Game of Thrones launches campaign with the International Rescue Committee and offers fans the chance to attend the season 6 premiere

 

rescuecommittee

Game of Thrones and the International Rescue Committee have teamed up to launch the Rescue Has No Boundaries campaign to raise awareness and bring aid to the millions of refugees and displaced people around the world.

Lena Headey, DeObia Oparei, Liam Cunningham, Maisie Williams, Tom Wlaschiha, Sophie Turner, John Bradley, Oona Chaplin, Eugene Simon, Iwan Rheon, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Hannah Murray and Michiel Huisman appeared in an IRC video calling viewers to donate their time and resources to help the estimated 60 million people worldwide who have fled their homes to escape violence.

“We are currently facing the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II,” says David Miliband, the president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee. “Our partnership with HBO and Game of Thrones—which premiered around the same time the war in Syria began—hopes to galvanize the general public to take action and rise up for refugees.”

“Our longstanding support of the IRC comes from a deep respect for the humanitarian work they do and a fundamental understanding of their mission to get much needed relief to millions of refugees displaced throughout the world,” Richard Plepler, chairman & CEO of HBO, says in a statement released today. “On behalf of the HBO employees and talent associated with Game of Thrones who graciously donated their time and resources to this effort, we are honored to join the IRC in this partnership at a time of great need around the world.”

As part of the campaign, Game of Thrones is holding a lottery to offer fans the chance to attend the Game of Thrones season 6 premiere and after party in Los Angeles (flights and 4-star hotel expenses are included).  Entries are being accepted from March 13th through April 5th, for as little as a $10 donation to the cause. Enter on the Omaze website for the chance to win this amazing experience with the cast! Enter here to win.

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Be sure to check out the Rescue Has No Boundaries page on Rescue.org to learn more about ways to help.

103 Comments

  1. Kind of random to see Oona back for this (not unwelcome or anything, but there aren’t any other former castmembers in the videos, etc.).

  2. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is revoltingly attractive.

    I would love to go to the Premiere, but I can’t just up and leave my life on a couple weeks notice. Damn. And what would I wear?

  3. I want to say a huge congratulations to HBO and GoT cast for this, you guys prove one more time that you deserve all the success you get. Much love and respect for this.
    Also serving two causes in a months period first RED and not IRC, best use of popularity.

    To the ammount of dislikes on the video and comments…. they are so out of space, they don’t know what International Rescue Committee does or what the cast talks about. Most of them think they comment on some USA elections video or something. I feel sorry for them.

  4. Jack Bauer 24:
    The Red Carpet premiere is April 10th by the way.

    Interesting. I wonder if something will leak or if HBO will force everyone to sign NDAs. They haven’t even released the episode title yet (or a description), which makes me think it’s something very revealing.

  5. Nicely done, folks. Talented and hearts in the right places.

    I wonder if Lena was a big part of putting this together. She’s the one most prominently seen.

  6. It’s so great that the cast (and crew I assume) are doing this. Their involvement should bring even more attention to the campaign.

    Interestingly enough the themes of displacement/unhomeliness on the show mirror a lot of current events in real life. It’s very fitting that GoT is involved.

  7. “Our partnership with HBO and Game of Thrones—which premiered around the same time the war in Syria began—hopes to galvanize the general public to take action and rise up for refugees.”

    That’s incredible (in the worst possible way). In the same time we get six seasons of TV show, they get a quarter of a million deaths 🙁

  8. EnglishWarhorse:
    Do some research on the “refugee” situation. Don’t be blinded by the media.

    I am from Greece, there is a refugee camp just some meters away from my house, i can actually watch them right now from my window. I was so terrified when i heard they will bring them here.. you know what i see everyday? Little kids playing in the rain, kids clothes hang to get dry and lots of voices.
    Most of these comments are made by people from countries who never saw them. Some people are so afraid of the different, they try to create stories. The real “criminals” would never get into a boat to get drowned in the middle of winter, they wouldn’t wait in the line for one cup of milk, they wouldn’t walk miles for days with babies. 8 people died again here today because of the bad weather…. so it’s other people who should make a research.
    Thank you Game of Thrones and HBO, any help is welcome so we can deal with this amount of misery. Other people who don’t want to help…just don’t, but don’t get upset with people who want to help and care.

