The Paris Agreement on Climate Change -- Il-Ftehim ta' Pariġi fuq it-Tibdil tal-Klima

 

On the 12th December 2015, an important agreement was announced between members of the United Nations on what to do about climate change caused by anthropogenic (human) sources.1  This agreement has the following main characteristics:

 

• •that countries determine their own targets on how much they are ready to reduce emissions of gases contributing to climate change; 

• •that they need to report transparently on how these targets are being reached, although there are no sanctions if they aren't; 

• •that targets are reviewed every 5 years, with the aim of their ambition increasing; 

• •that developed countries contribute $100 billion a year to help undeveloped countries, which are often the ones mostly affected by climate change; 

• •that the increase in temperature until the end of this century (2100) be limited to well below 2C, as this limit is considered too risky and can lead to countries disappearing under the waves, and to attempt to reach 1.5C. 

 

It's accepted that the country targets published to date will not result in an increase of 2C, let alone 1.5C.  That is the reason for the decision that targets should be reviewed every 5 years.  This will doubtlessly result in pressure on all countries to increase their ambition.

 

It is also accepted that countries are not legally obliged to reach their goals, although they are legally obliged to have a goal.  Nevertheless, it is thought that there is sufficient scrutiny from other countries that will prevent any country from thinking it can have a free ride.

 

As an Australian citizen, I was pleased to note my adoptive country join a group of another 100, the so-called 'Ambition Coalition' which were resisting a watering down of the agreement.  This would probably have been unthinkable if the Australian Prime Minister was still Tony Abbott.  I also noted Canada joining this group, again this would probably not have happened if that country's prime minister hadn't changed.2

 

Truly, it can be said that there's been a sea change in the Australian climate change policy under the new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

 

Under Tony Abbott, the government was always claiming to be taking significant and responsible steps in the fight against climate change, while doing everything possible to roadblock the upcoming renewable energy industry.

 

Under Malcolm Turnbull, the opposite is happening: the government is quietly removing these roadblocks, while claiming to be changing next to nothing from the previous regime's policies.  I understand this is being done to keep together the Liberal-National coalition, which includes several climate sceptic members.

 

Paradoxically, the more Turnbull convinces those around him that nothing much is changing, this exposes him to attacks by the Labor Party, music to their ears in their desire to paint Turnbull as nothing different to Abbott.

 

I have to say that the Labor Party needs all the ammunition it can get, as so far if the current popularity of Turnbull remains unchanged,3 at next year's election the Labour Party is facing a whitewash.

 

The last word goes to the Paris agreement - as one who believes in leaving the world a better place for our children and grandchildren, I cannot not rejoice at this agreement, which can however be no more than the start of vigorous action that needs to occur around the world.  In fact, many other agreements will be needed in future, so that mankind and nature avoid the more serious consequences of burning without restraint of fossilised energy sources and ancient forests.

 

Step by step!

 

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Fit-12 ta' Diċembru 2015, tħabbar li ntlaħaq ftehim importanti bejn il-pajjiżi tal-Ġnus Magħquda fuq x'għandu jsir dwar it-tibdil tal-klima kkawżat minn sorsi antropoġeniċi (jiġifieri ġejjin mill-bniedem).1  Dan il-ftehim għandu dawn il-karatteristiċi prinċipali:

 

• •li l-pajjiżi jiddeterminaw il-miri tagħhom infushom dwar kemm lesti jnaqqsu mir-rimi ta' gassijiet li jikkontribwixxu għat-tibdil tal-klima; 

• •iridu jirrappurtaw kemm dawn il-miri qed nitlaħqu b'mod trasparenti, għalkemm m'hemm sanzjonijiet jekk dawn ma jintlaħqux; 

• •il-miri jridu jiġu rriveduti kull ħames snin, bl-iskop li l-ambizzjoni tagħhom tiżdied; 

• •li l-pajjiżi żviluppati jikkontribwixxu $100 biljun fis-sena biex jgħinu lill-pajjiżi mhux żviluppati, li ħafna drabi huma dawk li l-iktar se jħossu l-effetti tat-tibdil fil-klima; 

• •li l-żieda fit-temperatura sal-aħħar ta' dan is-seklu (2100) għandha tkun limitata għal ħafna inqas minn 2C (żewġ gradi Ċentigradi), għax din iż-żieda hija kkunsidrata riskjuża wisq u li tista' twassal għal pajjiżi baxxi jisparixxu taħt il-mewġ, u li jippruvaw jilħqu l-mira ta' 1.5C
   

Huwa aċċettat li l-miri ppubblikati s'issa mill-pajjiżi, mhumiex se jwasslu għal żieda fit-temperatura ta' 2C, aħseb u ara ta' 1.5C.  Għalhekk kien hemm id-deċiżjoni li l-miri ta' kull pajjiż għandu jiġu rrivedut kull ħames snin.  Dan bla dubju se jwassal għal pressjoni fuq kull pajjiż biex iżid l-ambizzjoni tiegħu.

