Tag: Immigration to Finland

Twitter (Veikko Vallin): A racist lesson on types of migrants

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Islamophobic Perussuomalaiset (PS)* MP Veikko Vallin gives us a lesson in racism by definIslamophobic Perussuomalaiset (PS)* MP Veikko Vallin teaches us racism by defining “harmful” and beneficial migration. Vallin, who likes being called the Tampere’s Trump and boasts about how he places his money in Estonia from the Finnish tax person, bases his political program on hatred for asylum seekers, especially Muslims.

The PS is the only party in parliament that labels migrants as “harmful.”

Vallin is the last person you should listen to concerning ethnic relations.

He Tweets:

“The difference between harmful and beneficial migration? Harmful migration is a drain on the public sector, while beneficial migration generates tax revenues. Among others, beneficial migrants find employment as gardeners.”

What is wrong with this tweet?

It is racist because it generalizes and debates migration as a simple, 1 + 1 = 2 phenomenon.

Continue reading “Twitter (Veikko Vallin): A racist lesson on types of migrants”

Family reunification: Interior Ministry calls for comments

Posted on by JusticeDemon

The Finnish Ministry of the Interior recently published a working group report on the present state of family reunification of refugees and displaced persons in Finland. This report seeks to clarify the background to family reunification and to examine the prospects for amending the associated regulations.

The report was prepared in response to the programme of the Katainen government, which envisages harmonisation of family reunification practices in Finland with those of the other Nordic countries. The working group was an internal committee of civil servants from the Ministry’s Immigration Department.

There is nothing objectionable in principle about a closed ministerial committee preparing a preliminary factual review. However, this report also includes one very important “proposal” that is, to all intents and purposes, a policy recommendation. This is described in the abstract as follows:

Selvityksessä ehdotetaan, että asetetaan hanke ulkomaalaislain perhesidelupia koskevien säännösten muuttamiseksi tavoitteena Suomessa jo käytössä olevan toimeentuloedellytyksen laajentaminen koskemaan myös humanitaarista suojelua saavien perheen yhdistämistilanteita.

“The report proposes a project to amend the provisions of the Aliens Act governing permits issued on family grounds, with a view to extending the income condition already applied in Finland to include reunification of the families of recipients of humanitarian protection.”

This would scrap the exemption that humanitarian immigrants currently enjoy from the income condition that otherwise governs family reunification.

It is interesting that this exemption would nevertheless continue to apply to the families of citizens of Finland and other Nordic countries.

In concrete terms, and applying current rates, this means that a person displaced by civil war, for example, would have to demonstrate a net monthly income of EUR 1,530 to bring a spouse to Finland plus a further EUR 450 for each additional child. The national average monthly wage in Finland is currently just over EUR 3,000 before taxes and contributions.

The Interior Ministry has requested comments on the report by no later than 6 July 2012.

YLE in English: Immigration rules to be tightened

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Comment: Am I surprised? No way. Christian Democrat Minister Päivi Räsänen was chosen to head the interior ministry after the right-wing populist Perussuomalaiset (PS) party won an impressive election victory on April 17. If her views on homosexuality are applied to immigration, it suggests that matters will get worse for the immigrant community before they improve. 

Tightening immigration policy and making family reunification more difficult is another example of how the PS is breathing down the neck of the government. 

Reports YLE: “At present, the large number of applications for immigrant status under the rules of family reunification has led to a backlog in processing. Officials have around 10,000 applications on file, most from Somalis.”

The key word in the paragraph above is “Somalis.” Finnish immigration authorities are speculated to be doing everything possible to hinder family reunification especially from countries like Somalia. 

A plan to tighten immigration policy reveals as well that the government, like most of Finland, is still pretty much in the dark about what immigration is and what should its role be in this country. 

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Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen has told the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat that she considers Finland’s practice in the reunification of the families of immigrants to be less strict than that of other countries. She added that while a review of immigration has only started, Finland will be imposing tougher criteria.

Read whole story.

MailOnline: Why there is a cost to curbing immigration?

