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'Fear goes a long way in explaining Europe’s approach to north Africa and the Middle East. Whereas in Ukraine, fear has translated as excessive caution and restraint, when it comes to countries in the southern Mediterranean and Africa, fear equals abdicating on foreign policy altogether. Europe is not just scared of these countries, it is literally terrified. Europe’s ageing population should lead to a rational and self-interested debate on fostering legal migration, but instead fear explains the current scramble for unethical deals that pay cash to countries in the region in return for their pledges to stop migration to Europe. The EU’s recent deals with regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, Mauritania and Lebanon are testament to this. To be clear: the past was not perfect. As Democratic Republic of the Congo president Félix Tshisekedi bluntly put it in a recent interview, African leaders have long tired of western democracies’ lecturing and arrogance and are happier to work with Russia and China.
Moreover, behind Europe’s talk of justice and honesty always lay crude material interests. The obsession with stopping migration while negotiating unfair trade and natural resource extraction deals is not new. And with every crisis, Europe’s selfishness and double standards have been confirmed: just think about the west’s vaccine-hoarding during the pandemic or the vastly insufficient climate finance channelled to Africa.
But at least in the past, even though it was insufficient and incoherent, there was an ambition to exert influence and to help the continent through foreign and development policies. Now policy boils down to a crude transactionalism, where European countries and EU institutions engage with African counterparts as if they were CEOs signing business deals. The “money for (no) migrants” approach is not foreign policy. It’s the abdication of foreign policy.
Fear is even more striking in the Middle East, and especially in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. No single reason explains why European governments choose not to exert influence, while potentially having plenty. The EU has long been a major trade partner for Israel, and after the US, Germany is Israel’s largest military supplier. The EU is also the Palestinians’ biggest aid donor. Yet never has there been the slightest hint at using these levers. Once again, fear steps in. Fear, in this case, of Israel’s accusations of antisemitism plays a huge role. These accusations have now been distorted and expanded in many cases to include any criticism of Israel or expression of anti-Zionism.'
"They break our legs and tell us to be grateful when they offer us crutches."
Despite the need (as the article points out) for immigrant workers - see the health and care industries, for example - there is a terrible fear among the electorate that "their culture" will be overwhelmed by that of incomers. This despite the fact that said culture has already been amended over hundreds of years by influences from outside. From food to art to religion to music. Quite a bit of it from the very parts of the world whence they now fear immigration.
Or the aspect of crime. When immigrant communities are kept in relative poverty and semi-excluded from the rest of society (e.g. ghettoisation of North Africans in France), then the only route to prosperity is outside the law. Fuelled by the demand for things like drugs among the native population. It's like the Middle Ages where people needed to borrow money, left it to the outcast Jews, then persecuted them for it.
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 09:10 - May 14 by Guthrum
All looks pretty standard.
Despite the need (as the article points out) for immigrant workers - see the health and care industries, for example - there is a terrible fear among the electorate that "their culture" will be overwhelmed by that of incomers. This despite the fact that said culture has already been amended over hundreds of years by influences from outside. From food to art to religion to music. Quite a bit of it from the very parts of the world whence they now fear immigration.
Or the aspect of crime. When immigrant communities are kept in relative poverty and semi-excluded from the rest of society (e.g. ghettoisation of North Africans in France), then the only route to prosperity is outside the law. Fuelled by the demand for things like drugs among the native population. It's like the Middle Ages where people needed to borrow money, left it to the outcast Jews, then persecuted them for it.
While acting in the interest of big business....
"The obsession with stopping migration while negotiating unfair trade and natural resource extraction deals is not new."
"They break our legs and tell us to be grateful when they offer us crutches."
i'm not sure the uk can really be accused of not fostering legal migration.
