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Ben Cowles
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The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 68: EU plans to criminalise solidarity with refugees
In this episode, we speak with Yasha Maccanico a researcher and journalist at StateWatch, a UK-based charity focused on civil liberties, human rights and democracy in Europe. We talk about a proposed EU law that could make it easier for states to criminalise acts of solidarity with people on the move. Yasha also talks to us about abuses of state power in Europe under the guise of lowering immigration, the externalisation of the EU's borders in Africa, and much more. ---Get in touch--- Twitte...
2025-02-25
1h 13
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 68: EU plans to criminalise solidarity with refugees
In this episode, we speak with Yasha Maccanico a researcher and journalist at StateWatch, a UK-based charity focused on civil liberties, human rights and democracy in Europe. We talk about a proposed EU law that could make it easier for states to criminalise acts of solidarity with people on the move. Yasha also talks to us about abuses of state power in Europe under the guise of lowering immigration, the externalisation of the EU's borders in Africa, and much more. ---Get in touch--- Twitte...
2025-02-25
1h 13
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 67: Syria, Gaza, and European hostility to refugees
In this episode, we speak with Michaël Neuman from Doctors' Without Borders (MSF). He tells us about the charity's work in Syria, and how the fall of Bashar Assad's regime could affect this. We also discuss MSF's work in Gaza, Israel's ongoing genocide against the Palestinians and the fact that, unlike most conflicts, the people there have no escape. Michaël also tells us why MSF decided it needed to help asylum seekers in the UK, and why European governments have been far too quick to pause...
2024-12-30
1h 15
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 67: Syria, Gaza, and European hostility to refugees
In this episode, we speak with Michaël Neuman from Doctors' Without Borders (MSF). He tells us about the charity's work in Syria, and how the fall of Bashar Assad's regime could affect this. We also discuss MSF's work in Gaza, Israel's ongoing genocide against the Palestinians and the fact that, unlike most conflicts, the people there have no escape. Michaël also tells us why MSF decided it needed to help asylum seekers in the UK, and why European governments have been far too quick to pause...
2024-12-30
1h 15
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 65: ‘A pain in the ass to inhumane authorities’
In this episode, we speak with Paul Wagner, the media officer for Sea-Watch's airborne operations. He tells us about the rescue organisation's reconnaissance missions over the central Mediterranean, the push and pullbacks they have witnessed at sea, and how the EU has refugee blood on its hands. He also tell us about the various ways the Italian government has tried to stop them from carrying out their human rights monitoring missions. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social
2024-11-24
1h 03
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 65: ‘A pain in the ass to inhumane authorities’
In this episode, we speak with Paul Wagner, the media officer for Sea-Watch's airborne operations. He tells us about the rescue organisation's reconnaissance missions over the central Mediterranean, the push and pullbacks they have witnessed at sea, and how the EU has refugee blood on its hands. He also tell us about the various ways the Italian government has tried to stop them from carrying out their human rights monitoring missions. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social
2024-11-24
1h 03
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Priscilla Dobler Dzul and Corinna Cowles
Priscilla Dobler Dzul and Corinna Cowles were both residents at the Archie Bray Foundation this summer. In our interview we talk about their current bodies of work and their experience at the Bray. Corinna Cowles is based in Philadelphia, PA and Priscilla Dobler Dzul splits time between Washington state and Mexico. This year’s Bray residency application deadline is December 19th. Check out www.archiebray.org/residencies for more information on how to apply. I would like to highlight a few friends of the podcast that need help recovering from Hurricane Helene. The Village Potters were...
2024-11-04
46 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 63: ‘You feel like the most wanted criminal in the world’
In this episode, we speak with Denny, a young refugee from Kashmir who was forced to flee his homeland almost 9 years ago. He is going to tell us about life in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, his journey through Europe, how he was mistreated by the authorities and supported by activists. We also talk about his time living in a squat in Bosnia, and how looking after a dog helped his mental state. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social
2024-10-04
1h 02
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 63: ‘You feel like the most wanted criminal in the world’
In this episode, we speak with Denny, a young refugee from Kashmir who was forced to flee his homeland almost 9 years ago. He is going to tell us about life in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, his journey through Europe, how he was mistreated by the authorities and supported by activists. We also talk about his time living in a squat in Bosnia, and how looking after a dog helped his mental state. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social
2024-10-04
1h 02
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Epsode 62: The UK's mistreatment of Albanian asylum seekers and victims of human trafficking
In this episode, we speak with Lauren Starkey, a campaigner and independent social worker who works with Albanian victims of human trafficking. Lauren is going to tell us how the British government decided that Albanian men shouldn't be granted asylum in the UK, even if they are victims of human trafficking. She tells us how this approach punishes victims of human trafficking, forces them to live in destitution, and threatens to send them back to an environment they were trafficked from. And we also have an addendum at the...
2024-09-20
1h 28
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Epsode 62: The UK's mistreatment of Albanian asylum seekers and victims of human trafficking
In this episode, we speak with Lauren Starkey, a campaigner and independent social worker who works with Albanian victims of human trafficking. Lauren is going to tell us how the British government decided that Albanian men shouldn't be granted asylum in the UK, even if they are victims of human trafficking. She tells us how this approach punishes victims of human trafficking, forces them to live in destitution, and threatens to send them back to an environment they were trafficked from. And we also have an addendum at the...
2024-09-20
1h 28
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 61: Labour, immigration raids, and far-right riots
In this episode, we speak with Dan Sohege, director of the human rights advocacy organisation Stand For All. We've a new government here in the UK. So I thought it'd be a good idea to ask Dan to give us his analysis of the Labour's plans for asylum seekers. Dan tells us how Labour's plans to increase immigration raids will only make things worse for victims of trafficking. We also discuss the recent far-right riots happening across Britain and Northern Ireland, and how our media and politicians bear...
2024-08-10
54 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 61: Labour, immigration raids, and far-right riots
In this episode, we speak with Dan Sohege, director of the human rights advocacy organisation Stand For All. We've a new government here in the UK. So I thought it'd be a good idea to ask Dan to give us his analysis of the Labour's plans for asylum seekers. Dan tells us how Labour's plans to increase immigration raids will only make things worse for victims of trafficking. We also discuss the recent far-right riots happening across Britain and Northern Ireland, and how our media and politicians bear...