  9. BlueRoseofWinterfell: Thank you Game of Thrones and HBO, any help is welcome so we can deal with this amount of misery. Other people who don’t want to help…just don’t, but don’t get upset with people who want to help and care.

    That says it so well. Thanks.

  10. Maggie: Also serving two causes in a months period first RED and not IRC, best use of popularity.

    I wanted to write first RED and now IRC 🙂 Two great causes.

  11. BlueRoseofWinterfell: I am from Greece, there is a refugee camp just some meters away from my house, i can actually watch them right now from my window. I was so terrified when i heard they will bring them here.. you know what i see everyday? Little kids playing in the rain, kids clothes hang to get dry and lots of voices.
    Most of these comments are made by people from countries who never saw them. Some people are so afraid of the different, they try to create stories. The real “criminals” would never get into a boat to get drowned in the middle of winter, they wouldn’t wait in the line for one cup of milk, they wouldn’t walk miles for days with babies. 8 people died again here today because of the bad weather…. so it’s other people who should make a research.
    Thank you Game of Thrones and HBO, any help is welcome so we can deal with this amount of misery. Other people who don’t want to help…just don’t, but don’t get upset with people who want to help and care.

    Wonderfully said. He/she claims to do some research on the crisis and says don’t be blinded by the media yet this person has fallen victim exactly to that. Their only view of the situation is from right wing shite that dehumanizes these people and turns them into monsters or evil people in order to get views and money.

  12. Kargaryen,

    Not that the issues aren’t serious and life-threatening, and yes I made my donation like the well-guilted woman that I am, but I enjoy being internet shallow.

  13. BlueRoseofWinterfell,

    What he/she said. I’m Greek too and live in Athens. The humanitarian/refugee crisis is real and happening now. Thank God the majority doesn’t think the way these stupid racist YouTube commentators do.

  14. Oh hey there, blast from the past Oona. Lol.

    Tom Wlaschiha….sigh….. <3 . He's been involved in a few other projects/documentaries as well.

    Good cause, ignore the massively ignorant twatskies.

  15. Heh, the video is getting so much hate. I’m not surprised though, as many Europeans know that the majority of people entering Europe are not refugees… I know it’s talking about “refugees” worldwide, but in terms of Europe, my statement is true.

  16. Nice effort, but I doubt it does much. One look at those comments there and other places when this subject is broached tells you what you need to know. There is a frightening level of xenophobia in Europe and it appears the States not seen in this world since the 30s and 40s. Europe has their own Trump’s, and they too are rapidly gaining power. Right wing nationalism is on the rise in this world as unbelievable as it may be.

  17. pok,

    Why’s it so unbelievable? People don’t like having their identity and their country taken from them by politicians.

  18. Chimeny,

    The words “identity” and culture and stolen and “taken” have all become commonplace descriptions in political discussion again. Scapegoating others for why your life sucks was reserved for the fringes of the spectrum for the last half century. But now it is back and in the mainstream. Something not seen in quite some time.

  19. pok,

    And that’s only because it’s what many people see happening around them. Most of the anger is still aimed at the politicians though, and rightfully so, not at migrants or… let’s say, Muslims.
    If Merkel and the EU hadn’t adopted a policy as terrible as letting in everyone (migrants mostly, along with genuine refugees too) who sets foot on European soil, then the backlash wouldn’t nearly as strong as it is. We all have a right to our own country, and while that doesn’t mean not letting anyone else in , it does mean not altering it so drastically that natives end up feeling like foreigners in their home… to me at least.

  20. Chimeny,

    I am in Germany and work just a block away from a refugee camp. These people lived in tents (heated, yes, but TENTS) almost all winter, there are dozens of children playing outside in the wet and cold every day, and when I volunteered (before work and uni got too intense and time-consuming) the vast majority of people were very nice and polite and just trying to survive and find a way of helping themselves despite NOT getting a work permit and therefore simply not being ABLE to provide for themselves. Of course, as with any random group of people in stressful situations, there are rude people and aggressive people and you’ll find idiots anywhere, but that’s true for any culture. I have met tons of people from Syria, Somalia and Afghanistan, and trust me, if I were in their position, I, too, would do ANYTHING to escape the terror and horror of war. It also shouldn’t matter whether you, personally, do or don’t like them, that doesn’t take away their right to live in safety. To belittle them and mock them, by not taking their refugee status seriously after all the pain they’ve had to endure is completely uncalled-for and is NOT founded on facts.

