Open Your Eyes About Refugees | Frankie Dickens | TEDxVenlo

what you think of as Europe’s refugee

what you think of as Europe’s refugee crisis is a lie the amount of people who

crisis is a lie the amount of people who

crisis is a lie the amount of people who have arrived on this continent Shores in

have arrived on this continent Shores in

have arrived on this continent Shores in the past year make up 0.02 9 percent of

the past year make up 0.02 9 percent of

the past year make up 0.02 9 percent of Europe’s total population 0.02 9 percent

Europe’s total population 0.02 9 percent

Europe’s total population 0.02 9 percent and you see I have a problem with the

and you see I have a problem with the

and you see I have a problem with the word crisis I think it’s an excuse I

word crisis I think it’s an excuse I

word crisis I think it’s an excuse I think it makes us think that we can do

think it makes us think that we can do

think it makes us think that we can do no better it makes it okay to teargas

no better it makes it okay to teargas

no better it makes it okay to teargas teenagers on the borders of Macedonia or

teenagers on the borders of Macedonia or

teenagers on the borders of Macedonia or trade humans like cargo between Turkey

trade humans like cargo between Turkey

trade humans like cargo between Turkey and Greece it makes us think that this

and Greece it makes us think that this

and Greece it makes us think that this is the best we can do

first time that I went to volunteer in

first time that I went to volunteer in the refugee camp in calais

the refugee camp in calais

the refugee camp in calais was nearly two years ago when I came

was nearly two years ago when I came

was nearly two years ago when I came back people often asked me they said

back people often asked me they said

back people often asked me they said what was the most shocking thing that

what was the most shocking thing that

what was the most shocking thing that you experienced and they think that I

you experienced and they think that I

you experienced and they think that I will say something that I saw in the

will say something that I saw in the

will say something that I saw in the camp I don’t for me the most shocking

camp I don’t for me the most shocking

camp I don’t for me the most shocking part of that entire entire trip was just

part of that entire entire trip was just

part of that entire entire trip was just the moment that I arrived back home i

the moment that I arrived back home i

the moment that I arrived back home i sat down in my kitchen and I opened up a

sat down in my kitchen and I opened up a

sat down in my kitchen and I opened up a newspaper article about the migrants of

newspaper article about the migrants of

newspaper article about the migrants of Calais and I just started to read the

Calais and I just started to read the

Calais and I just started to read the comments underneath over and over again

comments underneath over and over again

comments underneath over and over again I just I couldn’t stop myself

I just I couldn’t stop myself

I just I couldn’t stop myself comments made by people who had no idea

comments made by people who had no idea

comments made by people who had no idea of the things that I had just seen

cowards ruined their country and now

cowards ruined their country and now they’ve come to ruin us brave enough to

they’ve come to ruin us brave enough to

they’ve come to ruin us brave enough to fight the French but not brave enough to

fight the French but not brave enough to

fight the French but not brave enough to fight in their own land but can I tell

fight in their own land but can I tell

fight in their own land but can I tell you can I tell you who I met there in

you can I tell you who I met there in

you can I tell you who I met there in that camp I met a math teacher from

that camp I met a math teacher from

that camp I met a math teacher from Sudan I met a 17 year old boy from

Sudan I met a 17 year old boy from

Sudan I met a 17 year old boy from Eritrea whose entire family had been

Eritrea whose entire family had been

Eritrea whose entire family had been killed by Islamic state militants in

killed by Islamic state militants in

killed by Islamic state militants in Libya enroute and yet who had still

Libya enroute and yet who had still

Libya enroute and yet who had still fought on and still believed in this

fought on and still believed in this

fought on and still believed in this dream that one day he could live his

dream that one day he could live his

dream that one day he could live his life in safety and in peace I met a

life in safety and in peace I met a

life in safety and in peace I met a librarian from Afghanistan who gave out

librarian from Afghanistan who gave out

librarian from Afghanistan who gave out free tea and I met a seven year old girl

free tea and I met a seven year old girl

free tea and I met a seven year old girl called Marika who gave me a friendship

called Marika who gave me a friendship

called Marika who gave me a friendship bracelet and told me we were farsi

bracelet and told me we were farsi

bracelet and told me we were farsi sisters I met people who needed papers

sisters I met people who needed papers

sisters I met people who needed papers or an education

or an education

or an education some kindness of an opportunity but I

some kindness of an opportunity but I

some kindness of an opportunity but I did not meet one person who did not have

did not meet one person who did not have

did not meet one person who did not have something that they wanted to give back

you see the style of thinking that the

you see the style of thinking that the authors of those comments

authors of those comments

authors of those comments unfortunately possess it actually limits

unfortunately possess it actually limits

unfortunately possess it actually limits us all

us all

us all it limits the asylum seeker to that one

it limits the asylum seeker to that one

it limits the asylum seeker to that one dimensional character featured in

dimensional character featured in

dimensional character featured in sensationalist newspaper articles and it

sensationalist newspaper articles and it

sensationalist newspaper articles and it limits my country because instead of

limits my country because instead of

limits my country because instead of seeing a man fluent in four languages we

seeing a man fluent in four languages we

seeing a man fluent in four languages we see a dirty migrant sleeping in the

