Na tisoče Islandcev je dejalo, da bi sirske begunce sprejeli v svoje domove, potem ko je njihova vlada prejšnji mesec napovedala, da bo v državo sprejela le 50 ljudi.
V kampanji na Facebooku, ki jo je sprožila islandska avtorica Bryndis Bjorgvinsdottir, je približno 12.000 ljudi – 4 % islandskega prebivalstva – ponudilo sprejem beguncem v svoje domove.
Ta vsota bi bila enakovredna 2,6 milijona Britancev.
Bryndis Bjorgvinsdottir
Ocenjuje se, da je letos v Evropo doslej prispelo več kot 340.000 beguncev - skoraj trikrat več kot v prvih sedmih mesecih leta 2014.
V objavi na vrhu Facebook strani, naslovljeni na islandskega ministra za socialne zadeve Eyglója Harðarja, je 33-letna Bjorgvinsdottir zapisala: »Ideja je vladi pokazati, da obstaja volja za sprejem še več beguncev iz Sirije kot 50, o katerih se je že razpravljalo.«
"Želimo spodbuditi vlado – pokazati jim, da zmoremo bolje, in to storiti takoj."
„Leta 1973 smo po vulkanskem izbruhu, ko so vsi pomagali, čez noč sprejeli 4000 beguncev z Westmanovih otokov – in ne smemo pozabiti na število tujih prostovoljcev, ki so takrat prišli v državo pomagat.“
"Begunci so človeški viri, izkušnje in spretnosti. Begunci so naši bodoči zakonci, najboljši prijatelji, naša naslednja sorodna duša, bobnar v naši otroški skupini, naš naslednji kolega, miss Islandije 2022, tesar, ki nam končno popravi kopalnico, kuhar v menzi, gasilec, heker in televizijski voditelj."
"Ljudje, ki jim nikoli ne bomo mogli reči: 'Tvoje življenje je manj vredno kot moje.'"
Do danes se je kampanji pridružilo 12.000 ljudi, na Facebook strani pa je objavljena vrsta ponudb.
Islandski državljani so se prostovoljno ponudili za kuhanje za tiste v stiski, prevoz otrok v šolo, darovanje oblačil in kuhinjske posode ter pomoč sirskim beguncem pri "prilagajanju islandski družbi".
Odziv na kampanjo je islandskega premierja Sigmundurja Davida Gunnlaugssona spodbudil k imenovanju novega odbora, ki bo obravnaval možnost sprejema več beguncev v državo, poroča Icelandic Review Online .
»Naš cilj v mednarodni politiki je bil pomagati na čim več področjih, in to je eno od področij, kjer je to trenutno najbolj potrebno,« je dejal Sigmundur.
Odzivi voditeljev evropskih držav na begunce na celini so bili zelo različni.
Češki predsednik Miloš Zeman je bil kritiziran zaradi komentarjev, ki jih je podal na novinarski konferenci v nedeljo, v katerih je obupane begunce primerjal s "cunamijem, ki ga bo ubil" .
Namigoval je, da bo ogromen val migrantov ohromil in uničil vzhodnoevropsko državo, ker bodo "begunci povabili svoje sorodnike, da se jim pridružijo".
V torek je kandidatka za vodstvo laburistov Yvette Cooper dejala, da bi morala Velika Britanija sprejeti vsaj 10.000 beguncev, da bi se spopadla z najhujšo humanitarno krizo v Evropi po drugi svetovni vojni .
Cooper je pozval mesta po vsej državi, naj sprejmejo vsako deset migrantskih družin, kot del prizadevanj Združenega kraljestva za pomoč tisočim, ki bežijo iz vojno razdejani držav.
Medtem se Nemčija pripravlja na 800.000 prošenj za azil letos - štirikrat več kot leta 2014.
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Amazing woman! How wonderful to reach out and help those in need. Sadly, some of the previous posts may tolerate helping others, but only "certain" types of people. It seems the ultra-religious folks seem to think only "chosen" groups of humans should be helped, and anyone who disagrees with their own dogma should simply fall by the wayside. This is contradictory to what the person they worship (Jesus) taught. He said to love all people equally. Sad to see that they "pick & choose" to whom they offer their sentiments. Perhaps the people writing these posts come from warmongering nations that prides themselves on taking lands, violent oppression, aggression and conquest. That may explain the Xenophobic and Islamaphobic responses about this wonderful story. Ladies and gentlemen, let me remind you, this planet is a big place filled with many different human beings, just like a beautiful flower garden. This story is a wonderful example of real and true devotion to one's fellow human beings. The nay-sayers can shake their heads, thump their Bibles or get their yarmulkes all twisted up, but the fact remains that what this woman has done is a true example of real dedication to helping other human beings in need. Love in action. Isn't that what religion is supposed to be all about in the first place??
[Hide Full Comment]As with everything balance in needed. We
can't be swept up only by the action of doing good so that we can feel
good. Safety and precaution and judgement is needed too! Best of luck to the
refugees and those who open their homes to them!
This is a fantastic idea and she is spot on about how many gems and gifts there are in refugees. I am so tired of people painting refugees as somehow inherently dangerous or to be watched out for in safety.... refugees are doctors, lawyers, teachers, custodians, MA and PhD recipients, they are mothers and daughters, fathers and sons. Please see refugees as human beings and not the stereotypes in your minds. Thank you!
I congratulate Iceland on the wonderful open citizens who who compassion and love for others.
People like Ken, who communicated his fear and aggression in his post, also need compassion because they suffer greatly. I hope that he can reconcile with the world around him, just as we all have to.
Such a positive uplifting post, only to be followed by 2 comments full of fear and hate and racism the likes of which I have never read on the Daily Good since I started reading it the year of its inception. Filled with sadness that this blog now has readers who hate so much they must advertise it in these pages.
Some of the Icelanders will probably live to regret this huge mistake, others will die a horrible death, or mutilation. I can see a rape epidemic coming on and Iceland is ill prepared for the onslaught of savages roaming the streets of their cities.
I wonder how the homeowners vet the Syrians for safety.
Can this even be done?
Or do the homeowners just wing it. Assume they are OK.
Because faith.
I wonder what level of risk they take.
Do they just take women and children? Or military age men as well.
How about their level of fundamentalism. Is their a nogo level?
If the refugee in your house wants to actively practice sharia, do you go along? What about if they begin to resent you if you dont? What do you do then?
I enjoy helping other people, but these basic hard questions of physical safety risk management are unanswered in the article.