  21. Mazzie,

    Genuine refugees should be welcomed, in sustainable numbers, of course. But it’s not them I have a problem with anyway.
    The thing is though: most of the people entering Europe are not refugees (even by the EU’s own admission). This influx of migrants, without any vetting, or planning, or caution or thinking has caused much of this anger. Adding to the anger felt by many, are the consequences we are already starting to see, like an increase in crime, in terrorism; the police forces and government officials in Germany, the UK etc. covering up scandals so as not to “inflame” anything… people are sick of it.

  22. BlueRoseofWinterfell: I am from Greece, there is a refugee camp just some meters away from my house, i can actually watch them right now from my window. I was so terrified when i heard they will bring them here.. you know what i see everyday? Little kids playing in the rain, kids clothes hang to get dry and lots of voices.
    Most of these comments are made by people from countries who never saw them. Some people are so afraid of the different, they try to create stories. The real “criminals” would never get into a boat to get drowned in the middle of winter, they wouldn’t wait in the line for one cup of milk, they wouldn’t walk miles for days with babies. 8 people died again here today because of the bad weather…. so it’s other people who should make a research.
    Thank you Game of Thrones and HBO, any help is welcome so we can deal with this amount of misery. Other people who don’t want to help…just don’t, but don’t get upset with people who want to help and care.

    Totally agree with you!!
    I collaborate with Proactiva Open Arms (from Spain) Thanks HBO!

  23. Chimeny,

    Another German here: Refugees aren’t criminals (exceptions like the unfortunate events on New Years non withstanding) , they have an even/slightly lower crime rate than the average citizen (and most recorded crimes are minor like fare dodging). On the other hand, violance and crime against refugees (and foreigners, minorities in general) has increased by a large margin.

  24. Chimeny,

    Tread lightly. This is NOT the place for anti-refugee views, in a post that’s supposed to be supportive of charity efforts.

  25. I did my part. I can’t imagine winning, like others – gesh how would I act to be standing next to Peter Dinklage or NCW or Lena. Yikes, I am sure that tho I have already turned that corner of my 6th decade, I would act like a goofy fangirl and later wish I had been oh so cool. So giving to this cause is enough. Let someone who has the dignity to keep it together on the red carpet and look stunning at the same time show us proud. (I would hope that lucky person will sneak a WotW reference in there, right?)

  26. Sigh….

    Seeing those comments…. It’s a sad time too live in.

    Rhaenys Stark,

    This gives me hope. Hate it when the media barely show any ”positive” news, well, there isn’t anything truly positive, but we could really use something besides this fear mongering..

  27. Please let’s not let this thread deteriorate, and keep it positive. It would be fantastic to get this opportunity! I admire celebs who use their reach to bring awareness and help. 🙂

  28. I contribute and volunteer what I can and I wish all indigenous folks and refugees well during this extremely dire situation, but it is hardly a modern issue. From Burma/Myanmar to Tibet to Nazi-Germany to Syria to Ethiopia, warlords, dictators and tyrants have been performing genocide in one form or another for centuries. Even the US is guilty of its own ethnic-cleansing…just follow the Trail of Tears. Frankly, and sadly, I can’t envision a world that is completely free of inter-cultural oppression…either money, cultural idiosyncrasies, envy, resources, religion, or institutionalized fear will enable the chaos.

    John Lennon’s words are powerful and tragic, but few people listen.

    I admire the actors who have lent their names and time to this cause and crisis, which I find eerily similar to the fictional wildling political/social issue as so described in ASoI&F.

  29. Looks like they wised up and disabled the comments on that video. Good. No need to provide a platform for those who are going to use it to spew so much hatred, bile, and fear-mongering nonsense.

