Tag: Multiculturalism

Helsingin Sanomat’s mea culpa on immigration issues

Posted on by Migrant Tales

By Enrique Tessieri

Is lack of knowledge about living in a society with a small foreign population an excuse for poor and deficient coverage of Finland’s ever-growing immigrant population? The editor of Finland’s leading daily, Helsingin Sanomat, told Lahti-based Etelä-Suomen Sanomat that it has aimed to raise immigrant, racism and tolerance issues since society and the political atmosphere has changed in the country. 

Editor Riikka Venäläinen states that immigration is a relatively new phenomenon in Finland and therefore offered a sort of mea culpa. “…our job is to give background information, analysis and develop the story from a certain angle,” she said, “When that is done  on a tight schedule, it’s pretty certain that we are guilty of very short-sighted conclusions. I accept the criticism that has to do with reporting on immigration issues.”

I am surprised by Venäläinen’s comment. Don’t Helsingin Sanomat reporters ever travel abroad? Don’t they have foreign spouses? What about foreign correspondents?  Don’t they have any relatives who emigrated to countries like Sweden, Canada and the United States in the past 140-odd years? Haven’t they read our history?

Venäläinen’s admission sounds more like a poor excuse for doing a shoddy job. It reveals as well the lack of reporters with immigrant backgrounds covering such an important issue like cultural diversity in Finnish society. In a way it’s as if 99% men were reporters covering women’s rights issues.

But she does ask a good question at the end of the story whether the children of immigrants, who may speak perfect Finnish, should be called immigrants anymore.

Such a comment exposes, in my opinion, a bold statement by Helsingin Sanomat and how exclusive Finnish society is. How does Venäläinen think Finland could be a more inclusive society? Maybe that would be a good editorial that Helsingin Sanomat could write and show leadership.

Not all dailies in Finland appear to be as much in the dark about immigration and cultural diversity issues as Helsingin Sanomat. Some good examples are Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, Aamulehti, Kansan Uutiset  as well as others.

Writing about immigration is like reporting on any social issue that takes place in our society. The benchmarks are the same: inclusion, social justice, equality, fairness and acceptance.

These are values we should already know at elementary school.

Journalism and Blog Writing for Immigrants and Finns (March 2012)

Posted on by Migrant Tales

When? 22.-23.3.2012 & 29.-30.3.2012                                                                                                                                          Where? Otava Folk High School

Journalism and Blog Writing for Immigrants and Finns is a course designed for those who have an interest in journalism/blog writing and who speak English as a second language. The course offers the participant an opportunity to learn reporting and interviewing techniques as well as writing news stories, editorials, and columns. Another important part of the course is to study the role journalism plays in guaranteeing civil liberties such as freedom of expression and furthering acceptance of minorities such as immigrants.  

Journalism and Blog Writing for Immigrants and Finns -kurssi on tarkoitettu englantia toisena kielenä puhuville henkilöille, jotka ovat kiinnostuneita vaikuttamaan kirjoittamisen kautta. Kurssilla tutustutaan journalismin maailmaan ja menestyvän blogin rakentamiseen. Haastattelun rakenne, uutisjuttujen kirjoittaminen, pääkirjoitukset ja kolumnit ovat tärkeä osa kurssia. Kurssilla tarkastellaan eettisiä kysymyksiä ja sananvapauden roolia yhteiskunnassa. Opetuskieli kurssilla on englanti.

For further information click here.

 


If Finland is serious about stamping out racism…

Posted on by Migrant Tales

By Enrique Tessieri

If our society is a model of social justice for other countries to emulate, why would we tolerate discrimination and all types of racism? Which group are the biggest threat to our society: immigrants or anti-immigration groups?

Contrary to the far-right wing of the Perussuomalaiset (PS) party led by Jussi Halla-aho and his cronies, which claim that “multiculturalism” (a policy that permits Muslims and Africans from moving to this country) is one of the greatest threats to our society, I would claim that these types of groups pose the greatest threat to Finland.

Despite the spectacular rise of those that want to keep this country “white,” there are encouraging signs that we will not tolerate a society of hostile “us” against “enemy them.”

Even so, there are still out there too many groups, like the PS and others, who aim to create a society where immigrants do not have the same civil rights as the Finns.

