so thank you thanks a lot also for the speak reform and I think it’s maybe time
speak reform and I think it’s maybe time
speak reform and I think it’s maybe time again to also realize that what we see
again to also realize that what we see
again to also realize that what we see is maybe only reality for parts of the
is maybe only reality for parts of the
is maybe only reality for parts of the world I want to talk to you about doing
world I want to talk to you about doing
world I want to talk to you about doing the right thing because a lot of people
the right thing because a lot of people
the right thing because a lot of people who won’t have the opportunity to be
who won’t have the opportunity to be
who won’t have the opportunity to be less working and easy living and there
less working and easy living and there
less working and easy living and there for them it’s not the best time ever
for them it’s not the best time ever
for them it’s not the best time ever okay imagine you’re in a crisis
okay imagine you’re in a crisis
okay imagine you’re in a crisis situation in your country you are
situation in your country you are
situation in your country you are fleeing because there’s no hope for you
fleeing because there’s no hope for you
fleeing because there’s no hope for you and you’re crossing a desert you’re
and you’re crossing a desert you’re
and you’re crossing a desert you’re leaving it’ll be left behind you see a
leaving it’ll be left behind you see a
leaving it’ll be left behind you see a lot of deaths suffering around you and
lot of deaths suffering around you and
lot of deaths suffering around you and suddenly arrive in front of this big
suddenly arrive in front of this big
suddenly arrive in front of this big ocean and you wonder you only know a
ocean and you wonder you only know a
ocean and you wonder you only know a little lake in your regional environment
little lake in your regional environment
little lake in your regional environment you could see the other side here’s a
you could see the other side here’s a
you could see the other side here’s a notion you cannot imagine how big it is
notion you cannot imagine how big it is
notion you cannot imagine how big it is and the only thing you know is that you
and the only thing you know is that you
and the only thing you know is that you cannot swim because you never had a
cannot swim because you never had a
cannot swim because you never had a chance to learn that so suddenly you
chance to learn that so suddenly you
chance to learn that so suddenly you find yourself on a rubber boat like this
find yourself on a rubber boat like this
find yourself on a rubber boat like this with 120 people it’s hot it’s enormously
with 120 people it’s hot it’s enormously
with 120 people it’s hot it’s enormously hot there’s no shadow people get sick
hot there’s no shadow people get sick
hot there’s no shadow people get sick there’s no way to lay down because
there’s no way to lay down because
there’s no way to lay down because they’re so cramped and packed and
they’re so cramped and packed and
they’re so cramped and packed and suddenly somebody starts screaming
suddenly somebody starts screaming
suddenly somebody starts screaming saying well there’s a boat there’s a
saying well there’s a boat there’s a
saying well there’s a boat there’s a boat and people start fighting this is
boat and people start fighting this is
boat and people start fighting this is the image I kept in mind when I heard
the image I kept in mind when I heard
the image I kept in mind when I heard about all those people trying to cross a
about all those people trying to cross a
about all those people trying to cross a Mediterranean in 2014 all those
Mediterranean in 2014 all those
Mediterranean in 2014 all those capsizing boats all these deaths
capsizing boats all these deaths
capsizing boats all these deaths drowning people by the hundreds in the
drowning people by the hundreds in the
drowning people by the hundreds in the Mediterranean and I thought to myself
Mediterranean and I thought to myself
Mediterranean and I thought to myself also what what can one do about it no
also what what can one do about it no
also what what can one do about it no idea no idea and then I still remember
idea no idea and then I still remember
idea no idea and then I still remember that day it was in May 2015
that day it was in May 2015
that day it was in May 2015 great day standing on this shower
great day standing on this shower
great day standing on this shower listening to this radio interview and I
listening to this radio interview and I
listening to this radio interview and I heard the most simple answer to this
heard the most simple answer to this
heard the most simple answer to this complex question somewhat just go out
complex question somewhat just go out
complex question somewhat just go out with a boat be where the people
with a boat be where the people
with a boat be where the people our suffering and tried to assistance
our suffering and tried to assistance
our suffering and tried to assistance helps as many as possible seemed obvious
helps as many as possible seemed obvious
helps as many as possible seemed obvious haven’t thought about it and so
haven’t thought about it and so
haven’t thought about it and so straightaway yes this is exactly what
straightaway yes this is exactly what
straightaway yes this is exactly what you should do you also best prepare for
you should do you also best prepare for
you should do you also best prepare for this you have never been on a boat
this you have never been on a boat
this you have never been on a boat length than a couple of hours you don’t
length than a couple of hours you don’t
length than a couple of hours you don’t know how to navigate you don’t even know
know how to navigate you don’t even know
know how to navigate you don’t even know how to call the back of the front of a
how to call the back of the front of a
how to call the back of the front of a boat Frank this is for you well on the