    We should all donate. And never, ever, ever read YouTube comment sections.

  30. Bravo to GoT and the IRC. I hope this succeeds in changing attitudes towards a crisis that is affecting so many people. Those of us more privileged need to be more Jon Snow than Bowen Marsh. I think Stevie Wonder said it best: “love’s in need of love today”.

  31. People fleeing from war, terror and violent and legalised discrimination due to their religion, gender, sexual orientation and ethnical identity or mere existence are refugees and must be protected. Many conflicts in the Middle Eastern parts of the world and many parts of the African continent are results of European colonial politics in the 19th and 20th century as well as the exploitation of and war mongering in the regions fueled by industrial nations.
    The devastating conflict in Syria, just as an example, was at a boiling point six years ago already. The signs were clear to anyone who paid any attention, and the refugee crisis was an obvious result and started many years ago. Little to nothing was done by the influential Western nations and alliances to help the people and prevent even more suffering.
    The alternative to helping them and providing shelter all across the extremely wealthy industrial nations and the EU member states would essentially be to let them starve, fend for themselves as homeless people in foreign countries with no protection, or to literally go out and shoot them all to get rid of the problem so all those concerned citizens in their cozy homes can finally stop seeing refugees on the news. There is no other way: they HAVE to find shelter and it is too much for just one or two countries to take on, so solidarity is necessary. With right-wing parties refusing to accept even one single refugee to be taken in by their country (Hungary comes to mind), they are betraying all those values and that Christian tradition they are so proud to claim they have.
    Many nations in the world have experienced refugee and migration movements in the past centuries due to war, political persecution, economical reasons, famines etc., and it is an important part of some nations’ heritage and history, and in hindsight these nations are most often quite proud to have been the ones providing a new and safe home for these refugees.
    Of course, integration, values like mutual respect, equality, freedom of speech etc. as well as the introduction to previously unfamiliar cultures and customs play a huge role in this process, to assure a safe environment not only for the local population but also for the refugees considering – as pointed out before – violent crime and aggression against them, and against ethnical minorities and marginalised groups in general, is a huge concern at the moment, simply because people are looking for scapegoats.
    This is not a Game of Thrones quote but a paraphrased Harry Potter one, nonetheless: There is a choice we must make between what is easy and what is right.

  32. Sue the Fury:
    Chimeny,

    It’s not your place to decide who is or is not a genuine refugee. And I’m not interested in hatemongering.

    With all due respect… I would hardly qualify that as hatemongering. Just expressing a different view. It is not that I condone Cimeny’s views; although people in the US should make an effort to understand that the European Nation-State past is a completely different legacy compared to the New World’s melting pot approach. I do think though that if we are pro-freedom of expression we should be that all the way. Not pick the expressions we are in agreement with and silence all the rest. As long as there are no insults or incitement to violence involved.
    Or, we should avoid political issues alltogether and just stick to tv shows. As Ian McShane would put it, just stick to tits and dragons.

  33. I honestly don’t know why anyone is surprised by this,when a clown like Donald Trump is leading the polls in the presidential campaign you know something is fucked up in the world .

  34. Sue the Fury,

    Stop what? I have literally never said anything anti-refugee. Go back and look at every comment I’ve ever made on this site if you want, and you still won’t find a single one…

  35. Sou,

    Well actually this cause just proves the opposite,it’s not just tits and dragons when you are helping people worldwide .

  36. Pablo Escobar,

    I’m not saying that it should be, love. Just saying that if we are not ready or willing to hear different opinions, even ones we are in complete disagreement with, or find shocking or disturbing, then let’s just avoid politics and discuss agreeable things.

    Yes Cimeny, I got that you are European. We have different approaches in Europe compared to the US, that is what I was saying. And you are right, it is the official position of the EU that all those poor souls are not refugees. The thing is, in my view, that refugees or not, they are coming. And we should better give them a reason not to come than just shut the door in their faces.

  37. An amazing effort! Not everyone is able to help with the refugee crisis, but absolutely everyone can make their part in making our world more tolerant and generous. And less xenophobic.

    I think a great part of all that hated comes from anti-Muslim prejudice, and that’s awful.

