By John Smith • Published: 28 Aug 2020 • 10:51
SECRETIVE and now hugely collected street artist Banksy is said to be funding a new rescue boat, the Louise Michel which first appeared in its current guise off the coast of Spain in mid-August.
It’s named after a French anarchist and is brightly coloured, mainly pink, with a typical artwork of a young girl in a life vest holding a red heart-shaped buoy.
Already it has rescued more than 100 men, women and children who were spotted in trouble sailing in flimsy inflatables across the Mediterranean from Africa.
It is assumed that the artist’s involvement is restricted to decoration and financing of the former French patrol boat Suroît which now flies under a German flag and that he is not part of the crew.
Captain Pia Klemp told The Guardian newspaper that she received the following approach from the artist “Hello Pia, I’ve read about your story in the papers. You sound like a badass.
“I am an artist from the UK and I’ve made some work about the migrant crisis, obviously I can’t keep the money. Could you use it to buy a new boat or something? Please let me know. Well done. Banksy.”
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Married to Ophelia in Gibraltar in 1978, John has spent much of his life travelling on security print and minting business and visited every continent except Antarctica. Having retired several years ago, the couple moved to their house in Estepona and John became a regular news writer for the EWN Media Group taking particular interest in Finance, Gibraltar and Costa del Sol Social Scene. Currently he is acting as Editorial Consultant for the paper helping to shape its future development. Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews
No, not well done Banksy. There is a huge problem around the Med with people illegally entering Europe via boats just like this. Funding more of them on top of those sponsored by various NGOs is just making the illegal stream of people even worse. it is well known that in many cases these boats are actually in touch with the traffickers leaving african shores and arrange to pick them up. It all needs to be stopped. The vast majority of these people are not refugees but financial migrants. I won´t be following anything that Banksy does again
Yes you are completly right. If you pick them up then return them back to Afrika. Europe does not need any more refugees.
Rescue??? That is illegal people smuggling, bringing illegals without papers, highly criminal, sick, drug addicts, to Europe
To prevent this crime, the money and ship must be confiscated and this man must be reported
Just MAKE HIM PAY FOR THEM. All their lodging fees Plus food, water, gas, etc. Let’see how compassionate he is then. All these DOGOODERS simply bring them in and THEN offload them to become someone else’s problem with their welfare, and then stand back and want MEDALS for being Good citizens. Scum and freeloaders him and the illegals.
Wondering if there might also be a like-minded artist with deep pockets who would be willing to fund an anti-illegal immigrant boat. One that perhaps is an ex-Navy torpedo boat with tubes still in working order. I’d contribute towards it’s upkeep as I’m sure many others would too!
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