49,000 migrants invade Spanish enclave in 24 hours

nanna8

Some of them, probably most , seemed to regard it as an adventure. Well organised and appealing to young and fit men. None of them looked starved or oppressed. No doubt they will tell their grandchildren about their ‘adventure’ in the future. I wonder how many will cross into the rest of Europe ?

Seeing as nearly 60 of them drowned, it just shows how foolish and misguided they were to undertake this. And to put young children in danger too. They need their heads tested if they think of it as an adventure, which to me suggests they're not all doctors or scientists as some would have us believe.

The level of knowledge about tens of thousands of people is astounding really.
People here seem to know exactly what is in their heads, their motives, their back story, everything.

greyfur

The level of knowledge about tens of thousands of people is astounding really.
People here seem to know exactly what is in their heads, their motives, their back story, everything.

Like other people here seem to know exactly what is in our heads too, our prejudices, our choices of expression and our meaning!

Nobody can know what's in peoples' heads until they start to convey what's in their heads by expressing their opinions, prejudices etc by words- and actions.

greyfur

The level of knowledge about tens of thousands of people is astounding really.
People here seem to know exactly what is in their heads, their motives, their back story, everything.

Spot on. There’s a sort of schadenfreude in the air isn’t there?

^ which to me suggests they're not all doctors or scientists as some would have us believe.^

I think that myth got smashed many years ago!

There something going on in the air alright. People pretending that thousands upon thousands of men arriving has always happened, and that it is all hunky dory because some have returned.

Did they think they were just going to be fed and clothed?

And the toilet situation?!

It seems that it is about the fact that these territories are the only borders with the EU in North Africa. It doesn't sound as if it will work as a point of entry.

I hope not

Well, if my concern for the safety of young children at risk of their lives can't be expressed as we wish, then it's a pretty worrying state of affairs.

There is a difference silverlings48.
People/ families applied through the proper channels to get into Australia- not en-masse, in the thousands landing on Bondi beach.
Plus now, I think you need thousands of pounds to support yourself/families.

Ir's too early to say what the event indicates. To me it seemed more like an orchestrated demonstration but that was just an impression. Best to avoid hysteria.

MT62

There is a difference silverlings48.
People/ families applied through the proper channels to get into Australia- not en-masse, in the thousands landing on Bondi beach.
Plus now, I think you need thousands of pounds to support yourself/families.

When ex and I were granted resident visas at the beginning of the '80s, having undergone a grueling interview at Australia House. He had a job to go to, working for an American Bank managed to get a transfer. During the interview we had to provide chapter and verse how much money we were bringing with us from the sale of house to support ourselves, did we have sponsors to stay with until we found a place to live and the interviewer emphasised in what I would describe a positively hostile tone. "It will be 7 years before you become eligible for any benefits", not that we'd have gone there expecting any. That was years ago, but I don't think either Australia or NZ, we have friends who went to NZ to live, are a soft touch as far as migration is concerned. Lets face it both places have pretty small populations compared to our over packed island. Of course their geographical proximity being quite some distance to beleaguered war torn areas remove them from many of the problems much of Europe are experiencing.

Galaxy

There something going on in the air alright. People pretending that thousands upon thousands of men arriving has always happened, and that it is all hunky dory because some have returned.

Yes I agree

MartavTaurus

Well, if my concern for the safety of young children at risk of their lives can't be expressed as we wish, then it's a pretty worrying state of affairs.

I dont think many people would complain if it was mainly women and children coming over however it’s not,it’s fighting Age young men..
None so blind as those who will not see…🤔

It is hard to get to Australia these days and if you are over 45 ,forget it, unless you are a millionaire.

TerriBull

Galaxy

There something going on in the air alright. People pretending that thousands upon thousands of men arriving has always happened, and that it is all hunky dory because some have returned.

Yes I agree

Quite.

I got to thinking. How would someone, or an organisation, arrange for 40,000 or whatever the number was, mainly fit[they swam a distance], mainly young men, to all go at the same time.

fancythat

I got to thinking. How would someone, or an organisation, arrange for 40,000 or whatever the number was, mainly fit[they swam a distance], mainly young men, to all go at the same time.

Through social media I guess 🤷‍♀️

butterandjam

TerriBull

Daft question I know, but I do wonder how Spain is able to hang on to Ceuta when it's sited in North Africa parallel to our situation with Gibraltar

same way we hang on to the Falklands, and Northern Ireland.

I agree Northern Ireland should be part of the island of Ireland

As far as the Falkland Islands are concerned, they're some 300 miles from Argentina, they didn't belong to them, they were uninhabited when the British laid claim to them. Argentina, was more or less created by the Spanish, who over a period of time pretty much wiped out the indigenous population they were never a civilization in the way the Mayans and Aztecs were, more tribal hunter gatherers. It's very noticeable how intrinsically European Argentina is compared to other Latin American countries, the indigenous people are hardly visible.

Apologies for the digression, but there are probably a number of islands that the colonial countries of Europe rolled up and claimed as their own those in French Polynesia, Reunion, near Africa, a Department of France. Somehow a piece of land such as Ceuta in North Africa (Spanish) and Gibraltar on the Spanish peninsular (Britain) Northern Ireland (Britain) those do seem incongruous to me and somehow unsustainable to remain that way forever more. Just my opinion, I don't expect everyone to agree.

GrannyGravy13

fancythat

I got to thinking. How would someone, or an organisation, arrange for 40,000 or whatever the number was, mainly fit[they swam a distance], mainly young men, to all go at the same time.

Through social media I guess 🤷‍♀️

Yes. But why not more younger people? Aunts? Middle age women etc.

fancythat

I got to thinking. How would someone, or an organisation, arrange for 40,000 or whatever the number was, mainly fit[they swam a distance], mainly young men, to all go at the same time.

An app on their phones. One press on the button and away you go.

I don’t think your average middle aged woman would not be able to swim over. To organise boats would have been too expensive and too obvious. Open borders is fine but it is hard on those who live there, especially when it involves criminal activity and having to close the shops for fear of looting.

nanna8

I don’t think your average middle aged woman would not be able to swim over. To organise boats would have been too expensive and too obvious. Open borders is fine but it is hard on those who live there, especially when it involves criminal activity and having to close the shops for fear of looting.

And hurling stones at the police….