2024-08-10
54 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 60: Pylos Shipwreck – The Greek coastguards watched them drown
In today's episode, we speak with Spyros, from the Free Pylos 9 campaign. He's going to tell us more about the Pylos Shipwreck, how the authorities refused to help the 750 people on the small fishing boat, and how it sank on June 14, 2023, when the Greek coastguards tried to tow it. Only 104 of the 750 people survived. Spyros also tells us about the nine survivors who were used as scapegoats for the disaster and jailed, about the campaign to free them, and how they were treated once they were acquitted. ---Get...
2024-07-26
1h 04
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 60: Pylos Shipwreck – The Greek coastguards watched them drown
In today's episode, we speak with Spyros, from the Free Pylos 9 campaign. He's going to tell us more about the Pylos Shipwreck, how the authorities refused to help the 750 people on the small fishing boat, and how it sank on June 14, 2023, when the Greek coastguards tried to tow it. Only 104 of the 750 people survived. Spyros also tells us about the nine survivors who were used as scapegoats for the disaster and jailed, about the campaign to free them, and how they were treated once they were acquitted. ---Get...
2024-07-26
1h 04
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 59: Solidarity in Bosnia (Part 2)
In this episode, we go back to the border town of Bihac, in Bosnia, to see how the solidarity network No Name Kitchen (NNK) supports People on the Move there. In Part 2 of this miniseries on Bosnia, we'll near more from NNK's volunteers in Bosnia, and also from the refugees/migrants/People on the Move who are trapped in the Balkan country. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social Instagram: thecivi...
2024-06-13
1h 35
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 59: Solidarity in Bosnia (Part 2)
In this episode, we go back to the border town of Bihac, in Bosnia, to see how the solidarity network No Name Kitchen (NNK) supports People on the Move there. In Part 2 of this miniseries on Bosnia, we'll near more from NNK's volunteers in Bosnia, and also from the refugees/migrants/People on the Move who are trapped in the Balkan country. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social Instagram: thecivi...
2024-06-13
1h 35
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 56: Free Homayoun
In this episode we speak with Kiana, Anne, Mahtab and Hannah from the Free Homayoun campaign. Homayoun Sabetara, a widower and father of two, fled Iran to reunite with his daughters in Germany in 2021. Mahtab is one of his daughters. Along the way, Homayoun was forced to drive a car carrying several others across the Greece-Turkey border. He was arrested in Greece, charged with human smuggling, and sentenced to 18 years behind bars at a trial conducted without interpreters. Kiana, Anne, Mahtab and Hannah tell us more about Homayo...
2024-04-13
1h 12
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 56: Free Homayoun
In this episode we speak with Kiana, Anne, Mahtab and Hannah from the Free Homayoun campaign. Homayoun Sabetara, a widower and father of two, fled Iran to reunite with his daughters in Germany in 2021. Mahtab is one of his daughters. Along the way, Homayoun was forced to drive a car carrying several others across the Greece-Turkey border. He was arrested in Greece, charged with human smuggling, and sentenced to 18 years behind bars at a trial conducted without interpreters. Kiana, Anne, Mahtab and Hannah tell us more about Homayo...
2024-04-13
1h 12
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 55: The Libyan Coastguards shot at us
In this episode, we speak with Camilla from the refugee rescue organisation SOS Humanity. She tells us about the time the so-called Libyan Coastguard shot at them, disrupting a rescue operation in the central Mediterranean, and causing the death of at least one person in early March 2024. She also tells us how, after that ordeal, the Italian authorities then ordered the Humanity 1 rescue ship to sail for a port, thousands of miles away. And how, when they finally reached land, the authorities tried to detain the ship becau...
2024-03-29
1h 12
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 55: The Libyan Coastguards shot at us
In this episode, we speak with Camilla from the refugee rescue organisation SOS Humanity. She tells us about the time the so-called Libyan Coastguard shot at them, disrupting a rescue operation in the central Mediterranean, and causing the death of at least one person in early March 2024. She also tells us how, after that ordeal, the Italian authorities then ordered the Humanity 1 rescue ship to sail for a port, thousands of miles away. And how, when they finally reached land, the authorities tried to detain the ship becau...
2024-03-29
1h 12
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 54: Solidarity And Resistance
Activists aboard the Iuventa rescue ship saved the lives of over 14,000 people in the central Mediterranean between 2016 and 2017. Based on dodgy allegations from a security guard with links to the far right, the Italian secret services began spying on the Iuventa crew in September 2016. The Italian authorities seized the Iuventa in August 2017, and initially warned 10 members of the crew that they were under investigation for human smuggling. But in March 2021, only four of them were charged with “aiding and abetting illegal immigration to Italy.” The four...
2024-03-19
1h 52
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 54: Solidarity And Resistance
Activists aboard the Iuventa rescue ship saved the lives of over 14,000 people in the central Mediterranean between 2016 and 2017. Based on dodgy allegations from a security guard with links to the far right, the Italian secret services began spying on the Iuventa crew in September 2016. The Italian authorities seized the Iuventa in August 2017, and initially warned 10 members of the crew that they were under investigation for human smuggling. But in March 2021, only four of them were charged with “aiding and abetting illegal immigration to Italy.” The four...
2024-03-19
1h 52
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 52: Frontex, Pirates and Greek lies
In this episode, we speak with journalist Bashar Deeb from Lighthouse Reports about two investigations he worked on. The first, called 'Frontex and the Pirate Ship', is a disturbing story of how the European Border and Coastguard Agency helped a notorious Libyan rebel group intercept a refugee boat in the Mediterranean. The second, ‘Drowning in Lies’, exposes how Greece tried to cover up its role in the Pylos shipwreck by tampering with witness testimony. --Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @c...
2024-01-25
50 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 52: Frontex, Pirates and Greek lies
In this episode, we speak with journalist Bashar Deeb from Lighthouse Reports about two investigations he worked on. The first, called 'Frontex and the Pirate Ship', is a disturbing story of how the European Border and Coastguard Agency helped a notorious Libyan rebel group intercept a refugee boat in the Mediterranean. The second, ‘Drowning in Lies’, exposes how Greece tried to cover up its role in the Pylos shipwreck by tampering with witness testimony. --Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @c...
2024-01-25
50 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 51: Europe's Bloody Borders
In this episode, we speak with Sergio from No Name Kitchen. He tells how the group supports people on the move along the Balkan route, and the types of violence they experience along the European Union's edges. Sergio also talks to us about No Name Kitchen's Bloody Borders report, and of the horrific levels of abuse suffered at European borders. --Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social Instagram: thecivilfleet info@ci...