And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops low over the unsuspecting tourist of destiny, and the flatulent skunk of fate wanders into the air-conditioning system of eternity, I notice it's the end of the show
1
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 09:59 - May 14 with 1297 views
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 09:59 - May 14 by giant_stow
So Brexit has coincided with increased migration? No problem with me - we need the workers, but I wonder how Brexiteers feel about that?
indeed. a big shift in the pattern post 2016
And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops low over the unsuspecting tourist of destiny, and the flatulent skunk of fate wanders into the air-conditioning system of eternity, I notice it's the end of the show
0
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 10:28 - May 14 with 1173 views
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 09:59 - May 14 by giant_stow
So Brexit has coincided with increased migration? No problem with me - we need the workers, but I wonder how Brexiteers feel about that?
Brexit wasn't about stopping immigration, it was about having agency to decide for ourselves. I agree with that concept even though I think the result is worse and I voted remain pragmatically although, morally I'm the brexit side of things.
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Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 10:37 - May 14 with 1147 views
Immigration isn't a problem it is the scale of immigration. The thing is that there are a lot of difficulties for people to integrate when they come from another country and culture and probably another language. Another problem not much talked about is internal migration which added to mass immigration all leads to transiency and unsettled communities and less trust and probably more crime as well. Believe it or not, British (English) culture has a lot that is worthwhile holding on to. Certain beliefs are not compatible with the live and let live attitude of the British, which will probably be the end of our culture as we are consumed by more assertive cultures. The food in the UK is pretty decent now that we have Indian, Thai, Japanese, and Mexican food to add to fish and chips and scones.
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Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 11:38 - May 14 with 1074 views
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 09:59 - May 14 by giant_stow
So Brexit has coincided with increased migration? No problem with me - we need the workers, but I wonder how Brexiteers feel about that?
It's partly beacuse a lot of EU citizens have gone and been replaced by immigrant workers from Asia and Africa. From personal experience and that of friends who work in those sectors, most notably in care and health.
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 11:38 - May 14 by Guthrum
It's partly beacuse a lot of EU citizens have gone and been replaced by immigrant workers from Asia and Africa. From personal experience and that of friends who work in those sectors, most notably in care and health.
this is indeed the case:
but most migrants aren't here primarily to work:
And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops low over the unsuspecting tourist of destiny, and the flatulent skunk of fate wanders into the air-conditioning system of eternity, I notice it's the end of the show
0
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 13:09 - May 14 with 952 views
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 10:37 - May 14 by Europablue
Immigration isn't a problem it is the scale of immigration. The thing is that there are a lot of difficulties for people to integrate when they come from another country and culture and probably another language. Another problem not much talked about is internal migration which added to mass immigration all leads to transiency and unsettled communities and less trust and probably more crime as well. Believe it or not, British (English) culture has a lot that is worthwhile holding on to. Certain beliefs are not compatible with the live and let live attitude of the British, which will probably be the end of our culture as we are consumed by more assertive cultures. The food in the UK is pretty decent now that we have Indian, Thai, Japanese, and Mexican food to add to fish and chips and scones.
'Scunge, which is real negligee housework in a swimsuit, pyjamas worn all day, is holiday, is freedom from ambition. Scunge makes you invisible to the world and yourself.
The entropy of costume, scunge can get you conquered by more vigorous cultures and help you notice it less.'
from 'The Dream of Wearing Shorts Forever' by Les Murray
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 10:28 - May 14 by Europablue
Brexit wasn't about stopping immigration, it was about having agency to decide for ourselves. I agree with that concept even though I think the result is worse and I voted remain pragmatically although, morally I'm the brexit side of things.
We always could decide for ourselves.
If you’re a non-EU national looking to move to an EU country for work, study or to join a family member, you may be entitled to certain rights under EU immigration rules. The EU and EU countries share competences in this area, but it’s up to each EU country to take the final decision on individual migrant applications. In areas where no EU rules have been adopted, EU countries can also set the conditions on obtaining residence and work permits in their country.
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Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 13:19 - May 14 with 888 views
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 13:09 - May 14 by WeWereZombies
'Scunge, which is real negligee housework in a swimsuit, pyjamas worn all day, is holiday, is freedom from ambition. Scunge makes you invisible to the world and yourself.