It’s exactly these groups, and how they want to change our society, that is scary and what we should adamantly oppose.

Their picture of Finland is the following: Immigrants and minorities would be constantly under suspicion. Using the argument of “free speech,” these groups could say anything they wish and continue spreading outrageous urban myths. These myths would reinforce racism, prejudice and suspicion.

One will find these questionable views of Finnish society in the PS’ Nuiva manifesto.

The message coming from us should be clear: Finland is an open society for those who come here in good faith.  It is a successful and forward-looking society with a strong sense of social justice. These values are important if we want to stamp out racism, one of the biggest threats to Finland today.

Who we are as a nation must be always based on mutual acceptance, respect and equal opportunities for all.

HS.fi: Valtaosa pääkaupunkiseudun vanhemmista haluaisi kiintiöt maahanmuuttajaoppilaille

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Comment: This story on HS.fi has me perplexed: We speak of the importance of growing up in an international environment but we do not want our children to attend schools where children of immigrant backgrounds are a noticeable minority never mind majority.

A poll published by Helsingin Sanomat, the country’s largest daily, showed that 57% of parents who have children (ages 7-16) would like to place limits on the number of children of immigrant backgrounds at school. Twenty-eight percent were against such caps.

Migrant Tales has reported on this issue in January and February. One of the questions that these polls earlier this year ask is if public servants like teachers can limit or choose whom they’ll teach? Can the police do the same? Is segregating schools by placing caps constitutional?

These type of polls show how new cultural diversity is in Finland. While some Finns may claim to want their children to grow up in an international environment it is quite another thing in practice.

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Enemmistö pääkaupunkiseudun peruskouluikäisten lasten vanhemmista haluaisi koulujen rajoittavan maahanmuuttajataustaisten oppilaiden osuutta luokissa. Vanhempien kanta ilmenee Helsingin Sanomien TNS Gallupilla teettämästä mielipidemittauksesta.

Read whole story.

Bilingualism will supercharge your brain or is it that easy?

Posted on by Migrant Tales

By Enrique Tessieri

My blood pressure rises every time I hear people state nonchalantly that travelling enriches. If this were the case, why are some societies hostile to some people like immigrants who are growing up in two or more cultures? I was brought up in three national cultures and spoke three languages as a child.

I learned, however, at an early age in Finland and in middle-class Los Angeles that it’s advisable to keep your Otherness at bay. It’s better to fit in rather than to stand out.

This link will take you to an interesting article and video clip on the benefits of bilingualism. What is it and what life-long benefits can a child get when he or she learns at least two languages? Princeton Neuroscientist Sam Wang, co-author of “Welcome to Your Child’s Brain,” claims that bilingualism will supercharge your baby’s brain.

Wang states: “…the benefits of bilingualism go far beyond the ability to order convincingly at Maxim’s in Paris, or to read Dostoevsky in the original. Bilingual toddlers have an improved ability to resolve ‘conflict cues.’ In other words, their minds are more flexible – better able to unlearn previously learned rules in light of new, conflicting information.”

Even though it is clear that speaking more than one language can “supercharge” a child in many ways, a lot depends as well on how society sees diversity.

My three national cultures and languages, which lived inside of me as one whole, appeared to be in harmony with the outside world until I went to catholic school.

One afternoon the history teacher gave us one of those  usual “America-is-great-and-communism-is-evil speeches.” Since I had lived in three countries before moving to Los Angeles and traveled every year to Finland to visit my grandparents, I naturally had a different take of the world than the history teacher never mind my classmates.

At the age of thirteen and in eight grade I was still too young to have a defined political ideology.

I raised my hand after the teacher told the class that  all of the Russians would flee the Soviet Union if they let them move out of the country.

The teacher and class listened attentively to my candid question: “If the Russians have never visited any countries outside of their own, don’t you think that they consider their country the best in the world?”

My question caused a knee-jerk reaction from the teacher. His glance at me turned hostile. He asked pointblank if I were a communist. “If you don’t like America,” he continued in an enraged voice, “go and live in Moscow!”

He expelled me from the room and grabbed my attaché case and threw it out of the door.

On the brighter side of things, I consider myself fortunate to have grown up in three national cultures.

