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Original poster

One small way to help Afghanistan

335 replies

TimeIhadaNameChange · 15/08/2021 21:22

Copied from a FB post

Tonight not tomorrow tonight we desperately need the help of each and everyone.

Practical action please can everyone tweet Boris Johnson and your own mp and post on their facebook pages and instragrams with #Nowzad animal shelter Afghanistan, save its staff from certain death.

For those who don’t know Nowzad set up the first ever animal shelter in Afghanistan its has dogs, cats and even donkeys. It was set up by former royal marine Pen Farthing. It trains young women and has trained 500 young vets since it started. They will be seen as British collaborators and face certain death and for the women worse, if the 25 staff and their families are not got to the safety of the UK. Please act now as they Nowzad did for the Afghan people and our troops. Tomorrow is too late it has to tonight.

OP posts:
Saucery · 26/08/2021 13:56

People are not getting out playing by the rules. There are no rules.
Afghan people actively blocked from leaving.
It’s being spun as if there is an orderly queue with women and children at the front, that PF is trying to leapfrog. This is not the case at all. It’s whoever has the money to pay followed by whoever is the most desperate or resourceful.

No, it’s not fair. Not one bit. None of this is fair. That isn’t the fault of any person trying to get out of there.

Shanghaisprize · 26/08/2021 13:59

Are they doing the same thing to PF’s colleagues and using the presence of the animals as an excuse?

That is exactly what they are doing. We know that, Pen must know that yet is having to deal with people falling for the lies and blaming him. Those poor people and animals and what they are going through right now, watching their pets and animals suffer and die and knowing they are likely to suffer the same fate very soon. Anyone who sees fit to go along with these lies, to blame and criticise him for the tragic predicament he is now in devoid of compassion and human decency.

notimagain · 26/08/2021 14:01

Posted for the sake of balance, I’m, sure this might be of interest, though I guess the response by some will be allegations about “spin” (just a reminder both sides can play that) and no doubt comments about people’s identities…

twitter.com/BWallaceMP/status/1430865167471022080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1430865167471022080%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

Saucery · 26/08/2021 14:13

Who does he mean when he says staff are being “bullied”? I’m not sure military personnel on the ground out there give a shit about some posts on Twitter tbh. Not that I’ve seen anyone criticising or attempting to bully those people anyway.
Wallace is coming across as a blustering fool. He needs to get his head down, off social media and make sure that orderly queue he reckons exists is working properly. Including Afghan people in danger because of their jobs. He can refute the Whats Whens Whys and Hows when this is over.

Saucery · 26/08/2021 14:15

Yes, I do agree PF has utilised social media to help btw. It’s a powerful and immediate way to get your voice heard. Not an option open to so many people in Afghanistan, unfortunately. It can help approx 70 of them in this particular case, though.

notimagain · 26/08/2021 14:20

@Saucery

I ’m not sure military personnel on the ground out there give a shit about some posts on Twitter tbh

I’m sure they don’t but I read that as meaning there have been incidents closer to home….

SueSaid · 26/08/2021 16:45

[quote notimagain]Posted for the sake of balance, I’m, sure this might be of interest, though I guess the response by some will be allegations about “spin” (just a reminder both sides can play that) and no doubt comments about people’s identities…

twitter.com/BWallaceMP/status/1430865167471022080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1430865167471022080%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=[/quote]
Yes this is of interest, he shouldn't have to spell it all out. Of course flights aren't being blocked, of course they are doing all they can.

Petardos · 26/08/2021 17:45

Pen supporters check his Facebook page Pen Farthing there is a message there you should read.

FedNlanders · 26/08/2021 20:21

They are back at the compound now :(

Meltinthemiddle · 26/08/2021 23:29

No way why have they gone back?

Doodlebug71 · 26/08/2021 23:35

@Petardos

Pen supporters check his Facebook page Pen Farthing there is a message there you should read.
"game" is a very strange word to use. The only person who seems to have treated this whole things as a game is Wallace. Wallace is a piece of work, but then he's a Tory. I've never met a Tory who wasn't.
Smashedavacado · 26/08/2021 23:36

"No way why have they gone back?"
Have you not seen the news this evening about the terrorist attacks? They have gone back to the compound for their immediate safety. There are concerns that Islamic state planning more - very disturbing.

