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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

Refugee crisis: please take our survey to let us know where you stand

313 replies

SarahMumsnet · 03/09/2015 16:30

Good afternoon, everyone.

Many of you will have seen the thread started by Theremustbesomething suggesting that Mumsnet consider campaigning for the government to change its policy towards asylum seekers fleeing from war zones.

Justine posted this morning to say that "we think that the best way forward is to poll all users to gauge support for this. While it's clear from this thread that many feel extremely passionately about the need to do more, we've had a look at other threads on the subject, and there are a range of views. As a rule we don't campaign for political change unless we're clear that it's something that a substantial majority of Mumsnetters support, so we'd need to be sure of that before committing to an 'official' campaign."

We've now set up the poll; you can fill it in here. We'd be grateful if as many of you as possible could take it, to let us know your views. We'll make sure this thread is prominently displayed across the site.

Thanks very much,
MNHQ

OP posts:
ReluctantCamper · 03/09/2015 22:02

Done. Please take this on.

BloodyLeadStuckInSharpener · 03/09/2015 22:02

done

TeapotDictator · 03/09/2015 22:04

juneau I don't really see the point in nitpicking about why they didn't bother to buy life-jackets. I mean, really. Do we need to blame them for their own fate? Who knows what happened, but let's not think they were just a bit too thick to avoid their tragic demise.

I don't think people are responding in a knee-jerk way to the photo on the beach. I think the tide of public opinion has been swelling over recent weeks, and just prior to those photos we had the story about 71 dead migrants' carcasses being abandoned in a lorry in Austria. Each story tips us ever closer to what seems to be the inescapable truth that this story isn't going away.

I'm also slightly unsure we should be patting ourselves on the back for absorbing 5,000 Syrians over a four year period, when 100,000 alone made it to Europe in the month of July this year. It's a pathetic number and the government knows it. I'm very interested to see DC's response this afternoon. I think more announcements will be made over coming days. Hundreds of thousands of people petitioning in the space of a couple of days, I think it's 55k now signed up to the March on 12th September at a rate currently of 3,000 per hour. I'll be attending the march on the 12th - the first time I've been moved to protest about something since 2003 when 2m people from all walks of life took to the streets to show their distress about the impending Iraq war. Hmm, one could almost think those two events were related... Hmm

thecatfromjapan · 03/09/2015 22:10

I would love Mumsnet to help give me a voice in this. I'm really glad theremustbesomething posted her initial post.

Theremustbesomething · 03/09/2015 22:12

Hi Goblinhat. I'm sorry if that's how it came across. I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on that one. I sincerely hope that Mumsnet does proceed as I think it could potentially change the terms of the debate. I think that probably we now just have to wait for the outcome of this democratic process.

CalmYoBadSelf · 03/09/2015 22:22

I find this is another head vs heart thing for me. Heart-wise, I can't bear leaving these people to suffer but head-wise, I think we need to be very careful.
I worry that the more we take, the more will come and I worry about the effect on those already struggling here. I know poor in the UK is not the same as what they are facing but I do voluntary work at a food bank and we have a large number of working poor families for whom life is hard. It is those people who will be hit by competition for housing, benefits, low pay jobs, etc

Ultimately I don't trust our government to plan this properly and this knee-jerk outpouring of pressure from the public to bring these people in is coming from a lot of the same people who only recently were claiming we can't afford to support our own poor, old and disabled with benefits and we can't afford to spend more on healthcare, etc. Where will the money come from to support these new arrivals?

Cameron and co have a history of thinking "Something needs to be done" and grabbing at the first headline catching "something" that comes along whether it is appropriate or not. I hope this isn't another of those

TheoriginalLEM · 03/09/2015 22:23

i like the idea of taking refugees directly from syria. because if we do (as we should) open the gates as it were it will undoubtedly encourage others to take the risks to get here. Surely that is something our armed forces could do?

TheoriginalLEM · 03/09/2015 22:26

i guess a payoff would have to be an immigration cap for non asylum seekers? christ, i never thought id say that as i am actually pro immigration but it would need to be a consideration maybe?

goblinhat · 03/09/2015 22:28

There are 11 million displaced Syrians looking for new homes, many more from other countries too.
What is happening is an effect of ISIL- we need to tackle the root cause.
I fully agree that we need to give humanitarian aid- but these refugees need stability in their own country.

I also hate the sensationalist and gratutious media coverage.
Six million children die a year of malnutrition globally- should Mumsnet be lobbying parliament about that too- or only if it hits the headlines?

