I'm laughing at memes about billionaires who can't pull themselves up to the surface by their own bootstraps, but in reality I'm furious.
I'm furious I was accused of human smuggling by FRONTEX (European border agency) for being part of a sea rescue operation that saved 1000+ lives of refugees fleeing war & terrorism.
I'm furious at the money & international effort being spent to rescue these billionaires when operations like ours cost so little and save so many lives, but are punished.
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I'm furious about the money & international effort spent on both the causes of the desperate migration of refugees, and the money & effort spent to block and punish rescuers & refugees alike, and to force rescuers to leave thousands of people to die.
A couple billionaires drown on an $$$ and ill-advised tourist trip and it's tragedy. Thousands of refugees die and it's punishment for their crime of what? Color of their skin? Location of their birth? The amount of capital they don't own?
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If you're concerned about the billionaires but can't have the slightest amount of compassion for refugees drowning at sea, you're the problem.
I'm looking at every nation, media outlet, and yes, Billionaire, that gives this amount of coverage, money, and international resources to this rescue operation but contribute to the opposite to migrants fleeing oppression and violence.
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@revoluciana I agree your work is very important.
Canada & United States both have large Coast Guards, US is one of the largest Navies & Airforce. We train & fund this. We are surrounded by oceans.
US commands Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 & has ships attached to the Mediterranean that helps with rescues as well.
We work with Europe & the world to address this.
Cuba is having a mass exodus & we have to help migrants here too.
Sorry we use our resources & want to save a teenager if able.
@revoluciana We give so much but when a news story sticks in people's mind it doesn't matter anymore because there wasn't a right number of chyrons.
You know we deal with Columbian drug smuggling semi-submersibles presently. We had Chinese spy balloons recently.
Why can't this not be seen as training & learning exercise instead of only 'Save Billionaires"?
If it's our investigation, then we can also develop better maritime rules & regs. Also, we charge for rescues.
@alex ahh, I see. Mansplaining and ignorant to so many aspects.
Would be amazing to hear you explain to the Syrians we rescued who fought alongside US troops, abandoned, and left to avoid being killed by US ally, Turkey. Syrians felt their only option was a trip through Libya. So when you say US is "helping" w/ the same EU partners that wanted to put me in prison, I'd say get lost.
But when you say it's OK bc billionaires can afford to pay so refugees are less deserving, you can get fucked.
@alex You want to save "a teenager," great. Pass the Afghan Adjustment Act. Stop selling cluster bombs to the Saudis to be used in Yemen. Stand up for trans rights. Feed a hungry teenager. Pass universal healthcare. Stop replacing democracies with dictators. Stop keeping kids in cages. Stop closing our borders to asylum seekers.
Got nothing against the kid in the sub, but have everything against a system that prioritizes wealth and resources for him over millions of others due to Capitalism.
Not ignorant. I know what 24/7 coverage of migrants looks like.
Fox covered a "Migrant caravan" for weeks. The discussion did not improve their lives. We heard similar jokes as the ones about "billionares" but they were directed at vulnerable people. We oppose sensationalism of vulnerable people.
We roll up our sleeves & help. We have the receipts despite people ignoring it. That was sharing not mansplaining.
They pay because that company will be punished and prosecuted.
@revoluciana Being upset that we should discriminate on income not race still upholds the ideals of discrimination.
I don't think that is compatible with beginning to improve the challenges the world faces.
I see you want to move the goalposts, oddly simplify events to assign blame, & smear me with labels.
I'll leave it at this.
@revoluciana I'm an active rural Democrat in local leadership. I advocate for all that. Mocking rescues & falsely portraying who is at fault for civil wars while ignoring other state actors doesn't help.
US & Canada conducts tens of thousands of rescues with the only factor being to rescue people in danger. We put in place a NOAA satellites 4 that. We help abroad too. We train to help with all types of rescues.
Turkey is complex and disingenuous not to say so.
Can't blame the US for EU law.
@ailbhe It won't be charged by the agencies. They are prohibited it will be assessed in fines & lawsuits.
Oceangate is a US company & the chartered ship, Horizon Maritime Services, is Canadian.
There will be lots of legal issues.
Revoluciana
Alex W.
Cassandrich
pancakes🔜Bed
Ailbhe