In the early 1900s the suffragettes fought for the right to vote. In the 1960s tens of thousands of people united to fight for civil rights. More recently, the issue of LGBT equality has raged in Russia and beyond.

In each of these instances it was not governments or the media who led the way. It was ordinary people; people dedicated to fighting injustice even when doing so meant breaking the law, risking possible imprisonment.



Now we face a new challenge, a new injustice to fight: the refugee crisis, which has become the defining issue of our generation.

Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children are seeking sanctuary in Europe. These innocent people are fleeing war, famine and persecution by brutal dictatorships. They have undertaken epic and life-threatening journeys from their home countries in the hope of finding safety.

Paris attacks



This is a troubling time for Europe. Citizens are mourning for Paris, scared of where and when the next attack will come.



But if Europe – egged on by extreme right politicians such as Marine Le Pen – closes its borders, Islamic state will have won. This period of grief should not be the time when we betray our humanity.



The Russian attitude towards refugees is hostile and irrational. Registering for asylum is a slow process and cases are seldom granted.

Take the case of Khasan Aman Ando and his family who fled their home in Iraq after it was besieged by Isis.

They are stuck in limbo at Sheremetyevo airport, where they have been for more than 60 days. They are seeking asylum in Russia but will immediately be refused if they leave the airport, for crossing the border illegally.

This irrationality is mirrored in the UK, where refugees cannot seek asylum from outside the country, but are prevented from entering by the UK government. They are forced to jump onto moving trains and hide under lorries as there is no other way.

The border obsession

Our governments still believe in the power of borders – that’s why Europe closes itself to refugees, and Putin annexed Crimea.

The global economy is built on the ideals of nomadism, and global financial flows of capital know no borders. But governments and their laws are lagging behind.

We have to step away from this logic. This is the century of ideas, not razor wires and refugee camps. If we really are living in a global society, where is the free movement of people?

Throughout the 18th and 19th century huge numbers from Sweden, Ireland and Italy emigrated across the Atlantic to find work, and the US became a shining example of how dynamic a country of immigrants can be.

If David Cameron calls migrants “a swarm of people” then to counter his rhetoric we have to show migrants our warmth and solidarity.

We can fundraise, create apps for migrants to use and build houses and shelters in the “jungle” refugee camp in Calais. Or, like the people of Iceland offering safety to 10,000 refugees, we can open up our homes.

We as citizens must not wait for our governments, who are too slow, too inert and steered by populist votes and tendencies. Let’s take control of the situation ourselves, create networks and use technology to do what our own governments can’t do.



Let’s show that democratic nations are not only capable of sending bombs in international response, but capable too of welcoming millions of new citizens and working together with them.

This crisis is not something to be afraid of, it is an opportunity to remind ourselves what humanity is capable of.