Financing For Development - 2015

By Shane Burke

Sure it will be grand

As many people know the Irish state can be slow to do positive things for the minority groups that live in the country to the point we have become used to hearing stories of asylum speakers spending many years waiting for their applications to be processed, and being forced to live on a pittance. The latest topic where the government could have shown leadership, but failed was international development while not a big vote winner the conference Financing For Development conference in Addis Ababa was crucially important for the world’s poorest.

How did the government fail in the area of international development? It failed by not treating the area as serious as it should be in regards to the Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa on July 13^th-16^th. This conference was where where high profile of at least ministerial meet to discuss how to help the African continent going forward in the following ways as agreed in the Doha Declaration.

• Agreeing that at least half of all aid goes to the least developed countries.
   
• Funding basic services such as education, and healthcare.
   
• Developing the economy of African nations to make sure they have better infrastructure, transport etc
   

While Ireland sent Minister of State for Development Trade-Promotion, and North Side Co-operation Sean Sherlock the problem is other sent even more important members of their government one such person is Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei; considering the finance minister is often seen as the successor to the national leader when he leaves office this is a big deal Ireland is not treating the conference seriously. At the very least the man in charge of the public purse Finance Minister Michael Noonan should attend since he has ultimate say on how the state spends the money it has on foreign aid.

Unfortunately despite, the best efforts of One.org are the government did not have a change of heart, and strengthen the Irish delegation. Hopefully groups such as this can make a difference, but this latest event illustrates the states prior history of not adequately addressing the needs of foreigners in general issues such as direct provision leaves people indignant since they are forbidden from working while their application for asylum is being processed. This allows foreign people to be easily portrayed as living off the taxpayer when it is the government that forces them into this predicament; to be blunt the government has extend more of the Christian charity that a party such as Fine Gael proclaims to be influenced by.

Strangely for a party that is supposed to be focused on justice for all there is a deafening silence from them when it comes to making sensible laws to make life easier for immigrants, but as usual politics reflects wider societal values, and the sad truth is Irish people care more about their own backyards than helping others. Upon reading the previous statement no doubt some will feel outraged that such a thing could be said, but the evidence is there to support the claims made a previous Immigrant Council of Ireland report claimed at least 33% of TDs feared doing anything that might be considered as helping immigrants to Ireland out of fear they could ruin their electoral prospects. Who do TD’s work for? The Irish public if national representatives are not strongly supporting immigrants it is because of the attitudes of their constituents.

Yet, that is the problem Irish parliamentarians are afraid to show leadership, and appear to care nothing for guiding principles to a significant portion all that matters is keeping the seat they won without offending the locals. What they need to do is explain to those they represent the benefits of a strong African economy to Irish citizens should Africa emerge as a developed economy over time who will they want to buy goods from? Western countries including Ireland, but until the government changes its attitude from sure it will be grand when it comes to helping immigrants not much will occur to make anyone’s life better in the world.

 

Links

http://www.thejournal.ie/racism-in-ireland-has-grown-during-recession-307806-Dec2011/

https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/dohaexplained_e.htm

It's Time For A New Way To Look At Migration

by Ruth Daly

The Immigrant Council of Ireland recently held a highly important workshop entitled ‘Voices of Young Migrant Men’ which brought to light the varying and often difficult issues facing young migrants in Ireland. This ground-breaking research project, funded by the European Commission, took place in seven different European countries, including, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Today, reports have been slowly filtering through Irish media about the discrimination, prejudice and assault faced by migrants in Ireland. Of course, we can conclude that these findings are not exclusive to Ireland but rather are the experience of migrants everywhere. While the research project mentioned focuses on the experiences of young migrant men, I would like to extend this discussion to migrant women, who face equally difficult challenges in the form of discrimination and prejudice.

Findings from the research project indicate disturbing levels of racism and prejudice from authoritative government groups. Policy and Research Officer with the ICI, Peter Slovak stated that racism was a common thread seen among members of the Gardaí and the Immigration Authorities with highly unprofessional and insensitive workers remarking ‘your kind is not allowed here’ among other derogatory and racist remarks. Additionally, there were reports of insinuations that migrants were there purely for financial gain. Godfrey Chimbganda of ICI stressed the importance of integration in tackling racial discrimination towards migrants, stating that the Garda Síochána and other government bodies need to become more diverse. I have included a link to this report at the end of this post for anyone who would like to read more about it.