TheoriginalLEM · 03/09/2015 22:34

goblin - yes maybe mumsnet should do just that.

i do agree with you that absolutely the situation in syria needs to be stabilised but these prople are clearly unable to wait around for that to happen. they need our help and they need it now.

Why has this been allowed to happen? what is the US doing to help?

HannaClotta · 03/09/2015 22:36

I just don't understand that argument!

Why shouldn't it lobby for every good cause? What is wrong with people? We are all human, we all share the same planet, what makes one life more valuable than the next?

I completely agree that the problem needs to be sorted at source, but as I've said elsewhere earlier, we can't just press pause on those suffering while that happens. We need to do both!

The whole world needs to get involved and stop this at root. I think most people fleeing would agree with that too! Why the sudden increase in interest in getting to the U.K and other EU countries? Things have become desperate, they wouldn't be leaving if they felt they had a choice!

They're not coming for the weather are they.

HannaClotta · 03/09/2015 22:37

X post with LEM Grin

chickindude · 03/09/2015 22:41

Done

Kent1982 · 03/09/2015 22:41

It's absolutely heart breaking the lengths and risks people are being forced into to give their babies a chance to grow up safely. This is our problem as we are members of the human race, we are parents we are adults, we are here to set an example to our babies that we don't turn a blind eye.

i thank god my baby is safe and asleep in his cot. This is a parenting issue, of course it is.

Maybe discussing what you got at the next sale is a better option or filling in questionnaires to win £50 quid.

It is totally appropriate that this issue is explored

LilyTucker · 03/09/2015 22:42

They've suffered an incredible drought too and Syria may never get back to the way it was.Then they've had to deal with Asaad and Isis. Millions have left. It's not that easy to just "tackle" the root cause.

Peppapogstillonaloop · 03/09/2015 22:44

Done

RealHuman · 03/09/2015 22:46

Just because I'm not in favour of Mumsnet acting as a political pressure group on this issue doesn't mean I think one life is more valuable than the next. Hmm Can people please avoid conflating "not wanting MN to campaign on my behalf on this issue" and "not caring about the refugees"? My position on whether MN should campaign politically is actually unrelated to my beliefs on what we as individuals and as a country can and should do.

goblinhat · 03/09/2015 22:49

realhuman- agreed.

serin · 03/09/2015 22:49

Done.

Wholeheartedly support, BUT don't know why you had to ask opinions first.

If the majority voted not to support the refugees would the leaders of MN just drop the issue?

QofF · 03/09/2015 22:50

Done and support 100%

Karou · 03/09/2015 22:54

Done

Taking a political stance is nothing new for this site and I support it

Missymoomoo197936 · 03/09/2015 22:58

Done, please these images of children who have drowned should not be what we see in this day and age of countries that can and should help.

cruikshank · 03/09/2015 22:58

I agree with theremustbesomething and would also add that in extraordinary circumstances, factions and groups have to bend themselves in extraordinary ways in order to be useful contributors to what is going on. It's all very well saying that we should confine ourselves to debating breast is best vs bottle feeding or aibu about a parking in my street issue, but when there are people actually dying as a result of our govt's actions and when their policies are exacerbating the rate that these people are dying at, surely it behoves everyone with a public platform to use their position to speak out because, well, to put it bluntly, if you're not part of the solution then you're part of the problem. This goes way way beyond party political in-fighting - there is a humanitarian crisis happening right now, on our doorstep, and any pressure that can be brought to do some good is worth exerting.

MintChocAddict · 03/09/2015 23:15

Done. I don't give a flying feck if Mumsnet's not a pressure group. Those who have questioned this have every right to state their opinion. I just don't agree that a massive high profile site like Mumsnet doesn't have a role to play.
Any means to demand action should be utilised. I wrote to my MP today for the first time ever. Hopeless, desperate people who believe crossing the Mediterranean in a dinghy is safer than living in the midst of horror and torture need to be rescued and treated with compassion, not ignored and viewed with suspicion. To not do so is an affront to humanity. Shame on those who turn away. (I'm talking to you British Government)

del2929 · 03/09/2015 23:36

done, and i support 100% this is a humanitarian issue- for crying out loud!! these poor families are fleeing in the dead of the night... getting onto a boat not knowing where it will take them, risking their lives. They are refugees and not migrants as the media chose to say. Rest in peace to all those who have been washed up ashore. such a sad state of affairs.