2024-01-09
1h 04
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 51: Europe's Bloody Borders
In this episode, we speak with Sergio from No Name Kitchen. He tells how the group supports people on the move along the Balkan route, and the types of violence they experience along the European Union's edges. Sergio also talks to us about No Name Kitchen's Bloody Borders report, and of the horrific levels of abuse suffered at European borders. --Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social Instagram: thecivilfleet info@ci...
2024-01-09
1h 04
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 50: Abolish Frontex
In this episode we speak with Josephine from Abolish Frontex, a decentralised network of activist groups focused on ending the EU's deadly border regime. Josephine is going to tell us about Frontex, which is the European Border and Coastguard Agency, it's many scandals, it's operations within and outside Europe, and why it should be abolished. We also talk about the International Day of Action the network is calling for on December 18th, demanding Frontex ends its operations in Africa. --Get in touch--- Twitter: @Fleet...
2023-11-16
52 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 50: Abolish Frontex
In this episode we speak with Josephine from Abolish Frontex, a decentralised network of activist groups focused on ending the EU's deadly border regime. Josephine is going to tell us about Frontex, which is the European Border and Coastguard Agency, it's many scandals, it's operations within and outside Europe, and why it should be abolished. We also talk about the International Day of Action the network is calling for on December 18th, demanding Frontex ends its operations in Africa. --Get in touch--- Twitter: @Fleet...
2023-11-16
52 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 49: Safe Passage for Refugees
In this episode, we speak with Paul O'Connor the senior national officer at the Public and Commerical Services (PCS) union - one of the largest unions in the UK, representing workers across all government departments and in the private sector. Paul tells us about the safe passage for refugees policy the union's members wrote with Care4Calais, and why it is a genuinely humanitarian way to stop the small boat crossings of the Channel. We also touch on working class solidarity, anti-fascism and, the Bibby Stockholm, the hostile environment, and how a st...
2023-10-27
51 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 49: Safe Passage for Refugees
In this episode, we speak with Paul O'Connor the senior national officer at the Public and Commerical Services (PCS) union - one of the largest unions in the UK, representing workers across all government departments and in the private sector. Paul tells us about the safe passage for refugees policy the union's members wrote with Care4Calais, and why it is a genuinely humanitarian way to stop the small boat crossings of the Channel. We also touch on working class solidarity, anti-fascism and, the Bibby Stockholm, the hostile environment, and how a st...
2023-10-27
51 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 48: Europe's Tunisian border
Jihed, a Tunisian activist with Alarm Phone and Louise Michelle, talks to us about the mistreatment of refugees / migrants / people on the move in Tunisia in this episode. He tells us how a speech by Tunisia's President Kais Said earlier this year — in which he spouted off racist, far-right conspiracy theories — affected refugees in Tunisia. We hear about border violence between Tunisia and Libya, and how Europe's border operates inside the country. Jihed was also an active participant in the Tunisian revolution. He tells us about that and its ef...
2023-10-17
57 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 48: Europe's Tunisian border
Jihed, a Tunisian activist with Alarm Phone and Louise Michelle, talks to us about the mistreatment of refugees / migrants / people on the move in Tunisia in this episode. He tells us how a speech by Tunisia's President Kais Said earlier this year — in which he spouted off racist, far-right conspiracy theories — affected refugees in Tunisia. We hear about border violence between Tunisia and Libya, and how Europe's border operates inside the country. Jihed was also an active participant in the Tunisian revolution. He tells us about that and its ef...
2023-10-17
57 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 47: ‘Remove the rescue equipment or we will arrest you’
In this episode, we speak with Serena from Mediterranea: Saving Humans, an Italian refugee rescue organisation. Serena tells us how the Italian authorities have prevented the organisation's ship, the Mare Jonio, from going back to sea to save lives for over a year. She also tells how the authorities recently ordered the Mare Jonio to remove all of its rescue equipment or face arrest. --Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social Instagram: thecivilfleet
2023-09-30
46 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 47: ‘Remove the rescue equipment or we will arrest you’
In this episode, we speak with Serena from Mediterranea: Saving Humans, an Italian refugee rescue organisation. Serena tells us how the Italian authorities have prevented the organisation's ship, the Mare Jonio, from going back to sea to save lives for over a year. She also tells how the authorities recently ordered the Mare Jonio to remove all of its rescue equipment or face arrest. --Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social Instagram: thecivilfleet
2023-09-30
46 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 46: Organised chaos in Lampedusa
In this episode, we speak with Jasmine from the Italian cultural association Maldusa, an organisation that supports migrant solidarity efforts, and documents border violence. Jasmine tells us about September 12, when more than 5,000 people arrived on Lampedusa, overwhelming the Mediterranean island's under resourced and completely inadequate migrant reception facilities and services. She also tells us how the Italian state has not only completely failed the migrants but the locals too, and how many of them mobilised in solidarity with the new arrivals. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil
2023-09-22
1h 08
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 46: Organised chaos in Lampedusa
In this episode, we speak with Jasmine from the Italian cultural association Maldusa, an organisation that supports migrant solidarity efforts, and documents border violence. Jasmine tells us about September 12, when more than 5,000 people arrived on Lampedusa, overwhelming the Mediterranean island's under resourced and completely inadequate migrant reception facilities and services. She also tells us how the Italian state has not only completely failed the migrants but the locals too, and how many of them mobilised in solidarity with the new arrivals. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil
2023-09-22
1h 08
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 44: Reclaim the Sea
In this episode we speak with Tigs Louis-Puttick, the founder of Reclaim the Sea, a UK-based organisation helping refugee women reclaim the seaside as a place of joy. Tigs tells us about teaching refugees to swim and surf, about the UK government placing asylum seekers on a floating barge – the Bibby Stockholm – and the company which owns the barge's links to the trans-atlantic slave trade. She also tells us how she was arrested in July 2023 during a protest outside the UK Home Office against the Illegal Migration Bill. ---Get...
2023-08-13
52 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 44: Reclaim the Sea
In this episode we speak with Tigs Louis-Puttick, the founder of Reclaim the Sea, a UK-based organisation helping refugee women reclaim the seaside as a place of joy. Tigs tells us about teaching refugees to swim and surf, about the UK government placing asylum seekers on a floating barge – the Bibby Stockholm – and the company which owns the barge's links to the trans-atlantic slave trade. She also tells us how she was arrested in July 2023 during a protest outside the UK Home Office against the Illegal Migration Bill. ---Get...
