Pamela Anderson was left "speechless" and changed forever by her visit with PETA to a refugee camp in France on Wednesday (25.01.17).
The former ‘Baywatch’ actress joined the organisation – known as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals – on a trip to Dunkirk to deliver vegan hats and gloves, blankets, hundreds of animal-themed activity books, in English, Farsi, French and Arabic, and coloured pencils to children who have been forced to flee their home countries due to war and persecution.
Pamela was shocked by the conditions the youngsters are living in and the startling reality that the men in the camps are risking their lives every night to try and escape their surroundings by sneaking into lorries and other modes of transport.
In a blog post on her charity website PamelaAndersonFoundation.org, she wrote: "I’m leaving Dunkirk now. I’m speechless. I’m so angry. The children are so lovely and polite. I gave out blankets, hats, gloves, fruit, coloring books and crayons. Some were so fearful they wouldn’t get a blanket or crayons or an apple. It was chaos. I’ll never forget today.
"I brought some whisky to the volunteers. What an unusual and extraordinary group. They are amazing. They have been there for months, years. From the Calais Jungle to diff camps – tossed around. Young people selflessly making a terrible situation – a little less terrible. It was uplifting to see that part. The politics are incomprehensibly devastating. The men every night go out, hide in- under, on lorries. A boy died on the freeway the other day. Some make it across the border. Some don’t, and have to walk back. Or worse. Then they sleep all day and try again. Every night. There is no other way. No hope. No help. People must see what is happening. Beautiful and innocent people are shown such little respect. The kids hugged and kissed me, I’ll never be the same. I’ll write more later. P (sic)"
The 49-year-old former Playboy pin-up has urged politicians all over the world and regular people to open their eyes to the tragedy that is unfolding in France and across Europe and forget about their own "self-interest".
Pamela insists that something has to be done to help these people and that "closing borders is not the answer".
She wrote: "Imagine if every person could come see this? Policy would change. It’s hard to engage people to act without empathy – and unfortunately most people don’t feel it by watching the news; but, by meeting people and seeing for themselves – It would change everything. Just people trying to live. I encourage more people to come visit, and volunteer if at all possible. It’s just not fair. Closing borders, and closing people out is not the answer. It’s backwards. Maybe people are inherently self interested but information silos created by choice of media (Fox or CNN) and social media – I fear, means people are less and less informed about things outside their own interests. (sic)"
Pamela Anderson shocked during visit to meet refugees in Dunkirk
