WSM .ie: Ireland to Calais Refugee solidarity - Report
as the 1st convoys departed
One of our member is now at the refugee camp in Calais as part of the solidarity convoy
that arrived from Ireland a couple of days back. Before he left he filed this report for
us. ---- Today the first of Ireland-Calais Refugee Solidarity's convoys of basic aid is
due to arrive in the French port of Calais. The aid is for distribution among the several
thousand refugees living in deplorable conditions in makeshift camps outside the town,
hoping to gain entry into the UK. ---- Over the last few weeks I've been lucky enough to
be part of the 'Ireland Calais Refugee Solidarity' group, collecting and organising for
refugee aid convoys, the first of which is being delivered to Calais today. The group was
initially set up by one very impressive person from Cork, Tracey Ryan, who was planning on
collecting donations and delivering them to Calais personally. Apparently though, interest
in the solidarity action was so large that it grew into a cross-country action, focused in
Cork and Dublin.
At present the group has collected over EUR80,000, innumerable bags of physical aid,
including clothes, camping equipment and medical aid, (part of which is currently en route
to Calais) - and is to be followed today by around fifty volunteers who will be working at
the camp for the next week doing litter picking, warehouse organising, basic structure
construction, and cooking. The group is working closely with groups on the ground in Calais.
The main work I have done so far has been working with the Dublin group in receiving and
sorting physical aid, coming both directly from individuals, and from self-organised drop
off points around the Dublin area. I will be travelling to Calais this evening with other
volunteers. The most lasting impression for me thus far, has been witnessing first-hand
the compassion and kindness of so many people who all have had a desire to help an awful
situation in any way they could; and arguably equally important - witnessing people's
ability to self-organise and act cooperatively and creatively in response to a serious
injustice, an affront to all of our humanity.
The mantra of this group has been: this is not an act of charity, this is an expression of
solidarity. We are aware that for all of our efforts we are attempting to be a plaster on
an open wound. For me then, this action is of two complimentary components: in one part we
are bringing basic aid to our brothers and sisters who have been brutalised and
victimised, first by war and/or poverty and then by the vicious and exclusionary border
policies of Europe. In the second part we are taking an unapologetic political stance:
that we as individuals refuse to accept the unnecessary and continued suffering of people
attempting to flee disaster. If the governments of Europe are incapable of showing basic
compassion to fellow humans, then we as people will organise outside of these structures
to try and ameliorate some of the suffering, and to stand in solidarity with our comrades.
Unfortunately this crisis for refugees is likely to persist, and so too will our solidarity.
If you are lucky to enough to be in a position to contribute financially, the
Ireland-Calais Refugee Solidarity gofundme page can be found here
https://www.gofundme.com/9zwfscys
There are also likely to be solidarity events planned over the coming months, for example
the Workers Solidarity Movement are held a table quiz in aid of Calais at the Barricade
Inn on Parnell St. last week.
I'd like to take this opportunity to briefly commend everybody who has so far been
involved in this project. This enthusiasm, hope and compassion which characterises the
group is truly inspirational.
http://www.wsm.ie/c/ireland-calais-refugee-solidarity-convoys-depart-report