2023-08-13
52 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 43: Doro - refugee, hero, champion, survivor
In this episode, we speak with firefighter and refugee rescuer Brendan Woodhouse about Doro, a book he co-wrote with Doro Goumaneh. Brendan tells us how he rescued his co-author from a boat in the Mediterranean in 2019 from the Sea-Watch 3, and while waiting for Italy to allow the rescued to disembark, Doro asked Brendan to write his story. Brendan tells us about co-writing the book, Doro's journey and new life in France, and how the book has been received. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil
2023-07-30
1h 05
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 43: Doro - refugee, hero, champion, survivor
In this episode, we speak with firefighter and refugee rescuer Brendan Woodhouse about Doro, a book he co-wrote with Doro Goumaneh. Brendan tells us how he rescued his co-author from a boat in the Mediterranean in 2019 from the Sea-Watch 3, and while waiting for Italy to allow the rescued to disembark, Doro asked Brendan to write his story. Brendan tells us about co-writing the book, Doro's journey and new life in France, and how the book has been received. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil
2023-07-30
1h 05
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 42: Exposing the Home Office's treatment of asylum seekers
In today's episode, we speak with freelance investigative journalist Nicola Kelly about two important articles she wrote this year for the Guardian newspaper. The first concerns the UK government providing £3m to the Turkish border guards to stop people on the move at the country's border with Iran. The second article we discuss is about asylum seekers being abused and intimidated by staff at Home Office hotels. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social Instagram: thecivilfleet info@civilfleet.com
2023-07-16
58 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 42: Exposing the Home Office's treatment of asylum seekers
In today's episode, we speak with freelance investigative journalist Nicola Kelly about two important articles she wrote this year for the Guardian newspaper. The first concerns the UK government providing £3m to the Turkish border guards to stop people on the move at the country's border with Iran. The second article we discuss is about asylum seekers being abused and intimidated by staff at Home Office hotels. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social Instagram: thecivilfleet info@civilfleet.com
2023-07-16
58 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 41: Solidarity along the Balkan route
In today's episode we speak with Barbara from No Name Kitchen about the organisation's work supporting people on the move along the Balkan route into Europe. She tells us how the EU has externalised its borders in Bosnia and Serbia, how the authorities have effectively made it illegal to help people on the move there, and how this has forced people on the move are to survive underground. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social Instagram: thecivilfleet info@civilfleet.com civ...
2023-06-30
48 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 41: Solidarity along the Balkan route
In today's episode we speak with Barbara from No Name Kitchen about the organisation's work supporting people on the move along the Balkan route into Europe. She tells us how the EU has externalised its borders in Bosnia and Serbia, how the authorities have effectively made it illegal to help people on the move there, and how this has forced people on the move are to survive underground. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social Instagram: thecivilfleet info@civilfleet.com civ...
2023-06-30
48 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 40: Profiting from Europe's deportation regime
TODAY we speak with Sophie and Patrick, journalists and activists with the anti-capitalist research co-operative Corporate Watch. Sophie and Patrick tell us about the private companies profiting from the UK and Europe's deportation regime - specifically Air Partner and Carlson Wagonlit, two corporations that organise chartered deportation flights across the continent. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social Instagram: thecivilfleet info@civilfleet.com civilfleet.com Support: ko-fi.com/civilfleet ---Show Notes--- If you're facing deportation from the UK, th...
2023-06-17
52 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 40: Profiting from Europe's deportation regime
TODAY we speak with Sophie and Patrick, journalists and activists with the anti-capitalist research co-operative Corporate Watch. Sophie and Patrick tell us about the private companies profiting from the UK and Europe's deportation regime - specifically Air Partner and Carlson Wagonlit, two corporations that organise chartered deportation flights across the continent. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social Instagram: thecivilfleet info@civilfleet.com civilfleet.com Support: ko-fi.com/civilfleet ---Show Notes--- If you're facing deportation from the UK, th...
2023-06-17
52 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 39: A hostile environment for refugees
In today's episode we speak with filmmaker Sonita Gale, about her award-winning documentary film Hostile. Sonita tells us how Britain's "hostile environment" stretches much further back than 2012, when then home secretary Theresa May coined the term, and is rooted in the British Empire. We hear how successive governments — both Labour and Conservative — have created an inhumane system for migrants and refugees in the UK and how this has affected the people in her film. She also tells us how these dehumanising policies lead to the Windrush Scandal, and how the...
2023-05-30
53 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 39: A hostile environment for refugees
In today's episode we speak with filmmaker Sonita Gale, about her award-winning documentary film Hostile. Sonita tells us how Britain's "hostile environment" stretches much further back than 2012, when then home secretary Theresa May coined the term, and is rooted in the British Empire. We hear how successive governments — both Labour and Conservative — have created an inhumane system for migrants and refugees in the UK and how this has affected the people in her film. She also tells us how these dehumanising policies lead to the Windrush Scandal, and how the...
2023-05-30
53 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 37: Free The El Hiblu 3 - Teenagers accused of terrorism for translating
In today's episode we speak with Jelka and Amara. Amara was one of 108 people who were rescued by an oil tanker, called the El Hiblu 1, in March 2019 after escaping Libya. The European authorities ordered the El Hiblu 1's crew to wait for the Libyan coastguards to come and take the rescued back to the war-torn country. But, the rescued convinced the crew to sail north instead. Amara, along with fellow teenagers Abdalla and Kadar, acted as translators between the refugees and the crew. The Maltese special forces eventually raided the ship, i...
2023-03-23
55 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 37: Free The El Hiblu 3 - Teenagers accused of terrorism for translating
In today's episode we speak with Jelka and Amara. Amara was one of 108 people who were rescued by an oil tanker, called the El Hiblu 1, in March 2019 after escaping Libya. The European authorities ordered the El Hiblu 1's crew to wait for the Libyan coastguards to come and take the rescued back to the war-torn country. But, the rescued convinced the crew to sail north instead. Amara, along with fellow teenagers Abdalla and Kadar, acted as translators between the refugees and the crew. The Maltese special forces eventually raided the ship, i...
2023-03-23
55 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 36: Defending the Iuventa 4 refugee rescuers
In today's episode we speak with Francesca Cancellaro, one of the human rights lawyers representing the Iuventa 4 — four activists on pretrial in Italy after saving over 14,000 lives in the Mediterranean. Francesca updates us on the pretrial, walks us through some of the many irregularities prolonging it, and explains why the case is so important for the future of activist-led rescue missions. She also tells us why the Iuventa crew are taking the Trapani Prosecutor’s Office to court over the abandonment and destruction of their ship. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastod...