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Comment: Here is an interesting column by Jonathan Portes that speaks of a rethink by PM David Cameron on immigration curbs. limiting skilled migration from outside of the EU can be costly. According to the government’s own assessment, the cost to the economy could perhaps total  £2-4billion by the end of the Parliament.

He continues: “Immigration benefits the British economy. Skilled immigration is particularly beneficial, but lots of evidence suggest that immigration overall – including that from the new members of the European Union – is good for the economy.”

One of the biggest mistakes that some Finns are making is that they believe that immigration is a threat.  Those who see immigration as unbeneficial to society like to  point out the problems of cultural diversity. They believe that while their society is never perfect, immigration and immigrants should be problem-free members of society.

Immigrants, like so-called natives, are humans and never perfect. Even so, immigration is a power social force that drives economies and societies ahead.

Do you agree?

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By Jonathan Portes

(UK Prime Minister) David Cameron said recently: ‘We are taking on the enemies of enterprise. The bureaucrats in government departments who concoct those ridiculous rules and regulations that make life impossible.’ And last month we had a ‘Budget for Growth’.

The keep on reading click here. 

Talouselämä: Suurin osa maahanmuuttajista on suomalaisia

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Comment: Here is a story in the business weekly Talouselemä that reveals that one third, or the biggest group of immigrants that moved to Finland in 2000-08, were none other than Finnish expatriates. This sounds a bit like in early 1980 when the biggest group of “foreigners” living in the country were Finns who had Swedish citizenship.

If this is true, what are anti-immigration parties like the True Finns and groups like Hommaforum talking about if the biggest group of “foreigners” that moved to this country were their own countrymen and women?

It’s pretty incredible that the immigration issue has not surfaced in any of the recent YLE election debates. Is it such a hot potato that YLE has preferred not to bring it up?

The April 17 election has shown that a part of Finland is seriously challenged when it comes to relating to cultural diversity, immigrants and immigration. Some of them even go as far as claiming that they are indigenous and that immigrants are colonlizing their land.

This type of extremism and xenophobia has a lot to do with Finland being a shut society during most of the cold war. Anti-immigration and Islamophobic groups want to take Finland back to the time when the shadow of the Soviet Union hung deep over this land.

Do you agree?

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Hanna Rajalahti

Perussuomalaisten suosio mielipidemittauksissa on houkutellut vaalien alla päivänvaloon kaikenlaisia kansalliskiihkoilevia porukoita.

To keep on reading click here.

Success stories of immigrants in Finland

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Migrant Tales would be interested in publishing cases of immigrants and refugees that have succeeded and adapted well to Finland. There are many cases out there and we’d like to hear your story. Why? Because your example would take steam off anti-immigrant parties like the True Finns, which are responsible for giving immigrants and refugees a bad name.

Your story can be published anonymously or with your name.  One of my friends that comes to mind is a restaurant owner who works 15 hours a day seven days a week!  When some Finns unfairly accuse immigrants of being lazy, I would like them to hear this person’s story and the long hours he works.

Please send your story to [email protected]. Please specify if you want to appear anonymously or with your name.

 

YLE Turku: Malttia maahanmuuttokeskusteluun

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Comment: Here is an interesting story in Yle Turku where Ismo Söderling, the head of the Migration Institute, recommends that parties in Finland should not inflame debate on immigration to new heights as the April election nears. He suggests that all of the parties should meet and discuss in earnest the challenges our aging population and immigration pose on the country.

What do you think?

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Turussa toimivan Siirtolaisuusinstituutin johtaja Ismo Söderling toivoo, että puolueet välttäisivät kärjistyksiä siirtolaisuuskysymyksissä tulevien eduskuntavaalien alla. Puolueiden johtohenkilöiden olisi hyvä pitää pienimuotoinen Korpilampi-tapaaminen, jossa keskusteltaisiin avoimesti Suomen tulevista väestö- ja maahanmuuttohaasteista, ehdottaa Söderling.

