“Send boats to the Mediterranean Now!”

Norwegian people’s Aid Solidarity Youth held today in Bergen an event to show solidarity with refugees attempting to cross the Mediterranean.

So many people had met for the event in Bergen to show solidarity with refugees attempting to cross the Mediterranean. It was also built many paper boats as a symbol of the refugee who cross the sea in unfit boats and as a protest against the many deaths that have been seen after 2000, especially in the last weeks.

“It costs money to save lives. It costs money to accept refugees as well. It costs money to provide them security. It costs money to provide them houses. But it can be done if the political will is there. Some call them fortune seekers – just as if the pursuit of happiness was something negative. The pursuit of happiness is a human right. But those who flee and embark on the deadly journey across the Mediterranean, they also flee from an unworthy life in misery. This is about us and our responsibility, and our duty to help,” states one of the appellants.

The Triton Project

The Triton project is a new initiative in the European Union to deal with the current crisis in the Mediterranean Sea. Triton is also known as one of the Gods in Greek mythology. He acted on his father’s command and used his powers to bring calm to the sea. But he had also the power to chase away powerful enemies. One can wonder which of the powers the EU had in mind when assigning this name to the project. It seems to be more about enforcing the border control to EU and less about saving the refugees.

“the primary objective should be to prevent more people from drowning”

All appellants demanded that the Norwegian government must send boats to the Mediterranean right now because they believe there is a collective responsibility to help people from drowning.

“Norway must contribute with resources now, and the primary objective should be to prevent more people from drowning under,” says Marianne Nårstad Jensen from Norwegian People’s Aid Youth.

“…people ask why they come and take the deadly journey? But they have no place to stay at home….they have no hope to live…We pay with our lives to live.”

The refugees from the coast of North Africa to Italy are taking the most dangerous journey. The art in the photo above is made by Toguo, and it shows how refugees are fleeing with boats without knowing if they are going to survive. One of the appellants who is a survivor of a voyage across the Mediterranean, Abel Tsadu Beraki, pointed out: “Some people ask why they come and take the deadly journey? But they have no place to stay at home because of dictatorship. So they have no hope to live there. Therefore we use every opportunity to come here and live in peace. We pay with our lives to live.”