RNLI lifeboat crew ‘blocked from going out to sea’ by people angry at them rescuing refugees

[DGRossetti]

www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/rnli-lifeboat-crew-blocked-from-going-out-to-sea-by-people-angry-at-them-rescuing-refugees-303026/

In the end imo this is a huge and growing global issue.

I mean if we can't sit down and have an open reasonable conversation with our next door neighbours. Not interested in singing fault here not the point. Then how can this massive international issue even start to be addressed?

Naturally all countries want what's in their interests. And the public views are mixed and highly political everywhere.

Countries all getting fucked off with each other as feel taking too much burden or for plenty ARE taking too much burden. And those nearby saying well it's your country sorry. And it's all understandable. Protect your own. Masses of extra people (I mean actual masses) are a massive problem. Public say wtf don't want this and politicians naturally say yep. Not going to lose an election over it.
Etc etc

It's pretty intractable really.

And in the end so many millions of people around the world still suffering / desperate to get out.

That isn't going to go away. And there's not going to be a solution that's humane fair all round, affordable etc.

So on it goes.

I have no idea what can be done.

I look at all the shit around the world from poverty to extremist religious groups in power to ethnic cleansing to environmental catastrophes to poverty/no jobs/no hope. And I mean I'd want to let it who wouldn't?

So it's not going to stop. Right/wrong is relevant but... Even the extremes close the borders/ let everyone in won't make it go away. Close borders, traffickers etc find ever more complex and dangerous ways. Open completely, well then v attractive and actually would have an awful lot on hands.

Neither of those will happen. On the end little will happen probably just continue arguing.

DH said one reason so attractive is easily accessible black market type stuff. People no documents able to pick up work much more easily than France and others I think he said.

Anyone know anything about that?

Just googled- interesting. BBC says not black economy. Because loads have family/ friends here. That makes sense.

This data is interesting.

Many migrants already choose to make an asylum claim in the first country they arrive in - such as Greece, Turkey or Italy - and only a minority choose to travel on to the UK.

Last year, Germany had the highest number of asylum applicants in the EU (122,015 applicants), while France had 93,475 applicants.

In the same period the UK received the 5th largest number of applicants (36,041) when compared with countries in the EU (around 7% of the total). This represents the 17th largest intake when measured per head of population, according to UN Refugee Agency.

@CheeseMmmm

DH said one reason so attractive is easily accessible black market type stuff. People no documents able to pick up work much more easily than France and others I think he said.

Anyone know anything about that?

Yes I know something about that.

Your husband is talking bollocks.

Well he didn't say WIFE! THESE ARE THE FACTS!

He said oh someone on the radio earlier said X and I said oh? And that was that.

Lol at another over-reaction! And this one slagging off not me, at least you've read my posts, but a man who you know zero about!

Was it supposed to get my back up? Or do you say that to everyone you meet who says in passing oh I heard X?

Oh plus I said in last post I googled and that's not why it is so... Not sure why hit a nerve with you!

I remember why I'm generally not drawn to threads about immigration, covid, who should and should not have children etc!

I didn't realise with this one somehow!

So. These lifeboat protest people in the OP. Any more views on that incident?

@Clymene

I was responding to *@TractorAndHeadphones post where she talked about the impact on the local area @EmpressCixi*. The post she admired talked about people not being able to get GP appointments and quotas at schools. They're racist tropes.

I do agree that we need to stop them crossing in the first place.

The U.K. government refuses to process asylum applications in France, despite repeated invitations. As long as that continues, people will continue making the desperate journey.

Don't do much critical thinking do you? Both pp and I were responding to were related to WHY people are unhappy with refugees. 'People are racist and mean' is a vast oversimplification. PP was discussing misinformation, blaming the wrong people and how it leads to this. Neither of us were agreeing with the attitude. If you've ever read a proper history book, or academic articles there's always a discussion of the factors

Ultimately if the government provided plenty of resources there wouldn't be an issue would there - but they're not too keen either are they?

@CheeseMmmm

I remember why I'm generally not drawn to threads about immigration, covid, who should and should not have children etc!

I didn't realise with this one somehow!

So. These lifeboat protest people in the OP. Any more views on that incident?

Immigration is not one of the issues that the internet is capable of sensibly discussion given that nobody actually wants to solve it

*sensibly discussing

When did I say you/ other posters were 'racist and mean'?

It's not my posting style to call other posters names. And I'm pretty sure that would be against talk guidelines.

Can you point to the post? I had a look through the thread to see if anything even like that was in posts and couldn't see anything.

In fact reading again I was reminded that my overall posts say-
Lifeboat thing appalling horrible people
Migrants global issue
Can't see how it can be resolved as global. Countries want to look after own interests for some reasons I gave and well of course they do it's perfectly understandable
I can see why the views are what they are and in the end really both sides at their extremes wouldn't work and problem not going to go away so messy and complex and I think sadly intractable.