boat Frank this is for you well on the
boat Frank this is for you well on the other end I thought well you have been
other end I thought well you have been
other end I thought well you have been in a lot of crisis situations around the
in a lot of crisis situations around the
in a lot of crisis situations around the world so maybe it’s not much worse than
world so maybe it’s not much worse than
world so maybe it’s not much worse than being an enabler treatment center
being an enabler treatment center
being an enabler treatment center because forget all your daily routine
because forget all your daily routine
because forget all your daily routine forget what you learned every move is
forget what you learned every move is
forget what you learned every move is dangerous so what you need is your
dangerous so what you need is your
dangerous so what you need is your imagination what you need is the will to
imagination what you need is the will to
imagination what you need is the will to do something new and the conviction that
do something new and the conviction that
do something new and the conviction that what you do is right and then I found
what you do is right and then I found
what you do is right and then I found myself a couple of days later somehow in
myself a couple of days later somehow in
myself a couple of days later somehow in contact with Seawatch the organization
contact with Seawatch the organization
contact with Seawatch the organization behind that idea and looking at this
behind that idea and looking at this
behind that idea and looking at this boat in Hamburg where it was for
boat in Hamburg where it was for
boat in Hamburg where it was for refurbishment to be made ready for the
refurbishment to be made ready for the
refurbishment to be made ready for the big sea and I realized this is a 100
big sea and I realized this is a 100
big sea and I realized this is a 100 years old fishing trawler it has been
years old fishing trawler it has been
years old fishing trawler it has been lately used just as a house boat and
lately used just as a house boat and
lately used just as a house boat and this is supposed to be on the ocean and
this is supposed to be on the ocean and
this is supposed to be on the ocean and you whiz it well great idea I talked
you whiz it well great idea I talked
you whiz it well great idea I talked with some people about it and my parents
with some people about it and my parents
with some people about it and my parents even they told me very bluntly listen
even they told me very bluntly listen
even they told me very bluntly listen you do that you will be amongst the
you do that you will be amongst the
you do that you will be amongst the first to be rescued
first to be rescued
first to be rescued well a couple of months later we met an
well a couple of months later we met an
well a couple of months later we met an Lamba doozer our team of eight first
Lamba doozer our team of eight first
Lamba doozer our team of eight first time we came together and the ballot
time we came together and the ballot
time we came together and the ballot looked very beautiful we were very happy
looked very beautiful we were very happy
looked very beautiful we were very happy that this museum boat made it up to that
that this museum boat made it up to that
that this museum boat made it up to that armed place come on
armed place come on
armed place come on looks beautiful but it’s not made for
looks beautiful but it’s not made for
looks beautiful but it’s not made for sea rescue you can imagine we went close
sea rescue you can imagine we went close
sea rescue you can imagine we went close to the Libyan Coast
to the Libyan Coast
to the Libyan Coast 24 miles on in front of the shores of
24 miles on in front of the shores of
24 miles on in front of the shores of Libya and I was so astonished to see so
Libya and I was so astonished to see so
Libya and I was so astonished to see so many boats already just without
many boats already just without
many boats already just without binoculars from the top of our
binoculars from the top of our
binoculars from the top of our wheelhouse in the mornings you saw these
wheelhouse in the mornings you saw these
wheelhouse in the mornings you saw these boats coming in and then you knew it was
boats coming in and then you knew it was
boats coming in and then you knew it was question
question
question time you had to be fast we put out our
time you had to be fast we put out our
time you had to be fast we put out our speedboats we went close to the boats
speedboats we went close to the boats
speedboats we went close to the boats tried to talk to the people avoiding
tried to talk to the people avoiding
tried to talk to the people avoiding mass panic keeping distance from the big
mass panic keeping distance from the big
mass panic keeping distance from the big boat so people don’t feel that they had
boat so people don’t feel that they had
boat so people don’t feel that they had to jump straight on but sometimes it was
to jump straight on but sometimes it was
to jump straight on but sometimes it was also a situation where you couldn’t just
also a situation where you couldn’t just
also a situation where you couldn’t just hand out life west because the boats
hand out life west because the boats
hand out life west because the boats start sink already imagine here on this
start sink already imagine here on this
start sink already imagine here on this boat on this ocean a lot of people
boat on this ocean a lot of people
boat on this ocean a lot of people cannot swim and the tubes are losing air
cannot swim and the tubes are losing air
cannot swim and the tubes are losing air that it’s a really a question you’re you
that it’s a really a question you’re you
that it’s a really a question you’re you have to run ah and what we had was just
have to run ah and what we had was just
have to run ah and what we had was just used life rafts we had to put people on
