Sex Attacks in Cologne and other European Cities Part VII

[januarybrown1998]

part 6

part 5

part 4

part 3

part 2

part 1

The events of NYE were shocking enough; the subsequent minimising and under-reporting were an affront to women's rights to equality across Europe.

It's a testament to the tenacity and commitment of this community that we are at thread VII; do join the discussion and feel free to share the links and letters to anyone you think may wish to be part of this important debate.


We are currently awaiting the approval of a petition to parliament.

Shortly we will post links for those who want to take a proactive part in safeguarding the rights of all UK women to live in freedom from the fear of mass sexual assault as we sadly saw in NYE and reports of which are finally seeing daylight across Europe.

[WillBeatJanuaryBlues]

veronica no they won't sadly.

[DespicableBee]

www.wsj.com/articles/growing-percentage-of-people-arriving-in-eu-are-economic-migrants-commission-says-1453815921

60% of migrants are economic, so not fleeing wars

[emilybohemia]

Calmyo, I am sorry for going at you with such vehemence about something you never said. It was wrong and I am sorry. It was not my intention to misquote you but I did numerous times and I shouldn't have and I was out of order. I should have checked more thoroughly and am sorry.

Sporting, thanks for pointing out the error too. I don't usually misquote people, it was a mistake. I think a lot of the people coming in the boats are Syrian, so my point was that it doesn't follow that Syrian women and girls can't swim, just because they are not taught to in another country.

Some of them do seem tread water etc and survive but the conditions seem so bad that often swimmers probably die for other reasons. There are a lot of ake life jackets and while no other arrangements are made for desperate people, extremely unscrupulous people benefit hugely. It is about 1000 pounds to make the journey and quite often they force them into the very overcrowded boats. They must be terrified.

[januarybrown1998]

Despicable, that is an interesting article.

I ordered some time back about the number of refugees versus economic migrants in the Calais camps.

I wonder of that proportion os reflects there. I have the impression it's so chaotic nobody has any idea at all.

[januarybrown1998]

I wonder if that proportion is reflected...

Haven't even had the Martini with Protective Olive yet.

[emilybohemia]

Veronicabird,

'I have to say that I am appalled that a certain group of posters with a hostile agenda are still here having been allowed to continue'.

There have been 7 threads relating to Cologne, with the majority of posters largely agreeing and about three disagreeing.I am not sure what agenda you refer to, I don't think you need to have an agenda to post on here, just an opinion.

'I know of no forum that allows a cabal of saboteurs to remain. Their style of writing is to undermine and exasperate op but pretend it is a difference of opinion. They dissect other people’s statements but have nothing pertinent to say themselves'.

I don't see a cabal of saboteurs on here. I see many posters that largely agree and a few lone voices disagreeing.

You refer to bullying. I have seen some of that behaviour on these threads with some posters claiming to have access to my twitter account and stating my other half was engaged in activities which he is not involved in. These very personal comments do constitute bullying in my opinion and have nothing to do with the issues being discussed.

[DespicableBee]

Well the European commission said its 60%, but I'm not sure how they can be so sure, who is collecting the stats, it seem chaotic
I would imagine it would be actually a higher percentage
Apart from Syria, what other countries can the people be classed as refugees

[DespicableBee]

I would imagine for the calaise camp the % of economic migrants is much higher , because if they were fleeing war surely they would just stay in France once they were in a safe country?
It doesn't make sense to stay for months in makeshift tents,

[januarybrown1998]

Despicable, I agree. I cannot imagine why either.

I read somewhere today that France are able to verify claimants ages through dental testing and that many there are not mid-teens but a fair bit older.

It is so sad that those who deliberately try to screw the system and break the law of the country they've chosen to come to are actually turning the tide of kindness against all comers.

I have noticed, professionally and personally, a real sea-change in European attitudes towards refugees and migrants (and also to the Governments and the media who seem incapable of distinguishing between the two very different needs).

