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Banksy Sponsored Rescue Boat To Help Refugees Crossing The Mediterranean
Banksy Sponsored Rescue Boat To Help Refugees Crossing The Mediterranean
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Banksy Sponsored Rescue Boat To Help Refugees Crossing The Mediterranean

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Banksy, who is an anonymous England-based street artist and political activist, has been touching on the topic of the migrant crisis with his works for quite a while now. Recently, he/she (or they?) went one step further by funding the Louise Michel rescue boat to help refugees make it safely to Europe.

The ship is aimed to help those traversing from North Africa to Europe. Louise Michel is painted in a bright pink color and has Banksy’s artwork on it depicting a girl in a life vest holding a heart-shaped safety buoy.

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    This independent high-speed lifeboat was named after the 19th-century French feminist anarchist Louise Michel

    Image credits: mvlouisemichel

    Apparently, back in September 2019, Banksy sent a message to the captain of a number of NGO boats, Pia Klemp, because he wanted to help. “Hello Pia, I’ve read about your story in the papers. You sound like a badass,” Banksy’s letter read. “I am an artist from the UK and I’ve made some work about the migrant crisis, obviously I can’t keep the money. Could you use it to buy a new boat or something? Please let me know. Well done. Banksy.”

    At first, Klemp thought that this letter was just a joke

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    Image credits: mvlouisemichel

    The artist’s involvement is not hands-on: Banksy’s financially backing everything that the team is doing without being active in the operations, run by a 10-person crew of European activists. “Banksy won’t pretend that he knows better than us how to run a ship, and we won’t pretend to be artists,” Pia Klemp told The Guardian.

    “Measuring 30 meters in length and capable of over 28 knots, she was bought with proceeds from the sale of Banksy artwork—who then decorated her with a fire extinguisher”

     

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    A post shared by Banksy (@banksy) on

    “The Louise Michel is a former French Navy boat we’ve customised to perform search and rescue. She is as agile as she is pink. Measuring 30 meters in length and capable of over 28 knots, she was bought with proceeds from the sale of Banksy artwork—who then decorated her with a fire extinguisher. She is captained and crewed by a team of rescue professionals drawn from across Europe. She runs on a flat hierarchy and a vegan diet,” reads the official website of the Louise Michel rescue boat.

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    The Louise Michel left the Spanish port of Burrinia in secret on August 18th

    Image credits: MVLouiseMichel

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    “To uphold maritime law and rescue anyone in peril without prejudice,” the team describes their mission on the website. “We onboard the Louise Michel believe we are all individuals, nationality should not make a difference to what rights one has and how we treat each other. We answer the SOS call of all those in distress, not just to save their souls—but our own.”

    Image credits: seawatch_intl

    According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 100,000 migrants tried to cross the Mediterranean last year from North Africa with more than 1,200 dying in the attempt

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    Image credits: MVLouiseMichel

    Turns out, the whole planning of the mission happened in secrecy between London, Berlin, and Burriana. The crew didn’t want media attention to compromise their goals because it could have lead to European authorities attempting to thwart the mission. For this reason, the team agreed to release the news about the boat only after carrying out the first rescue.

    As of now, the crew has rescued approximately 350 people

    Image credits: MVLouiseMichel

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    Apparently, a few days ago, the Louise Michel sent a distress call saying it was overloaded with migrants. Because of that, several of the most vulnerable ones were picked up by the Italian coast guard and the rest were transferred onto another vessel. “#LouiseMichel no longer has guests onboard, but the struggle of the survivors is not over,” the Louise Michel team wrote on their Twitter.

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    Image credits: MVLouiseMichel

    Some people were praising this idea

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    While others had quite different opinions

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    Julija Svidraitė

    Julija Svidraitė

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    Julija Svidraitė is an editor here at Bored Panda who has a bachelor's degree in Psychology. Before starting her journey at BP, she had worked as a social media specialist at a marketing agency. She has also tried herself in a few different fields working as an intern: from practicing graphic design at a social media marketing agency, to being an assistant at a psychiatric hospital. Besides writing, Julija is also very passionate about illustrating, drinking coffee, and watching crime documentaries. You can find her in Bored Panda Office or reach her at julija.s@boredpanda.com.

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    Julija Svidraitė

    Julija Svidraitė

    Author, Community member

    Julija Svidraitė is an editor here at Bored Panda who has a bachelor's degree in Psychology. Before starting her journey at BP, she had worked as a social media specialist at a marketing agency. She has also tried herself in a few different fields working as an intern: from practicing graphic design at a social media marketing agency, to being an assistant at a psychiatric hospital. Besides writing, Julija is also very passionate about illustrating, drinking coffee, and watching crime documentaries. You can find her in Bored Panda Office or reach her at julija.s@boredpanda.com.

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    Lukas Garnelis

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    Lukas is a photo editor at Bored Panda. 4th year in Vilnius Gediminas Technical University as a graphic designer. Can do whatever he sets his mind to.

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    Lukas Garnelis

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    Lukas is a photo editor at Bored Panda. 4th year in Vilnius Gediminas Technical University as a graphic designer. Can do whatever he sets his mind to.