Oswaldo, one of the young men who participated in the research project has stated that ‘borders are more than just lines drawn in a map, some are even literally massive walls and spiked fences, not even airports are as welcoming as you might expect, they are scary, judgmental and discriminating. We cannot discover our own planet freely.’ (ICI, 2015)

We need to reassess the way in which we view culture and borders and embrace their respective fluidity. If we are to regard culture as intermingled and multifarious, it follows that cultural growth is something which migration facilitates. Thus, it stands that migrants are in a position to act as empowered agents of change here in Ireland, and indeed globally. In The Location of Culture, literary theorist and scholar Homi K. Bhabha highlights the importance of recognising the porous borders between cultures, a notion of fluidity shared by other critics. John McLeod states ‘that [borders] are always leaking into each other, criss-crossing the supposed barriers’ (263) which causes ideas to move and change as a result.

In The Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness (Verso, 1993), Gilroy discusses the middle passage, employing the image of the ship as a means by which to symbolise ‘a living, micro-cultural, micro-political system in motion’ (4). This symbol ‘bears witness to the history of black oppression but also the possibility of putting ideas and cultural practices “on the move”, circulating them across different places in perpetual motion’ (266). Here we see an element of hope and new possibility regarding the exchange of ideas emerge out of the profoundly horrific, deeply traumatic Middle Passage.

I refer to Gilroy as parallels can be drawn between his research and the current migrant crisis. What men, women and children are currently going through in an attempt to flee war-torn countries and oppressive regimes is unfathomable. The gross violation of human rights is disgraceful. Our, the EU’s, response is less than welcoming. Simply put, it is not good enough. How is it that have we not learned from history?

In their own words, migrants have described the immense difficulty of leaving their respective homelands to come to a strange place in search of hope, in search of peace. In light of the continuous difficulties facing migrants living in Ireland – many of which have been highlighted by this research – it is more important than ever to highlight the manifold ways in which men, women and children from outside of the EU who have sought asylum in Ireland have enriched Irish culture. Indeed, many have been hugely influential in our continued societal development.

One such example can be seen in a recent legal case which saw Muhammad Younis vindicated as the Supreme Court overturned a previous High Court judgement. Younis was awarded €92,634.42 in unpaid wages and compensation for 7 years’ work in a Clondalkin restaurant. Mr. Younis’ unrelenting perserverence in his fight for his rights has not only changed the law but it has made Ireland a far better, safer, more just place for all workers.

Additionally, a recent International Report entitled ‘Indicators of Immigrant Integration 2015’ carried out by the European Commission and the OECD has shown that Ireland has the most educated immigrants in the EU. If anything, we should be grateful to have such bright minds contributing to Irish society.

It is imperative that we focus on the fluid and porous nature of borders, and embrace our fellow citizens. I will conclude with some sage advice from Oswaldo:

‘At the end of the day, it’s all of us together, the common citizens of the world through our opinions and activism who can change the actions of our policy makers, and the positions of our politicians.’ (ICI, 2015)

 

References

Bhabha, Homi K., The Location of Culture (Routledge, 1994)

Gilroy, Paul, The Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness (Verso, 1993)

McLeod, John, Beginning Postcolonialism (Manchester University Press, 2010)

To read more about the findings of the ‘Voices of Young Migrant Men’ research project, visit: http://www.immigrantcouncil.ie/

To read more about the ‘Indicators of Immigrant Integration 2015’ report, visit: http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/social-issues-migration-health/indicators-of-immigrant-integration-2015-settling-in_9789264234024-en#page149

Europe's Immigration Crisis Highlights its Rigid Humanitarian Qualities

 by Edel O'Shea

Last week The Guardian highlighted, quite shockingly, Poland’s lack of willingness to help with Europe’s current refugee and migrant crisis. One reason noted for their harsh reluctance to assist with the latest influx of human suffering was a lack of understating surrounding immigrants and the general consensus was a population that simply didn’t want them in their country.

