I’m Afraid I Ag Err With Him

[Bobbisox1]

We must make ourselves less attractive to stop the flow of people risking their lives to get here


https://news.sky.com/story/channel-migrants-uk-must-make-itself-less-attractive-to-those-crossing-french-interior-minister-says-12481675

[naomi24]

If I can remember where it is I’ll do it tomorrow when I’m on my desktop in my study. I can’t do it from the phone I use when I’m lounging on the sofa. ;o)

[anneasquith]

What are our elected members of parliament doing to help the homeless ?

[burlyshirley]

So do I pat, but this man really loves his dog and you can tell it adores him. He keeps it well wrapped up in a warm blanket and loves all the fuss it gets.

[jourdain2]

naomi 21.32 on Sunday - French Migrants

[pixie374]

Bobbi... I suspect even those "given a choice" might be wary, of a system that has excluded them for so long. Sometimes, there are conditions, such as not using drugs... which just keep people where they are.

[pat2604]

The Sally Army are marvellous. The one thing I do love about Christmas is hearing a Sally Army Band playing carols. It makes me cry!

[pastafreak]

Is this it...

// jourdain2

Having lived in France for o.15 years - it is a hard country to live in. Lots of form filling and beaurocracy. Wherever you settle - the Commune and Maire know you are there and report your presence - the tax people are on to you to register within months (even if you are still living with half the house covered in canvas) and if you want any sort of health care you need to register and get your Carte Verte.

For this, you have to prove that you are in receipt of a pension or other funds. If not a pension, then you have to pay into the URSSAF (equivalant of NHS) according to your income.

France is very structured and it is not easy to disappear or work under cover. Whilst I was there an English chap set up as a jobbing builder/odd job man a few miles away (I only heard of him later on).

He had not registered as a business. The gendarmes watched the local DIY stores, noted the purchases and eventually turned up at his home. They saw the completed house, piles of bricks and building materials filling the grounds; told him he was illegally running a business; confiscated his passport and vehicle until they had a clear picture and then gave him passport and car back, together with a booking on a ferry to UK. Everything else, including his house, was seized and he was forbidden re-entry to France.

This may have something to do with it - oh! and it's a tricky language to learn and they won't change their ways to suit immigrants. It's just a bit different to the UK. Does that help?//

[naomi24]

Anneasquith - 17.19 - have you asked Nicola? There have been about 34000 homeless applications in Scotland in the past year.

[naomi24]

Thanks pasta. That’s it.

[rowanwitch]

Of course wealthy countries should help the poorer ones. Maybe setting up support and shelter in countries where genuine refugees first end up so they are safe until things change at home. Maybe at that point offering English language classes, and the necessary conversion to our methods for professional people so those that come can do so fully prepared to assimilate. We need to target what we do, so that the victims of war and repression are supported close to home and the often equally poor nations they flee to do not carry a burden that destroys what may be a fragile economy. Economic migrants....got skills we need... Welcome, nothing to offer and you don't come from the list of nations that allow you to claim refugee status no argument repatriation within 72 hours.

[pastafreak]

Burly...I'm not telling you who you SHOULD give to.
Having worked for a local homeless charity...that many don't even know about...I'm all too aware of how they struggle to get the funds necessary. That's not just to help the homeless...but to pay staff...the outreach workers, support workers, those of us who fed them. It doesn't come cheap. Oh...and maintaining premises and offices.
Do please don't take my comment the wrong way.

[burlyshirley]

pat - sadly the Sally Army band doesn't come round here any more now, but it used to be lovely when it did at Christmas, the whole street would go out ...

[pat2604]

^^^

I also find the French to be very class conscious and feel themselves superior to all other nations. :0)

[burlyshirley]

^ oops don't know what happened there Lol

[pixie374]

Only problem with that, rowan, is that with 67 million people, we are likely to have most of the skills we need. And bringing in cheaper labour, only brings wages down.
It also doesn't take into account, lifelong needs
of education, NHS, benefits etc, for entire families...

[naomi24]

I’m a ‘blubber’ too lottie, and I love the Sally Army band. Actually I’ve worked a lot with the Salvation Army and have nothing but the greatest respect for them. They really do some wonderful work - and in areas no one would ever guess.

[rowanwitch]

We do need doctors, drivers, teachers, but also those who want to work on the land. We need strange things like stonemasons, Working and paying taxes. We have to start having some viable criteria a structure that works to process people better.

[jourdain2]

Yes, thanks Pasta. There's lots more - like translation services are not offered. I had quite a few good lunches out and crates of wine delivered because I went along to translate for people (saw quite a few almost-nude bodies as well when it was a medical consultation!). I ended up devising and teaching a 'Survival French' course. My stays in hospital following hip replacements were enlivened by nurses coming in to ask how they said whatever to anglophones and what the answers could be.

Official documents are not translated and, believe me, some of the French tax forms are incomprehensible if you do not understand the initials. More bottles of wine came my way. :)

You have to learn French, it's as simple as that. A younger lady I knew signed on for work (she'd been a librarian) and a French course was provided by the employment office - a good idea. She was then offered work - clearing ditches, which she had to accept to pay back..

One of my estate agents was Dutch and spoke good French. She'd married a Frenchman. In Holland she had been a microbiologist - her qualifications were not recognised in France. Neither were my teaching qualifications - although EU rules said they should be transferable. Same with the dental nurse - she'd worked in Intensive Care and spoke French, but qualifications were not accepted. I could bore you to death - and probably have done! :)

Nevertheless, I managed to settle, manage fine and I loved the experience of living in France and still have many good memories and friends. But it's up to you to conform and it is a regimented society. I repeat, it is not an easy country to live in, unlike UK where people can opt out of a lot of stuff. Cartes Verte are photographic identification, by the way.
Hope this helps - now I must make dinner.

[Untitled]

people often talk about refugees like they are going to be nothing but a burden ("how can we afford them" etc.) but I wonder if it is really that simple... lots of them cam work and contribute to the economy...

[Untitled]

One study looking at 30 years of data in 15 countries found that refugees and asylum seekers on average benefit the economies of their host nation within 5 years of arrival...

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05507-0