Tragic Human Failure

[US Angel]

Sad thing to happen
Even here in the USA we hear horror tales of the one who "escort" them across the borders. When I lived in AZ hubby wouldn't let me walk the trails alone since even thou we were on base they would come thro it. In the afternoon the kids on the school bus would see the ones they had caught lined up by the MP station

[davebtelford]

2 questions to ponder :

1. What would Africa be like if Europeans had never colonised it?

2. South America was extensively colonised - why has it turned out differently from Africa?

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Boeing Guy

Eric, I agree with you, but as Bob Geldof found out aid only goes so far.
I am not suggesting a coup, far from it.
For people to live like this is just not right.

I sponsor a child in Sierra Leone, it's a small start, but its better than nothing

Sponsoring a child is great ... and it's something an individual can do without involving government. I paid for a couple of goats last xmas, and will probably do the same again. One goat can make a helluva lot of difference in a family's life. I don't have much faith in African governments, and little hope that it's going to get better soon, but caritas is still an option. Millions of individuals doing even a little something out of kindness amounts to a whole lot of good. Because we can't solve all the problems, or even a few of them, doesn't mean we can't, as individuals, make a difference. I don't see it as "bleeding heart liberalism". I think of it as a small amount of tax I pay on my good fortune to be a Canadian, living in one of the happiest, most prosperous countries in the world.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by davebtelford

2 questions to ponder :

1. What would Africa be like if Europeans had never colonised it?

2. South America was extensively colonised - why has it turned out differently from Africa?

Not sure about the South but in North America they just killed all the natives.
Do you think that would work in Africa?

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Neil

Not sure about the South but in North America they just killed all the natives.

Really! There seem to be quite a few first nations folks left in Canada. And they are making their voices heard.

Assembly of First Nations - National Chief - National Chief

[US Angel]

There seems to be quite a few here as well

[essexshar]

Unfortunately this is not a new thing, I remember going to Malta in the early 80s as the island is between their set-off point and destination many of them ended up in Malta on the way to Italy. The Maltese didn't want them and large numbers were penned in at the airport ready for removal. Unfortunately they think that Europe is the land of milk and honey nobody told them the milk went sour and the bees are dying.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by US Angel

There seems to be quite a few here as well

I wouldn't call less than 1% quite a few which was the figure in 2010

[sm_counsell]

Originally Posted by accyman

these lot were heading to italy then on in through europe and i have no doubt the channel tunnel would have played a part in their journey after the french tossed them down it.

on the news it said they were using known smuggling routes so why arnt these routes been patrolled ?There may not have been so many lives lost infact possibly no loss of life if aprehended and shipped back to where they came from

There is a European organization called Frontex that is supposed to patrol the coasts , but it only goes into action when the country the immigrants are heading for, asks them to intervene.
As regards Sicily, by the time these boats ( so old that they are used only once so there's no way they could make a return journey) are seen , they are already too far away from their port of departure, have often been abandoned by the organisers('scafisti) or are no longer in condition to arrive at a port on their own and are then helped or by the local fishermen or by the coastguard and this Frontex, as far as I know, as never intervened.
I think it's a problem destined to get bigger as these people will not stop trying ( there have been two more arrivals here this morning!) Perhaps a joint- European effort should be considered because I don't think Italy is in any condition to do it alone. Just heard on the news that the death toll is now 221 and still growing

[Eric]

Originally Posted by davebtelford

2 questions to ponder :

1. What would Africa be like if Europeans had never colonised it?

2. South America was extensively colonised - why has it turned out differently from Africa?

Questions are not really all that difficult. Lots of info available for those prepared to do a little reading.

Come to think of it, I just finished an excellent book on the pre-Columbian Americas: "1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus," Charles C. Mann.

[DAV007]

[DtheP47]

According to the BBC news website

Eritrea:

• UN says 3,000 people try to flee each month
• Human rights groups say the country is becoming a giant jail, with some 10,000 political prisoners
• Young people conscripted to army - sometimes until age of 40

Somalia:

• Much of the country controlled by al-Shabab Islamist militants
• Country ravaged by two decades of war