One of the matters one learns after answering thousands of comments on Migrant Tales and posting near daily on this humble site is the language and arguments used by anti-immigration groups, which are openly against a Finland that is international, multicultural and open. By multicultural I mean treating everyone in this country, irrespective of their background, with…
Month: May 2014
European Network Against Racism first hate speech report
In March, the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) and European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe) launched an Appeal for an election campaign free from discrimination and intolerance, urging European parties to condemn discriminatory or intolerant remarks during the European Parliament election campaign. An online form was launched, enabling…
Announcement: Aalto University Student Union’s debate on the future of Europe Thursday 5pm-7pm
Event: Aalto University Student Union’s (AYY) EU debate: The Grand Debate on the Future of Europe Time: Thursday, 8 May 2014, 5pm–7pm. Come and meet the representatives of political parties at Design Factory before the debate from 4pm onwards. Location: Aalto Design Factory (Betonimiehenkuja 5, Otaniemi Espoo)Social media: #EUdebate You may wish to also share…
Are politicians like Jussi Halla-aho and parties like the PS racist?
Jay Smooth offered in early March some good points on how to spot a racist by sticking to the that-sounded-racist conversation as opposed to they-are-racist conversation. The former conversation allows you to focus on what the person said and why what they said is unacceptable. The other one will take your focus away from the issue. Keeping…
Sune Kymäläinen: How some politicians try to capitalize on anti-Russian sentiment in Finland
MPs throughout Europe are opportunistically using the xenophobia card to boost their chances of getting reelected. This is the case of Suna Kymäläinen, a Social Democrat (SDP), who is eyeing the April 2015 parliamentary elections in Finland. Read full story (in Finnish) here. Kymäläinen is a sad example of how politicians who don’t belong to anti-immigration…
Announcement: 1001Nights | UK tour 2014
TOMORROW NIGHT I SHALL TELL YOU SOMETHING STRANGER AND EVEN MORE AMAZING… A FAMILY SHOW FOR AGES 6+ 1001 Nights collects together some of the greatest folk tales ever told. Here they are re-imagined by Shahrazad – a lively young girl who, torn between her old home in the East and her new life in Britain,…
YLE: Finnish schools do too little to address racial harassment
A news story on YLE by students claims that little to no action is taken at schools to address racial harassment. At the beginning the teacher may take an interest in racist bullying but then interest wanes, according to the story. Migrant Tales has published some personal accounts about racial harassment at Finnish schools. One common characteristic that groups…