2023-03-11
44 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 36: Defending the Iuventa 4 refugee rescuers
In today's episode we speak with Francesca Cancellaro, one of the human rights lawyers representing the Iuventa 4 — four activists on pretrial in Italy after saving over 14,000 lives in the Mediterranean. Francesca updates us on the pretrial, walks us through some of the many irregularities prolonging it, and explains why the case is so important for the future of activist-led rescue missions. She also tells us why the Iuventa crew are taking the Trapani Prosecutor’s Office to court over the abandonment and destruction of their ship. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastod...
2023-03-11
44 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 34: Europe's ‘black sites’ & secret asylum-seeker pushbacks on commercial ships
In today's episode, we speak with Klaas van Dijken, one of the co-founders of the investigative journalism organisation Lighthouse Reports. Klaas talks to us about two recent investigations he and his team worked on: • How asylum seekers are held in secret prisons on commercial ships to facilitate illegal pushbacks from Italy to Greece, and • How refugees are being arbitrarily detained and tortured at secret facilities along EU borders before being illegally forced back across borders. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social info@civilfleet.com Sup...
2023-01-28
46 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 34: Europe's ‘black sites’ & secret asylum-seeker pushbacks on commercial ships
In today's episode, we speak with Klaas van Dijken, one of the co-founders of the investigative journalism organisation Lighthouse Reports. Klaas talks to us about two recent investigations he and his team worked on: • How asylum seekers are held in secret prisons on commercial ships to facilitate illegal pushbacks from Italy to Greece, and • How refugees are being arbitrarily detained and tortured at secret facilities along EU borders before being illegally forced back across borders. ---Get in touch--- Twitter: @FleetCivil Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social info@civilfleet.com Sup...
2023-01-28
46 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 33: Preventing pushbacks at the Lithuania-Belarus border
In today's episode, we speak with Dalia, an activist from the Lithuanian human rights and medical aid organisation, Sienos Grupe (Border Group in English). She tells us about the conditions faced by people trapped at Lithuania's border with Belarus, which has been sending people towards the EU since 2021, and how Russia may also be involved. Dalia describes how Sienos Grupe are helping to prevent pushbacks at the border and support people in the country's refugee camps, as well as those who decide to stay in Lithuania. We also hear how some Sienos Grupe me...
2023-01-14
1h 08
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 33: Preventing pushbacks at the Lithuania-Belarus border
In today's episode, we speak with Dalia, an activist from the Lithuanian human rights and medical aid organisation, Sienos Grupe (Border Group in English). She tells us about the conditions faced by people trapped at Lithuania's border with Belarus, which has been sending people towards the EU since 2021, and how Russia may also be involved. Dalia describes how Sienos Grupe are helping to prevent pushbacks at the border and support people in the country's refugee camps, as well as those who decide to stay in Lithuania. We also hear how some Sienos Grupe me...
2023-01-14
1h 08
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 32: Manston: Britain's overcrowded and unsafe migrant detention camp
IN THIS episode we speak with Bethany Rielly, the home affairs reporter at the Morning Star newspaper, about the scandal surrounding the Manston migrant centre in Britain. Manston is a former military base in Kent, which opened as a processing centre earlier this year for those who arrived into the country by crossing the Channel. Bethany tells us how people are being detained in awful conditions at the overcrowded camp for weeks, when they are only supposed to be held there for 24 hours, and about the outbreak of Victorian-era diseases inside there. We dis...
2022-11-14
54 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 32: Manston: Britain's overcrowded and unsafe migrant detention camp
IN THIS episode we speak with Bethany Rielly, the home affairs reporter at the Morning Star newspaper, about the scandal surrounding the Manston migrant centre in Britain. Manston is a former military base in Kent, which opened as a processing centre earlier this year for those who arrived into the country by crossing the Channel. Bethany tells us how people are being detained in awful conditions at the overcrowded camp for weeks, when they are only supposed to be held there for 24 hours, and about the outbreak of Victorian-era diseases inside there. We dis...
2022-11-14
54 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 31: Kept at sea as food and water run low
In today's episode, we speak with SOS Humanity's human rights observer, Mirka Schäfer. Mirka tells us about the organisation's first rescue mission aboard the Humanity 1, and how it saved the lives of over 390 people in the central Mediterranean last month We hear about how the crew found 207 people in Malta's SAR zone who had been adrift at sea with no food and water for days. After the crew brought them on board, the European authorities refused to allow the rescued to come ashore for another seven days. Mirka tells us all about th...
2022-10-07
1h 01
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 31: Kept at sea as food and water run low
In today's episode, we speak with SOS Humanity's human rights observer, Mirka Schäfer. Mirka tells us about the organisation's first rescue mission aboard the Humanity 1, and how it saved the lives of over 390 people in the central Mediterranean last month We hear about how the crew found 207 people in Malta's SAR zone who had been adrift at sea with no food and water for days. After the crew brought them on board, the European authorities refused to allow the rescued to come ashore for another seven days. Mirka tells us all about th...
2022-10-07
1h 01
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 30: A new ship, same old problems
In today's episode, we speak with David Llado, a search-and-rescue coordinator for the Spanish rescue organisation Open Arms. David talks to us the organisation's new ship, the Open Arms Uno, and runs us through what happened on its first mission. He tell us why, despite the fact that the new vessel has gone through more official checks than any other ship in the Spanish fleet, the authorities may still block it from saving lives in the Mediterranean. We also hear about the lengths European states have gone to stop the Open Arms' other sh...
2022-09-12
1h 11
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 30: A new ship, same old problems
In today's episode, we speak with David Llado, a search-and-rescue coordinator for the Spanish rescue organisation Open Arms. David talks to us the organisation's new ship, the Open Arms Uno, and runs us through what happened on its first mission. He tell us why, despite the fact that the new vessel has gone through more official checks than any other ship in the Spanish fleet, the authorities may still block it from saving lives in the Mediterranean. We also hear about the lengths European states have gone to stop the Open Arms' other sh...
2022-09-12
1h 11
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 29: ‘I will keep knocking on Fortress Europe's walls’
IN today's episode, we speak with Yambio David Oliver, founder of the campaign group Refugees in Libya. He tells us why he had to flee his home in South Sudan, about working in a gold mine in Chad and why he was forced to make the deadly desert crossing into Libya. We hear about his time in the North African country, where he was treated like a slave, forced to join a militia, and made multiple attempts to escape across the Mediterranean. He tells us about the Libya...