And that change has happened in the last few months with a speed and vocalisation that will, unless taken seriously by European governments, be hijacked by less desirable groups who will, sadly, be shown to be the only ones who are listening, especially to women voters.

[DespicableBee]

Apparently some migrants in cslaise have British passports!!

[DespicableBee]

For the cologne carnival(I can't quite believe they are going ahead with it) there's going to be a safezone for women, whatever that means😕

[januarybrown1998]

I know, me too. I've got friends going and I completely understand why they want to (tradition and they always have such a wonderful time) and particularly this year, but I will be very pleased to hear they have got home.

They are leaving the younger teen DDs at home this year.

[GraceKellysLeftArm]

So that's 60% who have admitted to being economic migrants... that does not mean it is 60%.

It's the equivalent statistic of "only 0.0000000000001% of benefit claims are fradulent".

Nope. Innocent until proven guilty.

It simply means "this is what we can prove".

january I think you're right. Without middle-ground politics picking this up and running with it then the less desirable fringe groups will gain traction. 4 million+ (!) voted for Farage, despite popular (vocal) rhetoric calling him a racist/xenophobic/right-wing nutter.

Geert Wilders has been mocked and in fact prosecuted in The Netherlands - when you look back at what he was saying 6/7 years ago which back then was the lone voice of dissent... it's now becoming more and more common. In fact I believe it was in 2010/2011 or so when the first rumblings came out of The Netherlands (not Geert wilders), saying that the forced acceptance of multi-culturalism had failed. The traditionally most open society admitted it was a fuck up. That large districts of Rotterdam were lost.

[Inkanta]

'I don't see a cabal of saboteurs on here. I see many posters that largely agree and a few lone voices disagreeing.'

Disagreeing??

Disagreeing would not be a problem at all Emily!

Your style isn't to disagree - your style is to ACCUSE. You accuse posters that they are motivated by hate! You pull a quote out and accuse ...time and time again, and you get away with it.

Disagreeing I think not.

[kesstrel]

Emily has used the word racism or racist around 60 times in the last fortnight
and the word "hate" around 30. Definitely not just "disagreeing", no.

[WidowWadman]

It isn't only Emily who has noticed the bile and open xenophobia (which seems to get worse the longer those threads have been going).

[januarybrown1998]

[Inkanta]

'It isn't only Emily who has noticed the bile and open xenophobia (which seems to get worse the longer those threads have been going).'

Ha - Widow

Your style too - like Emily.

[OneWingWonder]

WidowWadman

I'm afraid that 'xenophobia' is no longer a magic word that automatically wins you the argument by shutting down debate.

If you want to call protecting women's safety, rights, and freedoms 'xenophobia', then be my guest. It's good to know what side we're all on.

[sportinguista]

I'm not sure I've expressed bile or open xenophobia at any point Widow. If I was xenophobic I'd have to get rid of my husband, in laws and pretty much all my social circle - I'd be pretty lonely would'nt you say?

And before you bluster and say 'not you', you seem to be tarring us all with the same brush?

[emilybohemia]

I have said those words, kesstrel. Some of the views expressed have reminded me of some very dark times in history. I think it is best to tell it like it is when views like that are being expressed. It does constitute disagreeing, very strongly disagreeing.

Despicable, the safe zone thing is nothing new. It has been used at Oktoberfest too.

Whatever percentage are economic migrants, none of them deserve to live in absolute squalor with little food to freeze outside or in poor shelters. There is no justification for that.

[DespicableBee]

Oktoberfest!!! That old argument
Havnt heard that for a while

[januarybrown1998]

Who wants to start the new thread?

[DespicableBee]

The economic migrants in Calais don't need to live in tents, they can live in France instead of risking lives jumping on trucks, eiuro tunnel etc

[WidowWadman]

That's a straw man. It's perfectly possible tp to stand up for women's rights without wanting to shut down the borders and pretend that sexual assault in public places is something only immigrants do.

The whole side discussions about "real" refugees and "economic migrants" showed very well that the wish to protect women is just a handy opportunity to voice all the prejudice that can be mustered.