 

Huwa aċċettat ukoll li l-pajjiżi mhumiex legalment marbutin li jilħqu l-miri tagħhom, għalkemm huma legalment marbuin li jkollhom mira.  Madankollu, huwa maħsub li se jkun hemm biżżejjed skrutinju minn pajjiżi oħra li ma jippermettix lil xi pajjiż jitħajjar sempliċement jgħid ħaġa u jagħmel oħra.

 

Bħala ċittadin Awstraljan, kien ta' pjaċir ninnota lill-pajjiż adottiv tiegħi jingħaqad ma' grupp ta' 100 pajjiż ieħor, hekk imsejjaħ 'Koalizzjoni tal-Ambizzjoni' għax kienu qed jirreżistu li l-ftehim ikun inqas ambizzjuż milli seta' kien.  Din il-ħaġa aktarx ma kinetx isseħħ kieku l-Prim Ministru Awstraljan kien għadu Tony Abbott.  Rajt ukoll li l-Kanada wkoll ingħaqdet ma' dan il-grupp, ukoll din aktarx ma kinetx isseħħ kieku l-prim ministru ma nbidilx.2

 

Tassew, fil-qasam tal-politika Awstraljana fuq it-tibdil tal-klima, seħħet bidla sħiħa malli sar Prim Ministru Malcolm Turnbull.

 

Taħt Tony Abbott, il-gvern kien dejjem jgħid li qed jieħu passi sinjifikanti u responsabbli fil-ġlieda kontra t-tibdil tal-klima, filwaqt li għamel minn kollox biex jagħmel il-bsaten fir-roti lill-industrija l-ġdida tal-enerġija sostenibbli.  

 

Taħt Malcolm Turnbull, l-oppost qed jiġri: il-gvern qiegħed bil-kwiet ineħħi dawn il-bsaten fir-roti, waħda waħda u mingħajr ħafna daqq ta' trombi, filwaqt li jgħid li mhu qed jibdel ftit li xejn mill-politika tal-gvern ta' qablu.  Milli nista' nifhem, qed jagħmel dan tal-aħħar biex iżomm magħquda il-koalizzjoni Liberali-Nazzjonali li jinkludi fih diversi membri xettiċi fuq it-tibdil tal-klima.

 

Paradossalment, iktar ma' Turnbull jikkonvinċi lil ta' madwaru li fil-prattika mhu qed jinbidel ftit li xejn, iktar jesponi ruħu għall-attakki tal-Partit Laburista, li dan li jridu jisimgħu ħalli jpinġu lil Turnbull bħala xejn differenti minn Abbott.

 

Irrid ngħid li l-Partit Laburista Federali għandu bżonn kwalunkwe munizzjoni, għax s'issa jidher li, jekk il-popolarità ta' Turnbull tibqa mhux mittiefsa kif inhi issa,3 fl-elezzjoni tas-sena d-dieħla il-Partit Laburista qed iħares lejn disfatta kbira.

 

L-aħħar kelma dwar il-ftehim ta' Pariġi - bħala wieħed li jemmen li għandna nħallu lid-dinja aħjar milli sibniha għal uliedna u wlied uliedna, ma nistax ħlief nifraħ li ntlaħaq dan il-ftehim, li però jista' jkun biss il-bidu ta' ħidma sfiqa li hemm bżonn issir mad-dinja kollha.  Fil-fatt, baqa' ħafna ftehimiet oħrajn li jridu jintlaħqu fil-futur, biex il-bniedem u n-natura jevitaw l-konsegwenzi l-iktar serji ta' ħruq bla rażan ta' sorsi ffossilizzati tal-enerġija u ta' foresti antiki.

 

Pass wara pass!

