World, Europe, 3rd October- Deaths in the Mediterranean‏

The 3rd October is the date of commemoration of the shipwreck in which 366 Eritrean exiles died one year ago, including women, children and a new born baby still attached to the umbilical cord. The day should be a day of struggle not only of remembering, to stop the deaths and for better hospitality for those who arrive.

The 11th October there was another shipwreck that is not being remembered, where 265 people died including many children, from Syria and sub-Saharian Africa.
Here a link in English:
http://gatti.blogautore.espresso.repubblica.it/2013/10/30/the-kids-that-europe-has-fed-to-the-fish/

Numbers sometimes speak louder than words.

There are 51 millions refugees worldwide, more than there were at the end of the Second World War. (numbers by the UNHCR)

40.000 refugees and other migrants have died worldwide since 2000, trying to reach safety. (numbers by IOM)

Over 23.000 refugees and other migrants have died trying to reach Europe.

The year 2014 is the year in which more deaths have been registerd, 4077 deaths worldwide of which 3072 in the Mediterranean (IOM) without counting 250 people who are feared dead in two recent shipwrecks large of Libya, some dozens bodies have been recuperated and is uncertain how many are dispesed. These numbers are going up,continuosly. 500 migrants died after their boat sank in the Mediterranean after it had left Egypt on the 6th of September, the biggest single tragedy ever. There are only eleven survivors. According to the survivors, the boat was purposedly rammed and sank by smugglers when the passengers refused to move to a smaller boat. Most of the victims were from Syria and from Gaza.

The militay-humanitarian operation Mare Nostrum of the Italian Navy was launched to prevent tragedies like the 3rd October, and has rescued 130.000 people in one year - and arrested 600 supposed smugglers. Mare Nostrum is about to be terminated and be replaced by Frontex. It is feard that with Frontex there will be more deaths in the Mediterranean and more push-backs.

Link in English: deaths in the Mediterranean: 
http://watchthemed.net/ 

Afghanistan produces about ¼ of world refugees. The Middle East is on fire. Libya, once the watchdog of Europe in their war against immigrants, has been destabilized by Western intervention: post-Ghaddafi Libya is now in a state of civil war, smugglers and gangs are stronger than ever and the country can no longer control its ports, resulting in a record number of arrivals in Italy - and a record number of deaths. The war in Syria has made over 3 million refugees. More refugees are pouring out of Iraq and Syria, fearing being massacred by ISIS or blown to pieces by US and NATO bombs. Eritrea is under a brutal dictatorship. Young men and women escape by the thousands to avoid military service that is compulsory and may result in being sent to the frontline. Darfuri are escaping genocide and more people are escaping from Southern Sudan and the Nuba Mountains. They have no choice: since all legal routes of travelling have been closed to them and borders
militarized they must risk their lives to save their lives, and suffer extreme danger, violence and harm during their journeys. Many of the women who arrive pregnant are pregnant because they get raped, either by smugglers, border police, or prison guards if they end up in the detention camps in Libya. The same countries who cause poverty and destabilize the rest of the world for their own economic gains and political ends are waging a war against the people who are forced to escape to seek refuge and rebuild their lives. Deaths at the borders, detention, deportations are the terrible price imposed on innocent men, women and children to supposedly 'secure' the borders.
From several quarters there are calls to open humanitarian corridors to let the refugees of war into Europe. The term humanitarian corridors means diplomatic and legal procedures to have visas issued and travel to Europe legally and safely. All European countries except the Vatican are resisting these demands.

Chiara Lauvergnac


Call out by the Lampedusa collective Askavusa:
(translated by me)
http://askavusa.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/ogni-giorno-e-il-3-ottobre-no-alle-passarelle-politiche-alla-militarizzazione-e-al-business-dellaccoglienza/

Every day is October 3. No to politcian's showcase, militarization and the business of hospitality 

In Lampedusa 3 October will see the nth farce. 
We will see once again the figures from all over the world, from Rome to Brussels, rushing to stand on a catwalk blood red. 
A day that was supposed to be of silence and reflection will be used for political propaganda and to implement the strategies of militarization and spectaculation on the island of Lampedusa. 
The people of Lampedusa for decades are being trampled in their dignity and rights that should be guaranteed in accordance with the Italian constitution . 
We believe that there is the political will to maintain a low quality of life in Lampedusa, to implement more simply the complete militarization and expropriation of the island. 
In fact, the radar at Capo Ponente will be replaced by with two even more powerful radars and is under the eyes of all the amount of facilities and military forces on the island. 
Lampedusa is not only a showcase for politicians from various backgrounds, but also for humanitarian associations and NGOs that receive public funding for the management of migration. 
It is said that these days will be reopened to the center of "accommodation". We say that this system is not at all welcoming. The goal is clear: to reopen a detention centre that will feed business on the skin of the weakest, as well as the inhabitants of Lampedusa who want to live of tourism and fishing and not on the misfortunes of others. 
The current administration has specific responsibilities: both on the militarization of the island, and on the management of migration. Especially in standing in line with the choices of governments, at a national and European level, with a disturbing continuity with what has happened in the past. 
In this climate of war spread throughout the world, the administration has for example open a collaboration with someone like Soros, who is guilty of financial speculation and that has destabilized entire regions militarily, causing the migration of hundreds of thousands of people. 

On October 3, at 11:30 am, we will be at the airport of Lampedusa to express our dissent against these political and economic policies that generate more and more massacres, both at sea and shipwrecks through bombings and exploitation of entire areas of the planet , and against the reduction of Lampedusa in a military platform. 

It is important at this time to remain united on some fundamental points: 

     NO to the installation of additional / new radar. 
     NO to the militarization of the island. 
     NO to the reopening of the center of "acceptance". 
     NO use of Lampedusa as a catwalk for politicians of all backgrounds. 

We call for: 

     Surveys that are done series on electromagnetic waves in Lampedusa and Linosa. 
     That the people of Lampedusa and Linosa are allowed to live in peace of tourism and fishing. 
     That the EU should review its foreign policies of aggression and exploitation of territories and the production and sale of weapons. 
     That Europe will take its responsibility and rectify the voyages of "hope" or "desperation." In the case of those who run away from war, to organize humanitarian corridors and units of acceptance in European countries. 
     To the people of Lampedusa and Linosa, not to fall into the trap of the contrast between the islanders and migrants and to avoid exploitation of any kind.