Refugee Protection Initiative

The world is a fantastic place where you and I can live safely and happy in an abundance of food, friendship and entertainment. Except it isn't. Not outside our bubble. There are thousands and thousands of refugees who leave their homes, desperately searching for a safe place. The alternatives range from life imprisonment for publicly speaking an opinion, to abuse and -not uncommon- death. Some of these people are so desperate that they will risk the lives of their entire family by boarding rafts with destination hope, but the terminus often being either imprisonment or death.

We, the safe heavens, are quick to close our gates because we're afraid of... overspill? "Others" in our cities? I'm not even sure what we're all afraid of. We close our eyes because we don't want our own foundations and securities to change. And by doing that, we literaly shut the door for all the people that will be locked, tortured, killed or all of the former if their hazardous journeys won't succeed. 

It makes me sick to think that we apparently cannot imagine what it would take to undertake such a challenge. It makes me even more sick that we all agree that it's terrible what these people have to bear, but we still lock our doors, leaving them helpless. As long as it's not our problem. 

But it is our problem. It's a humanity problem that transcends physical and virtual borders. We simply cannot say it's not our problem and let people be caught, drown or wander without a safe base.

We in Europe have enough space and accomodations to provide a place where these people can at least feel safe. We don't have to come up with a plan for their future. We don't have to provide them with all the luxury we have for ourselves. But we can at least offer them a roof and a guarantee that they will be safe for a while. And that's all they ask for. Just in the Netherlands alone, 15% of all offices are unoccupied. Of course they will have to eat and drink. But we will share. Will it be hard? Definitely. But even the most primitive solution here will be a better alternative. Remember, these people risked everything to get here.. anywhere.

Let us countries unite and use the full potential of being Europe. Let's at least take in these people and just see from there. I cannot imagine we could not come up with enough food, clothes and beds to help. Keep seeing this for what it is: one human being asking another for help. There is never any reason to refuse that. Just imagine it would be you.

I hereby ask all governments of Europe to cooperate and open the iron gates. Offer a roof to these people. Come up with rules if you like, but don't let them be.