 

 

 

1UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; Conference of the Parties, 21st Session FCCC/CP/2015/L.9/Rev.1, 12 December 2015

2http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/australia-joins-paris-climate-coalition/story-fni0xqlk-1227642659074, retrieved 14/12/2015

3http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/newspoll, retrieved 14/12/2015

1UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; Conference of the Parties, 21st Session FCCC/CP/2015/L.9/Rev.1, 12 December 2015

2http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/australia-joins-paris-climate-coalition/story-fni0xqlk-1227642659074, retrieved 14/12/2015

3http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/newspoll, retrieved 14/12/2015

A 'Nigerian' representing Malta? -- 'Niġerjana' tirrappreżenta lil Malta?

A 'Nigerian' representing Malta?

 

I'm naturally referring to the young Destiny Chukunyere, who has a Nigerian-born father and a Maltese mother, who has just won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for 2015 with her song Not My Soul, landing Malta the title for the second time in three years.

 

How delighted were my wife and I, stuck to the TV as we do yearly for this festival and its adult equivalent, listening to this fabulous voice that distinguished itself from the other singers.  It reminded me in many ways to Chiara, who had bewitched so many people with her voice and presence.

 

Since coming to Australia, we've kept this annual appointment courtesy of SBS, after having discovered it by accident.  Over here, the large number of immigrants from Europe means there's significant interest in this festival, not only by the Maltese.

 

Nevertheless, for us Maltese, this festival represents one of the few activities in which the land of our forefathers is one of the better players when compared to far-larger countries, making a name for itself and giving the Maltese much pride.

 

Beyond these happy thoughts, while watching the festival, I also reflected upon the complexity of our world.  I remember Destiny's father, Ndubisi Chukunyere, while I was still in Malta, playing soccer with Paola's Hibernians, apart from the Nigerian national team.  Ndubisi ended up staying in Malta, becoming a Maltese citizen, marrying a Maltese woman and having Destiny who's no less Maltese as I am.

 

What a world this is, with so many people leaving their country of origin, going to live in another country and naturalising there, while remaining ethnically and culturally tied to their origin, like me and the Maltese diaspora.

 

But again, this is a story of so many millions of people, and not recent at all.

 

Migration is an ancient story.  Australia has seen waves of migration after and before the second world war, the English and the convicts they brought with them, and the other Europeans that came before.  Before them again, the aboriginals have been here for around 40 thousand years, and before this time were on their way along Asia in the migration of our human species, homo sapiens.

 

At the same time, this species had entered Europe from Africa and gradually took over from other previously existing human species, homo neanderthalensis.  We could go over the continents and find a similar, very interesting and complex story, that is still today not fully known.

 

What's clear is that the human story is one of continuous migration.  A country's political borders are wholly artificial, and don't reflect cultural geographies, and the need for people, and other creatures, to have a livelihood.

 

We are occupying, and dominating, this planet, which goes round a star that is just one of 100 billion in this galaxy, that in turn is just one out of 100 billion galaxies in the universe.  We think we're so smart, while in fact ruining this miniscule part of the universe, polluting the air, land and sea alike with our endless consumption.  The callousness, lack of charity, cruelty and greed we show other people are quite ugly.

 

When will we start looking at our world as a gift to be cherished, instead of a fountain of resources that we need to exploit before the next man does?  When will we start behaving as brethren instead of drunken thieves?  When will we stop pretending that our religion has all the answers while that of others have no value?  When will we start treating as friends only those who have our same skin colour?

 

Will I live to see the day?

 

 

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'Niġerjana' tirrappreżenta lil Malta?

 

Qed nirreferi naturalment għaż-żgħażugħa Destiny Chukunyere, li għandha missierha mwieled in-Niġerja u ommha Maltija, li għadha kif rebħet il-Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015, li bil-kanzunetta tagħha Not My Soul (Mhux Ruħi), reġgħet rebbħet dan it-titlu lil Malta għat-tieni darba f'tliet snin.

 

Kemm tpaxxejna jien u l-mara, msammrin quddiem it-televiżjoni bħal ma nagħmlu kull sena għall-dan il-festival u dak tal-adulti, nisimgħu lil din il-vuċi favoluża li spikkat mill-kantanti l-oħra.  Fakkritni ħafna fi Chiara li wkoll kienet saħħret lil tant nies bil-vuċi u l-preżenza tagħha.

 

Kemm ilna l-Awstralja, żammejna dan l-appuntament annwali li jipprovdilna l-SBS, wara li konna skoprejnih b'kumbinazzjoni.  Hawnhekk, l-ammont kbir ta' immigranti mill-Ewropa jfisser li hawn interess kbir f'dan il-festival, mhux mill-Maltin biss.