The entropy of costume, scunge can get you conquered by more vigorous cultures and help you notice it less.'
from 'The Dream of Wearing Shorts Forever' by Les Murray
oh lovely, australian poetry. what does scunge mean here?
And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops low over the unsuspecting tourist of destiny, and the flatulent skunk of fate wanders into the air-conditioning system of eternity, I notice it's the end of the show
0
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 13:33 - May 14 with 837 views
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 13:33 - May 14 by Guthrum
Our universities rely on overseas students for income. Plus all the foreign children being sent to the UK's public schools.
I would add dependents and families to those coming here for work. Is it really fair to separate husbands, wives and children?
all of that is true. but the proportion of migrants who come to directly fill job vacancies is very low. migration isn't primarily a labour market phenomena.
And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops low over the unsuspecting tourist of destiny, and the flatulent skunk of fate wanders into the air-conditioning system of eternity, I notice it's the end of the show
0
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 14:03 - May 14 with 734 views
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 14:03 - May 14 by WeWereZombies
Downsizing...
thanks. you know those people who have to have jokes explained to them. i'm like that with poetry.
[Post edited 14 May 14:11]
And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops low over the unsuspecting tourist of destiny, and the flatulent skunk of fate wanders into the air-conditioning system of eternity, I notice it's the end of the show
0
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 14:21 - May 14 with 666 views
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 14:10 - May 14 by lowhouseblue
thanks. you know those people who have to have jokes explained to them. i'm like that with poetry.
[Post edited 14 May 14:11]
EuropaBlue's post had a line about other cultures subsuming an English one (whatever that is, ask a hundred people and you will get a hundred different answers I suspect.) I doubt that will happen any time soon but it reminded me of my favourite poem (and one that changed my life,) by the very best, until his death a few years ago, poet in the English language today (in much the same paradoxical way that no one can hold a light to Irish born Edna O'Brien when it comes to writing novels or Jamaican Bob Marley when it comes to writing songs.)
It just occurred to me (and 'what's occurring' is the best use of two English words and it takes the Welsh to realise that) English has a takeover like quality that spreads Englishness far and wide (even Rabbie Burns used English as much as he used Scots dialect and even more than he used Gaelic) which is remarkable for a language that, according to Melvyn Bragg in his 'Routes of English', would have been wiped out by the Normans but for the skullduggery of some monks at Peterborough Abbey. C'est la vie.
Edited the penultimate line to correct omission of 'been' between 'have' and 'wiped'.
Today's report from Guardian world.....The E.U. on 14:21 - May 14 by WeWereZombies
EuropaBlue's post had a line about other cultures subsuming an English one (whatever that is, ask a hundred people and you will get a hundred different answers I suspect.) I doubt that will happen any time soon but it reminded me of my favourite poem (and one that changed my life,) by the very best, until his death a few years ago, poet in the English language today (in much the same paradoxical way that no one can hold a light to Irish born Edna O'Brien when it comes to writing novels or Jamaican Bob Marley when it comes to writing songs.)
It just occurred to me (and 'what's occurring' is the best use of two English words and it takes the Welsh to realise that) English has a takeover like quality that spreads Englishness far and wide (even Rabbie Burns used English as much as he used Scots dialect and even more than he used Gaelic) which is remarkable for a language that, according to Melvyn Bragg in his 'Routes of English', would have been wiped out by the Normans but for the skullduggery of some monks at Peterborough Abbey. C'est la vie.
Edited the penultimate line to correct omission of 'been' between 'have' and 'wiped'.
[Post edited 14 May 14:34]
Everyone knows what British culture is supposed to be even if people aren't that good at defining it. We know what isn't supposed to be British culture. Who would want to live in a world where everywhere is basically the same? The race of the people in the country really doesn't matter, but the great English traits that English people have had for centuries should be retained and iterated on. What makes me think people are English is their accent.
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