    What do you think ?
    Donato García
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They are rescued in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea and instead of returning to where they left from (poor countries in Africa, not at war) they are taken to Europe creating a problem because nobody wants to land them... thus encouraging illegal human trafficking...

    regi stra
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    nobody wants in Europe (except for the left party in Italy, for business of course!!!) in fact they ALL land in Italy, even during this pandemic (also they run away from quarantine). And the others European country bounce them at the border (even those country which are the cause of this immigration)

    Load More Replies...
    Tyler Duffy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Now he should be arrested for human trafficking.

    Kay Cog
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yet they leave the women and children to be bombed to death...hmmm

    regi stra
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    99% of those ppl on the boat DONT come from coutry with war, (the ones who comes from war are WELCOME) they come from Tunisia for the most (do you know that they pay 10000+ euros for come here to the trafficants) so not only they dont come from war for the most, but they are not even poor, the real poor ppl cant afford that trip, also our force have ALWAYS rescue all the ppl in the mediterrean even out of our waters, so nobody needs this branded boat (except bansky of course)

    Load More Replies...
    Truth Monster
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This will put more migrants at risk, as they will attempt crossing and either get into real of feigned distress in the hope of getting picked up by a ship like this and getting preferential treatment with the migration process into a country not already swamped with migrants.

    Miss Cris
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People scaping from war and no future will try to cross anyway. Always.

    Load More Replies...
    Roberto Durante
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    do Bansky know that they are sponsoring a kind of mafia, see by yourself this video of frontex..........https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJl_iLWSmtA and know what frontex discover about this busisness......https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7OsRz4Ubeg

    U Pearson
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Banksy does not care, too busy virtue signalling + not living with the consequences of bringing such large numbers of unskilled economic migrants into our countries after G. Soros' NGOs have coached them how to tell fake refugee sob stories (yes evidence: Ariel Ricker of Advocates Abroad admitted to George Llewellyn in film "Borderless", filmed secretly, that she coaches migrants to lie + act to get past border staff in Europe, FACT).

    Load More Replies...
    pebs
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Here, Banksy, however, should take them to the United Kingdom instead of landing them in Italy. Maybe he doesn't do it because they would immediately sink his ship?

    U Pearson
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    UK would rather Banksy left the UK completely to live among these lovely people + he pay to keep them, instead of us paying.

    Load More Replies...
    pebs
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And let's not forget that for the most part they are not "saved" in the middle of the Mediterranean, but just off the coast of Libya, from where they call their "saviors" with satellite phones. Moreover, for the most part they are not refugees but economic migrants who have no title to be welcomed in Europe, so almost all of them remain in Italy to be supported by the state or to work illegally for little money or to commit crimes. Nice, isn't it?

    regi stra
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    WHAT about spending your huge money for build school, wells, hospital, finance projects to ensure that they can work, and live in their country?? instead of buying a boat and put your BRAND on it to have free advertisment?? wake up people!!!

    Janine B.
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    True. But that's what politics and industry have to do but infact they do, well, nothing. Because it would decrease their sales and the amount of cheap workers and the possibilities to sell cheap goods that ruin the domestic markets in those countries. All we can do is vote, sign petitions and help with what you're able to do. Show some humanity folks!

    Load More Replies...
    Janine B.
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reading all these negative comments makes me wonder if any of you ever talked to a refugee or researched closer on that topic. And I'm not just talking about the people fleeing from war. Just think what you would do if you lived in a country with no perspectives, with no chances to earn money to support your families. Not helping them is not an option because they will flee anyway. Always keep in mind - they flee from economical circumstances our rich countries have often caused. And yes it's sad but true, they will mostly not have the best lives in Europe. But still it offers them a chance to financially support their families. And they don't leave the women and kids behind as some of you wrote. They don't want them to take this immense risk and see it as their duty to be the one leaving. And they know it's not a glorious paradise that awaits them in Europe. Still it's often the only chance to provide the families with money.

    Janine B.
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just an example. I often work late when I'm at the office. So I get to meet all the helping hands that clean the rooms in the evening. Most of them came from Africa, Asia or East Europe. So I get to know many people with interesting backgrounds. Albert is one of them. He came from Africa as a refugee four years ago. He is divorced but has five children age 5 to 18 he supports. He wants them to have a better life than he did. Have chances of education. He's always so proud of his eldest daughter who's studying to become a teacher. He often shows me the latest pictures of his kids and tells me how they are. If you asked Albert, he would take this risk again and again because it's his only chance to financially support his kids. So unless our countries don't stop ruining foreign economies and taking advantage of their people as cheap workers, there will always be people fleeing. No matter what risks they have to take. So keeping them from drowning is the least thing we can do.

    Load More Replies...
    amanda strachan
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My heart breaks for genuine refugees fleeing war ravaged countries and YES we should do all we can to help. But many of these people leaving France (a safe EU country) are young men who are financial migrants. They come to work the black market economy and know nothing will happen to them. The UK is a very small island, we are bursting at the seams with an overstretched infrastructure/nhs/school/housing etc. We have to differentiate and help the needy.

