I'm not going to waste my time writing about why you should support refugees in Calais, the people dying in the ocean, and those fleeing from war. I want to go straight to how.
So the British government has let us down, they don't want to help refugees. Well, that doesn't mean we have to let Britain be forever tarred as full of self-absorbed racists, do we? We can do something ourselves! There are actually tons of British people doing decent things and
campaigning and supporting refugees. And so I've spent a while today, gathering all the ones I can find so far. If you want to help out, here are just some of the ways:
So the British government has let us down, they don't want to help refugees. Well, that doesn't mean we have to let Britain be forever tarred as full of self-absorbed racists, do we? We can do something ourselves! There are actually tons of British people doing decent things and
campaigning and supporting refugees. And so I've spent a while today, gathering all the ones I can find so far. If you want to help out, here are just some of the ways:
Physical events to go to
- Protest in Marble Arch, London
https://www.facebook.com/events/1047978998546751/
Date: Monday September 14th, 12.00 - Protest in Dover
Solidarity with Calais Migrants against fascism and racism
https://www.facebook.com/events/787314641379973/
Date: September 12th
- Calais Convoy
https://www.facebook.com/events/1064534463587481/
Date: October 3rd
If you can drive and have a car, you can help actually deliver donated goods to the people in Calais. They desperately need more drivers, and have
more donations than they can currently deliver. They also allow people to claim for staying overnight.
- Secret Cinema Presents a world wide screening protest
https://www.facebook.com/events/934247759945193/
Date: 12 September
Secret Cinema usually does weird events with films being screened in warehouses and people in costume. They will be doing some form of mass protest
action event, with a film screening. Not sure about it - but it may have a good impact.
- Map of Refugee Solidarity events across the world.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?usp=sharing&mid=z0IlKDKjh8U0.kynDNxGpqDP4
This includes events, groups, and drop off points for donations.
Community groups to join
- Calais People to People solidarity Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalaisMigrantSolidarityActionFromUK/
They also have a good FAQ on ways to help:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/calais-people-to-people-solidarity-action-from-uk/-faq/895737807167634
- Refugees Welcome UK
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1625303634416620/
- A whole list of local groups across the UK that you can join (from the Calais group)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13hbIN2xsypuwVG9dmfpyT2vRt85wWy_xby6AyBu-f4Y/edit?pli=1#gid=896689337
e.g. No Borders Leeds
https://www.facebook.com/noborders.leeds?fref=ts&hc_location=ufi
(So there's bound to be something for you)
Places to donate to
US?
If you are in the US, the incredible Jillian York has made a list of places you can donate to there. (Many UK sites won't take US donations and vice
versa). I'm not going to replicate her work, but please check it out.
https://jilliancyork.com/2015/09/02/new-for-2015-how-to-help-syrian-and-iraqi-refugees/
In-kind donations
There are many places that are after specifics: phone chargers, books, clothes etc.
There are many many charities who are supporting refugees that you can donate to, and some support on food, water, legal aid, medicine etc. I've put a few below that I support. However, feel free to make your own call on where you think best - the article in the Independent has a great list too.
US?
If you are in the US, the incredible Jillian York has made a list of places you can donate to there. (Many UK sites won't take US donations and vice
versa). I'm not going to replicate her work, but please check it out.
https://jilliancyork.com/2015/09/02/new-for-2015-how-to-help-syrian-and-iraqi-refugees/
In-kind donations
There are many places that are after specifics: phone chargers, books, clothes etc.
- Donation drop. There is a list of items that are needed here:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153599732884419&set=p.10153599732884419&type=1
(which also includes a link to donation drop off points) - Calais Action
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153462168200622&set=p.10153462168200622&type=1
(A similar list to the above)
- Crafting for Calais
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1025654547479470/?hc_location=ufi
(I believe this is for a group of crafters to knit clothes and teddy bears etc and organise donating them)
There are many many charities who are supporting refugees that you can donate to, and some support on food, water, legal aid, medicine etc. I've put a few below that I support. However, feel free to make your own call on where you think best - the article in the Independent has a great list too.
- Refugee Action
http://www.refugee-action.org.uk/support_us/give
- London2Calais convoy
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/london2calais-october-refugee-solidarity-convoy#/story
- Migrant Offshore Aid Station
http://www.moas.eu/donate/
- Medicine Sans Frontieres
http://www.msf.org.uk/
- A crowdfunder to put an ad in the paper calling on David Cameron to do accept more refugees
http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/actnow - Billable hours.
https://www.justgiving.com/BillableHour
(If you are lawyer there is a site where you can donate the value of 1 billable hour to Save the Children. Seems like a nice idea.)
Petitions to sign
I sometimes wish there weren’t so many petitions because I feel they can dilute or duplicate campaigns. Today I’ve decided I care enough to just sign every petition and do every action possible. Not my usual style but I’m edging my bets as it were. So these are all the ones I’ve done so far,
with the target, ask and link:
with the target, ask and link:
- Dear David Cameron: Britain must accept its fair share of refugees seeking safety in Europe
https://www.change.org/p/david-cameron-britain-must-accept-its-fair-share-of-refugees-seeking-safety-in-europe
- Dear Parliament: Accept more asylum seekers and increase support for refugee migrants in the UK.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/105991
- Dear David Cameron:
Tell Prime Minister David Cameron to Protect Refugees
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/520/548/215/stop-confusing-%22migrants%22-with-refugees/#next_action
- Dear BBC: Stop confusing 'migrants' with 'refugees'
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/520/548/215/stop-confusing-%22migrants%22-with-refugees/ - Dear YOUR MP: Ask your MP to call on the Prime Minister to act now.
http://act.refugeecouncil.org.uk/lobby/medcrisis - Dear Government: Give refugees safer optionshttp://www.refugee-action.org.uk/support_us/campaign/join_a_campaign/1542_lets_give_refugees_another_way_to_safety
Things to read and share
- Home, a poem by Warren Shire
http://seekershub.org/blog/2015/09/home-warsan-shire/
- Tory MPs are calling for support for refugees
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2015/sep/03/tory-mps-join-call-for-cameron-to-agree-to-britain-taking-more-refugees-politics-live?CMP=twt_gu
This has been regularly updated throughout today with on-going stories and has a lot of relevant and useful news.
As stated above, I obviously haven't put every single thing happening, even just in the UK. I'm not an expert in this area, I'm just a woman in the UK, sharing what I've found so far, largely for people here. As the day has gone on, I have seen more and more actions, which is great so if you want to share more stuff in comments, please do so.
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