Louise Michel demands our answer the question: Sanctuary or Genocide
My heart is with everyone on board the Louise Michel, especially the family of the person on board that died.
Yes, a person has already died.
I have warned that these situations would arise since I made this my central cause.
Climate change is, and will continue to, increase forced displacement.
It is crucial people are informed of the absurd fact that those displaced by environmental, rather than political, threats have no refugee rights
To be clear, those we call “Climate Refugees” have no legal status as refugees, despite their displacement being no fault of their own.
Let’s be real, it’s the fault of the wealthy countries like the UK.
It should be obvious but as an ex colonial power our effect has been disproportionate to the size and influence one might imagine a country of our size would have.
This is because that wealth, that sets us apart as a “developed economy”, blood money from our past colonial pillage:
economic hobbling of ex colonies both during and after occupation.*
* The continuation of this looting post independence is something I only recently came to understand. I highly recommend a documentary called The Spiders Web: Britain’s Second Empire.
It is one of the most enlightening documentaries I’ve ever watched.
Not only should we help because we have more, but we must because we actively brought about that severe inequality.
Though it was a cruel fluke of nature that meant the countries that contributed the least carbon are the most effected by climate change.
The following feels like it shouldn’t be necessary.
But, of course, political discourse in the UK is riddled with dishonest arguments nowadays.
So, let’s be clear; the fact that this unjust disproportionality of the effect of Climate Change, those least responsible, was chance doesn’t mean anything when it comes to our moral obligations.
It is absolutely no justification for failing to help now we understand this is happening.
I have known this moment was coming, honestly I thought we’d have more time to change public opinion, but it’s here.
So I need my country to step up now.
The question has been asked.
It’s the moment of truth. So how will we, as a people, answer?
Now that I better understand the lasting impact of our colonial past it seems pretty clear to me that taking in people, fleeing land destroyed by our economic activity, it’s the very least we can do.
As I said a year ago; when the time comes, as it has, if my country fails to do what is right it becomes my enemy.
My allegiance is to humanity.
We do have the capacity.
However, if you need a self serving reasons there are those too.
So we can and should take in the people on the #LouiseMichel.
I also call on other countries to do the same of course.
But it’s time for the wealthy countries to carry our weight. If you think we’re already doing enough may I introduce you to the absurdly unjust truth that it is actually the poorest countries that take the most refugees.
Lebanon, for example, is sadly beset with political strife but contrary to hysterical warnings it’s wasn’t migration that has thrust their country into the terrible uncertainty.
Lebanon have taken in so many peole that 1 in 7 of those living there are refugees.
I have tried through this blog post to pre empt many of the dishonest arguments that blight our discourse.
I just don’t know what else to say.
I implore all to listen to the multiple arguments moral, historical and economic.