Forum Topic

Pen Farthing & Operation Ark

Please read this link:-https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/ricky-gervais-animals-afghanistan-operation-ark-b1907801.html?amp=#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16298679976008&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.comA brave man doing good, yet Ben Wallace doesn't appear to understand that a private plane has been funded by donations from the public to fly out Pen, his team and healthy animals to safety. The animals go in the hold - humans cannot.

Loraine Pemberton ● 1888d36 Comments

I think there’s a glimmer of hope this morning, BBC news said if he got the animals to airport they might be able to get away, fingers crossed.

Susan Jacques ● 1888d

Not sure you can even charter a plane in and out.The last commercial flight out was a PIA and it got held up at the gate and then got left out on the taxiway as ATC went mobile and then dead. They made the decision to push back and hold on the runway and took off with no ATC violating all rules and made contact with DOHA ATC after climbing to 15000 feet and luckily it was clear sky to have a visual on other traffic. One problem with a funded chartered plane. The airport is split into two and only one side is in operation One side is commercial and is in the hands of the Taliban and shut down. The other side is the military and is in the hands of the USA. The USA operates this side and the ATC so even if you have the money, slots for a chartered plane in my view to evacuating him, staff, and the animals are going to be turned down due to its military traffic and operation priorities. Different story if the UK and a military plane is offered

Julian Pavey ● 1888d

Pen has also said he'll have room to take 130 people on top of his crew as well, I think Ben Wallace is a person you cannot trust.

Vanessa Smith ● 1887d

But wouldn't acceding to Pen's requests divert precious resources from processing people? We can't really know what are the practicalities of the situation, but I am mindful of the hooha that the unexpected arrival of the two congressmen caused, and the criticicm they attracted. I'm sure Ben Wallace understands perfectly well that a private plane has been funded by donations, but that shouldn't place the diplomats and the military on the ground in Kabul under any obligation to change their priorities, which presumably are to evacuate as many foreigners and endangered Afghans as they can in the little time remaining.

Robert Fish ● 1887d

Save animals or Afghans? What a dilemma for the British public!

Peter Evans ● 1887d

Why do people who haven't bothered to follow this story think they should comment?  Animals in hold, can't put people in hold.

Claire Moran ● 1887d

Seems to be happening but that awful Wallace needs sacking pronto.  https://twitter.com/domdyer70/status/1430407717991157761

Claire Moran ● 1887d

I'm sure if I wanted to get out of Afghanistan, I'd be quite happy to go in the airplane hold if it meant saving my life.

Peter Evans ● 1887d

Animals can die in the hold from heat and stress, no place for people.

Janice Evans ● 1887d

But aircraft capacity may not be the main limiting factor, Claire. What about the additional admin burden on diplomatic/military staff who are already struggling to process evacuees in the time available?

Robert Fish ● 1887d

As i mentioned,a chartered plane does not guarantee you access in and out  over others and you cant just jump the queue.

Julian Pavey ● 1887d

What about the fact that Pen and some others like him have spent their lives trying to help sentient beings from appalling cruelty to these animals metered out by Afghan animal-haters - they particularly hate dogs and enjoy torturing them in the most appalling ways.  Do you have any evidence that granting the permission that Pen wants - a simple signature apparently - is going to cause untold misery to people wanting to come to the UK?  No? Well, I suggest you just shut up, Robert.

Claire Moran ● 1887d

Oozing charm, as ever!

Robert Fish ● 1887d

Charm has nothing to do with it.  I have little patience for ignorant idiots who display a total lack of compassion for what animals suffer across the world especially in countries such as Afghanistan.

Claire Moran ● 1887d

Totally agree, Claire. I've supported Nowzad for years and it breaks my heart to think that these animals, and their dedicated staff might not be rescued. I guess the donkeys will be abandoned. Fingers crossed the chartered plane will be allowed to depart.

Jill Merrett ● 1887d

I often wonder what sort of psychological trauma causes some people to care deeply for animals and show zero sympathy for fellow human beings.

Robert Fish ● 1887d

That is simply not true Robert it's possible to care about all of them.

Janice Evans ● 1887d

Pen Farthing shows sympathy and compassion for both humans and animals which is why he wants to get ALL his colleagues and the animals to safety!

Loraine Pemberton ● 1887d

Of course it's possible to care about all of them, Janice, but there are some people who clearly prefer animals. I only made the comment to highlight the false dichotomy in Claire's post. She implies that anyone who has a different view of the Nowzad issue, and who puts the rescue of human beings above that of dogs, cats and donkeys, is necessarily lacking in compassion for animals. We none of us understand the practicalities of the problem on the ground, and the extent to which evacuating these animals will compromise the safety of human beings. But I'm pretty certain that the problem is infinitely more complicated than the mere absence of a signature.Glad to see you're engaging with me again in a non-hostile way!

Robert Fish ● 1887d

Then read Loraines post, I was very concerned for the lady who refuse to leave the animals in her care, a brave lady.

Janice Evans ● 1887d

And Robert I never hold a grudge against anyone so why would I not talk to you,

Janice Evans ● 1887d

I'm not familiar with the situation of your brave lady, but who's to say that there aren't other people with a more pressing need for safety?

Robert Fish ● 1887d

How can we judge if anyone has a more pressing need for safety. Ifsomeone is that caring about the animals they should all be rescued.

Janice Evans ● 1887d

I totally agree. There is none so blind as she who will not see.

Stewart Jones ● 1887d

Nite.

Janice Evans ● 1887d

"How can we judge if anyone has a more pressing need for safety?". We can't. We can only leave it to the assessment of the professionals on the ground.

Robert Fish ● 1887d

I do sometimes wonder in the nanoseconds I have to consider it, what sort of psychological trauma in your life Robert means that you feel the need to pontificate about almost everything on this forum and seem not to realise your views are pretty weird. You seem to think you are judge and arbiter of all that goes on.  That is a very serious potential character flaw that a good psychologist could help you sort.  The almighty judge/God personality disorder is one that is recognised by psychologists, and hopefully they will help you come to terms with it.  Good luck.

Claire Moran ● 1887d

Utter rubbish, Robert. You haven't bothered to engage with this issue while many of us have spent a lot of time and money on this over the years. You pontificate as usual on something that you are completely ignorant about.

Claire Moran ● 1887d

Do you ever reflect on the vile, defamatory comments that you post?  There was even a thread started about you and your uncontrolled comments. I even took the trouble to say that I thought it was unfair to start such a thread. Yet you just can’t stop.

Stewart Jones ● 1887d

Professionals like Ben Wallace who has finally admitted he was wrong? Give me strength.

Claire Moran ● 1887d

Or the idiots like you who try to force their Marxist agenda at every opportunity down the throats of everyone else, Jones.

Claire Moran ● 1887d

I have never read any Marx.

Stewart Jones ● 1887d

Jones, I suggest you just p.o.  We are all sick of you.

Claire Moran ● 1887d

QED

Stewart Jones ● 1887d

Indeed, Jones.

Claire Moran ● 1887d

LP > "... both humans and animals..."Humans *are* animals.

John Whitworth ● 1887d