Refugees We stand with Refugees

How safe am I? Imagine you are sitting at home. It Christmas Time. You are surrounded by family, the fire is lighting, the christmas tree lights are on and underneath the tree is surrounded by so many present you can’t begin to count. Think of how you feel. Happy, loved, full from the Christmas dinner, warm and safe. Look around you all the children are smiling everyone is at peace.

© http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread1098383/pg1 © https://www.morganmckinley.ie/article/returning-home-christmas © http://theelders.org/article/refugee-crisis-how-language-contributes-fate-refugees

Imagine this was your Christmas © http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34848248 © http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/migrants-germany-refugee-children-sing-christmas-carols-get-gifts-santa-claus-1534841

Imagine having to leave Ireland, leave your home, your bedroom, your friends and your family behind…...Imagine leaving everything you call home…. behind

Your world and everything you know is torn apart But why??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25bwiSikRsI

Imagine an Ireland where... You were forced to run away from home because of... © http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2015/05/04/asexuality-the-invisible-orientation © https://www.somvprahe.sk/forum/anglictina-individualne-a-prakticky

Imagine an Ireland like this... That could be your home….what would you do? Would you run? Would you leave to protect your family? Imagine this is your father or brother crying because your family is missing presumed dead, your house is gone, everything you love is gone. What would you do? © http://www.huffingtonpost.com/raymond-barrett/israel-is-losing-the-war-_b_5620093.html © http://radnedge2.rssing.com/chan-12950400/all_p1.html

In a country called Syria people are forced to leave their home because of war. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iz2tNiRpeY

Families are forced to leave Syria because of war between the regime, rebels and religious extremists. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvOnXh3NN9w

Two beautiful smiling faces…. The father of these two boys is Abdullah. He was a barber originally from Damascus, who fled from Kobani to Turkey but “dreamed of a future in Canada” for his family. © http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/aylan-kurdi-s-story-how-a-small-syrian-child-came-to-be-washed-up-on-a-beach-in-turkey-10484588.html

Abdullah paid €4000 (£2900) for his family to get on a 5m-long dinghy from Bodrum to Greece. He borrowed money. This was not their first attempt to get to Greece

“When in the dinghy, the sea got rough “When in the dinghy, the sea got rough. Turkish smuggler abandoned boat, left passengers struggling. Boat capsized after one hour. “After it capsized, the family clung to the boat. Mr Abdullah tried to hold his two children and wife with his arm, but one by one they were washed away by waves.” http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/aylan-kurdi-s-story-how-a-small-syrian-child-came-to-be-washed-up-on-a-beach-in-turkey-10484588.html#gallery

One of his sons was found drowned on the shores of Turkey. This image quickly shocked and stunned the public and highlighted how serious and tragic the Refugee crisis really is. There's a terrible story he told about swimming from one to the other, finding one [son] who seemed to be alright and then going to another, finding him drowned... and then going back to the first boy and finding him drowned,”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=286cPY8BiwI

What is the boat trip like? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuXBx6NXr5s

In the declaration of Human Rights we have the right to...

Not to be tortured or treated in an inhumane way. A right to freedom of religion. A right to a home. A right to clean food and water. A right to live in peace.

So why do we as a human race let this happen?

Your life can be turned upside down https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBQ-IoHfimQ

Let’s make this experience personal

There are a few...a few ordinary day saints who stay in war zones in Syria to help….they are called The White Helmets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wj4ncIEDxw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtv4LCXEGEU