Hän varoittaa Suomea kopioimasta Ruotsin menettelyä, jossa perinteiset isot puolueet kieltäytyivät etukäteen tekemästä vaalien jälkeen yhteistyötä maahanmuuttokriittisen puolueen kanssa.

– Kaikilla parlamenttiin valituilla puolueilla on oltava osallistumismahdollisuus yhteisiin asioihin. Jos esimerkiksi perussuomalaiset keräävät yli 10 prosentin äänipotin, niin heidän eristämisensä vain lisää katkeruutta ja pahaa mieltä. Nämä äänenpainot on saatava mukaan yhteiskunnalliseen päätöksentekoon, sanoo Söderling.

Turun buddhalaistemppelin tuhopoltto huolestuttaa

Söderlingin mielestä syyskuussa Turussa tapahtunut buddhalaistemppelin tuhopoltto oli huolestuttava signaali siitä, että Ruotsissa jo yleistynyt muukalaisvastaisuus saattaa levitä myös Suomeen.

– Me suomalaisetkin olemme rakentaneet esimerkiksi Amerikan mantereelle työväentaloja, raittiustaloja ja kirkkoja. Ne olivat paikkoja, joissa siirtolaiset tapasivat toisiaan. Ei tällaisissa Turun buddhalaistemppeleiden tapaisissa rakennuksissa ole tämän kummemmasta kyse, Söderling painottaa.

Suomi on löydetty

Söderling muistuttaa, että Suomi tarvitsee enenevässä määrin siirtolaisia. Heitä on jo 200 000 ja lisää tulee.

– Me tarvitsemme lisää siirtolaisia ensi vuosikymmenellä. Vielä kymmenen vuotta me pärjäämme, mutta kun nykyisestä hoivahenkilökunnastakin iso prosentti eläköityy seuraavalla vuosikymmenellä, niin kuka tämän vanhusväestön hoitaa, pohtii Söderling.

Korpilammen henkeä tarvitaan

Söderling perää Suomeen tässä tilanteessa 1970-luvun Korpilammen kokouksen kaltaista keskustelutilaisuutta. Vuonna 1977 tämä seminaari luotsasi Suomea selviämään ensimmäisen öljykriisin aiheuttamasta talousahdingosta. Yhteisen sävelen löytyminen siivitti Suomen 1980-luvun taloudellista nousua.

– Maahanmuuttoon liittyvät työllistämiskysymykset. Suosimmeko työperäistä muuttoa? Meillä on eduskunnassa käsittelyssä uusi kotouttamislaki. Se on aika haasteellinen, koska kunnille tulee uusia vaateita, mutta ei uusia resursseja. Meneekö se läpi esitetyssä muodossa? Kyllä seminaarille aiheita piisaa, luettelee Söderling.

– Jos tällaisessa kokouskutsussa olisi rauhannobelisti, presidentti Martti Ahtisaaren, ulkoministeri Aleksander Stubbin, pääministeri Mari Kiviniemen ja vaikkapa vuoden pakolaisnaisen Nasima Razmyarin allekirjoitukset, niin kutsu kannattaisi ottaa tosissaan, päätää Söderling.

YLE Turku

Hymy: Maahanmuuttoministeri Thors: ”Pohjois-Karjala tarvitsee maahanmuuttajia!”

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Comment: Here is an interesting story in Hymy magazine where minister of European and migration affairs, Astrid Thors, encourages the region of Pohjois-Karjala to attract immigration. Her statement is very positive: “Immigrants bring skills, new thoughts and ideas.”

As mentioned many times, the debate in Finland on immigrants and immigration is divided by two camps: those who see it as a threat or an opportunity. There are countless examples in history that show how immigration has been the latter.

The story is significant considering Pohjois-Karjala and especially the city of Joensuu have had the dubious honor of being the most racist place in the country.

Do you agree?

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Maahanmuuttoministeri Astrid Thors on antanut tammikuun Hymyyn räväkän haastattelun, jossa hän puolustaa – aivan työkseen – maahanmuuttoa.