used life rafts we had to put people on
used life rafts we had to put people on was quite difficult because we didn’t
was quite difficult because we didn’t
was quite difficult because we didn’t have enough money to really buy new one
have enough money to really buy new one
have enough money to really buy new one so sometimes it didn’t work the way they
so sometimes it didn’t work the way they
so sometimes it didn’t work the way they should
should
should improvisation was unneeded not perfect
improvisation was unneeded not perfect
improvisation was unneeded not perfect and even worse Oh sometimes also the
and even worse Oh sometimes also the
and even worse Oh sometimes also the need to treat people this was the only
need to treat people this was the only
need to treat people this was the only table we had on our boat to treat people
table we had on our boat to treat people
table we had on our boat to treat people in the morning we used it as breakfast
in the morning we used it as breakfast
in the morning we used it as breakfast table in the mess and afterwards when we
table in the mess and afterwards when we
table in the mess and afterwards when we needed to have a place for people to be
needed to have a place for people to be
needed to have a place for people to be treated we used it as well again not
treated we used it as well again not
treated we used it as well again not perfect what it worked and then during
perfect what it worked and then during
perfect what it worked and then during that times I still remember very clearly
that times I still remember very clearly
that times I still remember very clearly we had to advocate all these people then
we had to advocate all these people then
we had to advocate all these people then on bigger boats you see here one of
on bigger boats you see here one of
on bigger boats you see here one of these things which is really a nightmare
these things which is really a nightmare
these things which is really a nightmare for myself huge tanker 300 meters long
for myself huge tanker 300 meters long
for myself huge tanker 300 meters long 20 more meters high board wall and I’m
20 more meters high board wall and I’m
20 more meters high board wall and I’m climbing this up because I needed some
climbing this up because I needed some
climbing this up because I needed some medical support on this to bring up 75
medical support on this to bring up 75
medical support on this to bring up 75 puke dehydrated people there but you
puke dehydrated people there but you
puke dehydrated people there but you have to know that usually at 3 meters
have to know that usually at 3 meters
have to know that usually at 3 meters height I start crying so this was really
height I start crying so this was really
height I start crying so this was really a completely new experience and you feel
a completely new experience and you feel
a completely new experience and you feel you can overcome this is what’s really
you can overcome this is what’s really
you can overcome this is what’s really needed reality also was this but we
needed reality also was this but we
needed reality also was this but we often were confronted quite a lot with
often were confronted quite a lot with
often were confronted quite a lot with some military actors trying to defend
some military actors trying to defend
some military actors trying to defend the European borders sometimes they’ll
the European borders sometimes they’ll
the European borders sometimes they’ll help sometimes we had difficulties with
help sometimes we had difficulties with
help sometimes we had difficulties with them also reality we realized in 2015
them also reality we realized in 2015
them also reality we realized in 2015 that not only Mediterranean area was the
that not only Mediterranean area was the
that not only Mediterranean area was the places where people were fleeing and
places where people were fleeing and
places where people were fleeing and dying but also between Turkey and Greece
dying but also between Turkey and Greece
dying but also between Turkey and Greece a lot of people were crossing so we
a lot of people were crossing so we
a lot of people were crossing so we thought well
thought well
thought well what can we do we started operations
what can we do we started operations
what can we do we started operations also there with a completely different
also there with a completely different
also there with a completely different approach we didn’t know again how to do
approach we didn’t know again how to do
approach we didn’t know again how to do that we use speedboats because there’s
that we use speedboats because there’s
that we use speedboats because there’s only seven nautical miles between Greece
only seven nautical miles between Greece
only seven nautical miles between Greece and Turkey and you have to be quick it
and Turkey and you have to be quick it
and Turkey and you have to be quick it was partly in winter when the wind water
was partly in winter when the wind water
was partly in winter when the wind water was very cold and people going into the
was very cold and people going into the
was very cold and people going into the water were almost about to dying so a
water were almost about to dying so a
water were almost about to dying so a completely different way of dealing with
completely different way of dealing with
completely different way of dealing with things here you see people arriving here
things here you see people arriving here
things here you see people arriving here and you see here different it looks nice
and you see here different it looks nice
and you see here different it looks nice when you are in the well dressed suit
when you are in the well dressed suit
when you are in the well dressed suit but it is not nice when you have to
but it is not nice when you have to
but it is not nice when you have to cross with your beloved in a very small
cross with your beloved in a very small
