Perhaps it is good that I did not know the extent of the misery, the breaking of the law against people, this cruel political goings-on in detail.
When humanity mutates into "rejects", when all of Europe thinks it has to talk and argue for weeks about whether we should help or not? When we stare droolingly at the next images of catastrophes and it often triggers nothing more than "How grateful we are that we are doing so well".
When in supposedly Christian-social countries, as ours is always praised especially by the People's Party, the sermons about warmth of heart, love of neighbour, about the message of " Jesus" mutate into stiff and contentless lectures, because we have a federal government which, against the better knowledge of the individuals, unconditionally bows to a Federal Chancellor who robs our humanity of the last spark of lifeblood and pushes the brutalisation of our society as if this were an Olympic discipline.
If I could make one wish in my life, it would be that this man, I will call him by his name, Mr. Sebastian Kurz, for all these crimes against humanity, for his irresponsibility in closing "escape routes" and wallowing in this statement "it won't work without ugly pictures" instead of opening legal escape routes, will have to answer to the courts one day.
I have seen the ugly pictures. Right among us, in Europe! Here on Lesbos.
I have seen how people are starved along with their children in the most adverse conditions, how they are not given water for several days so that they go to a camp of which old, experienced Greek fishermen say: "what will happen here when the rain and the icy north winds come? A camp that, surrounded by 2 bays, offers nothing but tents built close together, whose pegs (fastenings) can be torn out of their anchors at the first strong wind.
There has been no shower since they moved in! The children, and there are many more than the "single men" used for nationalistically motivated campaigns, have to play in the dirt with far too little food, clothes, Pampers and are mentally stunted because their parents have to stand in "lines" all day to get a meal that would be banned in seconds by any food and hygiene authority, no matter how dilletant they are.
Many mothers, fathers, daughters and sons wander around the camp all day, perhaps to "win the lottery" and get hold of a piece of edible food. Maybe also an open ear at NGOs for basic needs. Tampons, sanitary pads, louse combs, soap, shower gel, or maybe a nurturing smile to feel there is a glimpse of their misery. There is still the sympathy for their cruel situation, there is still the hope, the love.
Meanwhile, our Chancellor babbles without any emotion, without any empathy, about a pulse effect that not a single scientist, not a single woman, has been able to confirm to date. Yes, there will be a Pulleffekt, the one that leads us closer to hell through these actions.
We will, when our children are old, shudderingly recount these crimes against human beings and again, again and again flute the mantra of #NeverMoreAgain.
What keeps us going. The smile for a nappy "thank you my sister", the invitation of people to their tent to share their last tea with you (unfortunately not possible because of Corona), people like Katharina and Nikos, Helga, Martina, Ronny, Birgit, people like you who are reading this and from your loving hearts also tears of empathy flow sometimes.
It's easy to criticise, as I read in comments on my FB, why so much rubbish when you're sitting on the warm couch in a country where everything is ready for us. In a life where I haven't lost everything that was dear to me.
In my heart I assume that if a referendum were held in Austria on whether to save the people here on Lesbos, there would be a clear yes at the end of the day. Because even if Mr Kurz and his supporters dictate their personal nationalism and the alleged brutalisation to all of us, I still have great faith in the ability to love and in the awareness of right and wrong of our community.
And I hope so much that the day will come that the spark that many Austrians already are will develop into a fire. A fire that shines so brightly, that demands and achieves the immediate evacuation of the people from this hell and that both frees the people here from this inconceivable misery and restores dignity to us and our children.
Tomorrow I fly home. It is hard for me to say goodbye, because even though we can only be a drop in the ocean together and each of us individually, these drops in the WE are an enormous amount. Hunger was satisfied, shoes were given, wounds were bandaged, baby packs were given, toys were given to the children, clothes were distributed, and so on.
Tomorrow I fly home. With great consternation and sadness, but also with the loving and comforting memory of every single encounter. Of the gratitude, the kindness of the people, their warmth of heart during conversations and their gentleness, despite this situation.
My beloved children, as well as Mulham, my dear friends Birgit and Christoph have made this letting go, this coming back into my/our "world" so much easier for me through their listening, through the beautiful and understanding conversations. Thank you!
And you, the supporters, you have made so much possible. You have made it possible for us to do our work here, to get urgently needed things, to give financial help to Katarina and Nikos, @HomeForAll for their impressive work for people. You have made it possible for us to show a different image of Austrians and, above all, you have given countless people hope, the awareness that we care about their situation here in Kara Tepe, Moria2, that we see them, the people with their worries, their pain.
On 30 October, I will come back here together with Helga Longin. We will do again what we have been doing. Trying to alleviate need. Thanks to your support. Winter is coming, people need warm clothes, kettles for baby food, shoes, warm things, and much more.
And we will be there as witnesses. We will document what crimes against people and humanity are being committed here.
No matter what we do or don't do here.
One thing is irrevocable!
All of us demand that this camp be evacuated and that the people be taken in by European member states. All of us, even those who refuse, fear, doubt, know in our innermost being that this is the only acceptable solution in terms of humanity and dignity.
If you would like to support our next outreach here again, please send an email to
Doro Blancke
AT93 3842 0000 0002 7516
Subject: Lesbos
Thank you very much and cheers to humanity.
Doro
#WeAreAustria #HumanDignity #Love #Compassion #Courage #144Lives #Evacuation #Lesbos #KaraTepe #Moria2 #WeHavePlace #LeaveNoOneBehind