 

Madankollu, għalina l-Maltin, dan il-festival jirrappreżenta wieħed mill-ftit aspetti fejn pajjiż missirijietna iħabbatha sew ma' pajjiżi oħra bil-wisq ikbar, u jagħmel isem għalih innifsu, u jagħmel lilna kburin li Maltin!

 

Apparti dawn il-ħsibijiet ta' ferħ, waqt li kont qed nara l-festival, irriflettejt ukoll fuq kemm hi kumplessa d-dinja.  Missier Destiny, Ndubisi Chukunyere, niftakru meta kont għadni Malta, kien ġie min-Niġerja jilgħab il-futbol mal-Hibernians ta' Raħal Ġdid, kien ukoll jilgħab mat-tim nazzjonali Niġerjan.  Ndubisi Chukunyere spiċċa baqa' Malta, sar ċittadin Malti, iżżewweġ lil Maltija, u kellhom lil Destiny li għalhekk hija Maltija daqsi.

 

X'dinja din, fejn tant nies jitilqu minn pajjiżhom u jmorru jgħixu f'pajjiż ieħor u, kif ngħidu aħna, isiru tal-post, waqt li jibqgħu etnikament u kulturalment marbutin mal-oriġini tagħhom, bħali u d-dijaspora Maltija.

 

Imma, terġa u tgħid, din hi l-istorja ta' tant miljuni ta' nies.  U din mhix storja riċenti.

 

L-istorja mal-migrazzjoni hija antika.  Fl-Awstralja, kellna l-mewġiet tal-migrazzjoni ta' wara t-tieni gwerra dinjija u ta' qabilha, tal-Ingliżi u l-ħabsin li ġabu magħhom, u tal-Ewropej l-oħra li ġew qabilhom.  Qabilhom kien hawn l-aboriġeni li kienu ilhom hawn mal-40 elf sena, li qabel dan iż-żmien kienu fi triqthom tul l-Ażja fil-migrazzjoni tal-ispeċje tagħna l-bnedmin, il-homo sapiens.

 

Fl-istess żmien, din l-ispeċje kienet daħlet fl-Ewropa mill-Afrika u ftit ftit iddominat fuq l-ispeċje ta' bnedmin li kienet hemm qabel, il-homo neanderthalensis.  Nistgħu nibqgħu nduru l-kontinenti, u nsibu storja simili, interessanti ferm, u kumplessa, li għadha mhix magħrufa għal kollox.

Li huwa ċar huwa li l-istorja tal-bniedem hija waħda ta' migrazzjoni kontinwa.  Il-fruntieri politiċi tal-pajjiżi huma għal kollox artifiċjali, u ma jirriflettux il-ġijografija kulturali, u l-bżonn tal-bniedem, u tal-ħlejjaq l-oħrajn, li jfittxu l-għajxien tagħhom.

 

Aħna qegħdin nokkupaw, u niddominaw din il-pjaneta, li ddur ma stilla li hi biss waħda minn 100 biljun fil-galassja tagħha, galassja li hi biss waħda minn 100 biljun galassja fl-univers - mingħalina li tant aħna bravi u fil-fatt qed neqirdu din il-farka tal-univers, bit-tniġġis tal-arja, tal-art u tal-baħar, bil-konsum bla rażan.  Il-ħdura li nuru ma' bnedmin oħra, in-nuqqas ta' karità, il-kefrija u r-rgħiba bla qies huma tal-waħx.

 

Meta se nħarsu lejn id-dinja bħala rigal li għandna ngħożżu, minflok għajn ta' riżorsi li rridu nisfruttaw qabel ma jagħmel dan ħaddieħor?  Meta se nġibu ruħna ta' aħwa minflok ta' ħallelin fis-sakra?  Meta se nieqfu nippretendu li r-reliġjon tagħna għandha t-tweġibiet kollha u tal-oħrajn m'għandha l-ebda valur?  Meta se nieqfu nittrattaw bħala ħbieb dawk biss li għandhom l-istess kulur tal-ġilda tagħna?

 

Tgħid, ninnotaha xi darba f'ħajti?

The Refugee Crisis -- Il-Kriżi tar-Rifuġjati

 

A few days ago, between the 11th and 12th November, a conference was held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, where European and African leaders discussed the refugee crisis, mostly about Africans who go to Europe for economic reasons.  As we know, many, too many of these tragically end up at the bottom of the Mediterranean.

 

The Conference concluded with the establishment of a fund of two billion dollars, intended for development in the origin countries, so that those considering emigrating might consider looking for opportunities closer to home,  the increase of opportunities for temporary education visas in Europe and increase cooperation between Europe and the origin countries.1  This will surely take time, and remains to be seen whether this initiative is only a drop in the ocean.

