Category: Refugee

Persecuted Beyond Borders

Posted on by Chloe McDonnel

Image result for lgbt italy

After such a great reception of the article we shared entitled ‘Persecuted beyond borders: why Italy needs LGBT refugee shelters’, the YCF decided to interview the author of this piece.

Claudia Torrisi is an Italian journalist who has a passion for social issues, migrations and human rights. She has a master’s degree in Law and has previously worked with some non-profit organisations and projects such as Chayn Italia.

Torrisi has an extremely open background, working in various positions such as a journalist, volunteer, web editor and even worked on the mayoral campaign in Rome during 2016. She is very versatile in her work and as published pieces with openDemocracy, VICE Media and more.

Her piece focuses on the need for centres for LGBT refugees in Italy and documents how some refugees feel unsafe in the current setup. She tells of how they feel attacked and scared, often sensing that they are isolated when they arrive. Many fear telling their stories and sharing their experiences with those they meet in the crisis centres. Their lives are put on hold as they fear criminalisation for their sexual status.

Join us on 15th November 2017 as we interview Claudia Torrisi live on our social media channels.

Interview: Faourou vient de Gao au nord du Mali

Posted on by Clara Hachmann

Qu’est ce qui vous a amené à quitter votre pays?

J’ai été mis à la porte de chez moi quand j’avais 16 ans parce que j’ai refusé un mariage arrangé par mon demi frère. C’est lui qui prenait les décisions pour moi parce que j’ai perdu mon père à 7 ans. Alors ne sachant plus où aller, j’ai vécu dans la rue pendant quelques mois. Ceux qu’on appelle les rebelles Touaregs venaient souvent dans notre ville du nord du Mali et propageaient la terreur en tirant. Parfois ils motivaient aussi des jeunes garçons à les suivre. Le jour où j’ai quitté ma ville, les Touaregs y étaient venus. Moi, je jouais au football avec des amis de la rue et un homme a eu peur pour nous et nous a proposé de fuir dans sa voiture. Je n’avais que 16 ans, j’étais rejeté de chez moi, je n’avais pas d’argent, j’avais peur des rebelles, mais surtout je ne me sentais pas protégé. Comme je n’avais plus rien à perdre, j’ai décidé de partir. C’est comme ça qu’a commencé mon exil.

Par quels pays êtes vous passé ?
L’Algérie, puis la Libye où j’ai été fait prisonnier et où j’ai travaillé durant 7 mois. Avant d’arriver en Allemagne, j’étais en Italie.

Un jour, en prison, on nous a proposé avec quelques autres jeunes de travailler sur un chantier.

Pourquoi avez vous été fait prisonnier en Libye?
J’ai travaillé quelques semaines pour un homme dans son champ et au moment de me payer, il a refusé et il a appelé la police. Puis, j’ai été conduit en prison. Il y avait beaucoup de jeunes africains mineurs comme moi en prison. Ils avaient tous plus ou moins vécu la même situation. Un jour, en prison, on nous a proposé avec quelques autres jeunes de travailler sur un chantier. On a accepté, puis on a fui.

Depuis combien de temps êtes vous en Europe ?
Je suis arrivé à 17 ans. Tout d’abord en Italie j’y suis resté jusqu’à mes 18 ans et après je suis venu en Allemagne. Ça fait maintenant 2 ans à peu près.

Quelle était votre première impression quand vous êtes arrivé en Europe ?
C’était un soulagement. Je venais de vivre la pire période de ma vie. Je me rappelle qu’avant de monter sur le bateau pneumatique pour la traversée je me suis dit : “peut-être demain tu seras mort”

Je fais beaucoup de cauchemars où je revis cette traversée.

Votre expérience durant votre exil la plus difficile ?
La traversée de la Méditerranée. C’était terrifiant. Nous sommes partis à 3 gros bateaux pneumatiques bondés. Des copains d’exil étaient montés dans un des 2 autres. Mais, juste le notre n’a pas coulé. Nous avons été recueilli par les secours italiens. Tout le monde était si effrayé. Il y a quelques temps, j’ai vu aux infos des bateaux remplis de réfugiés, j’ai dû détourner le regard. C’était trop dur. Je me suis senti physiquement très mal. Je fais beaucoup de cauchemars où je revis cette traversée.

Est-ce que vous pensez que ça valait la peine de prendre tant de risques?
Je ne sais pas. C’est trop tôt pour le dire. Je suis plein d’espoir pour l’avenir bien que je sois perturbé par tous ce que j’ai vécu durant mon exil.