My advice to those that are growing up in two or more cultures is what a Multicultural Finn told my students this fall: “The first important step is accepting yourself. Extend your hand of friendship if possible to those that may loathe you.”

Those wise words once changed the United States in the 1950s and 1960s during the Civil Rights movement. Martin Luther King said back then: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Brain drain from Finland set to get worse as anti-immigration sentiment grows

Posted on by Migrant Tales

By Enrique Tessieri*

Think tank Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (ETLA) states in a report that Finland already suffers from brain drain “to some extent.” With the backdrop of the April 17 election and a more negative atmosphere towards immigrants, coupled with the cooling of the economy, suggest that brain drain will continue to get worse.  

Even if Finland’s educational system has received high global marks, it is a totally different story how Finnish labor markets tap those that have studied in the system. If we look at the vocational school level, it’s pretty clear that Finland squanders such resources.  Unemployment among  people who are under 25 years old was about 20%  in August compared with 6.6% for the whole country, according to Statistics Finland.

A lot has been debated in Finland about how difficult it is for immigrants to get jobs after they take a university degree.  Here is one link  that shows the plight of Sub-Saharan refugees that received higher education in Finland.

Even though certain groups are quoted more often in the media than others, it is rarely acknowledged that the largest group of people who move to Finland are return migrants; half of all immigrants in Finland are EU citizens. The number of immigrants from Africa and Muslims, the favorite political punching bag of anti-immigration groups, are small in comparison.

Having a distorted view of the outside world and the imagined threat it poses can be hazardous to any country’s economic and social health. It’s pretty clear that Finland needs skilled immigrants to fill jobs in this country left by an ever-growing army of pensioners. Instead, anti-immigration groups like the Perussuomalaiset (PS) party win a big election victory in April on an anti-EU and anti-immigration platform.

If the irresponsible and populist statements of parties like the PS were to be believed, it is only a question of time when we will be overrun by certain foreign groups and converting to a new religion.

Spreading these type of urban myths and populist rhetoric are questionable for many reasons. For one, they build real and spiritual walls around this country. They scare away those immigrants we need. Why would any skilled immigrant want to move with his family to Finland if it has a reputation for intolerance and racism? Why would a foreign company want to invest in such a country knowing that their foreign workers could run the danger of being harassed by the local population?

Taking into account challenges like plugging a falling workforce in numbers and creating more jobs in the next two decades, Finns should see parties like the PS, and especially its most extremist anti-immigration wing, as a direct threat to our future economic and social livelihood. Breeding nationalism and suspicion of other groups and the outside world will impoverish Finland in many ways.

These groups in the PS  have not only declared war on future immigrants but those living in the country. PS MP Olli Immonen was quoted as saying in Oulu-based daily Kaleva that he wants to do away with the Ombudsman for Minorities because it “hinders free (hate?) speech,” according to him.

Of all the developed countries, only Finland, United States and Germany have a lower educational level than the local inhabitants, reports Helsingin Sanomat quoting an OECD study.

Is Finland is taking advantage of its university educated workforce? What concrete steps must be taken to attract skilled and higher-education immigrants to our country?

The answers that will surface from these questions will certainly reveal the major challenges our society faces in the first half of this century.

*Thank you Hans Zwaga for bringing this issue to my attention. 

YLE: Ruotsalaisen maahanmuuttajalähiön pahiskoulusta tuli palkittu eliittikoulu

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Comment:  Here is a good example of how a culturally diverse school in the the Stockholm neighborhood of Rinkeby has succeeded in becoming a model for the rest of the country. The principal, Börje Ehrstrand, who emigrated to Sweden in the 1980s from Finland, said that in a square meter of Rinkeby there live immigrants from a hundred countries. All the cultures of the world, ethnic groups and religions are represented at the school, according to him. 

The principal said that the challenges that the school faced before were resolved with the school staff. “We tried to figure out how the children could become winners in the labor market and we concluded that one succeeds if their interaction skills are good.”

A student must learn how to express his opinions, hopes and thoughts as well as work out an overall strategy, according to Ehrstrand.

“In the future labor markets are not Finnish or Swedish but international,” he said. “One has to have a global ability to work with all types of people (from different cultures).”

Ehrstrand places a lot of effort on the welfare of the pupils. Students shouldn’t feel that they are being discriminated and have to obey rules that they do not want to follow.

