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Speaker: Refugee fear-mongering must stop

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  • Anke Richter,

    Fantastic piece, Donna. Thank you. Maybe you could speak publicly at a refugee event here in ChCh?

    Lyttelton • Since May 2007 • 25 posts Report Reply

  • RuralJohnny,

    I respect you Donna Mojab.

    Pukekohe • Since Apr 2015 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    How many of those calling for the drawbridge to be raised:

    - bang the drums of war, but otherwise go out of their way to avoid serving their country? They're called 'chicken hawks' in America.
    - are descended from refugees of the Highland Clearances, the Irish Potato Famine, Dickensian England, and the two World Wars, to name a few? Can't help but think of what an Aussie journalist called 'slamming the door behind you'.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • chris,

    There are really no excuses for not doubling our quota.

    At the very least.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to chris,

    At the very least.

    At least another 1200 as proposed here from the church

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Donna Miles-Mojab, in reply to RuralJohnny,

    Thank you.

    Christchurch • Since Sep 2015 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • Donna Miles-Mojab, in reply to Anke Richter,

    Would love to Anke. Will email you direct.

    Christchurch • Since Sep 2015 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Although this seems a tad off topic, I'm appalled that in this day and age, a kids book has been banned. WTF! As the Author says "Will I be burnt next?"
    I'm wondering just what is happening here in NZ ? I despair at this self righteous attitude where "I know best " seems to be circumventing human rights and freedom of expression.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    That's one way of looking at it, Sofie. The other way is the "no publicity is bad publicity" approach. When my mother had her books published she sent them to Patricia Bartlett in the home that Miss Bartlett would call for them to be banned, which she figured would do wonders for book sales.
    Of course, in this instance the book has been "banned", though possibly only temporarily, and you can apparently still buy it for Kindle on Amazon. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the author finds he gets a nice sales bump from this latest reporting.

    Back on topic... well-written Donna, and I agree there is absolutely no excuse for not doubling our quota at least. Does anyone know if there will be the opportunity for public submissions to next year's review?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    I can't believe that we have a law in place that allows text (and music, games, plays and works of art) to be censored - and on the say-so of one person. IMHO, unless a work involved (as opposed to depicts) a non-consensual act, then it isn't a valid subject for censorship.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    And maybe the next step will be that the Censor bans all the alternative flags on the grounds that their dissemination promotes dissent and disorder (that could maybe amount to a criminal act).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • John Holley,

    If you want to see the scale of this issue across Syria and Africa (refugees and IDPs) have a look at the UNHCR portal.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to John Holley,

    If you want to see the scale of this issue across Syria and Africa (refugees and IDPs) have a look at the UNHCR portal.

    Yeah, that's the next step, surely: addressing the whole problem.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Malcolm,

    Wonderful writing Donna. Everybody including our Prime Minister and all the politicians.
    Peter Malcolm

    Tauranga • Since Mar 2015 • 6 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    Thank you for that, Donna. One of the best pieces I've read on the subject.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Donna Miles-Mojab, in reply to simon g,

    Thank you Simon. I have been frustrated at the lack of context and background to the discussions about the situation of refugees. As Robert Fisk says: "nothing happens without a history; nothing, zilch".

    Christchurch • Since Sep 2015 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • Donna Miles-Mojab, in reply to Peter Malcolm,

    Thank you Peter. I am truly disappointed with the lack of clear leadership from our PM and the politicians.

    Christchurch • Since Sep 2015 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • chris, in reply to Donna Miles-Mojab,

    The decision to take part in the war in the Middle East obliges us to also take responsibility for the consequences of that war.

    That reminds me of this quote:

    If there’s any good news, it’s that no one will expect New Zealand to do anything in the foreseeable future. We ought to be glad of that

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe,

    Thank you Donna. Moving, informative and perceptive. Getting our priorities right is the key.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • John Holley, in reply to Russell Brown,

    When you see it up close and personal, you understand why people risk their lives for the chance to live in the west.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    There is little doubt that the misguided American and European policies have contributed significantly to the creation of millions of refugees in Syria, Iraq. Afghanistan and Libya.

    Thats an incredibly generous assessment of the fucked up policies of the west for decades now. I know this post is not about the sheer arrogance and self interest and lack of simple humanity of those people who have called themselves leaders in these countries and their allies. If there were a time limit on arsehole behaviour while in power it is well up for many of them.
    Thanks for writing.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • chris,

    It is a shame that people who make this argument did not apply it to the deployment of our troops to the Middle East.

    I don’t know what makes me more uncomfortable. Obviously those who make that argument are wrong and they’ve been overruled to a degree in this instance. But those who make both these arguments in a professional capacity as opinion leaders i.e. send troops and take in refugees, are the ones that really scare me. people like Duncan Garner:

    The PM is about to commit our combat SAS troops to fight Islamic State. I have no problem with it – it is our job – what’s your view?

    Increase the quota, Prime Minister. It’s not about whether we can afford to take more refugees.

    The truth is, we can no longer afford to sit still and ignore the crisis from afar.

    Or Chester Borrows:

    I have no doubt that, in the same situation, any New Zealand government of any political hue would do exactly the same.

    We are not picking puppies or choosing kittens here.

    With 52 million displaced persons on the planet, somebody has to do something regardless of race or ethnicity.

    As if documented causality between the macho gung-ho western intervention and the rise of ISIS isn’t readily available, as if the world is just something to throw money at, and see what comes out in the rinse. Being part of the problem and part of the solution, hedging bets, selling product.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to chris,

    macho gung-ho western

    Worth remembering the gung ho Russian intervention as well. The conflict in Syria exists in no small part because of Putin's support of Asaad. Several people have argued (reasonably IMO) that Asaad should be mentioned every single time that ISIS is mentioned

    Nowhere, more than in Syria, is it more obvious that the solution should not be to send more guns and men.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    Thank you Donna. There need to be more personal accounts like yours to slam home the reality that these are real people, not merely numbers in a spreadsheet.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

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