  38. Pablo Escobar,

    That’s not an argument.

    @Sou

    Cool, I just wanted to clarify for anyone who read.
    I’m sorry but there really isn’t any logic behind an open-door policy, especially one without any vetting. If we go down this path, then where will it end? And this open-door policy is already having negative consequences. It’s just too dangerous for us and for the migrants.

  39. Pablo Escobar,

    I don’t see a thing he/she said that might in any way indicate that. I also can’t see what Sue disapproves of in his/her respective comments. As someone who lives in a part of Europe that is greatly affected by the refugee crisis, I can see where he/she is coming from to have formed such a mindset – refugees that flee from war are more than welcome to stay. Those other folks that merely seek a better place to live would not be an issue either, were it not for the sheer fact that a part of them doesn’t seem to wish us well (please do abstain from telling me it’s not my place to judge, I’ve witnessed it first-hand).

    I sincerely hope this comment doesn’t get misintepreted as hate-spreading, because it most certainly isn’t meant as such. I support and appreciate what the GoT cast is tryig to do, as refugees – the genuine refugees, do deserve support, both financial and moral. In fact I find it alarming that I felt the need to clarify that, here of all places, where everybody has seemed so frendly and open-minded in terms of people with differing oppinions on controversial situations thus far.

  40. Jon Snow’s Curling Iron: Interesting. I wonder if something will leak or if HBO will force everyone to sign NDAs. They haven’t even released the episode title yet (or a description), which makes me think it’s something very revealing.

    I’m sure they will be signing NDA’s.

  41. Chimeny,

    I can’t say you don’t have a point there; although I do believe name-giving (“migrants”) maybe unjust to many. Still it would be awful to have all those people in Europe just to let them rot in the mud like they are doing now in Greece, or live as outcasts in ghettos in western european cities. Would it be utopic to think that there should be more effort dedicated to making their countries livable and not burning hells or misery kingdoms?
    But there you would probably argue that each time the West tries to help…

  42. Sou,

    I agree with that 100%. We should try to help their home countries improve and become peaceful. And of course, we should stay out of their homeland and stop getting involved in conflicts.

  43. JCDavis:
    *sigh*

    So, how ’bout them Dodgers?

    I’ve never been a Dodger fan and MLB as a whole has started to bug me. Now, if you want to talk tennis, I’m here.

  44. Jon Snow’s Curling Iron: Interesting. I wonder if something will leak or if HBO will force everyone to sign NDAs. They haven’t even released the episode title yet (or a description), which makes me think it’s something very revealing.

    I think some leaks stemming from the Red Carpet premiere are somewhat inevitable…Are we going to get episode titles at all before April 24th? Maybe HBO decided that some of them were too “spoilery”?

  45. Sou: I do think though that if we are pro-freedom of expression we should be that all the way

    This isn’t a public street, this is a privately run website.

    I’m not interested in anti-refugee or anti-migrant or whatever people want to call it, sentiment. This is not the place to debate any of it. You can do that elsewhere. Not here.

  46. Bearded Onion:
    The comments in that video, Christ they are fucking vile even by youtube standards.

    The comments have been disabled. And what is up with that like/dislike ratio??

  47. Mazzie,

    Mazzie, I didn’t want to interfere, but as you mentioned Hungary I have a duty to write a word in its defense. Hungary is not a rich country. Just like the rest of CEE it has endured Soviet occupation including all the atrocities you watch on GoT. And just like the rest of CEE, the Hungarians managed to take back their country, though it wasn’t easy. Nobody helped us then back in 1989-1991. All we heard from the West was not to irritate Gorby. The best quote we heard from the US ambassador was “We can’t win your war for you” and that was fair. We won our wars ourselves and made our countries sort of livable, though many people still complain and seek fortune in the West. OK, send them back and close the borders, if you are not happy with them – you have a right to run your countries how you want. But we have a right to run ours. We do pity Syrians and all the other folks who suffer from military conflicts, but we can’t win their wars for them. If we managed to break the regime which was oppressing us, we don’t see any reason, why they can’t do the same.

