most hostility.

Perhaps a germ of resentment is fueled by the media and a sense that people are grabbing resources.
I don't know.

It is almost all fuelled by the media and has been for years.
Look at the coverage now around the private yacht sinking in Greece, such hypocrisy.

Grandmabatty

Those who claim it must be true because they saw it on the news, was it the GB channel? It most certainly isn't classed as a news channel by any reputable source.

No the MSM dont mention anything if it doesn't fit with their agenda. We have a right to know, and many other news channels , legitimate, nothing wrong with GB news, unless your left wing of course, although their viewing numbers can't all be "far right" a popular smear for those who dont agree with the establishment of our new thought control Gov. It Tells news MSM don't want the population to hear.

Everything is fuelled by the media, whether it’s good news or bad news, whether it’s on the TV, the radio, FB or Gransnet.
People reading or watching form their own opinions and feel happy, self righteous, pleased, relieved, horrified, justified, sanctimonious, angry, sympathetic, etc. They then write about their feelings, for others to read and express their feelings about, et sic pergit.

keepingquiet is it hypocrisy to report sinking yachts? The latest one was hit by a water spout. I think it’s interesting if sad.

keepingquiet

It is almost all fuelled by the media and has been for years.
Look at the coverage now around the private yacht sinking in Greece, such hypocrisy.

So those people on the yacht, caught by a devastating water spout tornado, shouldn't be mentioned in the news. Why is it hypocritical. I saw huge mention of the migrant boat losses from boats in the news. Talk about divide and divide.

keepingquiet

It is almost all fuelled by the media and has been for years.
Look at the coverage now around the private yacht sinking in Greece, such hypocrisy.

How is it hypocrisy?

Iam64

I often wonder if it’s posters who have no first hand experience of asylum seeking people or families, who express most hostility.

I think that is true Iam.
Once you do get to know asylum seekers and families personally you see them as human beings, not as a threatening group, with very similar concerns as us.
Most want to live a happy and fulfilled life and bring up their families in safety.
Of course there are bound to be some with criminal intentions
but we can say that of our native population!

The media, and some politicians have helped to stoke of the fear and hatred that has grown against asylum seekers in some quarters. Some of the recent rioters should have to spend time getting to know refugees as they struggle to settle here.

" migrant boat losses" Look at the language you use.

They are people. Sometimes children.

I don't want to be political but there were certain politicians that started referring to asylum seekers as 'boat people' they changed the rhetoric so that 'we' just think of them as objects rather than humans. It is subtle regressions through language. They are refugees. I know the issue is far more complex about how to handle increasing numbers of people seeking refuge, but our own governments are at fault (inc Blair/Labour) as to why this situation has arisen in the West anyway.

Cadeby

" migrant boat losses" Look at the language you use.

They are people. Sometimes children.

85% of those arriving in small boats up to March 2024 were male aged 24-39.

Source Google

It is not just the U.K. which is having a section of its population pondering the current situation, have a look at news sites in Eire, Sweden, Germany.

Migrants who arrive via official channels, with working visas, a job waiting for them and/or come here for further education are not what this thread is about.

It is about trying to crack down on the people traffickers who take the money from desperate people and abandon them in a small boat that is not sea worthy.

There is an underlying fear that terrorists and other criminals are hiding in plain site on these boats, and the publicity given when a migrant commits a crime is fuelling this.

Grandmabatty

Those who claim it must be true because they saw it on the news, was it the GB channel? It most certainly isn't classed as a news channel by any reputable source.

Well the cameras don’t lie, do they?

Cadeby

" migrant boat losses" Look at the language you use.

They are people. Sometimes children.

As reported by the MSM. We know they are human beings, perhaps the MSM should change their language, yes??

The people traffickers are different issue to the people seeking refuge. Someone posted a really good article some time ago about two brothers that had travelled from Iran (I think one had drowned) It was all a mess I've tried to find the article but it just comes up with hundreds of other awful stories

If people want to watch the same thing on GB News every night to reinforce their view that’s up to them. I prefer to watch actual news than propaganda.

Casdon how do you know that the same thing is on GB news if you don’t watch it? Just curious 🤨

Because Mt61 said it was, ronib?

Casdon well I can tell you that the same thing is not on this news channel - and some times it’s boring and gets switched off. It depends on the particular presenter although I can imagine that you would find it difficult to watch Jacob Rees Mogg.

The daily Mail has been feeding the anti-migrant line for years. It certainly needs to change its language, but it won't.

Just look at this set of search results. Images of DM front page headlines.

duckduckgo.com/?q=daily+mail+immigrants+headlines&t=chromentp&iax=images&ia=images

I do find it difficult to listen to Jacob Rees Mogg, he’s a pretentious piffler ronib. However, I totally agreed with what he said the other day about how disgusted and upset he was that his 16 year old son received death threats about the election, that is absolutely horrendous.

Just a small correction to GG13's post,

"About 85% of small boat arrivals in the 12 months to March 2024 were male and - where age was recorded - nearly a fifth were between 25 and 39 years old. "

I don't find it surprising as the majority of refugees are male, for women, the journey across the world from Afghanistan, Syria, Iran and Eritrea would be even harder than it is for men who are still fit, it's even more hazardous for women who have children. IME it is normal for refugees to think they can get jobs and send money home back to their families to help them survive, they are not necessarily escaping their responsibilities often quite the reverse.

Casdon I was impressed that Jacob’s daughter was reading some comments last night even though her microphone wasn’t working. Jacob is clearly a committed family man and I like him for that. It feels rare these days.