What will become of the sea of the Europeans? Holiday area number 1 and on the doorstep of a rich Europe and the place of most legends and myths, all of which have to do with migration, from Homer’s Odysseus to the history of the Argo or thousands of other traditions.
Now that it is still and increasingly the place of migration and movement, an unprecedented death has begun in these waters since 2015.
People fleeing countries where you and your people are killed by weapons sold to these countries from our rich Europe are dying in masses and in front of everyone in this sea of the middle.
Where help was still a matter of course at the beginning of 2015 and the EU sent maritime forces to save the shipwrecked people with the “Sophia” campaign, the discussion and political direction has developed in such a way that serious consideration is being given to simply letting these people drown in order to “discourage” subsequent refugees.
This discussion is not only being held in right-wing and xenophobic circles, but increasingly also in the media of the political centre.
The people who drown every day, who prefer everything, even a horrible death in the sea, fall by the wayside as being sent back to where torture, rape and death is the only perspective.
What is the short-term solution and how should we develop strategies to get people out of these situations in the medium and longer term and open legal channels to Europe for those who need our help?
Legally and under international law, the situation is clear:
Help must be given to everyone at sea who is in danger to life and limb. Several agreements, ratified by the majority of the states bordering the sea, at UN level and as binding under maritime law, guarantee rescue at sea for everyone in need, irrespective of nationality or reason for the shipwreck.
At present, most EU countries are in breach of international law!
What can we do as pirate parties? What do we have to do? With whom can we network?
How long do we want to stand by and watch the dying? Are demonstrations and petitions enough? How can we escalate politically?
We are looking forward to your participation in the Mumble Round on 08/20/2018 at 21:00 CEST and your ideas!
Where: PPI-Mumble[1]: mumble://mumble.ppi.rocks Room: Pirate Parties International/Conference Room
On behalf of Pirates Parties International
Adam Wolf, Member of the Board