see a dirty migrant sleeping in the

see a dirty migrant sleeping in the rough of a French port what we fail to

rough of a French port what we fail to

rough of a French port what we fail to see is that this this is a temporary

see is that this this is a temporary

see is that this this is a temporary state when we use words like refugee

state when we use words like refugee

state when we use words like refugee asylum seeker migrant we fail to see

asylum seeker migrant we fail to see

asylum seeker migrant we fail to see beyond that refugee does not say look I

beyond that refugee does not say look I

beyond that refugee does not say look I was once a doctor or I will become a

was once a doctor or I will become a

was once a doctor or I will become a human rights lawyer it does not say I am

human rights lawyer it does not say I am

human rights lawyer it does not say I am clever enough to develop the theory of

clever enough to develop the theory of

clever enough to develop the theory of relativity as Einstein himself a refugee

relativity as Einstein himself a refugee

relativity as Einstein himself a refugee once famously did being a refugee does

once famously did being a refugee does

once famously did being a refugee does not mean that you are incompetent or

not mean that you are incompetent or

not mean that you are incompetent or that you are unable to do something for

that you are unable to do something for

that you are unable to do something for yourself it means that you are resilient

yourself it means that you are resilient

yourself it means that you are resilient actually the only thing that it always

actually the only thing that it always

actually the only thing that it always means is that you have overcome

means is that you have overcome

means is that you have overcome something unimaginable to have

something unimaginable to have

something unimaginable to have outsmarted bombs and hunger survived a

outsmarted bombs and hunger survived a

outsmarted bombs and hunger survived a sea that has claimed the lives of two

sea that has claimed the lives of two

sea that has claimed the lives of two thousand nine hundred and twenty-five

thousand nine hundred and twenty-five

thousand nine hundred and twenty-five people in 2017 alone to face racism and

people in 2017 alone to face racism and

people in 2017 alone to face racism and disgust and comments like those

I admire more than that I am in awe I am

I admire more than that I am in awe I am in awe of the bravery that these kinds

in awe of the bravery that these kinds

in awe of the bravery that these kinds of decisions demand from a person nobody

of decisions demand from a person nobody

of decisions demand from a person nobody nobody wants to be a refugee nobody

nobody wants to be a refugee nobody

nobody wants to be a refugee nobody wants to sit in a foreign country and

wants to sit in a foreign country and

wants to sit in a foreign country and talk about their home in the past tense

but we are beyond naive if we think that

but we are beyond naive if we think that this could never again happen to us the

this could never again happen to us the

this could never again happen to us the right to claim asylum it’s the most

right to claim asylum it’s the most

right to claim asylum it’s the most sacred thing it’s the most incredible

sacred thing it’s the most incredible

sacred thing it’s the most incredible thing that we have ever created to think

thing that we have ever created to think

thing that we have ever created to think that I owe that you or that my children

that I owe that you or that my children

that I owe that you or that my children or that your grandchildren will always

or that your grandchildren will always

or that your grandchildren will always be able to live their life in safety if

be able to live their life in safety if

be able to live their life in safety if ever the tables are turned

ever the tables are turned

ever the tables are turned that’s revolutionary do you know what

that’s revolutionary do you know what

that’s revolutionary do you know what that says to warfare that says war you

that says to warfare that says war you

that says to warfare that says war you are nothing

are nothing

are nothing because the second you become too much

because the second you become too much

because the second you become too much we can just get up and leave I am so so

we can just get up and leave I am so so

we can just get up and leave I am so so frustrated by the way that we continue

frustrated by the way that we continue

frustrated by the way that we continue to abuse the right to claim asylum I get

to abuse the right to claim asylum I get

to abuse the right to claim asylum I get that it’s not easy a child who has

that it’s not easy a child who has

that it’s not easy a child who has languished 7 10 12 years in a camp in

languished 7 10 12 years in a camp in

languished 7 10 12 years in a camp in Lebanon does not see the world in the

Lebanon does not see the world in the

Lebanon does not see the world in the same way as yours truly a starry-eyed

same way as yours truly a starry-eyed

same way as yours truly a starry-eyed only child from Wales but can’t you see

only child from Wales but can’t you see

only child from Wales but can’t you see that every day spent in that transit

that every day spent in that transit

that every day spent in that transit camp only exaggerated s’ the differences

camp only exaggerated s’ the differences

camp only exaggerated s’ the differences between us it only adds more to the

between us it only adds more to the

between us it only adds more to the common problems of humanity can’t you

common problems of humanity can’t you

common problems of humanity can’t you see that for every refugee child who

see that for every refugee child who

see that for every refugee child who does not receive an education the end

does not receive an education the end

does not receive an education the end willd has lost that I told you that

willd has lost that I told you that

willd has lost that I told you that Europe’s refugee crisis is a lie but

Europe’s refugee crisis is a lie but

Europe’s refugee crisis is a lie but there is a crisis on a far bigger scale

there is a crisis on a far bigger scale

there is a crisis on a far bigger scale and I can tell you what that is it’s the

and I can tell you what that is it’s the

and I can tell you what that is it’s the lack of doctors in my country in Britain