    Load More Comments
    Donato García
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They are rescued in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea and instead of returning to where they left from (poor countries in Africa, not at war) they are taken to Europe creating a problem because nobody wants to land them... thus encouraging illegal human trafficking...

    regi stra
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    nobody wants in Europe (except for the left party in Italy, for business of course!!!) in fact they ALL land in Italy, even during this pandemic (also they run away from quarantine). And the others European country bounce them at the border (even those country which are the cause of this immigration)

    Load More Replies...
    Tyler Duffy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Now he should be arrested for human trafficking.

    Kay Cog
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yet they leave the women and children to be bombed to death...hmmm

    regi stra
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    99% of those ppl on the boat DONT come from coutry with war, (the ones who comes from war are WELCOME) they come from Tunisia for the most (do you know that they pay 10000+ euros for come here to the trafficants) so not only they dont come from war for the most, but they are not even poor, the real poor ppl cant afford that trip, also our force have ALWAYS rescue all the ppl in the mediterrean even out of our waters, so nobody needs this branded boat (except bansky of course)

    Load More Replies...
    Truth Monster
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This will put more migrants at risk, as they will attempt crossing and either get into real of feigned distress in the hope of getting picked up by a ship like this and getting preferential treatment with the migration process into a country not already swamped with migrants.

    Miss Cris
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People scaping from war and no future will try to cross anyway. Always.

    Load More Replies...
    Roberto Durante
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    do Bansky know that they are sponsoring a kind of mafia, see by yourself this video of frontex..........https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJl_iLWSmtA and know what frontex discover about this busisness......https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7OsRz4Ubeg

    U Pearson
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Banksy does not care, too busy virtue signalling + not living with the consequences of bringing such large numbers of unskilled economic migrants into our countries after G. Soros' NGOs have coached them how to tell fake refugee sob stories (yes evidence: Ariel Ricker of Advocates Abroad admitted to George Llewellyn in film "Borderless", filmed secretly, that she coaches migrants to lie + act to get past border staff in Europe, FACT).

    Load More Replies...
    pebs
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Here, Banksy, however, should take them to the United Kingdom instead of landing them in Italy. Maybe he doesn't do it because they would immediately sink his ship?

    U Pearson
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    UK would rather Banksy left the UK completely to live among these lovely people + he pay to keep them, instead of us paying.

    Load More Replies...
    pebs
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And let's not forget that for the most part they are not "saved" in the middle of the Mediterranean, but just off the coast of Libya, from where they call their "saviors" with satellite phones. Moreover, for the most part they are not refugees but economic migrants who have no title to be welcomed in Europe, so almost all of them remain in Italy to be supported by the state or to work illegally for little money or to commit crimes. Nice, isn't it?

    regi stra
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    WHAT about spending your huge money for build school, wells, hospital, finance projects to ensure that they can work, and live in their country?? instead of buying a boat and put your BRAND on it to have free advertisment?? wake up people!!!

    Janine B.
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    True. But that's what politics and industry have to do but infact they do, well, nothing. Because it would decrease their sales and the amount of cheap workers and the possibilities to sell cheap goods that ruin the domestic markets in those countries. All we can do is vote, sign petitions and help with what you're able to do. Show some humanity folks!

    Load More Replies...
    Janine B.
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reading all these negative comments makes me wonder if any of you ever talked to a refugee or researched closer on that topic. And I'm not just talking about the people fleeing from war. Just think what you would do if you lived in a country with no perspectives, with no chances to earn money to support your families. Not helping them is not an option because they will flee anyway. Always keep in mind - they flee from economical circumstances our rich countries have often caused. And yes it's sad but true, they will mostly not have the best lives in Europe. But still it offers them a chance to financially support their families. And they don't leave the women and kids behind as some of you wrote. They don't want them to take this immense risk and see it as their duty to be the one leaving. And they know it's not a glorious paradise that awaits them in Europe. Still it's often the only chance to provide the families with money.

    Janine B.
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just an example. I often work late when I'm at the office. So I get to meet all the helping hands that clean the rooms in the evening. Most of them came from Africa, Asia or East Europe. So I get to know many people with interesting backgrounds. Albert is one of them. He came from Africa as a refugee four years ago. He is divorced but has five children age 5 to 18 he supports. He wants them to have a better life than he did. Have chances of education. He's always so proud of his eldest daughter who's studying to become a teacher. He often shows me the latest pictures of his kids and tells me how they are. If you asked Albert, he would take this risk again and again because it's his only chance to financially support his kids. So unless our countries don't stop ruining foreign economies and taking advantage of their people as cheap workers, there will always be people fleeing. No matter what risks they have to take. So keeping them from drowning is the least thing we can do.

    Load More Replies...
    amanda strachan
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My heart breaks for genuine refugees fleeing war ravaged countries and YES we should do all we can to help. But many of these people leaving France (a safe EU country) are young men who are financial migrants. They come to work the black market economy and know nothing will happen to them. The UK is a very small island, we are bursting at the seams with an overstretched infrastructure/nhs/school/housing etc. We have to differentiate and help the needy.

    Load More Comments
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