Are you going to Greece? Help the refugees

Anniebach that is AT HOME

Anniebach is well aware that charity is needed here as well as abroad.
That's why she fights for the poor in both arenas.
However, I am sure she can speak for herself.

I think it was Mandela who said that poverty is a man-made construct. Like apartheid and slavery it can be unmade or defeated by man, if he is willing.

Well Elayne if you consider the people of the UK are more in need than the people fleeing from bombing and tyranny you have a totally different view on human need than I .

Yes Jen , Mandela was right, so sad we had the wisdom of such a man but ignore it and the wisdom of Gandhi but ignore it too ' there is enough in the world for everyone's need , but not for everyone's greed '

And John Donne was spot on - 'no man is an Island , entire of itself ' any mans death diminishes ME

I agree that charity begins at home but it certainly doesn't have to end there!

Elayne. Are you in need of something?

I have just read what you do for a living.
If you have to do that, then I am sorry.
You must see all sorts, and I can see why you think there is very much a need for charity at home.

Don't see the connection unless you have "Sweet Charity" in mind!
I don't get the impression that the career in question is any more of a need than a "want", rather like your comment about your hairdresser wanting £750 a night.
My late granny was a wise old bird and tried to teach us "' I want 'doesn't get"

Excellent point mcem

t.co/vky6TC9weX

A link from the IRC that is headed by David Miliband. A Syrian asylum seeker explains why he left and does not want to go back.

I'm shocked by Elayne's attitude, though I probably shouldn't be.

Kos is a lovely, small Greek Island with a small population struggling under the current economic problems in greece. Of course other safe european countries should be doing more than we are, even if it's only raising cash to help the Syrians fleeing for their lives.

I am trying not to think about it too much as DDs 2and 3 and SIL and SIL2B are cruising around Kos with another couple plus 2tinies on friend's father's yacht. (all right for some!) but I will be happier when they are back on terra firma.

Let's hope your loved one's don't end up fishing some desperate refugees out of the sea Alea. One of my daughter's is currently on a small Greek island but it's distant from the Libyan sea and all seems peaceful where they are. We're off to Crete in September, to a resort on the libyan sea, where infrequent boats full of would be migrants have landed in recent years. The village isn't wealthy and our Greek friends are struggling as tourism has been hit by the adverse publicity. Despite this, supplies of food, water, clothes, blankets etc have been gathered and are held ready for the next boat load who arrive.

But what is this country doing to help the refugees? What use is money to anyone who may be shot or blown up ? They are asking for safety not cash

The foreign secretary Phillip Hammond has spoken of - millions of marauding Africans pose a threat to the EU's standard of living

Let them drown or carry on blowing them up Mr Hammond , the nasty party is back on form

Unlike the thousands of marauding Europeans who posed a threat to the Africans in previous generations, Anniebach.
Sorry, I forgot, we civilised them.

Jen, they are working hard at dehumanising them just as Germany did to the Jews, suppose they want us to laugh and cheer when the next boat sinks and a few more hundred drown.

Best not to mention how we raped these countries , it's only history so of no importance , the great British Empire and all that , rule Britannia etc

Always amuses me when anyone says we should treat immigrants as Australia does , ŵe were the marauding British who invaded Australia , we were the immigrants

Out of millions of marauding Africans, there are 4000 at Calais, but Britain is going to fund an extra 100 border guards. Slightly over the top, I think, one guard for every 40 Africans. Except that those are just the extra guards, so it's probably one for every twenty. Better than prison guards over here, I would think.

Many of the immigrants were people we did not want as well, Annie, like the convicts.

True Jen, we sent convicts and army plus guns , no different to what happened in North America

It was said on the news the refugees arrested on a lorry today were from Vietnam, I think DNA testing is needed, they may have a legal right to enter the good old USA, they left thousands of illegitimate babies there

Both my tv and radio are faulty, I listened to Cameron parading through Libya and assuring the people - in building a new Libya you will have no greater friend than the United Kingdom, we will stand with you every step of the way.

I didn't hear - but stay away from the UK, no swarming or marauding to affect out standard of living

An interesting discussion on why we should take our fair share of migrants and not send them back to the first country they landed.

theconversation.com/explainer-how-european-states-shift-responsibility-for-asylum-claims-45743

It's not workable.

theconversation.com/french-policies-have-caused-migrants-to-seek-a-way-through-the-channel-tunnel-45797

Just to remind everyone what the OP was about in case you are actually going to Greece.

Sorry, Nonnie, did go rather off track there.

The reason I asked about anywhere else is not because I am going, but I know someone who is. I have sent them the link about Kos, and they are on facebook so will pass it on to friends they meet in Greece.

Didn't bring it back because of anyone especially, just wanted it to be seen by as many as possible especially after yesterday's news.

I would like to say that I have noticed a lot of women and children among the refugees so it isn't only the young fit males as has been suggested. They may be the majority but far from all.

A young man interviewed on Kos was shown on TV last evening. When asked what he had expected when he landed there he said "Heaven, you know? Heaven". I do feel for them so much, but what to do? Do we have space for all who want to come? Can we really help so many assorted nationalities coming with so many different languages, customs and lifestyles? Give them the jobs, homes and security they're lead to expect are here? It's a hell of a problem.

I saw that interview Nfk and found it hard not to weep for that young man and all the other people fleeing war in Syria. This isn't just a european "problem" its an international one but the european governments need to get together and come up with some consensus about what to do. It seems wrong to conflate the families fleeing war in Syria with so many other migrants from African countries. I recognise many of them are running from war and conflict in their countries but what's happening in Syria is leading to parents risking their children's lives in an attempt to get to safety.

The Greek islands can't continue to care for these people without support from the rest of Europe.