    And besides that, we have to think about Ukraine. You probably don’t realize, but we are having war on our doorstep and situation may escalate any minute. You don’t watch Russian TV, you don’t hear top-rank official publicly speaking of E-bombing Kiev and Vilnius and Warsaw. So, sorry, sweet summer children, but we have winter here and a big white bear scratching on the door and I only hope that it won’t beak in before the last season of GoT airs.

    And regarding the so called “refugees”, they simply refuse to stay in our poor CEE countries, because allowances are too low. We have real refugees from Ukraine – quite many of them, and there are even more of those who lost their homes, but remained in their own country – we do what we can for them as well. But as for Syrian refugees, our government managed to lure one Syrian family to Lithuania – since then it has been complaining about all and everything from food to weather and demands to be allowed to go to Germany which is assumed to be a paradise on earth. It’s sad, of cause, but it’s a reality.

    So, I hope I have not offended you – if I did, it was unintentional. I just want you to understand the point of view of my region: we are not selfish, we just have our own experience which implies things to be done and things not to be done. Sorry once more and please, don’t think of Hungary or other CEE countries in a bad way.

  48. The women of cologne Germany might feel abit different towards new comers, just saying

  49. Inga,

    I think the argument ‘we have won our wars they should win their own’ does not hold any water when “their” wars literally consist of tens of thousands of people being tortured to death, cities being bombed to the ground and at the very least three different parties combating each other with no regard for civilians or opening fire against civilians – hospitals, schools and family homes. These ARE real refugees. They literally can’t fight their own war, how on earth are they supposed to do that against ISIS, the Assad regime, Russia, rebel groups; especially without help – help that isn’t coming? I have organised events with teenagers and students who escaped the Syrian terror two years ago, and I have heard their stories and seen their pictures and videos. If they had stayed they would probably be dead. Pity alone does not help them at all.

    I know a lot of Eastern European countries are not very wealthy and have just managed to overcome a very difficult step in history or are still caught in the middle of it. But at the very same time they are part of the European Union, and there are certain values this Union upholds, and this includes Human Rights. And one of those rights is asylum, and saying ‘we will not accept one single Syrian refugee’ goes against that.

    Saying ‘we lived through hard times and nobody helped us so everyone else should deal with their struggles on their own’ lacks basic compassion and empathy, and generalises each and every struggle and war. Why would you want anyone else to go through something so horrible (and I don’t think you can compare 1989-91 with the war in Syria at all!) if help would actually be available to them?

    Using that one single Syrian family that wasn’t satisfied with the help provided as an example for each and every refugee looking for shelter also doesn’t make sense to me. I’m not judging one nationality or ethnicity or group of people by the actions of a few.

  50. George: I think some leaks stemming from the Red Carpet premiere are somewhat inevitable…Are we going to get episode titles at all before April 24th? Maybe HBO decided that some of them were too “spoilery”?

    It’s possible they’ll sign NDAs. I bet HBO will be extra careful this year. Maybe the episode titles will leak eventually, but who knows. They can’t hide forever, that’s for sure.

  51. Flintstonwielder,

    And the many many women suffering sexual assault at the annual Oktoberfest chaos would certainly feel the same way about non-newcomers.

    Also, many of the Cologne suspects were not identified as recent Syrian refugees (or ‘new comers’) but as Mahgreb men, some of whom had lived in Germany for years. A refugee from Afghanistan actually got involved, pursued one of the offenders and informed the police, so there’s that too…

    Meanwhile, nobody is saying all refugees are automatically good people. Nobody is arguing that integration will just happen by itself. I’m a feminist and it is so important to emphasise gender equality, consent and emancipation. But the terrible and harmful actions of a group of sexual offenders is no excuse to prolong the refugees’ suffering.

  52. Mazzie,

    Mazzie, it’s not about the lack of compassion. You would be surprised how much compassion is shown in our countries to Ukrainians, but that’s because we understand them and we know what they are fighting for.

    Meanwhile, Syria is different story. As you have admitted it’s torn apart by all kinds of different fractions and the biggest problem of this nation is that there is no nation at all. So whom should we root for? Ordinary people? There is no such thing like ordinary people at the time of war – everyone has to make a choice and fight until the strongest fraction wins. Cruel as it sounds, but there is no other way.

