Football fans and the refugee crisis

[Keeno]

It's an unfair world and it always has been.  To look back and say we did this or that is not going to make any difference today.  As a country you have to look back and ask whether we have made it fairer over the passage of time, both here and places where we had influence to do so.  The world and what was thought to be right 50 years ago, 100 years ago, 200 years ago etc. is completely different to today.

We can always make it fairer but is it a case of diminishing returns and should our main efforts be to influence other countries to make their country fairer where they are way behind where this country stands.

It is very easy to spend somebody else's money on a very worthy cause and, comparing with football, is similar in a way to how much a club should spend on transfers.

That's very true. But it doesn't mean we should be not bothered with attempting to make things better now. I too sympathise with politicians on this because there is no 'right' answer that will appease everyone - if emphasis is placed on trying to improve conditions in the affected countries rather than the immediate migrant concern, then they are labelled as cold hearted. Yet doing the opposite and fixing the short term problem does not prevent it from continuing to happen in the future. Because unless the problem is solved at the source, people will continue to flee and moral questions will continue to be asked of us all here.

I also don't buy the idea that only now has the government realised that there is a lot of refugees on our doorstep. I interned in Parliament back in January and it was still one of the main topics of conversation then for all parties. The situation is such a difficult one to get any meaningful change done in my opinion without, alas, boots on the ground (some at least) in the middle east and FORCING a change in the conflict, which no one definitely wants either - because sadly it doesn't look that neighbouring countries and the Assad regime in particular is capable of fixing it on their own, even with help from the West.

[aev]

A top UN official has called the crisis a “human atrocity” - and come up with a more subtle, and worrying, explanation for the cause.

Philippe Douste-Blazy, who advises the UN secretary general on innovative financing for development, told the Guardian’s global development correspondent Sam Jones that it all goes back to poverty.



“The wave was 10cm high two years ago. Now it’s about 40cm high. But for your children, it will be 30 metres high. Why? Because 2 billion people in the world earn less than $1.25 a day.


The difference between now and 20 years ago is that everybody looks at everybody now – it’s the globalisation of the economy and the globalisation of communications: internet, TV, radio. It’s very new.”

This is from the Guardian.

[UK Redsox]

In contrast, the Telegraph says that increased migration is due to the poor not being as poor as they used to be

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/11842760/Prepare-yourselves-The-Great-Migration-will-be-with-us-for-decades.html

Never has there been less hardship; since Clinton’s day, the share of the population in extreme poverty (surviving on less than $1.25 a day) has halved. Never has there been less violence: the Syrian conflict is an exception in a period of history where war has waned. It might not feel like it, but the world is more prosperous and peaceful than at any time in human history – yet the number of emigrants stands at a record high. But there is no paradox. As more people have the money to move, more are doing so – and at extraordinary personal risk.

[aev]

The interesting thing for me is how everything has become globalized, and instantly accessible.

[Axl Rose]

Ding - Dong .
Door opens .

"Heroes and villains , villa fanzine , latest issue " 

Yes, you've already said that and it wasn't funny then.

It was a tiny bit funny. I at least smiled.

[Toronto Villa]

In contrast, the Telegraph says that increased migration is due to the poor not being as poor as they used to be

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/11842760/Prepare-yourselves-The-Great-Migration-will-be-with-us-for-decades.html

Never has there been less hardship; since Clinton’s day, the share of the population in extreme poverty (surviving on less than $1.25 a day) has halved. Never has there been less violence: the Syrian conflict is an exception in a period of history where war has waned. It might not feel like it, but the world is more prosperous and peaceful than at any time in human history – yet the number of emigrants stands at a record high. But there is no paradox. As more people have the money to move, more are doing so – and at extraordinary personal risk.

There's truth to that. The world is a much better, safer place than it ever has been. We just have 24hr news access to all be bad stuff. Hear or see it enough times on TV and radio, across the Internet and in the paper and it will always feel more than it is. This isn't downplaying the difficulties of each individual situation because they absolutely are. And those stories will always remain hard to digest and deal with. They all have their complexities. But hardships have always existed and conditions today for most people and much of the world are better and getting better.

[brian green]

Even if the case for the world generally becoming a better place, and there are arguments for and against that theory, is true, the real unchallengeable truth is that the betterment is not being shared equally. While holiday homes and cosmetic surgery and cars for teenage children become the norm for the rich minority, the poor majority still die from preventable disease, famine, war and terrorism.
When the State of Israel was created in 1947 their founding mothers and father's decreed that poverty would never take root in the country. Their logic holds good to this day that people who have built something be it an orange grove or a brick factory are much less likely to want to fight than those with nothing who have nothing to lose. When the oil starts to run out, these days in the middle East will be regarded as relatively peaceful.

[Stirchley Villain]

Shouldn't these people be moved to Off Topic?

Bastard

Who... Me?

[bruisedshins]

A crowd funding page has been set up here, proceeds will be split between Asirt in Birmingham which is an independent refugee advocacy organisation and CalAid who supply clothing, tents and food to those in Calais. All donations no matter how small very welcome.

https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/villanssupportrefugees

[Toronto Villa]

Brian - things have never been equal and never will be. Even the things you mentioned, the inequalities have always been there and will always be there. They just take a new form through the generations and in the next generation it will just be something else.

[robbo1874]

Governments are the problem not the people, if the suburb i live in was asked to support twenty families of Syrian refugees i have no doubt that they would be welcomed with open arms, replicate that across developed countries and that would go a long way to solving the problem. With the prime minister we have there is no chance of this happening. Save the children.

Australia is a great example of how governments are often the problem.

i agree with you, but generally speaking, governments are reflective of the prevailing majority at any given point in time. Not saying all Aussies wouldn't welcome refugees, but probably the majority wouldn't, in my estimation. There does seem to be quite an undercurrent of selfishness. Hopefully the attention this issue is now receiving can help to change this. It's a huge country blessed with abundant resources. It could and should do more. It's a huge embarrassment to read read about the politicians claiming success in 'turning the boats back' and some of the horror stories emanating from Nauru detention centre where they basically imprison people who have entered the country illegally. It really is a shameful advert for Australia.

[Witton Warrior]

Brian - things have never been equal and never will be. Even the things you mentioned, the inequalities have always been there and will always be there. They just take a new form through the generations and in the next generation it will just be something else.

And there have always been people who try to equalise and balance the inequalities of others to the best of their abilities and will continue so do so in the face of history, expectation and experience....

[Stirchley Villain]

Shouldn't these people be moved to Off Topic?

Bastard

Who... Me?

My original post said "shouldn't this be moved to off topic?" Shame on whoever altered it to make me look bad and themselves look clever...given the subject.

[ChicagoLion]

In contrast, the Telegraph says that increased migration is due to the poor not being as poor as they used to be

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/11842760/Prepare-yourselves-The-Great-Migration-will-be-with-us-for-decades.html

Never has there been less hardship; since Clinton’s day, the share of the population in extreme poverty (surviving on less than $1.25 a day) has halved. Never has there been less violence: the Syrian conflict is an exception in a period of history where war has waned. It might not feel like it, but the world is more prosperous and peaceful than at any time in human history – yet the number of emigrants stands at a record high. But there is no paradox. As more people have the money to move, more are doing so – and at extraordinary personal risk.

Yes finally some sensible journalism to balance the, they are all fleeing because they are in mortal danger, the situation in Syria has not just got a whole lot worse.

[pauliewalnuts]

I see Villa were mentioned on The Last Leg tonight as one of two "teams" planning banners.