Comment étaient vos conditions de vie quand vous êtes arrivé en Europe ?
Lorsqu’on est arrivé en bateau en Italie, on nous a partagé en 2 groupes les mineurs et les majeurs. Comme mineur j’ai été dirigé vers un centre où j’ai été nourri et logé jusqu’à mes 18 ans. J’en suis sorti le jour de mon anniversaire et j’ai été enregistré officiellement comme réfugié. Peu de temps après j’ai pris un train pour Munich en Allemagne.

Comment a évolué votre vie depuis ?
À mon arrivée à Munich, j’ai été accueilli dans un centre d’urgence réservé aux jeunes hommes pas loin du centre ville. J’ai reçu 170€ par mois pour vivre. Et on m’a vite proposé de suivre des cours d’allemand. Depuis quelques mois, je suis installé dans un immeuble qui accueille des jeunes hommes réfugiés. Une association s’est occupée de moi. Et, on m’a proposé de suivre une formation en hôtellerie. J’aime beaucoup cela, parce que tous les jours je vais à l’école. Ça me fait beaucoup de bien même si c’est difficile parce que je ne parle pas très bien allemand. D’ailleurs, beaucoup d’entre nous, ont après un an à Munich eu la possibilité de suivre une formation professionnelle ou ont commencé à travailler.

On m’a proposé de suivre une formation en hôtellerie.

Faites vous d’autres activités ?
Je fais du football en club. C’est un sport que j’adore. C’est Thomas, un bénévole allemand qui s’est occupé de mon intégration dans un club. J’y suis depuis presque un an. J’ai même mon nom inscrit sur mon maillot de football. Pour nous qui ne sommes plus dans notre pays, ça nous touche vraiment quand des gens se préoccupent de nous. Je me rappelle qu’un jour, je regardais les stands au marché aux puces et une dame âgée avec qui j’avais un peu parlé, m’a offert un tableau qu’elle avait peint et sur lequel était dessiné un gros coeur. Ce geste restera à jamais dans mon coeur.

Comment se passe votre vie avec les autres réfugiés ?
Je partage un immeuble avec d’autres hommes venant d’Afghanistan, d’Irak, d’Iran, de Syrie mais aussi de différents pays d’Afrique comme l’Erytree , la Somalie,l’Ethiopie… Cela se passe plutôt bien. J’essaie surtout de m’occuper juste de mes affaires. Les communautés se côtoient mais ne se parlent pas trop.

Pensez-vous souvent à votre pays?
Oui, tous les jours. Mon pays me manque beaucoup.

Pensez-vous y retourner?
Plus tard. Pour l’instant ce n’est pas mon but.

Avez vous beaucoup de problèmes avec la bureaucratie ?
Pas vraiment. Lorsque je suis arrivé en Allemagne, on m’a donné une carte allemande me donnant la permission d’être sur le territoire bavarois. Puis, on m’a rapidement attribué un lieu où vivre. J’ai été convoqué à un entretien pour ma demande d’asile. Maintenant, j’attends la réponse.

Pouvez-vous dire que vous êtes intégré maintenant ?
Je ne sais pas, si je suis intégré mais je me sens en sécurité.

Avez-vous peur d’être renvoyé ?
Oui, j’y pense toujours. Cela produit chez moi un stress permanent. C’est une peur qu’ont tous les réfugiés que je connais. C’est très dur.

 

About the author:

Picture Clara HachmannClara took part in our “My Europe”workshop in Munich in 2013. She is one of the winners of the international writing contest from the workshop and has been actively representing the voice of young Europeans through the “Youth Council for the Future” (YCF). Read more…

Everything seems impossible until it is done

Posted on by Ri Kang Song

Who are supposed to be the ‘climate-change refugees’? ‘Climate-change refugees’ or so called ‘environmental migrants’ are people who are forced to leave their home towns either temporarily or permanently due to sudden or progressive climate changes which compromise their well being and secure livelihood.

These changes may include increased droughts, desertification, sea revel rise, disruption of seasonal weather patterns such as monsoons, etc. Human activities like burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests contribute to global warming because they release greenhouse gases. Rising temperatures associated with global warming cause glaciers and ice caps to melt, which lead to droughts and desertification – the transformation of arable land to desert. These effects make it completely impossible for people in the region to feet on the crops and they are forced consequently to roam the world to look for better lives.    

Unlike the refugees who flee their homes due to conflict or political oppression, ‘climate-change refugees’ are not protected by international laws and may face greater political risks.