lack of doctors in my country in Britain

lack of doctors in my country in Britain and the sheer waste of the fact that

and the sheer waste of the fact that

and the sheer waste of the fact that there are hundreds of doctors idly

there are hundreds of doctors idly

there are hundreds of doctors idly wasting away in camps across Europe and

wasting away in camps across Europe and

wasting away in camps across Europe and the Middle East the crisis is the fact

the Middle East the crisis is the fact

the Middle East the crisis is the fact that these two parallels exist and we

that these two parallels exist and we

that these two parallels exist and we resolutely do not believe in bridging

resolutely do not believe in bridging

resolutely do not believe in bridging them the crisis this is the fact that

them the crisis this is the fact that

them the crisis this is the fact that there are thousands of teachers just

there are thousands of teachers just

there are thousands of teachers just waiting for papers waiting for their

waiting for papers waiting for their

waiting for papers waiting for their lives to begin again and at the same

lives to begin again and at the same

lives to begin again and at the same time education becomes more and more

time education becomes more and more

time education becomes more and more inaccessible to those who one day will

inaccessible to those who one day will

inaccessible to those who one day will be required to build their countries up

be required to build their countries up

be required to build their countries up from the rubble the bombs have left

from the rubble the bombs have left

from the rubble the bombs have left behind the crisis is the fact that it is

behind the crisis is the fact that it is

behind the crisis is the fact that it is practically impossible to legally claim

practically impossible to legally claim

practically impossible to legally claim asylum from some of the richest

asylum from some of the richest

asylum from some of the richest countries in the world that that is the

countries in the world that that is the

countries in the world that that is the crisis it is so easy to hate and fear

crisis it is so easy to hate and fear

crisis it is so easy to hate and fear people you do not know that is the

people you do not know that is the

people you do not know that is the easiest thing to do in the world it’s

easiest thing to do in the world it’s

easiest thing to do in the world it’s only when you begin to get to know a

only when you begin to get to know a

only when you begin to get to know a person to understand them and to relate

person to understand them and to relate

person to understand them and to relate to them then you cannot hate and you

to them then you cannot hate and you

to them then you cannot hate and you cannot label and you cannot be afraid

would you believe me if I told you that

would you believe me if I told you that the closest feeling I have had to home

the closest feeling I have had to home

the closest feeling I have had to home since living in the Netherlands actually

since living in the Netherlands actually

since living in the Netherlands actually came from having dinner with a Syrian

came from having dinner with a Syrian

came from having dinner with a Syrian family or there I trained on a team of

family or there I trained on a team of

family or there I trained on a team of Olympic athletes and never once knew one

Olympic athletes and never once knew one

Olympic athletes and never once knew one as determined or as inspiring as a

as determined or as inspiring as a

as determined or as inspiring as a refugee thing is you shouldn’t believe

refugee thing is you shouldn’t believe

refugee thing is you shouldn’t believe me believing me is not enough you should

me believing me is not enough you should

me believing me is not enough you should go out there and experience this for

go out there and experience this for

go out there and experience this for yourself because the real antidote to

yourself because the real antidote to

yourself because the real antidote to Europe’s refugee crisis it’s you it’s

Europe’s refugee crisis it’s you it’s

Europe’s refugee crisis it’s you it’s the way in which you stop repeating

the way in which you stop repeating

the way in which you stop repeating those two words over and over again it’s

those two words over and over again it’s

those two words over and over again it’s the way in which you stop believing them

it’s you the University lecturer

it’s you the University lecturer offering more scholarships to refugees

it’s you the resident swapping Dutch

it’s you the resident swapping Dutch lessons for Hamas and stories about

lessons for Hamas and stories about

lessons for Hamas and stories about things you couldn’t even imagine it’s

things you couldn’t even imagine it’s

things you couldn’t even imagine it’s you the student making more friends

you the student making more friends

you the student making more friends harnessing that opportunity to learn

harnessing that opportunity to learn

harnessing that opportunity to learn something about a culture that is not

something about a culture that is not

something about a culture that is not your own it’s you each and every one of

your own it’s you each and every one of

your own it’s you each and every one of you leaving this room today and no

you leaving this room today and no

you leaving this room today and no longer feeling indifferent because when

longer feeling indifferent because when

longer feeling indifferent because when you start to realize that this crisis is

you start to realize that this crisis is

you start to realize that this crisis is made up of individuals you will see that

made up of individuals you will see that

made up of individuals you will see that we

we

we that we cannot continue to blind

that we cannot continue to blind

that we cannot continue to blind ourselves to it those human rights abuse

ourselves to it those human rights abuse

ourselves to it those human rights abuse it’s happening because we have been

it’s happening because we have been

it’s happening because we have been manipulated into thinking that there is

manipulated into thinking that there is

manipulated into thinking that there is no other option speak out against them I

no other option speak out against them I

no other option speak out against them I am Telling You there is another option

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]