Lily Allen in Calais

[parrots]

Couldn't find another thread on this. The situation in Calais is awful, but AIBU to see Lily Allen's overtures as slightly virtue signalling and self-indulgent?

and they do have access to the internet, they have phones just like everyone else.

We're not talking Ethiopians, we're talking what was the 19th wealthiest country in the world.

When did MN become awash with daily fail readers?

There's hundreds of children. Actual children. Under 4 feet tall, who only want to draw and jump in puddles.

It isn't all chances who are perhaps 16 or 17 maybe pushing 18. There's actual fucking children, and once they claim asylum they usually call for their passports to prove their nationality and therefore their age.

My thoughts exactly Gunting!

So, on behalf of my country, I apologise to him for Lily Allen

I do think people need to be careful when they blame our whole country for causing all the problems in the Middle East, our government played a part but the blame lies with lots of different groups and countries.

Right now we have a situation where people need our help and we're not helping. That's what we should really be ashamed of.

I admire Lily Allen for drawing more attention to it, it needs more attention. I am filled with admiration for anyone that is helping.

You don't have to be Muslim to foster a refugee!!!

I thought that blaming Britain for everything that led to that refugee fleeing his country, ending up in the Jungle and suffering there was WEIRD. Why?? It showed how ignorant she is of the complexities of the political/historical background to this situation.

Also, the question we all want an answer to (as the commentator said), is Why are these refugees risking their lives to get to Britain instead of applying for asylum in France (as they are apparently advised to do). She didn't ask that question.

In essense they are choosing to come to Britain and to wait in the jungle instead of considering other options. That is my understanding.
I have no problem accepting refugees (voted to remain in EU) but I don't really get it. I think a lot of Brits are confused about this. It could have been an opportunity to provide some clarity but the (lack of) questions she asked did not help shed light on their plight.

I was reading an interesting article today suggesting other EU countries "shunt" migrants through the schenegan zone to the UK.

I think it is fine for lily to express herself if she wants.
And if the children want to come then fine too. There are not so many.
However I do not understand why most of the younger children are not in the French care system, even if it is only temporary. France has a good welfare state. It seems really awful and wrong that they are in limbo.

I watched her on Victoria Derbyshire's programme and I thought she acquitted herself well

Serious question - how would I go about the process of fostering a refugee? The thought of young children unaccompanied and in the cold makes me weep.

Precisely, gunting. Al these people nitpicking at the possible ages of some unaccompanied minors are just too inhibited to come out and state: "I don't give a shit about these children. They're furrin , therefore they can just die as far as I'm concerned."

And, as for no comparison to WW2- do you think a child slowly starving to death on reduced rations in a Lebanese refugee camp, or a child being worked 12 hours a day in Turkish tomato field, with the distinct possibility of no pay at the end of the season, and no comeback to the authorities because you're working illegally, would really see the fine distinction between ideological annihilation or slave labour and just, y'know, accidentally dying because Europe doesn't care?

Yabu she's right.

There are not so many.

Our Social Services are on their knees trying to cope with all our needy children as it is.
And you're discounting the fact that if these migrants come, then it will also act as a green light for thousands of others to follow. Harsh, but true.

They are told to fight , bite and run away to avoid the French athorites

Often the families send them knowing that children will be looked after then praise the Lord after a few months

The U.K. Has my little one application goes in to join little Bob in the next think you know mum , dad auntie Bec have circumnavigated the immragtion laws

HexBramble I'm wondering the same. We've space for a little one although with a 3&5 year old he/she would have to be little.

Stop right there!

The boy in the video IS 13! You can spout whatever nonsense you like about "should have stayed in first safe country, blah blah". However I can tell you for a fact that the boy featured in the video is 13 years old.

As you were. I cannot be dealing with another racist, islamophobic thread, I just needed to clarify that point.

Oh found the article I cant link its Times - behind pay wall.

" European Nations are trying to shunt the migrant crisis onto the Uk because we are seen as a soft touch " the Archbishop of York has said.

The Most Reverend Dr John Sentamu, the church of Englands second most senior figure said that asylum seekers from the middle east should be cared for in the first country they reach rather than being allowed to travel to the UK.

He critised nations who signed up for Schengen agreement in 1995 which abolished many internal borders in Europe. " All those asylum seekers in Calais have come through the Schengen agreement. Those countries ought to resolve the problem. Every nation has been shunting them and shunting them in the hope they will end up in the UK.

The archbishop who backed Remain said " The united nations says that wherever asylum seekers arrive you have a responsibility for their care and love and protection, Schengen countries have not done that.

"Much as I am sympathetic and feel sorry for the people who are genuinely seeking asylum I think the issue lies with the Schengen countries, they cannot see Britain as a soft touch"

" He called on the government to make it easier for refugee children to be reunited with their parents" and " he also wanted that terrorists could be exploiting the crisis.

^^

I think he makes some very interesting points, after all Europe is a vast huge place.

It was bizarre to phrase it as though the UK had invaded and was an aggressor.

But I agree with PP that she does not seem well recently.

• Precisely, gunting. Al these people nitpicking at the possible ages of some unaccompanied minors are just too inhibited to come out and state: "I don't give a shit about these children. They're furrin , therefore they can just die as far as I'm concerned."

And, as for no comparison to WW2- do you think a child slowly starving to death on reduced rations in a Lebanese refugee camp, or a child being worked 12 hours a day in Turkish tomato field, with the distinct possibility of no pay at the end of the season, and no comeback to the authorities because you're working illegally, would really see the fine distinction between ideological annihilation or slave labour and just, y'know, accidentally dying because Europe doesn't care? *

So what do you propose to do about it Stubborn? Especially as these children are not in the UK! You can always call your LA Social Services and become a foster carer. As for the children in Turkey - I doubt you will be able to offer them a home unless they make it to your local area. You cant pick and choose tho. If you become a foster carer you will have to be prepared to take on children who are British, vulnerable, exploited, abused and in need of a loving home.

poster DillyDayDream8 Wed 12-Oct-16 21:00:01
You don't have to be Muslim to foster a refugee!!!

when ss re looking t a long term match and if they are claiming they have no parents one would assume that's what ss are looking at then a religious and or a cultural match would be on the agenda

And I assure you as someone who has fostered and adopted twice they are very very Nick picky about cultural matches

Same paper - " Thousands of children in care as adoption numbers plummet"

"There are now 70,440 children in the care system the highest on record. There were 50,000 two decades ago and the increase was largely among older children, which included un accompanied asylum seekers which rose to 4,210 up to 54 per cent in one year"

Fishewife - I have fostered many and adopted 2. I concur. A cultural match comes before anything.