2022-08-14
1h 12
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 28: Refugee life, pushbacks and criminalisation on Lesvos
In this episode, we hear from Alice and Hamid from Borderline Lesvos about their work on the island running a welcome centre for registered refugees. They tell us how the NGO helps people adjust to life on the island, and helps them with things like bureaucracy, housing and the Greek language. We hear about Moria camp 2, and how the kids languishing inside there are struggling with their mental health. They also speak about the dwindling numbers of refugees on the island, the illegal practice of refugee pushbacks, and how the authorities may in...
2022-07-10
1h 05
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 28: Refugee life, pushbacks and criminalisation on Lesvos
In this episode, we hear from Alice and Hamid from Borderline Lesvos about their work on the island running a welcome centre for registered refugees. They tell us how the NGO helps people adjust to life on the island, and helps them with things like bureaucracy, housing and the Greek language. We hear about Moria camp 2, and how the kids languishing inside there are struggling with their mental health. They also speak about the dwindling numbers of refugees on the island, the illegal practice of refugee pushbacks, and how the authorities may in...
2022-07-10
1h 05
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 27: "They capsized into the water. Luckily most people were able to swim"
One night in May this year, 110 people were crammed onto a wooden boat somewhere along Libya's Mediterranean coastline. The boat was much too small for them all, and none of them had been given a life jacket. But they, much like the tens of thousands of others who have attempted to reach safety in Europe, must have been desperate to escape that war-torn country. The people eventually made it into Malta's SAR zone, where the island nation was legally responsible for coordinating their rescue. But of course, Malta did no such thing. Two act...
2022-06-25
58 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 27: "They capsized into the water. Luckily most people were able to swim"
One night in May this year, 110 people were crammed onto a wooden boat somewhere along Libya's Mediterranean coastline. The boat was much too small for them all, and none of them had been given a life jacket. But they, much like the tens of thousands of others who have attempted to reach safety in Europe, must have been desperate to escape that war-torn country. The people eventually made it into Malta's SAR zone, where the island nation was legally responsible for coordinating their rescue. But of course, Malta did no such thing. Two act...
2022-06-25
58 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 26: The Samos 2 and the criminalisation of refugees in Greece
In today's episode, we speak with lawyers Alexandros Georgoulis and Dimitris Choulis about the controversial legal case they worked on known as the Samos 2. The Samos 2 are two Afghan refugees who tried to reach Greece by boat with 22 others in November 2020. Their boat got into trouble as it neared the island of Samos and capsized. The Greek coastguards were aware of the incident, but did not launch a rescue. The next day, one of the refugees, known only as N, found the body of his six-year-old son on the rocks. The cops arrested him and charged him with "endangering the lif...
2022-06-12
52 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 25: ‘I can't feel safe while the UK government plans to send refugees to Rwanda’
In today's episode, we speak with Syrian refugee Hasan about why he was forced to flee Syria and how he was treated by the authorities while attempting to reach Europe. Hasan, which is not his real name, is now safe and living in London. He was also detained here in Britain after reaching the country and was held in one of the notorious former British army barracks while his asylum claim was being processed. He's going to tell us about that, too, and why it is an awful way to treat asylum seekers. We'll also hear his th...
2022-06-01
52 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 24: Twenty years behind bars for saving lives
In today's episode, we speak with Kathrin Schmidt, a rescue worker who saved the lives of 14,000 refugees in the Mediterranean Sea aboard the Iuventa five years ago. This Saturday, May 21, she and three others from the ship are due to appear in an Italian court on charges of facilitating illegal entry into the country. They could all face 20 years behind bars. The charges are bogus, of course, and Kathrin is going to tell us why. She will also explain how the Italian secret services wiretapped the Iuventa and surveilled journalists and lawyers speaking with their clients. S...
2022-05-20
53 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 23: ‘Frontex's task is, and always will be, to stop people entering Europe’
In today's episode, we speak with transparency activist Luisa Izuzquiza from the German campaign group Frag Den Staat (Ask the State). She tells us why Frag Den Staat and Sea-Watch are launching legal action against Frontex, the European Border and Coastguard Agency. She also explains why Frontex is an inherently violent institution that is incompatible with human rights, and why it should be abolished. ---Show notes--- Check out Frag Den Staat's English website: fragdenstaat.de/en Follow Frag Den Staat on Twitter: @fragdenstaat Take a read of...
2022-05-11
1h 01
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 23: ‘Frontex's task is, and always will be, to stop people entering Europe’
In today's episode, we speak with transparency activist Luisa Izuzquiza from the German campaign group Frag Den Staat (Ask the State). She tells us why Frag Den Staat and Sea-Watch are launching legal action against Frontex, the European Border and Coastguard Agency. She also explains why Frontex is an inherently violent institution that is incompatible with human rights, and why it should be abolished. ---Show notes--- Check out Frag Den Staat's English website: fragdenstaat.de/en Follow Frag Den Staat on Twitter: @fragdenstaat Take a read of...
2022-05-11
1h 01
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 22: ‘They drowned right in front of us’
In today's episode, speedboat driver Brendan talks to us about the Sea-Watch 3's latest rescue mission in the Mediterranean, and what happened when he came across a shipwreck. He also talks about how the Libyan Coastguards also handed over the people they'd saved over to his speedboat. --- Show notes --- For more on Sea-Watch, visit: sea-watch.org/en Follow Sea-Watch on Twitter here: @seawatch_intl You can read Brendan's evocative article on the fourth rescue operation on The Civil Fleet here: bit.ly/3y2U296 For more on Der...
2022-04-30
1h 08
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 21: The cruelty of Britain's Nationality and Borders Bill
In today's episode, Doctor's Without Borders (MSF) UK advocacy officer Sophie McCann talks to us about the British government's Nationality and Borders Bill. She tells us how the Bill borrows from the worst parts of immigration policies around the world, and how it could cause more harm to people seeking asylum in Britain. Sophie also talks about the physical and mental harms caused by Australia's policy of offshoring asylum seekers on the pacific island of Nauru, and how the Bill appears to be inspired by it. --- Show notes --- For mo...
2022-03-21
59 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 21: The cruelty of Britain's Nationality and Borders Bill
In today's episode, Doctor's Without Borders (MSF) UK advocacy officer Sophie McCann talks to us about the British government's Nationality and Borders Bill. She tells us how the Bill borrows from the worst parts of immigration policies around the world, and how it could cause more harm to people seeking asylum in Britain. Sophie also talks about the physical and mental harms caused by Australia's policy of offshoring asylum seekers on the pacific island of Nauru, and how the Bill appears to be inspired by it. --- Show notes --- For mo...