This could suggest a lack of government support or willingness to educate in the areas of equality and solidarity concerning humans in mass crisis and suffering. If a vast majority of the populace feels intolerance or even hatred towards a struggling group of non-nationals surely it’s time for collective rewiring through educational intervention and campaigning on a large scale to combat this anti-human mind-set.   

In May 2004, when Poland joined the EU, Ireland was among only 3 EU countries accepting Polish workers along with the UK and Sweden. It has been noted how beneficial EU membership has been to Poland and Western EU member States are suggesting Poland should give back by assisting with the current crisis.   

So Poland, whether you understand them or not or you feel you are not prepared you must at least make attempts to summon the basics of human nature and open your borders to those in need. This is not just a political issue it’s a spiritually driven ethical one too pertaining to the safeguarding of man in an equal arena of justice. 

Poland is a small example in a long list of offending countries, all of which have turned their backs, to some greater or lesser extent, on their fellow man, and so it would seem that humanity is defined and measured by strict adherences that don’t stretch to meet the needs of all those struggling in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.

The EU is attempting to cope with an unforeseen flow of refugees from the Middle East and Africa and given the encompassing European feeling of failure towards these refugees and migrants this could well be our biggest test in our ability to look after one another on the most basic human level. 

In order to fully equip the crisis with financial and logistical aid we must imagine a world that exists without borders and alliances if we are to complete our missions of kindness and equality for all and in particular those currently in distress whether on the Mediterranean or elsewhere.

One hopes that implementing an aid programme to our newest refugees without exceptions and boundaries is not a cause that exists solely on the peripherals of a utopian society but one that mirrors a common declaration of care, decency and compassion for our fellow man.

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1 Leszcynski, A. (2015). Poles don’t want immigrants. They don’t understand them, don’t like them. (July 2, 2015) Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/02/poles-dont-want-immigrants-they-dont-understand-them-dont-like-them  Retrieved July 6 2015

2 Leszcynski, A. (2015). Poles don’t want immigrants. They don’t understand them, don’t like them. (July 2, 2015) Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/02/poles-dont-want-immigrants-they-dont-understand-them-dont-like-them  Retreived July 6, 2015

3 Sherwood, H. (2014). Ten years on and Poles are glad to call Britain home. (April 26 2014) Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/26/polish-immigration-britain-cities-elections Retrieved July 6 2015.

4 Leszcynski, A. (2015). Poles don’t want immigrants. They don’t understand them, don’t like them. (July 2, 2015) Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/02/poles-dont-want-immigrants-they-dont-understand-them-dont-like-them  Retrieved July 6 2015

5 Irish Independent (2015). Portrait of the Week – Number of refugees coming to Europe soars by 80pc  (July 5 2015). Available at: http://www.independent.ie/world-news/portrait-of-the-week-number-of-refugees-coming-to-europe-soars-by-80pc-31352299.html Retrieved July 6 2015.  

6 Amnesty International (2015) Amnesty’s International “Blueprint for Action” to end refugee and migrant deaths in the Med (April 22 2015). Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/04/amnesty-international-s-blueprint-for-action-to-end-refugee-and-migrant-deaths-in-the-med/ Retrieved July 6 2015.

The Unkindness of Strangers

At a time of such a tragedy as the one in Berkeley balcony collapse, it was truly heart-warming to see how the country pulled together and stood united with the victim’s families and friends.  We also did ourselves proud recently when we votes ‘Yes’ on the Marriage Equality Referendum and show cased ourselves as a kind and empathic nation that stands with people who are sometimes faced with adversity.  This is how I had always viewed the Irish people, until I read the article in The Independent about how Joanne O’ Riordan was treated on a recent train journey from Tralee to Dublin. 

Joanne O’ Riordan was born with the condition Tetra-Amelia syndrome and has been a voice for people with disabilities for the past couple of years.  She challenged Taoiseach Enda Kenny about cuts to allowances for disabled people, addressed the United Nations and discussed technology advances with Apple.  She has been named Cork Person of the Month and Young Person of the Year at the People of the Year Awards.