cross with your beloved in a very small boat moving and it’s getting cold and
boat moving and it’s getting cold and
boat moving and it’s getting cold and dirty weather this all stopped only when
dirty weather this all stopped only when
dirty weather this all stopped only when the dirty deal between Turkey and the U
the dirty deal between Turkey and the U
the dirty deal between Turkey and the U was put into place in May this year well
was put into place in May this year well
was put into place in May this year well fortunately also good news happened we
fortunately also good news happened we
fortunately also good news happened we got a lot of donation a lot of media
got a lot of donation a lot of media
got a lot of donation a lot of media recognition we were able to buy a bigger
recognition we were able to buy a bigger
recognition we were able to buy a bigger ship buy that this is good and also
ship buy that this is good and also
ship buy that this is good and also others followed in 2016 our example and
others followed in 2016 our example and
others followed in 2016 our example and so we had more civil society boats in
so we had more civil society boats in
so we had more civil society boats in the Mediterranean to rescue people on
the Mediterranean to rescue people on
the Mediterranean to rescue people on the other hand we should be very clear
the other hand we should be very clear
the other hand we should be very clear 2016 is the most deadliest year ever in
2016 is the most deadliest year ever in
2016 is the most deadliest year ever in the Mediterranean for refugees and
the Mediterranean for refugees and
the Mediterranean for refugees and migrants fleeing over this water already
migrants fleeing over this water already
migrants fleeing over this water already more than 4,600 people died this year
more than 4,600 people died this year
more than 4,600 people died this year and these are just the official figures
so I still remember very much when I in
so I still remember very much when I in September I was on board and I met these
September I was on board and I met these
September I was on board and I met these Somali guys 15 16 years old and they
Somali guys 15 16 years old and they
Somali guys 15 16 years old and they were just telling me their story and
were just telling me their story and
were just telling me their story and they told me listen we have been for
they told me listen we have been for
they told me listen we have been for months one even up to one year in
months one even up to one year in
months one even up to one year in kidnapped not close to Tripoli we were
kidnapped not close to Tripoli we were
kidnapped not close to Tripoli we were just there to be tortured to be
just there to be tortured to be
just there to be tortured to be mistreated and took all our families so
mistreated and took all our families so
mistreated and took all our families so that they can even send more money for
that they can even send more money for
that they can even send more money for us to be somehow not killed and then
us to be somehow not killed and then
us to be somehow not killed and then when they were completely squeezed out
when they were completely squeezed out
when they were completely squeezed out and there was sick really sick they
and there was sick really sick they
and there was sick really sick they couldn’t walk anymore they were throwing
couldn’t walk anymore they were throwing
couldn’t walk anymore they were throwing them on the boat and this was a moment
them on the boat and this was a moment
them on the boat and this was a moment we met them so awful situation you
we met them so awful situation you
we met them so awful situation you imagine I had this 15 year guys
imagine I had this 15 year guys
imagine I had this 15 year guys and you could just put with two fingers
and you could just put with two fingers
and you could just put with two fingers around his upper arm and this was the
around his upper arm and this was the
around his upper arm and this was the size in the skinny he stayed had
size in the skinny he stayed had
size in the skinny he stayed had incredible situation for us we also
incredible situation for us we also
incredible situation for us we also sought and realized that less help was
sought and realized that less help was
sought and realized that less help was coming from other sites the Europeans
coming from other sites the Europeans
coming from other sites the Europeans withdraw their help more and more so we
withdraw their help more and more so we
withdraw their help more and more so we have to keep people more on our boat and
have to keep people more on our boat and
have to keep people more on our boat and this is a difficult situation you can
this is a difficult situation you can
this is a difficult situation you can imagine 120 people being under this
imagine 120 people being under this
imagine 120 people being under this shading somehow in the night and water
shading somehow in the night and water
shading somehow in the night and water is coming over because waves are getting
is coming over because waves are getting
is coming over because waves are getting high it’s raining it’s cold and people
high it’s raining it’s cold and people
high it’s raining it’s cold and people have to move there is a high risk people
have to move there is a high risk people
have to move there is a high risk people fall overboard but there was really a
fall overboard but there was really a
fall overboard but there was really a lot of negligence on the side of
lot of negligence on the side of
lot of negligence on the side of officials but there’s even more the risk
officials but there’s even more the risk
officials but there’s even more the risk of criminalization is happening Libyan
of criminalization is happening Libyan
of criminalization is happening Libyan Coast Guard interfere in some areas and
Coast Guard interfere in some areas and
Coast Guard interfere in some areas and it was quite dangerous
