If you are in Helsinki and near Caisa, go an see my photo exhibition.
Author: Migrant Tales
Valokuvanäyttely: “Toiveeni – niin kaukana, niin lähellä” (4.3-20.4)
Jos olet Helsingissä ja lähellä Caisaa, voit tutustua minun valokuvanäyttelyn.
What opinion polls tell us about Finland and anti-immigration
By Enrique Tessieri
A lot of people are scratching their heads at the stellar rise of the True Finns in the polls. Even though we have to wait for the ballot boxes to have their final say in April, certainly the polls and the success of the True Finns tell us something about where Finland is at this moment and where it is heading.
According to a poll published by Helsingin Sanomat on February 17, the popularity of the True Finns now stands at 17.9%, which is the same as the Social Democrats and close behind the Center Party (18.2%) and Kokoomus (20.2%). A supporter of the True Finns told me candidly that everyone in his party is lying low to not say or do anything that would put in jeopardy their popularity.
Even though the head of the True Finns, Timo Soini, claims that anti-immigration only accounts for 10% of the party’s supporters, some believe that immigration is one of the key driving forces behind its popularity.
In Sweden, were the far-right Sweden Democrats got 5.7% of the votes, immigrants make up 14.3% of the population. Contrarily in Finland, our immigrant population totals 2.9%. Alexis Kouros correctly asks in his column in Magma if these figures are out of proportion when compared with Sweden and the support that other anti-immigration parties have elsewhere in Europe.
Any historian and person who lived during the 1930s in Finland can tell you that one characteristic of our society back then was fear of foreigners and the outside world, especially the former Soviet Union.
The True Finns’ rising popularity and anti-immigration sentiment in Finland may reveal that we have not yet begun as a society to deal seriously and effectively with issues such as immigration, racism and exclusion. Even though sensible Finns may give their thumbs down to racism, it does not mean that political parties like Kokoomus and others have an effective strategy to combat such a social ill. We are still novices on this front.
Moreover, our geography and long geopolitical isolation from Western Europe during the cold war never gave us a chance to study deeper what happened during the Continuation War (1941-44) and what it meant to be a cobelligerant (the official term) of Nazi Germany. That question, in my opinion, has never been answered properly by Finnish historians.
Many of the concepts about ethnic groups and nationalities were never openly questioned because our country’s isolation never gave cause to challenge these views after the war. But how can you debate immigration, racism and stereotypes if there were hardly any foreigners living in Finland at the time?
Today we have that opportunity thanks to the rise of our immigrant population. We are now facing what other societies have gone or are going through: asking questions about our ever-growing cultural diversity and what it means in larger context. The questions that are being asked may vary from Armageddon-type threats to Finnish culture to sensible ones that look at it with a cool head.
The rise of the True Finns in the polls reveals, in my opinion, that that debate is now going on in earnest.
Kate Lundy: Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Bowen – Multiculturalism in the Australian Context
Comment: There are officially three countries (Canada, Australia and Britain) in the world that have a multicultural social policy in force. Multiculturalism as a social policy was officially established in the 1980s in Canada.
One of the mistakes that critics make about multiculturalism is that it’s the same in every country. Below is a speech by minister of immigration and citizenship, Chris Bowen, highlighting Australian multiculturalism.
When I read it I felt that I was in another world when compared with Finland and Europe.
One matter that shines through in the speech are two key factors that allow societies to reap benefits from their cultural diversity: inclusion and mutual respect.
Do you agree?
___________
Speech to the Sydney Institute
Less than a month ago, millions of Australians celebrated our national day. Among the most enthusiastic participants were our newest Australian citizens. Thirteen thousand people – from every corner of the globe – passionately and enthusiastically took the pledge of commitment to this nation.
To keep on reading click here.
I found this link thanks to @spectrumvic
Finnish voters deserve better
By Enrique Tessieri
The opportunity to make political capital out of immigrants, refugees and asylum-seeker has proven irresistible to some politicians ranging from the True Finns to Social Democrats. Certainly on this list you will find politicians from all of Finland’s major and minor parties.
It’s pretty clear that the election in April will be dominated by immigration and refugees. The answer is simple: immigrants and refugees are easy targets and they awaken voters’ passions even if 2.9% of the population in Finland are foreigners.
A recent review of Milla Hannula’s book, Maassa maan tavalla, by Helsingin Sanomat blasts her arguments to pieces and with it the central argument of the so-called “immigration critics.” The daily states, correctly, that being an “immigration critic” is only a word hiding anti-immigration sentiment attempting to make xenophobia acceptable.
We at Migrant Tales had spotted the red herring of the “immigration critics” a long time ago.
It is sad but never in the history of Finland have so many politicians jumped on the “immigration critic” bandwagon and appealed to the worst in Finns: blatant racism and hatred of people in need.
When the True Finns’ bubble bursts there will be a lot of angry voters because they will have noted that they have been taken for a ride.
It will be the day when these so-called “immigration critics” will lose face among the voters for good.
