p39
It could be, and I don't know either way, that the MSF and Save The Children are not in cahoots with people smugglers but that the smugglers have twigged that these boats are non-military and will take the refugees and let the smugglers go; especially if the smugglers are armed. The lights are on so that anyone in a boat of doubtful seaworthiness has a point to aim for before swimming is required.

I'm not sure about what it means by "messages" either, sending radio messages to other ships in the area which are picked up by smugglers could be an equally good explanation on the evidence I currently have which is not a great deal.

stewgreen 3:29, sea-taxis maritime law etc.

Maritime Law is not my thing, but as a yottie/seafarer, you can not allow someone to drown at sea.

Different countries have different laws about territorial water, borders, security. Different countries have different rules and laws about who may enter a country without passports, visas etc, but those "rescued at sea", "shipwrecked" etc tend to get a waiver.

If a ship went into a North African Harbour, and embarked passengers, and took them to an Italian port, the Italians would be entitled to turn the ship away. If the ship sank in the Italian harbour, the Italians would have to accommodate the survivors of the shipwreck.

It is easier for "aid" ships to motor up and down the North African coast, close to the shore, "rescuing" people on Li-Los who have set off to paddle 100 miles, but had no intention of doing anything more, than getting far enough out to be rescued by a passing ship that happened to have stopped with a bright flashing light on.

If this sounds cynical, good. Some of these "aid" ships, doing very noble deeds, funded by noble people, are just the final and vital part of the people trafficking industry, that is making millions out of other people's fear and misery.

stewgreen & Pcar

I was not aware of that Breitbart article when I posted earlier.

It seems that the "aid agencies" and EU are more heavily involved in people trafficking than I thought.

I feel desperately sorry for those being trafficked, and know that if in the area I would help these victims of exploitation. If the EU are involved, this will not be good news for the likes of Merkel, facing an anti-EU backlash in Germany and those states suffering under the inundation of refugees heading for Germany, based on Merkel's promises.

I seem to remember the BBC/Guardian et al trying to blame the refugee "crisis" on Global Warming. If the crisis caused 2% of the population to vote BREXIT, instead of Remain, faked news by the BBC/Guardian et al caused the BREXIT success that they campaigned against, and still do. If the EU and aid agencies are actively encouragjng further refugees to flee to the EU .......

Pcar, I have never personally experienced warfare, so I do not know what steps I would take to avoid it or join it. In my working life, I have worked with those younger than me, that have had to fight in a war, not within the British Isles, or people whose first language was English. I understand what people mean when they talk about the "1,000 yard stare".

I also recognise comfortable clothing, brand new lifejackets and mobile phones far more advanced than my own, being brandished by "refugees" from "war zones". There is one helluva lot of exploitation going on, in North Africa and the Middle East, to produce these crises. The EU political exploitation has caused it's fair share, and has contributed to BREXIT (which I am in favour of) If the EU's political exploitation backfires and causes further harm to the EU, and fake news about Global Warming, it serves them right.

Innocent people are being exploited, and I do feel sorry for them. The exploiters should bear the shame and cost, but not one from the EU has yet drowned.

golf charlie
I don't know if there is collusion between NGOs and people smugglers, but it's true that they are being paid by those they are transporting. With modern communications communities sending their young men to Europe to find a better life and to send money back home will soon learn who the smugglers getting the best results are. Just like sales people in the UK who do 100K+ miles annually know which parts of the motorway network to avoid and what the best rat runs are the best smugglers will have an intimate knowledge of the naval patrols to avoid and who and where the softest NGO ships will be.

Just as using the numbers of people going to foodbanks in the UK is no measure of poverty, just that people learn where to go and how to behave to cut the cost of living. Is that the fault of those operating foodbanks with the best of intentions that the media and political opportunists use them as sticks to beat the government with. (If I still lived in Derby I might be very tempted to hop on my old "supermarket special" bike and see what the local free food depot had to offer.)

Personally I'm not that keen on things backfiring usually the one step backwards is worse and lasts longer than expected, and a new lot of exploiters step in. However the last people to understand the writing on the wall are Balthazar like politicians (97% of them).

SandyS, I agree! 30 years ago, Norman Tebbit told the unemployed to get on their bikes, travel to work, and if necessary, move to where the work is.

I have worked with Eastern Europeans in the UK, and elsewhere within Europe, and have been impressed.

I do not have a problem with Economic Migrants, across UK or EU Borders, provided there is a match of supply and demand. I do have a problem with Economic Migrants being rebranded as Refugees from War or Global Warming, and achieving priority status. The EU and aid agencies have been part of rebranding migrants for their own political and financial benefit, and it is now causing them pain and suffering. The migrants are also suffering and dying, having been misold what they will get for their money.

About 10 years ago working in Greece, I was told by University educated Greeks, working in bars and restaurants during the tourist season, that their pay was better than nothing, and was in cash, but they were working to improve their language skills, mainly English, but German and French. They did not see their future in Greece, and the UK offered the best cheap/free housing.

Many of them grew up with grandparents able to relate first hand accounts of Nazi atrocities during WW2. They regarded Italy as corrupt, and France as unwelcoming. Germany was an option, but would have caused family unrest.

An ideal career path was seen as UK, for housing and other benefits, and then a multi-national company, where English/American was the first language, but work could take them anywhere in the world.

stewgreen, it is about time a journalist looked at some of this "aid money", and how much gets consumed by the Green Mafia.

Lord Deben has just been on Radio 2 (Jeremy Vine) saying how important UK aid money is. He and Tim Yeo did quite well out of Green schemes.