I have been looking for a positive slant to report in this blog.. A report of hope, love and humanity..my state of mind among other things has meant it has taken longer than it should .. but, you really don’t need to look that far ..

These last few weeks have been in many ways horrific and soul destroying for humanity .. some of the atrocities listed below that I can remember from the last couple of weeks …

Terrorist attacks in Turkey, Iraq and Bangladesh – huge losses of civilian lives reported, massive civilian casualties from air strikes in Syria,  families shot dead by Turkish Border Guards trying to escape from Syria into Turkey, the assassination of Jo Cox by far right extremist, growing racist incidents and rise of fascist groups in England following Brexit, children trapped in camps in Lebanon committing suicide in growing numbers, increasing numbers of families leaving Europe and returning to conflict zones – dying quickly in their homeland is preferable to dying slowing (physically and mentally) trapped in a camp in a foreign country, millions of refugees across the world forced to live in inhumane camps with diminishing hope for the future.

I know its hard to read this incomplete list, it breaks my heart too.. but this is the world in which we live, and it affects us all whether we know it or not, whether we like it or not.

Until every human life on this planet is seen as equal we can not have justice and peace. Each one of the hundreds of children drowned in the seas around Europe over the last few months is worth as much as each and every one of our children.  Each child was as loved by his/her family, yet many of these children are now buried in graves on the Greek Islands marked with wooden cards such as;  ‘Boy aged 5’ or ‘Baby Girl aged 18 months’.  Until this changes then I can see no hope for humanity.

So what can we as humans on this planet do?  We are not helpless and we are not voiceless.  I am not giving up on my generation, or the generation before me, or the generation after me .. but the place I have found deep wells of humanity, hope and calls for peace is in our children.  At the very least we can teach our children about humanity, peace and equality.  That is something we can all do (by ‘our children’ I mean ‘all children’).

I have been talking when I can at schools and groups over the last couple of weeks (with some booked next week)  and have been bowled over by our children.  They are intense, thoughtful and incredibly caring.

I have a lovely collection of cards, friendship bracelets and letters to take with me when I go to Greece in September.  These children are the future and they are full of love and pragmatic hope.

Some questions the kids asked:

“Can I send my bed over to the camp?”

“Can we  send pillows so people are more comfy?”

“If people  don’t make it across the sea, where do they go?” (from an older child)

“Why don’t we just give them a passport and let them come here?”

“What made you decide to go and help?” (from a very clever 7 year old)

“Why doesn’t our Government help and let people come here?”

Hard questions to answer, as I am just as confused as the children on some of these points.

Also, many people have donated lots of; sun cream, mosquito spray, bite remedy and toothbrushes which I will send to Greece next week.  People care and want to show solidarity.  The full count is not done yet .. but the numbers are considerable

 

Of course as well as these local initiates, which happen daily across the country, there have also been big demonstrations of solidarity and calls for peace. These are not always reported, but they are happening frequently and across the country.

 

We need to be aware of what is happening on our planet to our brothers and sisters, but we also need to have hope that it will get better..We can help no matter how small our contribution to spreading messages of tolerance, love and peace  People to people solidarity.

Emma XX

If you would like to donate to my next trip in September with Rosemary (we are both self funding) then we will ensure your money is spent where its needed.

Go Fund Me – Support 4 Refugees