The Calais Jungle, London Southbank |
I
am sure you have heard of the “Jungle”, the name given to the
camp in Calais where many refugees have gathered hoping to cross the
Channel and enter Britain. A lot of them are African people.
I
saw The Calais Jungle, an exhibition at the Royal Festival
Hall, London Southbank, on Sunday. It was included in the Africa
Utopia festival, which has now ended, and the Love Festival, and
continues until 2nd October. If you have not seen it, I
recommend you see it.
The
exhibition includes loads of photographs of people who live in the
Jungle, as well as homes, shops, churches and mosques. The Jungle is
a vast complex.
What
I really like about this exhibition is that the photographs show
people's faces. They are not just a faceless mass of refugees, which
is how the current crisis is often reported in the mainstream press.
Part
of the Jungle was recently demolished, making many people, including
children, homeless. Well over 100 children simply disappeared and
the French police, according to what is said in this exhibition, did
nothing to try to help them, protect them or investigate their
disappearance. The children of the Jungle, who have escaped a war
zone and the unimaginable terrors they have witnessed, are afraid of
the French police.
There
have been loads of stories coming out of the Jungle, and French lorry
drivers have taken action this week because they want their government to
close it down. The Jungle's residents have become pawns in a very
dangerous game being played between and within France, Britain and
other European countries. Many lorry drivers feel under pressure
from refugees demanding that drivers allow them to stow away in their
vehicles.
The UK government is reported to be building a wall near Calais to further deter The UK government is reported to be building a wall to further deter migrants from entering Britain.
The UK government is reported to be building a wall near Calais to further deter The UK government is reported to be building a wall to further deter migrants from entering Britain.
These
refugees are clearly desperate and my heart goes out to them (not
making excuses for any intimidatory behaviour).
It
is important that we bear the refugees in mind. I am fortunate to
live in London, a place that is relatively stable and peaceful, and I
feel helpless to do much for them. The one thing I can do, besides
blogging, is publish the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence. Please
support the blogging carnival.