He said that taking into account the opinion of the students and parents is vital. 

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Ruotsin monikulttuurisimman lähiön koulua johtava Börje Ehrstrand kertoo Aamu-tv:n haastattelussa, kuinka ongelmakoulusta tuli palkittu opinahjo. Rehtorin mukaan menestyksen salaisuus on sama kuin ongelmakin oli: monikultturisuus.

Read whole story.

Are we all Finns?

Posted on by Migrant Tales

By Enrique Tessieri

It is a nice idea when some people assure immigrants that “we are all Finns.” I am certain that the person who makes such a statement has the best intentions in mind. However, isn’t it our right to choose who we are on our terms?  Affirming that “we are all Finns” is as ludicrous as claiming “we are not Finns.” 

The more I encounter these types of views of how Finland’s newcomers should be accepted into Finnish society the more I believe some Finns still don’t get it.

Would it be better to state that we are all equal members of Finnish society?

One of the important matters that our Constitution and the spirit of our laws show us is the right of people to make their own lifestyle and identity choices.

I still believe what I wrote about two years ago about the importance of having such a choice: “What will our new identity be like in the present century as our society becomes more ethnically and culturally diverse? Will immigrants be clumped into one group and called New Finns, or will they prefer a hyphenated identity such as Iraqi-Finn?”

At the end of the day the only person who will decide what you are is yourself.

 

 

Ten matters that ignite the debating spirit of Migrant Tales

Posted on by Migrant Tales

By Enrique Tessieri

Migrant Tales will never censor opinions that aren’t racist. One of the strengths of this blog has been its diversity of opinions  on immigration,  Finnish identity and other topics.  Even so, some matters get our adrenalin circulating faster than others. Here are the top 10:

  1. People telling an immigrant that while all foreigners live off welfare, he or she is the exception
  2. The Perussuomalaiset (PS) worldview (provincial and simplistic answers of the world like on immigration)
  3. Exclusive views about Finnish culture and what it is (time-warp syndrome)
  4. Tight definitions of who can claim a place under the Finnish sun (denial of immigrants’ and minorities’ historicity in Finland)
  5. Racism repackaged as freedom of speech (eg A PS MP or a Finn assuring us that racism is a minor problem in this country)
  6. Racism as racism
  7. People who still romanticize about fascism in the twentieth century (PS MP’s Juho Eerola’s fascination with Benito Mussolini’s economic policy, for example)
  8. People who romanticize about fascism in the twenty-first century (Counter-Jihadists)
  9. Far-right and right-wing populist parties that lure votes by spreading hatred of immigrants (Danish People’s Party, Progress Party and Sweden Democrats to name a few)
  10. Short-sighted politicians who lack leadership and who are too weak and corrupted spiritually to defend everyone’s civil rights

What the far right in Finland really means when it says “multiculturalism sucks ass”

Posted on by Migrant Tales

By Enrique Tessieri

If one reads the anti-immigration rhetoric of the far-right wing of the Perussuomalaiset (PS) party led by MP Jussi Halla-aho, you will eventually find the racism and the meaning behind their spiteful discourse. Almost everything they claim when it comes to immigrants and refugees boils down to one matter: Stop Muslims and non-Europeans from coming to Finland and Europe.

For good reason Halla-aho and his cronies in the PS will not tell you their definition of multiculturalism or another favorite pet term, “uncontrolled immigration.”  Uncovering what these terms really mean for them would not only expose their racism and extremism but their political pipe dream.

How would it sound if a PS MP claimed that he or she is against Muslims and Africans moving to Finland? It would be pretty bold handing journalists a wonderful story but leave the person who made such a claim vulnerable to attacks by his or her political enemies.

If we, however, rephrased the term so that nobody would know what we really mean we’d have greater success.  By stating that “We are against multiculturalism” or “Multiculturalism sucks ass” as Halla-aho has written on Facebook, we drive home our message.

It would be highly revealing if a reporter asked Halla-aho and his cronies their definition of multiculturalism. They would most likely state vaguely that it has something to do with a failed immigration policy, or specifically one that permits Muslims, Africans and non-Europeans from moving to this country.

Those in the academic world and policy makers  understand that multiculturalism is a social policy used in Canada, Australia and Britain to integrate immigrants.