Dear European Union,
I note with equal amounts of resignation and disgust, that many within your borders are calling for the EU to adopt Australian government policies in relation to asylum seekers.
Now I'm sure I don't need to warn the EU that this is a dangerous path to go down. And I certainly shouldn't need to point out the consequences of when the inhumane treatment of people becomes condoned and institutionalised. Although history shows you can be bloody slow learners at times. That however is not my reason for writing to you.
My reason for writing is that it has recently occurred to me that your problem with asylum seekers might, at least in part, be a self perpetuating one. For example, has it occurred to you that of the top 12 arms exporting nations, 7 of them (Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands) are EU members?
France, currently the fifth largest arms exporting nation in the world, was one of the largest suppliers of military equipment to both Iraq and Syria prior to sanctions being imposed. Germany has recently taken fourth spot thanks to a €2 billion deal to sell 62 tanks to Qatar, the nation responsible for most of Islamic State's material support. While the sixth placed UK has recently downgraded its diplomatic opposition to human rights abuses in an attempt to increase its already significant arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
Even Belgium, home to EU headquarters in Brussells, who doesn't even make the top 20, is also home to FN Herstal, one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of small arms worldwide, supplying over 100 armies.
So it occurs to me that maybe the reason that you're being inundated with asylum seekers is that they're fleeing lots of conflicts. And maybe the reason there are lots of conflicts is that there are lots of weapons being sold by nations like France, Germany and the UK. And maybe if you don't like these people coming to your countries you should think about some of the things you're selling to theirs.
Sincerely
Richard O'Brien