Forum Topic

Refugees & Migrants

There is this absolutely brilliant poem I read recently by Brian Bilston called Refugees.  It is very important that you read the whole thing.  If it isn't I think this should be on the national curriculum.https://twitter.com/brian_bilston/status/976511621366517760However I also think we should be concerned about the differences between refugees and migrants as they tend to be used interchangeably.Please read the poem and you must read it right the way through - don't give up half way!

Philippa Bond ● 1914d20 Comments

Thanks Philippa. A fantastic poem - and it has to be read from the beginning to the end to the beginning.

Stewart Jones ● 1914d

And this gives an insight into the plight of Refugees & Migrants:https://climatenewsnetwork.net/climate-and-laws-trap-islanders/

Philippa Bond ● 1913d

And he’s written  a poem in support of the RNLI which Farage is having a go at.

Stewart Jones ● 1913d

I've heard that donations to the RNLI have increased!

Philippa Bond ● 1913d

Pleased to hear that Philippa.

Janice Evans ● 1913d

Apparently donations are up 2000%, which is brilliant news.

Vanessa Smith ● 1913d

So glad it’s backfired on Farage. I can’t imagine he’s parted with any of his £73k pension from the EU for the RNLI.

Stewart Jones ● 1912d

Why should he?

Brian Coyle ● 1912d

Because it’s a great charity?

Stewart Jones ● 1911d

I prefer this one....Roses are redViolets are bluepiss off back to France in your leaky canoe

Nicholas James ● 1911d

and if your home is already underwater?I don't believe that all the rules about where you had to claim asylum are still in place are they?  We left the EU.

Philippa Bond ● 1911d

Asylum seekers have the right under international law to claim asylum in the country that they feel safe in. The fact that they might have initially landed in France, Germany , Italy or wherever has nothing to do with it. And let’s not forget that France and Germany accept asylum seekers in nuch larger numbers than the UK..

Stewart Jones ● 1911d

Nicholas. That is pretty low even for this forum.

Stewart Jones ● 1911d

I think it's beautiful. Thought provoking. It offers an optimistic view of the future, where the flow of boats across the channel is reversed. A future worth fighting for. The power of poetry never ceases to amaze me.

Nicholas James ● 1911d

When you think someone can’t get much lower, he just delves into his inner Priti Patel. I think you’re confusing poetry with doggerel.

Stewart Jones ● 1910d

They are bigger countries land wise to start with

peter king ● 1910d

The "first safe country" idea was always a myth: you can claim asylum anywhere you feel you would be safe, according to international law - not only where someone else thinks you might feel safe.But the Dublin3 agreement meant that people were deemed to have sought asylum in the EU in the first European country they could be demonstrated to have been in (usually by means of fingerprints) So the UK could often try and pass people claiming asylum here tback o France, Germany, Italy or wherever.But when we left the EU, Dublin3 didn't apply to us any more. And the government didn't negiotiate anything to replace it with.So not a single asylum-seeker has been returned to the EU since January 1st.It's the only Brexit dividend I know about - with the added deliciousness that it's what Leave supporters voted for.....

Sara Nathan ● 1910d

I'll just repeat what I said on another thread: -"Imagine your country is being destroyed by war: your children have no access to education: you have no prospects of providing for your family; and/or you are likely to be imprisoned, tortured or killed because of your political beliefs/ religion/ ethnicity/ sexuality (delete as applicable).  You speak your native language, and one other language which happens to be English (because of Britain's imperial past and the US's economic dominance).Do you:(a) stay where you are and take your chances:(b) seek refuge in a country where you know no-one and can'ts speak the language: or(c) seek refuge in a country where you at least speak the language, and probably know someone or there is a community of people who share your background (as you have the right to do as a refugee under international law)?Please engage empathy before replying"And I might add - "destroyed by war" --- "or by climate change due to industrialisation that has benefitted the inhabitants of other countries, but not yours".

T P Howell ● 1909d

Exactly that , T.P.

Stewart Jones ● 1909d

Quite agree.

Vanessa Smith ● 1908d