The Migrant Tales blog gets emails from people who speak with hand on heart about the challenges they face as immigrants or Finnish with international backgrounds in our society. Here is one of these published in November 2009. The real name of the person has been changed. Here is a letter from Ida:
Tag: immigration
Irish Examiner: Anti-immigrant or racist political rhetoric ‘must not go unchecked’
An example needs to be made of politicians who make negative comments about immigrants if Ireland is to avoid going down a route of an “accepted rhetoric or racism”, Integration Ireland has warned.
Migrant Tales thanks you for your support in 2011 and wishes everyone a Happy New Year!
Thank you for your support in 2011. Migrant Tales wishes everyone one of its supporters lots of success and happiness in the New Year.
Thank you for making Migrant Tales that “voice for those whose views and situation are understood poorly and heard faintly by the media, politicians and public.” Much success in 2012!
Timo Soini: The beast behind the sugar-coated words
What does Perussuomalaiset (PS) party presidential hopeful, Timo Soini, really think about immigration and cultural diversity? A column he wrote in the latest Suomen Soini Presidentiksi [Soini for Finnish president] publication exposes what the leader of the PS thinks about such important issues.
Immigration laws reveal what kind of a society we are
Tell me what your immigration laws are and I will tell you what kind of society you live in. Show me how those laws defend minorities and encourage cultural diversity and I will show you hypocrisy.
Why did you come here? (4/4) “Enrique Tessieri: Am I a foreigner?”
It’s funny that I askedthis important question, “am I a foreigner” in Finland, sixteen years ago. What astounds me is that I am still asking this timely question: Do I belong here? Do you accept me for who I am?
guardian.co.uk: Far right on rise in Europe, says report
The far right is on the rise across Europe as a new generation of young, web-based supporters embrace hardline nationalist and anti-immigrant groups, a study has revealed ahead of a meeting of politicians and academics in Brussels to examine the phenomenon.
Turun Sanomat: Osa turvapaikanhakijoista maksaa salakuljetuksensa sosiaalituella
Osa Suomeen salakuljetetuista turvapaikanhakijoista maksaa matkansa sosiaalituellaan. Viranomaisilla on runsaasti viitteitä salakuljetuksen ostamisesta velaksi. –?Tutkimuksissa on selvinnyt, että rahamaksuja välitetään lähtömaihin. Heti kun turvapaikanhakija saa toimeentulotukea, hän lähettää säännöllisesti rahaa Western Unionin tai Forexin kautta kotimaahansa, Länsi-Suomen merivartioston rikostorjuntayksikön tutkinnanjohtaja Matti Hägerström kertoo.
Separating urban myths from facts in the Finnish immigration debate (Part 2)
Staying on the topic of urban myths, other ones that we could mention are: immigrants do not want to integrate, immigrants live off social welfare and are lazy. Politicians such as Angela Merkel and David Cameron reinforce these types of urban myths by pinning their failures on the integration front on immigrants.
Separating urban myths from facts in the Finnish immigration debate
To confirm whether anti-immigrant politicians are spreading urban myths or not, I recommend taking a look at the 2010 Finnish Immigration Service (FIS) annual report. What you may find may startle, even anger you.