Pekka Siikala: Three types of immigration critics in Finland
By Enrique Tessieri
Pekka Siikala is a blogger of the Green Party who writes stinging commentary about anti-immigration groups in Finland. In his latest blog on Uusi Suomi, Three type of immigration critics (Kolmen sortin maahanmuuttokriitikoita), is no exception.
(I personally don’t use the term “immigration critic” because it is a red herring that hides the true nature of the beast: anti-immigration and Islamophobia in the most extreme cases. Click here to get a better explanation in Finnish.)
The most visible of the three groups cited by Siikala are the ones that see religion as the key issue. This groups, led by Jussi Halla-aho and James Hirvisaari, hate Islam and in practice Somalis. He considers this group to be the most dangerous to Finland because it is made up of religious fanatics.
The second group comprises of those that simply fear foreigners. Their main argument hinges on skin color and dress. Like the first group, this one is also highly suspicious of Muslims and Somalis. Their favorite motto is “conform to our country or leave.”
The third group is worried about the chances of immigrants adapting to Finland. They are critical about immigrants moving to our country because they believe that we do not have the resources to integrate them in our society. This group is less visible and the smallest of the three mentioned by Siikala.
In my opinion, there are two big groups concerning those that take part in the immigration debate: those who see immigration as beneficial/positive and those that see it as a threat/negative. The arguments that ensue from these two views are only “background information” supporting the former or latter group’s stance directly or indirectly.
Do you agree?
Etelä-Suomen Sanomat: Ulkomaalaisten rikokset kuohuttavat
Comment: Here is an interesting story about crime and immigrants. Human rights activist and lawyer, Hussein Muhammed, gives his take on the problem. One of the big issues whenever an immigrant commits a crime is that the whole groups is labelled.
One way of lowering crime would be a more effective family reunification policy, which Finland wants to tighten.
Do you agree?
___________
Maahanmuuttajilla on täysi syy vastustaa rikoksia, koska yhden ulkomaalaisen syyllistyminen lainvastaisuuksiin voi leimata kaikki muutkin, arvioi ihmisoikeusaktivisti ja lakimies Husein Muhammed.
To keep on reading story click here.
Dear Anti-Immigration groups
By Enrique Tessieri
My great-grandfather was a refugee from Italy. I admire and respect him so much that I gave one of my sons his first name. I have lived in many countries as an immigrant and I am proud of this as well.
Moreover, over a million Finns left this country to other parts of the world. I raise my hat to them for their courage and ambition.
I was born in Argentina, one of the first nations in the world that opened its doors to immigration in the mid-1850s. I grew up in California, where I saw great changes take place during the civil rights movement thanks to Martin Luther King.
In Finland I heard from my grandparents and mother how a country with little resources held its own against a ruthless neighbor.
I think I know a little about what it means to be an immigrant. One thing I and millions of others do not deserve are your insults and ignorance fanned by the flames of hatred.
Do not throw dirt on our names, please.
We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are (Anais Niin).
Tunisia and Egypt are a blow to Islamophobia
By Enrique Tessieri
The joy and the historic day celebrated this evening in Egypt after the resignation of Hosni Mubarak can be felt everywhere. The emancipation of the Egyptians, after thirty years of rule by an autocratic and corrupt regime supported by the West, is contagious and will certainly spread to other parts of the region. People power in the Arab world will also be a long-term blow to the pet topic of far-right parties: Islam.
Building a country from the rubbles of a corrupt and autocratic regime will not be easy. But if the Egyptians, Tunisians and other countries succeed in the region it will not only bolster their national self-esteem but win further admiration of the Europeans and people throughout the world.
Like Latin America in the Cold War, the US and the West has had the same goal in the Arab world: Have a key say in the internal affairs and control vital resources.
The biggest losers to democracy in the region will be the Islamophobic far-right parties of Europe and radical Islam. It will also force Israelis to rethink their relationship with their neighbors.
BBC: Do Denmark’s immigration laws breach human rights?
Comment: Denmark has tightened its immigration and integration laws an umpteenth time, according to the BBC. The Danish case is a cause for concern since it may involve a breach in human rights and EU laws. The political power balance is held by the far-right Danish People’s Party, who have voted for legislation in return that the government tightens immigration laws.
The question to ask about Denmark is what is the end-game? Will immigrants embrace Danish society when the country’s laws are hostile to this group of people? Does it promote inclusion? Does it create the groundwork for a new healthy generation of Danes of different ethnic backgrounds?
If you asked DPP’s Pia Kjaersgaard she’d probably tell you to go fly a kite.
Two important matters are at play with respect to the rise of far-right parties in Europe: the so-called war on terror waged by former President George W. Bush after 9/11 and the financial meltdown of September 2008.
Some see strong anti-immigration sentiment in Denmark as a blow to the country’s image. Can we speak of Denmark being a liberal, enlightened Nordic welfare state? Probably the correct description would be reactive, far-right and populist at least when it comes to immigration.
Do you agree?
___________
By Chris Bowlby, BBC Radio 4
Critics of Denmark’s tightening rules on immigration and integration say the country is violating European norms, including human rights legislation. How much has Denmark’s approach to these issues been transformed under pressure from a right-wing populist party?
To keep on reading click here.