2022-03-21
59 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 20: The so-called Libyan Coastguard shoot at refugees as they tried to flee
In today's episode, we speak with Leona of the Louise Michel, a refugee rescue ship funded in part by the elusive British street artist Banksy. During the Louise Michel's last mission in the central Mediterranean in January this year, the crew witnessed the EU-supported Libyan Coastguards shot at the people they had intercepted as they tried to swim away from them. Leona tells us all about that, as well as the Louise Michel's previous missions: one earlier this year which saw fossil fuel giant Shell help send refugees stuck on one of its oil rigs t...
2022-02-26
58 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 19: The injustices caused by the Italy-Libya Memorandum of Understanding
This month marked the five-year anniversary of the EU-sponsored agreement between Italy and Libya. The deal led to millions of Euros bing spent on the so-called Libyan Coastguard and thousands of people being pushed back into Libya's condemned detention centres. In today's episode, Italian journalist Lorenzo D'Agostino talks to us about some of the lesser known consequences of that deal, like how it made Libya's southern desert border more deadly and how the Italian anti-mafia squad has prosecuted people for steering their boats across the Mediterranean. He also talks about how Europe's neocolonialist policies in Africa are dr...
2022-02-13
1h 03
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 18: ‘There is no end to this cruelty’
In today's episode, we speak with Iason Apostolopoulos, a search-and-rescue coordinator with Italian refugee rescuers Mediterranea: Saving Humans. We speak about the organisation's latest rescue operation aboard the Mare Jonio, and how the Italian cops put Mediterranea under investigation last year for supposedly facilitating the arrival of "illegal migrants." In July 2021, Iason was scheduled to receive the Medal of Honour from the Greek President for his search-and-rescue activities since 2015. But the country's right-wing government cancelled it at the last minute, calling him a "traitor to the state." Iason tells us all about that too.
2022-02-06
56 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 18: ‘There is no end to this cruelty’
In today's episode, we speak with Iason Apostolopoulos, a search-and-rescue coordinator with Italian refugee rescuers Mediterranea: Saving Humans. We speak about the organisation's latest rescue operation aboard the Mare Jonio, and how the Italian cops put Mediterranea under investigation last year for supposedly facilitating the arrival of "illegal migrants." In July 2021, Iason was scheduled to receive the Medal of Honour from the Greek President for his search-and-rescue activities since 2015. But the country's right-wing government cancelled it at the last minute, calling him a "traitor to the state." Iason tells us all about that too.
2022-02-06
56 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 17: Challenging the UK government's refugee pushback policy
In today's episode we speak with Clare Moseley, the founder of Care4Calais, a volunteer-run charity working with refugees in the UK, France and Belgium. She talks to us about the charity's joint legal challenge with the Public and Commerical Services (PCS) Union against the UK government's proposed policy of pushing asylum seekers crossing the Channel back to France. Clare also tells us about the dire situation people stuck in Calais face every day, and how this systematic abuse only serves to further damage already-traumatised people. --- Show notes --- ...
2022-01-21
51 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 16: Criminalising compassion and empathy
In today's episode we speak with Madi Williamson and Sean Binder, activists that have been targeted by the Greek authorities for their involvement with civilian-led refugee rescues. Sean — and several others who worked with Emergency Response Centre International on the island of Lesbos — was detained for months on charges of money laundering, people smuggling, and espionage. He could face years in jail for saving lives. Madi, a qualified nurse, has also been accused of spying. She was detained and strip searched by Greek police due to her work documenting refugee pushbacks in the Aegean Sea (see...
2022-01-08
1h 23
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 16: Criminalising compassion and empathy
In today's episode we speak with Madi Williamson and Sean Binder, activists that have been targeted by the Greek authorities for their involvement with civilian-led refugee rescues. Sean — and several others who worked with Emergency Response Centre International on the island of Lesbos — was detained for months on charges of money laundering, people smuggling, and espionage. He could face years in jail for saving lives. Madi, a qualified nurse, has also been accused of spying. She was detained and strip searched by Greek police due to her work documenting refugee pushbacks in the Aegean Sea (see...
2022-01-08
1h 23
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 15: Calling on the ICC to investigate crimes against humanity in Libya
In November, three prominent human rights groups filed a report to the International Criminal Court (ICC) into possible crimes against humanity being committed on migrants and refugees in Libya. The groups — European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), Lawyers for Justice in Libya, and the International Federation for Human Rights — also warned that the EU’s migration policies have “significantly contributed to this grave situation.” In today's episode, Silvia Rojas-Castro, a legal advisor at the ECCHR, and Elise Flecher, senior programmes officer at Lawyers for Justice in Libya, tell us all about this and why the th...
2021-12-18
44 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 15: Calling on the ICC to investigate crimes against humanity in Libya
In November, three prominent human rights groups filed a report to the International Criminal Court (ICC) into possible crimes against humanity being committed on migrants and refugees in Libya. The groups — European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), Lawyers for Justice in Libya, and the International Federation for Human Rights — also warned that the EU’s migration policies have “significantly contributed to this grave situation.” In today's episode, Silvia Rojas-Castro, a legal advisor at the ECCHR, and Elise Flecher, senior programmes officer at Lawyers for Justice in Libya, tell us all about this and why the th...
2021-12-18
44 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 14: Discovering 10 dead bodies on an overcrowded wooden boat
In today's episode, we speak with Doctors Without Borders' (MSF) search-and-rescue team leader RICCARDO GATTI and certified midwife KIRA SMITH. Riccardo and Kira tell us about their last rescue mission aboard MSF's rescue ship, the Geo Barents, in which they saved over 180 lives. They also tell us about the 10 dead bodies they recovered from one of the overcrowded boats they came across. ---Show notes--- For more on The Civil Fleet visit: civilfleet.com You can find a glossary of some of the terms used in this episode here: bit...
2021-12-04
56 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode13: Blocked from reaching the Central Mediterranean
In today's episode, we speak with Albert Mayordomo, the head of operations for the Open Arms refugee rescue organisation. Albert tells us how France ended the Open Arms' previous mission before it began with legal tricks, delay tactics and banning the ship from all of French ports. He also talks to us about some other times European states have stopped the Open Arms' from operating, and about the ship's run-ins with the EU-supported Libyan Coastguard. ---Show notes--- For more on The Civil Fleet visit: civilfleet.com You can find...
2021-11-21
47 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 12: Stopped from saving lives by state bureaucracy
IN this episode we speak with Iñigo Mijangos, chairman of Humanitarian Maritime Rescue (SMH), the Basque NGO that operates the Aita Mari refugee rescue ship. Inigo spoke to us a day before the Aita Mari set sail for the central Mediterranean. The ship had been stuck in a kind of bureaucratic purgatory and was blocked from leaving port since its last rescue mission in June because the Spanish port authorities' tried to force it to comply with the wrong type of safety regulations. Inigo also tells us all about that, and how an out-of-date c...
