Every person has the right to live in a safe environment. We all share a responsibility to accept migrants fleeing from their war-torn countries, and provide them with safety and asylum. Poverty and hunger are also threats to one’s life and dignity – people don’t risk their own lives, and the lives of their loved ones, in order to make a good situation even better. For this reason, we don’t believe in creating any distinction between “acceptable” refugees and those who are “unacceptable” to the economy.

All refugees are victims of political and governmental agendas – not excluding those of Poland. It is the most powerful countries that destabilize entire regions, starting from Africa to Donbas. It is the international ties of politics and capital that leech off the agony of entire nations. What counts is trade, weapons, and crude oil.

It’s our responsibility as a society to unite against the negative effects set in place by these powerful governments and corporations; without counting on institutional support, and without waiting for others to respond first. There is an ever-growing community of good-willed people all over Europe, ready to help and support migrants in their difficult journeys. We, the citizens of Krakow, without external influence or help, are joining this community. We are fighting against hate propaganda, and want to provide concrete, measurable help to those who need it. Welcome to Cracow!

Moreover, we continue to exert pressure on the government of Poland, the European Union, and NATO, to more effectively use their resources in lessening the heavy loads carried by migrants. Above all, we demand stopping the violence in Syria, which has caused more than half of the population to seek refuge in other countries:

1. Establishing a no-fly zone on Syrian territory.

2. Withholding the supply of weapons to the armies of Bashar al-Assad and the Islamic State

3. Immediate opening of the border between Syria and Turkey, in order to facilitate the rebuilding of territories freed from Islamic extremists, after long and difficult battles, and to facilitate the return of thousands of refugees.