Berkeys · 27/08/2021 00:47

They returned to the compound because Biden changed the rules on paperwork so the staff were turned away. The MOD delays and the fact they were unaided by the UK thanks to that vindictive Ben Wallace meant they waited 36 hours to get inside in 32c heaf. Pen might still get through but not the staff or animals, unless a miracle happens. It’s heartbreaking.

Berkeys · 27/08/2021 00:48

They also got threatened with AKs and tear gassed on the way out.

Meltinthemiddle · 27/08/2021 07:04

Yes I did see the attacks but thought they might stick it out of so close and were safe. That Biden is truly something 🤬

notimagain · 27/08/2021 07:20

I’m still getting the impression that some people missed the news yesterday…Best part of a hundred dead, almost certainly by ISIS.

Doodlebug71 · 27/08/2021 08:10

@Berkeys

They returned to the compound because Biden changed the rules on paperwork so the staff were turned away. The MOD delays and the fact they were unaided by the UK thanks to that vindictive Ben Wallace meant they waited 36 hours to get inside in 32c heaf. Pen might still get through but not the staff or animals, unless a miracle happens. It’s heartbreaking.
This. Vindictive is the right word for Wallace. He told Farthing to get his staff and animals to the airport for processing, then refused to let them in. Wallace is a piece of work. Worse, he apparently has time this morning to waft around on breakfast TV, all mealy-mouthed about how no one outside the airport is getting in/through.

If any person posted on MN to say they were worried because their partner had done that to someone, they'd be told to LTB. Anyone who can do that to another person, never mind a whole group of people, is not to be trusted. Wallace is a disgrace to his office and to humanity.

Meltinthemiddle · 27/08/2021 08:15

Absolutely gutted for them.

notimagain · 27/08/2021 08:30

This. Vindictive is the right word for Wallace. He told Farthing to get his staff and animals to the airport for processing, then refused to let them

What? Wallace in person?

Story seems to from elsewhere they went to an American controlled gate..(which is why there are comments about Biden and changed US paperwork above).

if you think at this stage in proceedings UK MOD and Ben Wallace has any sway over the actions of the likes of the USMC I have a bridge I can sell you.

I’ll give Mr Farthing his due…..he’s certainly got his Social media presence wound up to ten, maybe even eleven..so much so even MNHQ shut down the second Farthing thread last night, yet his problems immediately pop up here on a more general Afghanistan thread.

The really important and sad news yesterday was the bomb attack(s) that cost dozens of human lives.

FedNlanders · 27/08/2021 08:32

How can anyone not feel for them right now? He is separated from his wife and now has to decide to leave or to go, both have numerous implications and both have a risk of death. How awful.

sadperson16 · 27/08/2021 08:36

The furbabies get out and the humans are left to die.

Fantastic.www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/26/another-afghan-tragedy-turned-away-at-kabul-airport-gate-for-the-sake-of-65

Fernticket · 27/08/2021 08:49

Just announced on BBC news that the UK operations will end tonight

Petardos · 27/08/2021 08:58
  • Petardos Pen supporters check his Facebook page Pen Farthing there is a message there you should read. "game" is a very strange word to use. The only person who seems to have treated this whole things as a game is Wallace. Wallace is a piece of work, but then he's a Tory. I've never met a Tory who wasn't.*

Why did you quote me?

Kendodd · 27/08/2021 09:01

@sadperson16
I don't believe this was ever about the animals. I think the animals were just being used as a vehicle to generate publicity and get the people attached to the shelter out under. Sadly it seems to late for them now. I heard on BBC news that the Pakistan border is open to none Afgans, so maybe that could be an escape route for PF although I expect travelling there would be extremely dangerous. Staying we're he (and the staff) are will also be so dangerous though.
I don't think PF was reckless, as I don't think he did put animals before people, I think he (rightly) just saw them as the only chance to get the people out. His wife left a little while ago, he was so, so brave to stay behind with the staff. I really fear for all of their lives now.

sadperson16 · 27/08/2021 09:14

@Kendodd,a dog rescue group locally has been hand wringing about innocent fur babies. Its abhorrent to me.
I am angry,sad and impotent about the whole thing.