The refugee crisis.

[JayBox325]

What it's failing to do is actually help anyone. How people will it feed? How many people will receive medical treatment? How many lives will be saved as a direct result of this banner?

None.

So ultimately, why are you doing it?

'Raising awareness' I hear you shout. Switch on your TV or buy a paper, log on to facebook or twitter, it's all over it and your banner changes nothing.

If you were actually as clever as you think you are, you would see that you are not directing your efforts sensibly at all.

If you really wanted to help make a difference, there are many ways you could do it. This isn't one of them.

Because of this Refugees Welcome banners at football campaign, Newcastle fans have raised £500+ and Swindon fans have donated £200+ to help. That feeds people.

And as I explained earlier, if one person sees the banner or an article/tweet showing 4 or 5 clubs in England holding the banners up and they end up giving £10 towards paying to help the refugees then it's a success.

I've had some comments saying with all the negative press from Swindon recently (ownership fights, media bans, lawsuits, 'keepers getting punched and the rest), this has actually made some people proud to be from Swindon or support the club and they have since got involved with donating supplied or money.

So don't give the whole "how does a banner help?", directly it doesn't. But indirectly, it has a huge impact. Especially when clubs all over the country are doing the same.

[Ardiles]

That's all well & good, Jay, but how many Syrians do you have living in your attic?

[JayBox325]

That's all well & good, Jay, but how many Syrians do you have living in your attic?

Zero. I'm not really able to. So as I've said, I'm doing what I can, but it hasn't just been me. It's been the 19 Town fans in 4 days that have donated over £200 that have done it.

[smalltowngypsymassacre]

I'll be donating a tenner (on payday) as a direct result of reading about your banner and the gofundme efforts on the adver website. If you need an example of how you've directly helped, here it is

[Not that Nice If I'm Honest]

I haven't read every post about it but I just want to clear up what the banner is about.

Basically this group started a campaign to follow in the footsteps of Germany and their "Refugees welcome" banners all over the Budesliga. See here: https://twitter.com/refugeesefl

I wanted to join in, so I wanted to raise £40 or so to afford to make a cheapo banner, but Swindon fans have joined me with it and donated over £150 now. So we'll be holding up a 'refugees welcome' banner to raise awareness or just start a conversation about it. Any money left after I buy & make the banner will be donated to a JustGiving fundraiser helping with the situation.

I want to make clear that I'm not trying to speak for every Swindon fan as I know everyone has different opinions on the subject. I just wanted to use the mini following I have on Twitter that love the display stuff I do and use it for something positive.

The response I've received has been 90% positive to the idea, so I've decided to go with it and join the likes of Aston Villa, Charlton, Wimbledon and a lot more and put this display on. I have spoken to Barnsley and they are going to discuss it with the Directors to decide whether they'll let the 'no politics banners' rule slide just this once.

Maybe you can go and fetch them in your bandwagon

[Not that Nice If I'm Honest]

Just like we need to build more houses. And that big shiny new airport. As long as they are nowhere near me.

95pc agree that we need to take our share of genuine refugees, me included. And from what we've seen on the news over the past few years a genuine refugee is pretty much anyone in Syria/Somalia etc who doesn't susbcribe to the IS / al shabab way of life. But clearly there are shit loads of people en route to Western Europe who are just economic migrants. With germany taking 800k this year  it certainly won't deter anyone in safe but less prosperous lands making the trip.

Whilst it would be wholly unfair to expect European border countries to accept all at the point of entry, you have to question why very few stay put once in a safe country.  Without more control at this point it could get very messy.

Picking up on a comment earlier, we are certainly not an over crowded country. Only omething like 6pc of the country is brownfield/previously developed.

I don't think 95% of the people want to take more refugees ?
I think 95% of the people feel very sorry for them, and want to help, yes.

But I think well under 50% would actually want to take significantly more in.

[Red Frog]

If you really wanted to help make a difference, there are many ways you could do it. This isn't one of them.

So, keyboard warrior, for the third and last time, what is? Just give one hint of the effort you're making. I'll even give you some slack. When you did you last open your wallet to help someone? Anyone?

[inept and tiresome]

Maybe you can go and fetch them in your bandwagon

I'd be more impressed if he and his ilk donated 30 percent or more of their salary/pocket money to their cause, money where their mouths of if you like.
A banner in the County Ground smacks of "in my name" which it definitely is not.
This is the Arab springs natural progression into the Arab winter.
On a side note I see our glorious leaders have decided that drone strikes are ok. Fuck me, will we never learn to leave these God forsaken countries alone.

[4D]

There is always conflict around the world, moving people isn't going to change that. In a few years time the conflict will be in Europe, the seeds of that are already starting to sprout.

[Ardiles]

I'd be more impressed if he and his ilk donated 30 percent or more of their salary/pocket money to their cause, money where their mouths of if you like.
A banner in the County Ground smacks of "in my name" which it definitely is not.
This is the Arab springs natural progression into the Arab winter.
On a side note I see our glorious leaders have decided that drone strikes are ok. Fuck me, will we never learn to leave these God forsaken countries alone.

Sounds like a fairly unnatural progression to me.  What about the Arab Summer and the Arab Autumn?

[jayohaitchenn]

There is always conflict around the world, moving people isn't going to change that. In a few years time the conflict will be in Europe, the seeds of that are already starting to sprout.

When was the last time David Cameron launched a drone strike in your town?

[Sussex]

I'd be more impressed if he and his ilk donated 30 percent or more of their salary

I'd be impressed if I ever saw 30% of my salary in the first place.

[4D]

When was the last time David Cameron launched a drone strike in your town?

What's your point?

[inept and tiresome]

Sounds like a fairly unnatural progression to me.  What about the Arab Summer and the Arab Autumn?

I don't think these people could cope with democracy and freedom (what ever that is) and you give them more credit than they deserve.
If a few middle class "students" hadn't kicked up a fuss Syria would still be a peaceful well run dictatorship, where most people could keep their head down and have a roof over their heads and a full stomach.
If that's not a third world utopia, I don't know what is.

[sonicyouth]

I don't think these people could cope with democracy and freedom (what ever that is) and you give them more credit than they deserve.
If a few middle class "students" hadn't kicked up a fuss Syria would still be a peaceful well run dictatorship, where most people could keep their head down and have a roof over their heads and a full stomach.
If that's not a third world utopia, I don't know what is.

what the actual fuck