it was quite dangerous
it was quite dangerous they both of Doctors Without Borders
they both of Doctors Without Borders
they both of Doctors Without Borders even got shot at well we see also this
even got shot at well we see also this
even got shot at well we see also this is a political issue we see at this very
is a political issue we see at this very
is a political issue we see at this very moment criminalization and more of
moment criminalization and more of
moment criminalization and more of refugees at this very moment is
refugees at this very moment is
refugees at this very moment is happening between Europe and all the
happening between Europe and all the
happening between Europe and all the others in the debate we see that also
others in the debate we see that also
others in the debate we see that also there is a high risk that is legal
there is a high risk that is legal
there is a high risk that is legal discussion around who is supposed to
discussion around who is supposed to
discussion around who is supposed to come here is a risk for those help us is
come here is a risk for those help us is
come here is a risk for those help us is a risk for NGOs also to become part of
a risk for NGOs also to become part of
a risk for NGOs also to become part of that to me made responsible it sounds
that to me made responsible it sounds
that to me made responsible it sounds insane but on the other hand this is a
insane but on the other hand this is a
insane but on the other hand this is a very clear political intent behind that
very clear political intent behind that
very clear political intent behind that so we discussed of course what can we do
so we discussed of course what can we do
so we discussed of course what can we do about it and we thought first well if we
about it and we thought first well if we
about it and we thought first well if we don’t know what is exactly happening on
don’t know what is exactly happening on
don’t know what is exactly happening on the ground then go up above look for me
the ground then go up above look for me
the ground then go up above look for me above sea watch air something we need it
above sea watch air something we need it
above sea watch air something we need it try to satellite didn’t work we bought a
try to satellite didn’t work we bought a
try to satellite didn’t work we bought a plane well hopefully is working if it’s
plane well hopefully is working if it’s
plane well hopefully is working if it’s not working we are going for speedboats
not working we are going for speedboats
not working we are going for speedboats flying speedboats
flying speedboats
flying speedboats there is no joke it’s really a valid
there is no joke it’s really a valid
there is no joke it’s really a valid option so what the future like we think
option so what the future like we think
option so what the future like we think well we need better coordination we will
well we need better coordination we will
well we need better coordination we will have and develop our own software we
have and develop our own software we
have and develop our own software we will be diverse also in trying to make
will be diverse also in trying to make
will be diverse also in trying to make Seawatch air working we will not become
Seawatch air working we will not become
Seawatch air working we will not become a fleet of different boats but we will
a fleet of different boats but we will
a fleet of different boats but we will put a lot of political pressure and that
put a lot of political pressure and that
put a lot of political pressure and that means we need also all of
means we need also all of
means we need also all of you because a new perspective is very
you because a new perspective is very
you because a new perspective is very clear there’s less militarization more
clear there’s less militarization more
clear there’s less militarization more ferries for people to come over it’s
ferries for people to come over it’s
ferries for people to come over it’s very clear that this is a human
very clear that this is a human
very clear that this is a human humanitarian crisis we’re talking about
humanitarian crisis we’re talking about
humanitarian crisis we’re talking about at this very moment so safe passage
at this very moment so safe passage
at this very moment so safe passage that’s the new perspective what can we
that’s the new perspective what can we
that’s the new perspective what can we do about that what can all of us do
do about that what can all of us do
do about that what can all of us do about well I guess just follow maybe the
about well I guess just follow maybe the
about well I guess just follow maybe the Seawatch approach just take and tackle
Seawatch approach just take and tackle
Seawatch approach just take and tackle complex reality with a simple answer do
complex reality with a simple answer do
complex reality with a simple answer do and start doing something just by the
and start doing something just by the
and start doing something just by the start and try to elaborate during the
start and try to elaborate during the
start and try to elaborate during the course of the let’s say implementation
course of the let’s say implementation
course of the let’s say implementation show it to others and make sure that
show it to others and make sure that
show it to others and make sure that they are falling you’re not alone that
they are falling you’re not alone that
they are falling you’re not alone that is for clear use your manager
is for clear use your manager
is for clear use your manager imagination and the willingness to do
imagination and the willingness to do
imagination and the willingness to do something new and make sure that you’re
something new and make sure that you’re
something new and make sure that you’re really convinced that what you’re doing
really convinced that what you’re doing
really convinced that what you’re doing is right thank you
”
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