    We broke the Soviet empire, because we managed to unite and for the same reason we more or less avoided bloodshed, though the Soviets did everything to provoke it. And we did not flee – how can we respect those who do? Whom else we should respect? Yanos Slynt?

    OK, I agree that refugees – real refugees – have to be aided. But how can we aid them, if they don’t even come to our countries? EU borders are opened, but they would rather live in a tent in Germany, than in an apartment in Lithuania. Poor silly folks, but what can we do? Tie them up and bring to Lithuania or Hungary in chains? Sometimes people have to learn from their own mistakes and there is nothing to be done about that.

  53. Sue the Fury, I hate to take some kind of stance in this, but what Chimney said was in a pro-refugee to anti-refugee scale in the middle. I know this is not the place to debate such things and I am pro-refugee more than anything, but I do not want this to be a site where people could get banned for posting differing opinions politely. This situation is not black and white.

  54. Mazzie,

    The attacks in Cologne on NYE were unprecedented. That kind of thing doesn’t happen every year after Oktoberfest…

  55. I love that the GoT cast members are doing this! Somebody ‘gets it’ that the allegedly bloodthirsty GRRM is actually writing an epic that is, at heart, profoundly antiwar.

    For about a year-and-a-half now, I have been making a small monthly tithe on my credit card in support of the UN High Commission on Refugees’ work in aiding and resettling refugees from the Syrian civil war. And it was also in a fantasy-geeky way that I found out about that organization’s good efforts: by following Neil Gaiman on Twitter and watching the videos that he made when visiting refugee camps.

    We aren’t all in a position to provide a home for one of these displaced families, but there are things, however small, that each of us can do to help. And together all those little donations add up to a lot.

  56. I used to be a bleeding heart liberal type myself. Until i grew up, learned the realities of this world and found valid reasons to be cynical. I wont go in depth in political discussions. Very involved at one point but no longer. Its become too polarized.

  57. Pablo Escobar,

    I didnt get the vibes of hate from his/her posts that you have claimed to. I just dont understand why so many these days are so quick to label and demonize others. You do know that without seeing body language and tone of voice it can be hard to accurately judge.

  58. John Lennon’s words are powerful and tragic, but few people listen.

    I cannot say anything that hasnt already been said, but I hope that everyone leads a long and productive life.

  59. George: I think some leaks stemming from the Red Carpet premiere are somewhat inevitable…Are we going to get episode titles at all before April 24th? Maybe HBO decided that some of them were too “spoilery”?

    I guess even if the episode titles aren’t spoilery at all, the sheer secrecy and mystery of not revealing them until the last minute only generates more excitement in anticipation of the new season. It’s a smart move. Frustrating for those of us keen to know, but that’s what they want!

  60. BlueRoseofWinterfell,

    Very well said, and thank you for saying it. Thank you for sharing. I wish most of the people in my country would think like you. They are far too engrossed in what whacky thing Donald Trump said at any given moment. Or how many fights happened at Trumps latest rally. It really sickens me that so many people are suffering in your neck of the woods, while at the same time, my fellow citizens are days away from officially selecting a candidate that incites racism, sexism, hatred, violence abd intolerance…. to be the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!
    I really, really almost vomit every time I stop and think that so many people in my country can be so blind and so hateful. If they had to live like these refugees even for one day, they would crumble like a sand castle in a hurricane. Yet they want to label all of these people terrorists and bar them from ever setting foot in our country. All without ever even stopping to consider what they have gone through and continue to struggle with.

  61. Absolutely disgusting to see the negative response the video has gotten. People are fleeing from a mass-murdering dictator on one side and a death cult on the other, and what kind of welcome do they get? Thinly veiled racism from people too blinded by their own greed, selfishness and xenophobia to care about the wellbeing of their fellow man.

    Right-wing nationalism sweeps through Europe like a plague and fear mongering rules supreme. It even shows its ugly face in this comment section. Thankfully, there are plenty of good, caring, sensible posters to combat it.

  62. Mazzie,

    Thanks for fighting the good fight, and standing up against hate- and fearmongers.
    (They fear their “country and identity will be taken away” by the weakest of the weak. How stupid and pitiful is that?)

