Immigrants dying in the Mediterranean

The latest reports of rickety boats packed with would-be immigrants trying to get in to Europe just emphasize the dreadful conditions in these African countries. Until they are sorted out this will continue.

The problem is, how do you sort it.

When they were colonies there was no pressure on the population to get out.

By and large they had stable government that wasn't corrupt.

Colonial rule has had it's day and is unthinkable today, but couldn't we offer them some of the benefits of our civil service to set up non corrupt government, local and national.

Similarly a police force that didn't exist on bribes.

Most of the African countries got independence in the 70's, and let's face it,

they've made a lousy job of self governance.

If I lived there I'd probably be risking death in the Med as well.

The latest reports of rickety boats packed with would-be immigrants trying to get in to Europe just emphasize the dreadful conditions in these African countries. Until they are sorted out this will continue.

The problem is, how do you sort it.

When they were colonies there was no pressure on the population to get out.

By and large they had stable government that wasn't corrupt.

Colonial rule has had it's day and is unthinkable today, but couldn't we offer them some of the benefits of our civil service to set up non corrupt government, local and national.

Similarly a police force that didn't exist on bribes.

Most of the African countries got independence in the 70's, and let's face it,

they've made a lousy job of self governance.

If I lived there I'd probably be risking death in the Med as well.

 

We should send rescue boats out, pick them up and return them to the African side of the med.

Why are the media calling them immigrants? Illegal immigrants, maybe, but not immigrants in any true sense of the word's meaning.

 

I agree with loraward, they should be rescued and returned. Anyone found on the boat that seems to be in charge of it, should be handed over to the authorities on the other side. Or, if possible, arrested and charged and imprisoned for long enough to discourage them from doing it again.

 

Letting these 'immigrants' stay is just encouraging others to risk their lives and their money on a fool's journey. Sympathise with them, but Europe can't take everyone in.

Why are the media calling them immigrants? Illegal immigrants, maybe, but not immigrants in any true sense of the word's meaning.

 

I agree with loraward, they should be rescued and returned. Anyone found on the boat that seems to be in charge of it, should be handed over to the authorities on the other side. Or, if possible, arrested and charged and imprisoned for long enough to discourage them from doing it again.

 

Letting these 'immigrants' stay is just encouraging others to risk their lives and their money on a fool's journey. Sympathise with them, but Europe can't take everyone in.

 

Or left in the middle of the med. Rescue the desperate, give them some food water and medical aid, but do it on the way back to Africa, returning them sends the message that trying is waste of time and will save lives.

I agree with the sentiments of rescue them and take them back to where they came from, off load them then destroy the boat, then it cant be reused.

 

This is a tragedy that does seem to have no real solution when rescued illegals are brought to Europe, which IS after all what they paid for, and then seemingly never sent back. The message that that sends is out is totally the WRONG one

I think the problem here is the fact that the recent events in the Middle East have turned many countries into battlefields of rival regimes, parties and ideologies. There is no need to single out Muslims, Christians or any other religions. If anyone knows anything about any religion one shall not find encouragement to kill or rape people. Regardless of the faith, opinions and etc...

 

When religion is twisted to suit a particular purpose it becomes a weapon of mass destruction.

Too expensive (as are the current rescue operations) and will not solve the problem, as the trafficking middle men and organisers have already made their profits by that time.

 

That's not me being cold-hearted/inhuman, but just assessing the problem and the solutions proposed so far objectively.

 

If you dig around, you will even find out that the traffickers are relying on rescue efforts in their business plan (rescued boats are eventually returned to North Africa, quids in for traffickers who re-fill and re-send them out).

 

The short-term (and only) solution is to concentrate efforts on getting rid of traffickers. Easier said than done, as it's easy money with little risk, and £10-to-£0.01 hardcore perps like ISIS, Boko Haram et al have a hand in it as one their funding methods. The ways that I'd suggest for this to be done in a sufficiently dissuasive manner, are eminently inhuman I'm afraid to say.

 

In the meantime, there is certainly an argument that a sizeable contingent of these poor people must be refugees indeed (particularly non-muslims and ex-'collaborating' muslims), not economic migrants, and Europe should and must lend assistance.

 

If everyone is returned to Africa they will eventually stop trying to cross and the boats should be destroyed, not returned. Its got to be cheaper to save them and return them, than save them and land them onto this side of the med.

If everyone is returned to Africa they will eventually stop trying to cross and the boats should be destroyed, not returned. Its got to be cheaper to save them and return them, than save them and land them onto this side of the med.

It's the same price, just spent differently: we can either spend to eradicate the problem there (until it is self-sufficiently and durably removed), or spend to care after the refugees here (and set them up to contribute here).

 

Who do you propose should destroy private property in someone's territorial waters?

 

And what are the natives (fishermen, shore ferries/shippers, etc.) supposed to do once there's no boats left (traffickers would (continue to-) steal boats left, right and centre until there's none left)?

Too expensive (as are the current rescue operations) and will not solve the problem, as the trafficking middle men and organisers have already made their profits by that time.

 

It wouldn't take long for word to get round that even if you get on a boat and sail to europe, you may not make it and could end up back right where you started.

 

The problem is, now we have a situation where the boats are sailing into the med and calling the coast guard to pick them up. We in the EU are doing half the work now. We need to stop bringing them here as that just encourages more to make the same journey.

 

Tow them back to Africa, there we can insure those who need medical care are taken to hospital and the rest can be sent home.

It's the same price, just spent differently: we can either spend to eradicate the problem there (until it is self-sufficiently and durably removed), or spend to care after the refugees here (and set them up to contribute here).

 

Who do you propose should destroy private property in someone's territorial waters?

 

And what are the natives (fishermen, shore ferries/shippers, etc.) supposed to do once there's no boats left (traffickers would (continue to-) steal boats left, right and centre until there's none left)?

 

No it would be cheaper to save them, feed and water them and drop them off at the African side, than to save them, feed and water them for years on the European side.

 

Europe can't employ every that is already here so its not going to be able to employ even more people.

 

Once everyone departs, just tow the boat back out to sea and sink it.

It wouldn't take long for word to get round that even if you get on a boat and sail to europe, you may not make it and could end up back right where you started.

 

The problem is, now we have a situation where the boats are sailing into the med and calling the coast guard to pick them up. We in the EU are doing half the work now. We need to stop bringing them here as that just encourages more to make the same journey.

 

Tow them back to Africa, there we can insure those who need medical care are taken to hospital and the rest can be sent home.

 

They will come regardless, these people are prepared to die to get to Europe and will stop at nothing. I suspect if anyone tries to stop them they will get a host of sanctions thrown at them.

 

The BBC has shown a program just this week entitled Kill the Christians.

The program shows that this is a policy in many Muslim Countries.

 

And here it is http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b05rcr7n/this-world-kill-the-christians

It wouldn't take long for word to get round that even if you get on a boat and sail to europe, you may not make it and could end up back right where you started.

 

The problem is, now we have a situation where the boats are sailing into the med and calling the coast guard to pick them up. We in the EU are doing half the work now. We need to stop bringing them here as that just encourages more to make the same journey.

 

Tow them back to Africa, there we can insure those who need medical care are taken to hospital and the rest can be sent home.

 

That's right, they would soon get the message that trying to cross might result in death, almost certainly will result in suffering, and definitely won't result in living in Europe.