Blog #5 The Challenge of the Syrian Refugee Crisis

Globally, international aid programs are referring to the Syrian refugee crisis as the worst in the world. 12 million are impacted by the conflict leaving 7.6 people displaced inside the country and 3 million displaced in surrounding countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Turkey. Those trying to help are left with questions of how, where, and what do the refugees need. The weather is also an element against providing aid, it adds another layer of what is needed to combat the cold, three Syrians were found dead in Lebanon due to the weather. Refugees have a taxing presence on their host countries as well, many countries are barely equip to give medical help to it's own citizens yet the large influx that are now seeking help. Grisgraber, in a senior position at Refugee International, explains that her group does not provide monetary and physical relief for the refugees but does research on conditions where refugees are, determining what would be most helpful where for bigger aid organizations. She says however, access is the biggest issue because gunfire is unpredictable and the situation could change quickly. It seems to be an unending quest to determine what aid is necessary, and truly effective. Some aid programs just use monetary relief, they give refugees money to help, this allows them to have a more independent way of providing for their family, it also goes into the host countries economy which is strained. Deciding what is best for refugees from humanitarian organizations, is a difficult position, the goal is to provide the most accurately you can, but often there are mishaps. Refugee International is a brilliant idea, and even without monetary contributions they have the potential to be the biggest help. 

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/01/09/syrian-refugee-crisis-challenges-international-aid-organizations

Maggie Neas

3/20/15

11:27 am

Blog #4 Revised Asylum in Australia

Maggie Neas
3/1/15
Soc 202-01

Ranil Wickremesinghe, Colombo's Prime Minister reported that Tony Abbot, Australia's Prime Minister made a deal with Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa, in return for blocking asylum seekers headed for Australia as long as they kept quiet about alleged abuse. The deal was carried out by people under the Rajapaksa regime, they made it almost impossible to leave the country. In 2013 Australia sent asylum seekers to camps in islands Manus and Nauru, both belonging to Papua New Guinea. The new prime minister Wickremesinghe urges surrounding countries to be more proactive in stepping in when human rights issues are at hand, referring to the 40,000 Tamil civilians that were killed in 2009 under Rajapaska. To deny those seeking asylum is principally against what the term is recognized as and for. The UN is created for peace and alliance between countries which seems to have failed in recognizing human rights issues, or rather their ability to intervene. The International Human Right’s law although not truly a law is recognized as a political obligation of nations to do their best to promote and maintain basic human rights, to recognize when there is such violation.

Blog #3 Understanding Europe's Immigration Crisis

Maggie Neas
2/20/15
Soc 202-01


In the article " To Understand Europe's Immigration Crisis, Listen to the Voiceless 'Illegals'," Akbar Ahmed takes a closer look at Muslims who are fleeing to Europe, most often landing first in Italy. Ahmed relates a common story of huge numbers of Muslims leaving their home to one story of a boy he met in Sicily named Ahmedu. Ahmedu is the oldest son of his two parents who split, he is from Gambia, where his family among thousands live under the international poverty line. Last year over 3,00 died trying to reach Europe, 170,00 made it, Ahmedu was luckily one of those. He went on a fourteen month journey, leaving his home with no money and no documentation. However, his arrival in Europe did not guarantee his safety, his dark skin and religion trigger fear in most Europeans, both the status of an immigrant and a Muslim. Ahmed calls Europe to revise their immigration laws and plans, that some of these immigrants should be granted asylum, and treated as humans. What strikes me in this article is the journalists ability to connect such a large issue into one single boy's story. When we hear number like the 3,00 dead last year from trying to flee their country, it is hard to connect that it is real human beings who died, a little bit of humanity is lost in that translation of numbers to human. How am I supposed to connect with a 16 year old Muslim boy from Gambia, when truly he could be my younger brother. We label people as Muslim, or immigrant before human. It is this great demonstration of the sociological imagination that allows me to feel compassion for this boy and his story, and along with it the realization that this is the life of thousands of Muslims, and in a global perspectives millions who flee.

Maggie Neas
2/20/15
Soc 202-01
2:55
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/akbar-ahmed/europe-immigration-crisis-illegals_b_6717170.html?utm_hp_ref=world

Blog #2 Child Migration decreases, Violence Persists

This article by Ian Gordon addresses a prediction of reduced immigration rates in the current predicted year. The Washington Office on Latin America predicts that child migration rates will decrease 39% and that familial migration rates will drop 16%. However great of a reduction predictions are this will be the second largest influx of child migrants. Researchers accredit this reduction to increased enforcement of border patrol, perhaps the biggest contributor is the shutdown of access to a train called “La Bestia” or The Beast, it runs from the southern border of Mexico up to the US. The article is clear in defining the issue not necessarily of one that pertains to the US/Mexico border but largely to Mexico’s southern border, connecting with Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. The political turmoil seen spewing from these countries raises the question as to whether Mexico is honoring a perhaps necessary humanitarian effort to these possible refugees. The US has proposed a billion dollar aid relief program to what is considered the “Northern Triangle,” Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and have created new detention facilities throughout southern Texas, however this doesn't stop the tens of thousands of children who will flee their home country in escape of violence of violence and poverty. The 1,500 mile journey itself is dangerous and expensive and part of a bigger problem. I question what amount of danger would force a child to embark on a comparatively dangerous journey, to reach your destination and be turned around. Truly there is immigration that is not an attempt to leave a dangerous situation, but still I question why? We have made huge and somewhat successful attempts to decrease immigration but are we considering our humanitarian obligation as a world power source? 

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/02/unaccompanied-child-migrants-surge-mexico-violence

February 13, 2015

12:00