    As we can already see in this thread (“rapefugees”), there are no depths that these people will not stoop to, and no cause righteous enough to keep them from spewing their venom. It’s frightening, really, and it helps that there are people standing up against them. Thanks!

  63. Ygritte,

    And how is that relevant to any of the discussion ? By not being a liberal means you don’t have to care for your fellow human being,really your argument doesn’t make any sense .

  64. Ygritte,

    Actually i know pretty well to read through text thank you,i have enough experience in that,please don’t ever assume you know me or know what i think.

  65. Pablo Escobar,

    With a nic like yours tagging someone else as a neo nazi is certainly rich.

    I will now defer to the wishes of Sue Fury since this is her living room.

  66. It’s always good to see those in the public eye use their influence to draw attention to worthy causes.

    Idontlikethis,

    Go spew your bullshit elsewhere.

  67. Blanche Holstein,

    Ahh,now here’s someone with no argument or intelligence since all he could do is attack me based on my username,now crawl back to whatever hole you came from ! I shouldn’t even give you an explanation but it’s based on Narcos, a show i like,happy now ?

  68. Pablo Escobar,

    You basically go around labeling everyone who might dare suggest that there is a different angle to the situation a xenophob. I hate to be the one breaking this down to you, but that’s not really how xenophobia works.

    That’s the problem with one-sided reflections: you give names such as “racist” or “xenophob” or “inhuumane” way too freely, but God forbid I call the refugees “migrants” (I never really understood why this should be considered an insult… they’re people… they move from one place to another… isn’t that what a migrant basically is?). I feel insulted by the likes of you, who believe that just because I don’t shy away from pointing out the disadvantages of having millions of people migrating all at once I have no sense of empathy, and thus qualify as “racist, xenophobic” etc. Of course, the other way around is just as frustrating: when people go around claiming refugees (I’m talking about the actual refugees, mind you) have less human value than them merely becaue they came form elsewhere. That’s dumb as hell.

    I suppose my point is, you come across as rather one-dimensional in your musings. It’s not always black and white. Pros and cons, mate, pros and cons. Society shouldn’t be afraid to evaluate both, and should definitely not get called out for trying to cite either (within reason and manners, naturally).

  69. Theodorne,

    How are the governments who rule over us all, “weakest of the weak”? It’s only thanks to said politicians that the migrants are entering Europe.

    Get your facts straight.

  70. Chimeny,

    so now we’re moving the goal post, are we? Suddenly it’s not the migrants that are the problem, it’s the governments (who let in the migrants, or something…). You’re babbling and dancing around.

    Here are some facts for you:
    1. This post is about GoT stars helping refugees. You’re off-topic if you don’t want to discuss that.
    2. Your thinly veiled xenophobia and social envy is unwanted here, as you’ve been told.

    I’m quite happy about this campaign, and really saddened about the reaction. We have one of the worst humanitarian crises since WW2 in Syria and surrounding countries, and when stars want to help, many people fall into xenophobia and social envy instead of applauding them. Sickens me.

  71. Theodorne,

    Mass-migration (into the UK at least) is a problem, as is the governments who allow it, and who actively promote it. You’re missing the point as always matey.

    Xenophobia against who? Stop banding around these buzzwords; counter my points or stop this nonsense.

    Get used to it. Especially after today. Europe is sick of what is happening to it.

  72. If you read the rules there is only one set of tickets being offered. Obviously they will be won by one of the big ticket buyers. I think it’s nice they are doing something for charity but they should offer ten or twenty so someone like me who would only buy 100 chances at most would feel they had an actual chance.

  73. I live in Czech Republic and if you think that from thousands of people which are going to Europe are all refugees that are running from war and need our help then you just play fool of yourself. We have taken several people in. Offered them home, our hospitality and education and what did they did? Run away to Germany or back to where they come from. Same case for Poland, Slovak and other “not so much rich countries”. I am open minded and I believe that there are people who are really afraid of their lives and running from home because of war. But with them are also coming people who only want money and better life for as much little endeavour as possible. So no wonder people are upset and angry. Help should be given, but on the right places and to the people who really need it.

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