OTOH in direct response (can't remember who said which but Def some you tractor).

• I've been told I can't 'think critically' (MN for biased and a bit thick). Oh and that I've obviously never read a history book or any academic papers.
• I've been quoted as calling other posters racist and mean. I have checked and I can't see anything and not sort of thing I do at all. And against talk guidelines. You have quoted that as my words can you show me where?
• my DH who mentioned something in passing that I said anyone know about this, then googled myself and said ok this is main reason. I've been told in caps he is TALKING BOLLOCKS. Bit strong? Poor fella :(

Can't remember maybe more.

Are you always this angry? For someone with an extensive knowledge of the history of migration (globally?) and especially between France and UK.
With I'm guessing a full and unbiased grasp on the global political situation, patterns of moment, French and UK political history on this issue, what impact brexit had, etc etc.

I don't really understand why you're posting the if you knew your onions stuff.

*Last year, Germany had the highest number of asylum applicants in the EU (122,015 applicants), while France had 93,475 applicants.

In the same period the UK received the 5th largest number of applicants (36,041)*

Interesting, although it's worth remembering that Germany is around 1.5 times larger than the UK and France about 2.3 times larger than the UK.

I live in Hastings - there is a swathe of brexit loving people associated with fishing that have been bitching about the RNLI stance on the issue. Even minor delays are critical - despite the source of reporting The boat was called to an incident on weds and there were further cat calls and delays because some fisherman were offended by the hurried manner in which they were spoken to. The boat had to launch on a different side of the harbour and there were working fisherman there who were 'sluggish' beligerent wankers and there was a delay in getting out. In better news at other recent arrivals of a boat (we probably get one per week) local businesses brought food, blankets and hot drinks for everyone (refugees, border force, rnli crews). I support the RNLI and many of the locals no longer buy fish off the day boats. For the few Refugees who gain the right to stay in the U.K. they often are highly successful and contribute effectively to society.

@QueeniesCroft - I'm afraid that's not correct in Hastings. This issue has split the community. The lifeboat recently attended an incident in which a fisherman sadly died. It hasn't stopped a large number of those in that community for bitching and obstructing the boat - even for short periods. The pp was correct in that it fell to the toxic masculinity of someone who didn't like being told to move abruptly to cause a delay.

As per my PP @khaleesi71 I’m amazed at the relationship breaking down between lifeboat and fishermen like that. Aren’t the crew or some of them fishers themselves?

@khaleesi71

I live in Hastings - there is a swathe of brexit loving people associated with fishing that have been bitching about the RNLI stance on the issue. Even minor delays are critical - despite the source of reporting The boat was called to an incident on weds and there were further cat calls and delays because some fisherman were offended by the hurried manner in which they were spoken to. The boat had to launch on a different side of the harbour and there were working fisherman there who were 'sluggish' beligerent wankers and there was a delay in getting out. In better news at other recent arrivals of a boat (we probably get one per week) local businesses brought food, blankets and hot drinks for everyone (refugees, border force, rnli crews). I support the RNLI and many of the locals no longer buy fish off the day boats. For the few Refugees who gain the right to stay in the U.K. they often are highly successful and contribute effectively to society.

Lovely post. Good for you and the locals who show support and kindness to the people who need it most.

To posters comparing about lack of gp appointments and school places, you do know refugees have absolutely zero power or control over those numbers and government has 100% power over capacity don't you? And if so, why blame shortages on people with no power (they can't even vote) and not the people with all the power? Could it be that for years you've been listening to powerful people pointing at powerless people and saying 'it's all their fault ' ?

Anyway, I seem to remember Farage pointing at the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean in 2015 and saying we have to get out of the EU to prevent this happening here. Surely he wouldn't have been lying?

In other news, I suspect this will be the direction we go next and will by hugely popular with Tory/Brexit voters.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/far-right-activists-unfurl-anti-refugee-banner-over-blackwall-tunnel-approach-3spt0r88t

Oddly, the Daily Mail was pro-remain.

Lol, no it wasn’t. It was militantly Brexit. The Mail on Sunday (under Geordie Grieg) used to have pro-remain moments, but that was mostly due to infighting within Associated Newspapers.

Does anyone know why the asylum seekers wanted to come to UK anyway? Probably a dumb question, I don't know much about immigration. France is an ok country though isn't it? So why risk their lives in a boat to UK instead of staying in France (or whatever other sensible country people find themselves in) for asylum?

A number of reasons, but as a consequence of centuries of British Imperialism English is among the most common second languages in the world. Pretty sure most people would want to live somewhere where they can communicate.

@ShineySparkleyChrissmassy often about language, as the PP references, but, more importantly, it is usually that people already have family and friends here, so would have the connections to help them settle. Which is probably what most of us would do, if forced to leave our homes, I guess.

Most refugees and migrants don’t try and get to the uk. I know it’s already been said on this thread but it bears repeating. The ones who are prepared to make these very dangerous journeys are doing it for a reason.