What happened on her train journey conveyed that, unfortunately, there are some individuals in this great country of ours who are not as understanding and kind as I had previously thought.   Joanne and her brother received abuse on the train after asking fellow passengers to move their bags out of the space which is designated for wheelchair users.  According to Joanne’s brother, no one on the train stood up for Joanne or moved bags out of the way and he expressed his utter dismay at the situation in the article.  He spoke about how it had an emotionally traumatising effect on both him and his sister for the duration of the journey.

This kind of discrimination and disregard for wheelchair-user travel facilities was appalling and completely left my reeling after reading what the two siblings had to endure that day.  For a country who are becoming renowned world-wide as a tight-knit,  accepting community of people,  it certainly seems we have a long way to go until we can fully live up to this title.

Readers' Guide to Racial Bias in the Mass Media

 With the explosion of mass media and its availability to more people than ever before in Europe, how the media manages and monitors its attitudes and beliefs towards issues of racism and how they’re covered is crucial for the fair representation of everybody on a local and international level.

The media is collectively responsible for the influence it has on society as it feeds its audience with attitudes, beliefs and stereotypes that are then devoured so willingly by our collective unconscious or, perhaps, conscious, thus creating new negative ideas surrounding different groups in society.

Every media outlet should then continually ensure the presence of any act of inequality is wiped from their organisation’s belief system if they are to commit to enhancing and improving society rather than hindering its progress.

This may be tough task, however, as in the US less than 2% of those working in news media are made up of racial minorities, those with disabilities or aboriginals. Stronger representation is key to impose counter views and beliefs to those that currently drive the majority.

UNESCO promotes safe freedom of expression for all but how can we all exchange and share knowledge via mass media and furthermore trust those shaping it if it those in the majority that hold most of the expression?

This is particularly worrying when we consider the different ways in which black and white males, for example, are reported and portrayed in the media for similar violent crimes. Media institutions presenting with racial bias, whether vividly or subtly, coupled with the fact the media is so influential, is a testament to how vital it is that all media and individuals are reporting and representing everybody in a way that does not hinder the progress of equality in the media.

You, the audience member and contributor of all forms of media, have the power to control what messages and beliefs you choose to mimic and uphold. Awareness is key and we must demand these basic standards of fairness from all media providers. So make the choices that reflect change, diversity and fairness in your media.

Below is a guide to help both audience and contributor of mass media alike, engage in fair reporting, advertising and entertainment and so fully enjoy the power of media. 

•Be vigilant when being sold a service or product in the latest clothing or gaming ad campaign. How, for example, are the characters portrayed in a gaming campaign, are avatars overly stereotypical? Is the black man always the gun wielding car thief in the latest violent video game?

•Watch out for how we identify a certain race through images, sounds or words used by media. Ideally no group or individual should be categorised by a sound or image.

•Likewise does some media paint an assumption to the reader or audience about where some races may live? What particular cars they might drive? How sexually overt they may be or not? How they live and work?    

•Be aware of wording used to describe an alleged suspect in a news report. There is no reason why a reporter or a news agency should describe a person’s race unless it is absolutely relevant.

•If it is relevant however, choose wording carefully. The word ‘coloured’ is not appropriate but rather the NUJ advises the use of the word black to imply those of African, Asian or Arabic origin. It’s OK to ask how one defines themselves if you are interviewing them.

•Don’t assume someone’s racial background or guess their possible religion based on their name, this is highly presumptuous and offensive.  

•Your favourite news publication might be your go to source for trusted accuracy but they too may get it wrong. Question everything!

•Ask yourself, due to the continued impact of offending media inequality, do individuals from different races have fewer opportunities and experiences than me due to media assumptions and portrayal?

•Choose your news sources and entertainment carefully but never stop questioning and remain vigilant! 

Be part of the collaboration of justice and fairness for all and above all except nothing less than the clear facts in your news and equality across all platforms.

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The Critical Media Project (2015) Available at:

http://www.criticalmediaproject.org/cml/topicbackground/race-ethnicity/ & NUJ Guidelines on Race Reporting (2007). Available at: http://www.dochas.ie/Shared/Files/7/Guidelines_on_Race_Reporting.pdf