During these trying times of coronavirus, we need to make sure there is no return to the order of things before the pandemic hits us. A quote by Bertolt Brecht 1898-1956 offers us a social road map. Will we finally make the world a better place for all of us on this planet? We can…
Month: March 2020
Institute of Race Relations: Asylum in the time of COVID-19
by John Grayson The appalling, overcrowded, unhygienic housing offered to some asylum seekers and their young children is putting them at especial risk of Covid-19. A refusal of insanitary accommodation leads to threats of homelessness. John Grayson of South Yorkshire Migration & Asylum Action Group investigates the reality in Leeds, Halifax and Wakefield. Helen ‘I don’t…
How is coronavirus impacting the Asian community of Finland?
It’s highly probable that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had a racist knock-on effect against Asians and other visible migrants and minorities. While this may be the case, the question is, why is it underreported or hardly ever mentioned by the media? A story in Helsingin Sanomat, dated February 7, interviews a Chinese national: “People use…
A $2.2-trillion rescue package to perpetuate social inequality, fat cats, and wars
Even if we humans are resilient, the coronavirus has exposed the same problems that brought us to this situation in the first place. Instead of investing trillions of dollars in defense or attack spending and servility to the economy and stock markets, why haven’t we paid enough attention to health care, environmental disasters that brought…
Chiara Costa Virtanen: Gender-based violence in Finland through the eyes of the immigrant women community
By Chiara Costa Virtanen Due to the Coronavirus spread throughout Europe, people are required to stay home in safe. Same in Finland, where also the hashtag #stayhome is in trend. Unfortunately, for many women, home doesn’t mean safety. On the contrary. According to a 2012 study by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA),…
Un golpe de estado hace 44 años que cambió nuestras vidas para siempre
Hoy, el 24 de marzo, hace 44 años que la Argentina vivió su pesadilla más larga después de un golpe de estado que cambió el país para siempre, pero que nos dió también una promesa: ¡nunca más! Uno de los héroes de la guerra sucia (1976-83) fueron, indudablemente, los padres y familiares que sufrieron la…
Facebook Danilo Canguçu: Racism on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Migrant Tales insight: I got in touch with Danilo Canguçu, whom I thanked for bringing to public attention what had happened after being harassed in a racist manner. He did the right thing, and others should follow his example. Since public authorities too often only offer lip service instead of action in fighting racist abuse,…
Twitter FRA director Michael O’Flaherty: Coronavirus is also a human rights question
Now, as far-right parties aim to capitalize on the coronavirus with the help of fake news, we must stay vigilant to challenge their sinister and selfish aims. We saw this happen in Finland on Yle’s A-talk when Perussuomalaiset* MP Riikka Purra claimed that a hospital was washing and using disposable equipment. “I have received information from a hospital…
NoHateFinland: Rashid and Sobia commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
On this date of March 21, 1960, the police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire on a group of peaceful protestors demonstrating against that country’s apartheid laws. In commemoration of the 69 people that were killed on that day, the United Nations called on in 1966 the international community to intensify its efforts to banish…
PS MP Purra is as phony as the fake news she maliciously spreads
Populists like Perussuomalaiset MP Riikka Purra are desperate for attention in the face of the coronavirus pandemic because fewer are interested in their Islamophobia broken record. MP Purra, who is also the PS’ first vice president, pulled a fast one on Yle’s A-talk by stating that she has doubts about Finland’s health infrastructure. “I have…