Miscellaneous Forum

This week 3 bodies of African Origin have been found floating off Malta.

Hundreds are still attempting the crossing, from Africa to Europe, in leaky, rotten boats.
Many make it, some pay the ultimate price for trying to hope.
The scale of human misery is continuing unabated.

Europe is willing to close a blind eye and ignore this disaster.
Preferring instead to lock the refugees in camps or let them rot on islands with little resources.
Do Europeans really care?
Does local political-expediency help us dismiss our Human obligation in their hour of need?

Can this be called tourism as well?

Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/204342,france-says-eu-should-assist-malta-stem-illegal-immigration.html

Italy is probably the prime point of entry for thousands of illegal immigrants from various countries, some of which can qualify as refugees, who take advantage of a large portion of the thousands of kilometers of our coastline. There are preferential "spots" where "Centri di Prima Accoglienza" (Aid Centers) structures take care of some - I don't have updated figures - 150,000 or more arrivals. It's chaos and, like many, I have mixed feelings about the issue. My personal view is that I favor immigration when it happens through controlled quota, and when the dignity of immigrants is properly approached and ensured. Reality tells a different story. An uncontrolled situation generates desperation, illegality, crime and consequent social discomfort. Immigrants into Italy also roam within the EU, but it seems other EU countries close both eyes leaving the heavy burden to Italy - guess Malta is in similar waters, not only figurative. There must be obvious reasons, say out of my perception, why governments turn their back to the problem. Lack or insufficient coordination among the EU and the countries of origin is the key factor. Following this forum's no-politics rules I refrain from commenting beyond my awareness of decades of human tragedy.

Malta itself, acknowledges the fact that the refugees do not want to stay there.

Their destination was always mainland-Europe but many are hard-pressed making it as far as this little island.

The 3 found dead in the water are only the casualties of one day.
Summer is upon us and the flood will soon begin in earnest again...
...so will the death toll.

I feel for the ones needing to make decisions on what policy to adopt to rein in the numbers.
Nearly as much as I feel for the broken families hoping to earn a dismal living in Europe as janitors and maids.

As you Ant, one can only speak about how it affects their feelings.

I agree with Pupulainen on this one.

I mean, with all due respect, it takes time to adapt to a new country if you're immigrating due to work, etc., especially if you have to learn a new language and start from scratch (like I did). No offense but there's only so many people a country can take care of without putting the economy on jeopardy. Most of the refugees here live off social aid and don't lift a finger to either learn the language (which is FREE and they get money to buy the books, which is the only thing one has to spend money on) or get a job. Why should my hard earned tax money go to finance this kind of behavior?

Pupulainen, your profound thought should be addressed by those who are in charge.
Maybe the phenomenon you refer to is a simple reshuffling of the global picture rather than "revenge" from those populations that had been subjugated by generations of Europeans with crackling guns. We, Europeans, might want to remember where finances came from. At least, I ashamingly do.
In a time of higher chances for democracy, I guess there are only two main solutions to reduce the risks of warfare: control of the global population growth and control over greed. That's mostly what I can pledge for.

Africa is a continent containing vast natural resources and incredible agricultural potential. However, thanks to the corruption, greed, and cruelty of a few, there is little there but human misery. Like Keti says, should we be expected to fill our countries with refugees, while turning most of Africa over to the warlords and other common thugs ?

A good point Drew.

So much is taken by the few and so little left for the many.
As charity begins at home so should the fix be aimed at the origin.

As everywhere in Europe in the past thousands of years, Warlords and Princes used to battle continuously for local power, so are Warlords and power-hungry few creating mayhem in parts of Africa.

It takes time to have a balanced outcome.
There is no easy answer but dismissing the immigration, ignoring it and guaranteeing those that make it, is no answer either.

Ooops...meant to say:

"ignoring it and quarantine those that make it"

Pupulainen, I'm not sure whether you don't understand my language or you don't agree with my view. At any rate, I think I do understand your vision and each of us has his/her own.
In my first post I underlined my consensus to controlled immigration quota and decency. Italy alone has 150,000 uncontrolled "newcomers" per year, a serious issue which remains painfully unaddressed. You may think I'm happy to see that two thirds of the convicted in our jails are extraeuropeans. No, I'm not. I respect the law and I pretend the same from others, regardless of who they are.
As for finances, history teaches that Brits, French, Germans, Spaniards, Portuguese, Belgian, Dutch, Italians and others had put their hands on resources around the world. Maybe somebody from distant shores think it's time to be subsidized and somehow get back some of their ancestors' wealth.

We have always said "What about us"

We said it when we fooled them in joining our wars in 1914 and 1939.
We said it when we invaded their country and took away their resources.
We said it when we made deals with our enemies to split their borders.
We said it when we wanted cheap minerals and goods for our industries.

Perhaps we might just ask for once:

"What about them?"

I missed this comment, by Mr. Ant, "My personal view is that I favor immigration when it happens through controlled quota".

I'd support that as that's the ideal situation, but like he said, reality's different. I believe that all of us, together, can make a difference but the problem is that you give some people a fingernail and they take the whole arm :/

Good for you K.

There is a case that one does not need to feel guilt, but compassion is not that expensive nor difficult to give.

Whether you personally feel good, bad or otherwise,
It does not stop them from trying to find shelter,
It does not stop them coming,
It does not stop some of them from dying,
It does not stop the EU from having to do something about them.

Many of us, or our ancestors, come from a different country.
If our host country did not take us in we would not have gone but gathered in places hoping that our children be accepted.

I suggest you do not make it personal as it defeats the reason for the posting,
But if you must then I hope others are not as inflexible.
History has dictated that in times of need we all needed others to share our burden.

Such a pity you feel so strongly about it.
I am especially happy that your family is fine.
We need to take care of our own first.

After all what is a few thousand dead when we do not even know their names!

Perhaps if we only give the fingernail, and only the fingernail, then it might help a little Mariel :o)

As Ant says, reality is different.
There is no choice for the EU.
It needs to do something about it fast.

I do not know what you want to give K.
No one specifically asked you to.
You seem to get very little K.
Points seem to escape you.
You seem to be spoiling for an argument :o)

Give your house if you like.
I see no African demanding it, but you can give it if it suits you.

You think these people need your Underwear?
No they need your understanding.

Do you think these people need your Salary?
No they need a job to feed their family.

It would be your choice to live in the street!
The Africans will not do that for you.
But a shelter from the cold would be nice.

If you want to adopt a family you can.
They do not ask you to!
But some of your old clothes will do.

Why Not give Africa a chance?
No one is asking for priority,
They just ask for pity.

Can you spare some K?