Unlike the refugees who flee their homes due to conflict or political oppression, ‘climate-change refugees’ are not protected by international laws and may face greater political risks. You have to admit, the word “refugees” should not be used in consideration of these people. It’s not them on whom we have to put the blame, because that is nature which caused it.

Nowadays, the problem of migrants is causing a great deal of wrangling in the whole world, including Europe. The European Commission has taken a comprehensive approach to tackle the refugee crisis in Europe, drawing on the various tools and instruments available at the EU level and in the member states. The European Commission gathers periodically at the summit to discuss these contemporary issues and to take corresponding measures. Statistics indicate that the number of migrants crossing Europe illegally by land and sea in 2015 has passed over one million. Of course, not all of them can be called the ‘climate-change refugees’. Some of them may migrate due to social instabilities, such as the terror attacks and the wars in the central and the Western Asia, although some people are migrating, simply because of the climate changes.Then what are the biggest challenges that ‘climate-change refugees’ are facing?

Firstly, wherever people happen to land, there would be significant traditional, cultural and religious differences. To adapt to the afterward circumstances, they would need sizeable amount of time. For example, if one has moved from Western Asia to Eastern Europe, traditional customs will have changed, from greeting others to food culture. This would affect everyone including youngsters and the next generations, trying successfully or not so to integrate into their new cultures.

Another challenge could be finding suitable jobs or finding themselves a place in the workforce.  Currently, migrant workers accounts for 150 million of the world’s approximately 232 million international migrants. Migrant workers contribute to the growth and develop in their countries of destination.
Especially having in mind the rising unemployment rate in the countries where they decide to reside. Furthermore, migration and the resulting unemployment rate have been one of the major issues in the traditional, as well as contemporary global economic scenario. And some criminal activities like robberies, thefts and various negative behaviors by unemployed migrants might arise and will disturb the public order in certain countries. To prevent these, the chances have to be given for refugees to be employed after the specific education system.

When properly managed, the refugees may have far-reaching potentials and their communities as well.

As Nelson Mandela, one of the most famous politicians said “Everything seems impossible until it is done”, other problems and challenges could occur that we might face. Yet we, as human beings have responsibilities to protect the refugees. When properly managed, the refugees may have far-reaching potentials and their communities as well. And consequently they would serve as part of the society which contributes for the economic growth of the country, overcoming ethnic differences and winning the fight for position among other people.

 

About the author:

Ri Kang Song (16) took part in the My Europe Workshop in Sofia on 28-29 November 2016 and won the fifth prize of the writing competition.

We should be the change!

Posted on by Katya Ivanova

Climate change – a change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric CO2 produced by the use of fossil fuels.

Refugee – a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape a war, persecution, or a natural disaster.

Climate-change refugees – these are people who can no longer gain a secure livelihood in their homelands because of draught, soil erosion, deforestation and other environmental problems and are forced to move out of their countries

The Earth is facing a lot of climate challenges in the past decades, which include global warming, deforestation, pollution, flood and storm disasters and other consequences as a result of them. These climate changes also affect the life of the people, who are forced in many occasions to leave their native countries and seek other lands to inhabit and make a living because they no longer can provide for themselves, or it is even dangerous to live in these areas.

They seek refuge and a safe place to live because their homes have been often destroyed by natural disasters- natural disasters caused by people or pollution.

They seek refuge and a safe place to live because their homes have been often destroyed by natural disasters- natural disasters caused by people or pollution. This problem will continue to exist and even get worse if we don’t come up with a solution.  Otherwise more and more refugees will come from the environmentally unsafe countries. And after some time, space will become less and slowly but surely the states which shelter the climate-change refugees will be overpopulated. Criminal behavior may occur along with other refugee crisis e.g. assaults against the ones seeking new homes. Poverty is another problem, as there may not be enough resources in the overpopulated areas to provide living for these climate refugees.

In 1995 the so-called environmental refugees totaled at least 25 million people, compared with 27 million traditional refugees (people running away from political conflicts, religious persecution and ethnic problems). The climate-change refugees could well double by 2010. When the global warming takes hold, there could be as many as 200 million people overtaken by rainfall regimes, by droughts of unprecedented duration and severity, and by sea-level rise and coastal flooding. * Based on Myers, N and Kent J (1995) Environmental Exodus: An Emergent Crisis in the Global Arena.

