Asylum Seekers

Having attended a meeting in Deal on Friday I was shocked to hear about the treatment of asylum seekers in Calais.

These people were turned out of their self made 'town', the so called 'Jungle', on Wednesday 16th September, to the "delight" of both Alan Johnson and Damian Green, (Times online) but then what happened? As it turns out, many of them are still there. Their few possessions were thrown into landfill, leaving them on the street with no food, no shelter and no hope. Delightful!! It is now illegal for a French citizen to let these people into their home for a meal or a wash, and they are regularly rounded up (violently, if No Borders are not there with their camcorders), 'Processed', then kicked out on the street, minus any shelter they may have accrued. The few that are deported are sent back to Greece, where they simply start the westward journey again.

Why do they not just 'go back home'? Because there are wars going on in their countries, funded by, among others, the U.S. and the U.K. The only options are to leave, kill or die.

Rights of asylum (The Dublin Convention) state that they must claim asylum in the first safe country they come to, so why do they not try that? Because the first so-called safe countries they come to are Greece or Italy, where they are locked away in a detention centre, up to 150 people per room, for two years, violently treated, then kicked out and told to "go home", whereupon they inevitably turn West, for France and Britain. Some have been stuck in this loop for years.

With winter approaching an appeal for clothing, blankets, sleeping bags or anything else has been put out, and anyone wishing to donate can call 07534 008 380

There is also a march from Folkestone Station @ 12:25 to the new Centre for General Intelligence Sharing on Immigration on Saturday 28th November.

War Ensemble.

A few years ago I was in a relationship with a young lady who had two sons, a two year old and a seven year old, Matthew. Inevitably a lot of time was spent on the playstation 2. So I'm sitting there watching Matthew battle his way through "Call of Duty" (the debate on the ethics of letting a 7 year old play a war game can wait till I've got to the point!) when the young warrior, as the next level was loading, turned round with a philosophers look and said "War's not really fun, though, is it uncle Steve?" My heart nearly broke. "No, Matthew, it's cold, boring, frightening and pointless." Such compassion from one so young!! Such insight!!

The next level loaded and the warrior was off blasting virtual Nazis again.

This year, if I can find one, I will be wearing a white poppy. The Royal British Legion does a wonderful job, but the message I wish to send with the white poppy is: "honour the sacrifice they made but, please, never again." I hope Matthew never truly knows the horrors of war, but many children are not as fortunate. And, yes, I understand that millions gave their lives so that he and myself didn't have to, and I wish this to continue and spread around the world.

"No matter what country
Under the sun
You can't mete justice
From the barrel of a gun"
The Levellers

At 11 O'clock on Wednesday 11th November my unit in the factory will be completely silent.

Remember the dead on the 11th November, but do not forget the living and, please, never again.

http://www.whitepoppy.org.uk/

More drugs, nurse!

So David Nutt has been sacked for telling the truth!