Why do Asylum Seekers cross the channel on small boats

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.

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.

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.

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

They are people. Sometimes children.

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

One of the differences between the UK and some other countries is that we don’t allow people to work while they wait for claims to be processed. Obviously if people could work they could pay rent, tax, buy food etc etc rather than having to sit around in awful accommodation without being able to afford decent food and having no occupation, social contact and so on. Yes, there are things we should be doing like providing medical treatment for people who have been tortured, but in the main people want to ‘look after’ themselves. Refugees are also some of the people who give most help, through voluntary activity, to other refugees.

*to (not ot)

Just in case you don't have the figures to hand, the total for the week up to 18 August was 746, which works ot to just less than 107 a day.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats/5cede69b-a408-47eb-8933-31fb2813ab77

Chestnut

Oreo

petra

silverlining48

I watch news tv but the number of asylum seekers has not been mentioned for ages.

It was on the news several times yesterday that 500 people crossed the Chanel in small boats yesterday.

500! In just one day?😲

Many posters seem to think the processing of new arrivals should be speeded up. How can you possibly process 500 people per day?

How many was the average for the week?

Thank you, Cossy, for the links. I think it is really important to keep putting out accurate information about migration, refugees and asylum seekers. One of the things many people seem to believe is that there are safe and legal routes for people who need to claim asylum to get here - when there are no such thing. Many other countries take many more refugees than we do. We didn’t even manage to take proper care of people in Afghanistan at risk from the Taliban because of having worked for the British army.

Oreo

petra

silverlining48

I watch news tv but the number of asylum seekers has not been mentioned for ages.

It was on the news several times yesterday that 500 people crossed the Chanel in small boats yesterday.

500! In just one day?😲

Many posters seem to think the processing of new arrivals should be speeded up. How can you possibly process 500 people per day?

Primrose53

Cadeby

Oreo

Cadeby

"The thousands I’ve seen disembarking"

What fuels this nonsense? Its beyond me , really.

Why nonsense? If you live near a port it’s quite feasible that you would see thousands over the course of a couple of years.

Wouldn't you be too busy at work, socialising, being with family ,to be obsessing over how many people arrive?

Give it a rest Cadeby please. You seem to be the one who is obsessed actually. The figures are on TV and Internet every day so you can hardly miss them.

I've never seen them on TV.

Casdon

It’s no longer news, it’s been happening since 2018. In the last year, it’s only mentioned when some poor unfortunates lose their lives.

It’s mentioned most days on GB news

silverlining48

I watch news tv but the number of asylum seekers has not been mentioned for ages.

Well it’s mentioned plenty on GB news