The direction of movement as predicted of scientists will be mainly from south towards north and from east towards west. This immigration will cause extreme overpopulations on small areas. One of the main problems considered, perhaps as the most vital for all of us is the food supplying. Some 20 countries with a projected population of 440 million are expected to experience up to 25% shortfall in food supplies. In addition most of the areas, which produce the most of our food and which we import from, will be destroyed due to the climate changes and more than approximately 10 to 20 million or even more people will be semi-starved by 2050.

Climate-change refugees run away because of climate change, as the name suggests. And along with the name comes the main goal we have to achieve in order these people to keep their homes – we have to change the climate as it used to be before the pollution started. And there are many things that can be done and which do not require spending money. For example, reduction of use in fossil fuels, less deforestation, as they both result in too much CO2, are the perfect ways to start our mission to save our planet and save the people. Other actions which can be taken are: walking to school, smart energy use (we should turn off the lights when walking out of the room), smart water use (we should turn off the sink tap) – these methods can help the reduction in carbon pollution over time.

Personally, I think this global problem should be voiced whenever, especially from the youths because as many surveys say the adults start to acknowledge the things they used to dismiss when the youth starts voice their opinion.

The climate-change refugee crisis has been known to exist since the second part of the 20th century. Many politicians have talked openly about the problem. But still nowadays not many of us understand the threat that’s been lurking around for years and the climate-change refugees are just the beginning. Personally, I think this global problem should be voiced whenever, especially from the youths because as many surveys say the adults start to acknowledge the things they used to dismiss when the youth starts voice their opinion. In order for our mission to begin and be successful we have to start from somewhere, we have to help raise the public awareness and I think we, the young generation, should be the beginning. We should be the change!

About the author:

Katya Georgieva Ivanova took (16) part in the My Europe Workshop in Sofia on 28-29 November 2016 and won the fourth prize of the writing competition.

Far from home

Posted on by Radoslav Stefanov

Refugees. What an incredible word!

The term ‘’climate refugee’’ or ‘’environmental immigrant’’ was first proposed by Lether Brown in 1976 and it is often used to describe people who are forced to leave their homes , regions ,areas due to a sudden or long-term changes  to their local environment which compromises their well-being or secure livelihood.

Such changes include rising temperatures which lead to droughts and desertification (caused by variety of factors , mainly because of climate change , desertification  is a type of land degradation in which relatively dry area becomes increasingly acrid , usually losing its water bodies , vegetation and wildlife) as well as rising sea level , caused by the melting of ice caps , glaciers etc. Those changes are often associated with a very common, yet very dangerous problem – Global Warming.

Global Warming is a term describing the observed century-scale rise in the average temperature of the Earth’s climate system and its related effects. By using fossil fuels such as oil, coal, steel etc. we are rising the world’s global temperature every day, thus leaving thousands of people without homes, due to a lack of shelter, water and food and urge them to immigrant, searching for a better life for their families and themselves.

Today’s choices are going to significantly affect the risk that climate change will pose for the rest of century.

Talking about Global Warming we cannot miss to mention the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), established in 1988 and their work, which continues to present day. More than seven hundred scientists all over the globe work every day, trying to reduce carbon emissions, so that the world can avoid the catastrophic warming, which would dramatically disrupt human life and natural ecosystems. “Today’s choices are going to significantly affect the risk that climate change will pose for the rest of century” , says Kelly Levin , a scientist studying climate change impacts at the World’s Resources Institute (WRI) in Washington , D.C.

Another group working on the problem with modern-day refugees is the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). It consists of people who are willing to work on the problem by providing basic human needs – shelter , which provides safety , the distribution of food and water for those in need and special services for women and children. It also helps by offering job applications which helps the immigrants to easily find jobs and take a better care for their families and themselves, thus creating partnerships through cheap labour workers which also helps them adapt to their surroundings and improve their lives. We are humans and we must help each other!

Looking directly at the problem, it is our duty first to integrate those people into our societies, so that we can treat them as equal to us, despite their origin, cultural differences or religion. And the best start for integration is with education. Everything starts with school – it builds every man and woman as a person, it helps us adapt to modern-world societies and teaches us tolerance and understanding, thus making the school system perfect for immigrants and their children.

And the best start for integration is with education.

It is necessary to understand that this is not going to happen fast. The process may take several years, but in the end Europe will have healthy (physically and mentally), educated, happy and motivated people, ready to fill up our society with their colourful and unique culture, specific religion and different personalities.

This will help manufacturing, it will develop industry and will help carry out cultural activities and by doing so we will be learning from them as they will be learning from us!

