News Nearly 700 refugees / migrants feared drowned

No one has signed that "petition" except its "author".

I think that the government's proposal is good. A local charity here is sponsoring several Syrian families, getting them homes, the kids into school here, clothes, food and etc. I am sure that is happening all over the country.
 
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They are holding a meeting on Monday in Brussels to try and come up with a solution. European newspaper editors demand EU action over refugee crisis | Media | The Guardian

The situation in Greece still looks appalling. They rely so much on tourism and they cannot cope with this on top of their own economic and political problems.

Migrant crisis: People treated 'like animals' in Hungary camp - BBC News
Hungary looks like a disaster too, if the Hungarian government fails to treat the migrants humanely would that mean they could have to leave the EU?
 
ledboots said:
No one has signed that "petition" except its "author".

I think that the government's proposal is good. A local charity here is sponsoring several Syrian families, getting them homes, the kids into school here, clothes, food and etc. I am sure that is happening all over the country.
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That's a good sign.

Believe me, the racism and xenophobia in the U.S. will get even worse once more refugees come. It will likely be an ugly campaign "issue" next year.
 
shyvas said:
I found the following article highly interesting :

Refugee crisis: Europe takes many; Gulf states take none - CNN.com
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It's also interesting what this article doesn't mention. Israel is one of Syria's neighbor countries, like Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, but unlike these countries Israel has accepted exactly zero Syrian refugees. Like the Gulf states, Israel is worried about its demographics. But unlike the Gulf states, it seems Israel has somehow avoided media criticism for their lack of humanity.
 
Indian Summer said:
It's also interesting what this article doesn't mention. Israel is one of Syria's neighbor countries, like Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, but unlike these countries Israel has accepted exactly zero Syrian refugees. Like the Gulf states, Israel is worried about its demographics. But unlike the Gulf states, it seems Israel has somehow avoided media criticism for their lack of humanity.
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I cannot imagine that Syrian refugees would consider going to Israel. However, the Gulf states should be taking them in. They are
far richer than Europe, have the same cultural background and would make a perfect haven for the refugees:

Why aren’t the Gulf states taking more Syrian refugees?
 
shyvas said:
I cannot imagine that Syrian refugees would consider going to Israel. However, the Gulf states should be taking them in. They are
far richer than Europe, have the same cultural background and would make a perfect haven for the refugees:

Why aren’t the Gulf states taking more Syrian refugees?
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It probably wouldn't be at the top of most Syrians' lists of favorite destinations, but some minorities like the druze might not object to the idea. Also, Israel has a significant Arab minority of around 20%. And when you're in a way zone, anywhere else is usually a better option. Also, they wouldn't necessarily have to stay permanently, there could just be refugee camps, like in the other neighbor countries.
 
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Indian Summer said:
It's also interesting what this article doesn't mention. Israel is one of Syria's neighbor countries, like Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, but unlike these countries Israel has accepted exactly zero Syrian refugees. Like the Gulf states, Israel is worried about its demographics. But unlike the Gulf states, it seems Israel has somehow avoided media criticism for their lack of humanity.
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Israel is ~8,000 square miles in size. Saudi Arabia is ~830,000 sq miles in size. Egypt-- ~286,000 sq miles. Iraq--~168,000 sq miles. Turkey, about 478,000 sq miles.

What is your issue with Israel? You think Syrians want to go there anyway?
 
ledboots said:
Israel is ~8,000 square miles in size. Saudi Arabia is ~830,000 sq miles in size. Egypt-- ~286,000 sq miles. Iraq--~168,000 sq miles. Turkey, about 478,000 sq miles.

What is your issue with Israel? You think Syrians want to go there anyway?
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Lebanon is only ~ 4,000 square miles and have received more than ~ 1.2 million Syrian refugees. Some of the Gulf states (that have not received any refugees, like Israel) are even smaller. Size is not so much of an issue. What is seen by some as an issue is demographics and preserving the balance of power between ethnic groups in the area.

I assume most Syrian refugees would probably prefer not to go to Israel, but I find it hard to believe that no one would like to go there, given the situation.

My issues with Israel have been described and discussed in several other threads ...
 
Andy_T said:
Well, it has been some time since a German Chancellor has been elected "Time Man of the Year" :D
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Yeah, but although he was the German Chancellor, he was actually Austrian. That makes Merkel the first German "German Chancellor" selected Person of the year.
 
Well, I checked, she is actually the fourth German Chancellor...

First was the Austrian guy *) in 1938, who was, however, "German Chancellor" at that time (Austrian, too, in 1938), then there was Konrad Adenauer in 1953, and then there was Willy Brandt in 1970.

But yes, as those were invariably "men of the year" - despite Wallis Simpson, Soong Mei-ling, Elisabeth II, "The American Women" and Corazon Aquino having been honored before, the award was only renamed to "Person of the year" in 1999, you are also completely right :D

What I find even more interesting, however, are the various people on the shortlist.

Best regards,
Andy

*) I also checked, he had become a German citizen in 1932, as he would otherwise not have been eligible for public office.
 
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