2021-10-20
43 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 11: The humanitarian crisis in the Channel
In today's episode, we speak with Kim from Channel Rescue, a human rights monitoring organisation based along the south coast in Britain. She tells us why Channel Rescue was started, what its activists do on their observation missions, and how they ensure the British authorities are carrying out their legal duty to rescue people in distress. We discuss the British government's handling of the emerging human rights crisis at its southern sea board. And Kim also tells us about Channel Rescue's run in with the far-right. ---Show notes--- For more on...
2021-08-28
33 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 10: Five rescues in less than 20 hours — Saving 409 lives aboard the Sea Eye 4
In today's episode, we speak with Sea-Eye spokeswoman Sophie. She tells us about saving 409 people aboard the Sea Eye 4 in May, what happened when the ship encountered the Libyan Coastguard during a rescue operation, and how the Italian authorities misused safety laws to stop the ship going back to sea. Sophie also talks about why Sea Eye's previous ship was named after Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian-Kurdish boy whose body was photographed face down on a Turkish beach in September 2015 --- Show notes --- For more on The Civil Fleet visit...
2021-08-08
56 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 9: Supporting refugees trapped at the Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria borders
In today's episode we speak with Natalie Gruber, the co-founder of Josoor, a solidarity network monitoring human rights abuses at the land borders between Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria, and supporting the migrants and refugees trapped there. She tells us how the organisation was founded, how it works with 'people on the move' to document human rights abuses carried out on them, and how the Greece government has tried to criminalise Josoor. Natalie also details some of the testimonies that the network has collected in the region and how the authorities have pushed thousands of people...
2021-07-22
1h 13
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 8: State violence and chain pushbacks along the Balkan route
In today's episode, we speak with Simon Campbell from the Border Violence Monitoring Network (BVMN) about the violence people face attempting to reach Europe along the Balkan route. He tells us about BVMN's work documenting the human rights violations in the region, the lengths the countries there are willing to go to prevent people on the move from breaching Fortress Europe, and the widespread, illegal practice of forcing people back across multiple borders. --- Show notes --- For more on The Civil Fleet visit civilfleet.com You can find a glossary of...
2021-06-27
57 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 7: ‘The hypocrisy is overwhelming’ — The Sea-Watch 4 detained again
In today's episode we speak with Hannah Wallace Bowman, the head of mission on the Sea-Watch 4 refugee rescue ship She talks to us about the ship's last mission, in which they saved the lives of over 450 people and how they witnessed the Libyan Coastguard violently intercept a refugee boat. She also tell us about the dispiriting nature of being detained in Italy for the second time with a fully equipped and crewed ship as people continue to drown in the Mediterranean. --- Show notes --- For more on The Civil Fleet visit...
2021-06-04
53 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 6 — Dragged through the water and back to Morocco by the Spanish military
A diplomatic rift last week between the governments of Spain and Morocco resulted in the Spanish military tear-gassing children and brutally forcing hundreds of people back across the border at Ceuta. In today's episode we speak with Irina, an activist from Spanish NGO No Name Kitchen, who tells us what she witnessed at Europe's border with Morocco. She also tells us how No Name Kitchen has been fighting the systematic abuse of undocumented people in the city before last week's events, and how the current crackdown is not just a risk for refugees and migrants...
2021-05-24
22 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 5 - They let them drown
IN TODAY'S episode, we speak with Alarm Phone activist Deanna. She talks to us about the refugee shipwreck in the Mediterranean last month that took the lives of 130 people. Though the disaster may look like a catastrophic dereliction of duty, Deanna tells us that the authorities behaved exactly how the European border regime wants them to. Deanna tells us why the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres in Italy, Malta and Libya should be replaced by civil-society organisations, and in fact how they already have been. And we also speak about why Alarm Phone advocates...
2021-05-15
47 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 4 - Refugee pushback: this is how Fortress Europe works
In today's episode we speak with Marie, an activist from the human rights monitoring ship Mare Liberum. She talks to us about the systematic human rights abuses the Greek, Turkish and EU authorities are carrying out on the people trapped in Greece's migrant camps and at sea. Marie tells us about the lengths the German government has gone to ensure the Marie Liberum cannot sail. We also hear about the time fascist groups on the Aegean islands tried to burn down the Marie Liberum while Marie and her fellow activists were on board
2021-04-30
44 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 3: The Greek Coastguard's violent treatment of refugees
In today's episode we speak with Rosa, a member of the activist network Alarm Phone. She tells us how the organisation operates its hotline for refugee and migrants in distress at sea and about the Greek coastguard's violent treatment of people crossing over from Turkey. --- Show notes --- If you like what the Civil Fleet is all about, you can find more on civilfleet.com Here's a glossary of some of the terms used in this episode: bit.ly/3kGhkt0 For more on Alarm Phone visit: alarmphone.org
2021-04-11
48 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 2: Criminalised for saving lives
In today's episode we speak with Sascha, a former head of operations on the Iuventa refugee rescue ship that saved around 14,000 lives between August 2016 and 2017. Sascha tells us what it was like working on the ship and how Italy's far right movement got the intelligence services to spy on their activities and how the cops seized the ship. --- Show notes --- If you like what the Civil Fleet is all about, you can find more on civilfleet.com Here's a glossary of some of the terms used in this episode...
2021-03-28
35 min
The Civil Fleet Podcast
Episode 1: Observing refugee human rights violations from the sky
In today's show we talk with Felix, a spokesperson for Sea Watch — one of the NGOs operating in the Mediterranean. Felix tells us about Sea Watch, it's ships (the Sea Watch 3 and 4) and it reconnaissance planes (Moonbird and Seabird). We also speak about the events of two weekends ago, when the Moonbird's crew saw a merchant ship attempt to return refugees back to Libya — an act which would have been a violation of international law. --- Show notes --- Thanks for listening to this first episode of The Civil Fleet, a podc...
2021-03-02
1h 03
Maryland Baseball Network Podcast
MBN Podcast: Episode 68 (Ben Cowles)
On this episode of the Maryland Baseball Network Podcast, Connor Newcomb and Zach Solon break down the Terps' series loss to Michigan, chat with Maryland INF Ben Cowles, and preview the upcoming series against Minnesota with Jack Warrick of the Minnesota Daily.
2019-05-08
1h 01