What our continent is going to face in the next decades would be dramatic – thousands, maybe even millions of people will be flooding into our countries. This will seriously affect our economies and we as a union, as the European Union (EU) will have to rise up against that challenge – “The migration crisis has the potential to destabilize governments ,countries and the whole European continent..” , says Viktor Orban , the Prime Minister of Hungary.

Of course, this is the worst case scenario – we know that we are facing a major crisis, maybe the biggest in Europe for the 21st century and we will have to find a solution to it. And the best solution for this problem is by resolving another important problem – Global Warming.

It is the reason why climate-refugees are immigrating, more specifically to Europe – the Global Warming itself has destroyed their homes.

We must stop using fossil fuels, as they are the main reason behind it, because of the carbon emissions, but we will also have to decrease the carbon dioxide from burning gasoline used for transportation, the methane emissions from animals and stop the deforestation and turn to renewable energy sources such as the sunlight, water and wind!

By using these renewable resources we assure the reclamation of the Ozone layer, the decreasing of the world’s temperature and also prevent the extinction of many endangered species.

This will help us preserve the homes of almost all climate-refugees and it will decrease their number significantly. We assure one better future for the next generations and for ourselves!

The world has always been changing and immigration is not something new. Because of it we have discovered the world as explorers and because of it, we have survived! And now we are facing another immigration – the immigration of climate-change refugees in the 21st century. We have to stand against that problem as a Union. The world is changing once again and it is time for us to adapt as for them, too!

About the author:

Radoslav Nikolaev Stefanov (16) took part in the My Europe Workshop in Sofia on 28-29 November 2016 and won the third prize of the writing competition.

 

Combating climate change should be both a personal and public priority

Posted on by Adrian Murat

What will be the big challenges regarding climate-change refugees in Europe in the next 50 years?

Nowadays, climate change is one of the biggest problems the world must face. What was considered as an incremental issue two decades ago, is already starting to show its numerous negative effects both on nature and on society. The question remains if we will be able to stop it in time and what the consequences will be for Europe if we don’t.

Nowadays, climate change is one of the biggest problems the world must face.

 Temperatures around the globe have been rising for decades thanks to our industrialized society and partly thanks to our recklessness when it comes to using our resources. Entire forests have been cut down, seas and oceans polluted and species erased. None of these, however, come even close to the dangerous effects of the polar ice caps melting. Not only will that have a tremendous impact on wildlife and ocean levels, but it will also cause the ocean-levels to rise. This in turn will make huge parts of our planet uninhabitable land. Cities, such as New York, Tokyo or even Amsterdam might become underwater relics in the not-so-distant future. All of this will become fact, should we not stop it while still possible.

Furthermore, should we not succeed in convincing our leaders and people that the world is really in danger and that destruction is inevitable – there will be significant consequences for the world and for Europe specifically. Our continent will be facing serious difficulties thanks to its good geographical position with the other, poorer, continents. Coastal cities disappearing will be only one of the obstacles we will be facing. Citizens of poorer countries, mostly in Africa and Asia, where even now wars are being held over water and inhabitable land, will tend to migrate to Europe in the same manner as political refugees are coming now. The only difference – wars end and their effects are reversible whereas the consequences of climate change are irreversible. Our already crowded land will become even more crowded, which resultantly will make people compete increasingly for jobs. Owing to all those factors, extreme political ideologies will make their ways back into our society and hate, racism, intolerance will become present. In turn this could lead to a rebellion of the oppressed minorities and result in a war.

The solution to all these problems lies within our own hands, change needs to happen and it needs to be soon.

 The solution to all these problems lies within our own hands, change needs to happen and it needs to be soon. Difficult as it may sound, it is fairly simple. First, we need to think for ourselves on the question whether we want big money and financial interests to influence our choice and our thinking or decades worth of scientific research and proof. Second, we need to make sure we elect people who think like us, who are not controlled by personal interests or corporations. Third, we must stand united against the threat of climate change by helping protect the environment, helping people who live in affected areas, protesting corrupt politicians and companies who pollute the environment on purpose for their own personal gain. If we manage to do all these baby steps, and every one of us stands together, we can indeed make Europe, our continent, our country a great place to live for decades to come and live the life we want, without fear of not ever being able to visit a certain city or even an entire country.

 As a conclusion, I think combating climate change should be both a personal and public priority. Even though it needs to start as small steps made by us, it should end up as steps in the right direction by our governments and the EU, to truly protect us from experiencing this horrifying picture and in order to see a better Europe in 50 years than the one we have now.

About the author:

Adrian Murat (17) took part in the My Europe Workshop in Sofia on 28-29 November 2016 and won the second prize of the writing competition.