-Maahanmuuttajat tuovat osaamista, uusia ajatuksia ja uusia ideoita. Ilman niitä ei teollisuuskaan voi kehittyä. Olemme täysin riippuvaisia vientikaupasta, sillä se tuo 40 prosenttia bruttokansantuotteestamme, Thors lausuu lehdessä.

-Jos emme saa enää maahanmuuttajia, meidän on opeteltava tekemän toisenlaisia töitä. Siinäkin mielessä, ettemme enää saa esimerkiksi bussinkuljettajia ja siivoajia. Suomalaisten on pidennettävä työuriaan, mutta se ei riitä, jos haluamme säilyttää elintasomme. Suuret ikäluokat eläköityvät. Maahanmuuttajia tarvitaan etenkin muuttotappiokuntiin, kuten vaikkapa Pohjois-Karjalan Nurmekseen. Pelkistäen voisi todeta, että ilman maahanmuttoa Suomi tulee näivettymään, laukoo Thors.

Freedom of expression and religion

Posted on by Migrant Tales

What does freedom of expression mean? For me it represents a Montesquieuian framework of society where all the parts watch over the other. These checks and balances are crucial to ensure that basic civil liberties enshrined in documents such as the UN Declaration of Human Rights are vigorously defended and encouraged.

Even though the law is pretty clear what ethnic incitement is, it is an important safeguard that won’t allow certain groups to go on a vigilante rampage against certain minorities.

Freedom of speech works in the same way in the United States but with a very big difference. US’ mosaic society, which comprises of many ethnicities, has learned to live in relative peace after the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

Europe is still light years away from the United States never mind Canada. All we have to do is open our history books and read about the horrors that took place in the former Yugoslavia, the racism that groups like the Roma suffer, and the Nazi Germany regime that over-dosed on its own madness.

Some Europeans still live so far back in time that they believe that diversity and innovation are threats.

The aforementioned are stark reminders of how Europe is still having a difficult time coexisting with minorities. That is one reason why the rise of far-right groups in Europe are a cause for concern.

Motives are another aspect that puts into question those ultra-right nationalistic groups. Are they really interested in defending everyone’s civil liberties if the first thing they would do if in power would be to put minority rights in cold storage? Can you trust a group that claims to defend civil rights with one hand and bashes certain minorities with another?

Do you set a good example for others to embrace your culture if the first thing that you show them is your loathing?

Any sensible person with a strong sense of justice and equality would not go around insulting and inciting other ethnic groups because they are different.

There are certain practical rules of conduct on how you behave when with members of the same groups or with those belonging to another culture. These rules only require common sense and are there because they facilitate peaceful coexistence.

Rule of thumb number one: Treat others like you would treat people in your own culture.

I personally believe that as our societies become more diverse we will find the right balance between what is appropriate and inappropriate. Such a balance will help us understand what the real meaning of freedom of expression means.

Thank the immigrants of Finland!

Posted on by Migrant Tales

While some parties like the anti-immigration True Finns boast that they are responsible for bringing the debate on immigration and refugees to the national spotlight, nothing could be further from the truth.

Those that have brought the issue to national attention are none other than immigrants and refugees of this country.

They if any have shown the weaknesses and the strong points about our society. In the process they have also revealed pleasant and unpleasant matters about ourselves like the role of racism.

Would there be such a big debate if only a handful of immigrants lived among our ranks?

Probably not.

The national debate on immigrants is nothing more than reaction to the ever-growing immigrant population and its future role in our aging nation.

Too many of those taking part in the national debate are busy reacting to immigration as opposed to taking proactive stances and asking how do we make it work.

If a country wants to be receptive to immigration it has to see it through many angles. Why would any sensible person want to move to a country that vilifies certain groups and has a schizopohrenic view of the outside world?

Thus some of us want to slam the door on Muslims but promote “good” immigraition to the country; we want Finland to be a springboard to the Russian market even though prejudice against Russians is a serious issue.

Handing Finland’s future immigration policy to groups like the True Finns or succumbing to a policy of fear to the outside world will be like shooting oneself in the leg.

These groups, and those that side with their cause, will be the ones that will end up creating those ghettos and social inequality that they claim to be defending us from.