.

At the same time, the other big migration from the Middle East to western countries continues briskly unabated, with people from Iraq and Siria fleeting in their hundreds of thousands the hell therein.  Apart from the civil war where many Sirians want to get rid of the dictator Assad, the organisation at the top of everyone's lips is Islamic State.

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In the recent few days, this group has launched attacks in Beirut, Lebanon, on the Shiite Muslim group Hesbollah (40 people dead), in Egypt they have been accused of exploding a bomb on an airplane returning Russian tourists to their homeland from a visit to Sharm el-Sheikh (200), and the latest atrocities are the suicide attacks in Paris in France (130) and the killings in a Mali hotel (20).  There are suspicions that at least one of those who attacked people in Paris had inserted himself with refugees entering Europe from Greece a few months back.

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This is leading unfortunately to pressure from several countries to halt the flow of refugees.  We've seen this in Australia, where this request was made even by an MP of the governing coalition,2 in Europe and now also the United States, where even presidential candidates in that country, including Donald Trump, are adding their voice to this call.

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Instead of making stricter controls on being accepted as a refugee, let's stop everyone.  If a group of drivers break traffic rules, we ban driving.  Logical, is it not?

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And from whom are refugees fleeing, if not the same terrorists?

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It's a tragedy that refugees are painted as being all, or mostly, Muslim and terrorists.  It's being said that they can't be good citizens as for them God comes first, they aren't allowed to be friends with Christians and Jews, their spiritual leaders want the destruction of Israel and America, that (a man, presumably) has to have four wives and whip them if they disobej, that democracy and Islam don't go together etc etc.

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I have no doubt that some Muslims believe so, however can they be considered representative?  Does the Klu Klux Klan represent Christians?  Are there not Christians who believe that God's law trumps state law?3  Doesn't the Catholic church say that citizens should not obey laws considered immoral or against Scripture?4

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Speaking for myself, in my life I've had several Muslim friends, some close.  At the same time I also know Christians who wouldn't dream of having a Muslim friend.  Is this representative of all Christians?  Didn't Abraham, the patriarch of Jews, Christians and Muslims, have two women?  I haven't heard any priest condemning him at church.  And is it possible not to have heard of Indonesia and Turkey, democratic countries where society is predominantly Muslim?

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In my life I've seen too much prejudice, and people rushing to judge and condemn.  In these difficult times we're living in, I often ask myself, what would Jesus do?  What attitude would he have taken?

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Perhaps a better question is, what did he do in his time?

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The answer is quickly found in the Christian Bible, and is surprising.  Jesus cast his gaze to many of those categories of people considered outcast by his society: Samaritans, prostitutes, tax collectors, Romans, the sick (lepers and the blind, whose sickness was taken as evidence of sin in the family); he talked to them, loved them and embraced them!

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In a parable he praised a Samaritan (who would have been a Muslim Palestinian today) for help provided to a beaten person in the middle of the road, told a prostitute he would not condemn her, told his followers that he had never seen faith bigger than that of a Roman centurian, removed from the sick the cause of their society's disdain, and we could go on.

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There is a clear message: we should open our hearts to those of good faith even from outside our society and not allow prejudice to cloud our eyes.  Our fight should be had with the small yet loud and murderous minority - the terrorists whose sole interest is to use Islam - and not with the quiet and meek majority, who look to Islam having the same root as the Arabic word for peace (SALAAM).

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Ftit ġranet ilu, bejn il-ħdax u t-tnax ta' Novembru, saret konferenza fis-Sala tal-Mediterran għall-Konferenzi fil-Belt Valletta, fejn mexejja Ewropej u Afrikani ddiskutew il-kriżi tar-rifuġjati, l-iktar dik ta' Afrikani li jmorru l-Ewropa għal raġunijiet ekonomiċi.  Bħal ma nafu, ħafna, wisq, minn dawn traġikament jispiċċaw f'qiegħ il-baħar fil-Mediterran.

 

Il-Konferenza kkonkludiet bl-istabbilment ta' fond ta' żewġ biljun dollaru, bl-intenzjoni li jsir żvilupp fil-pajjiżi tat-tluq, ħalli min ikun imħajjar jemigra forsi jitħajjar ifittex opportunitajiet qrib ta' daru, jiżdiedu opportunitajiet ta' viżas temporanji għal edukazzjoni fl-Ewropa, u ssir kooperazzjoni bejn l-Ewropa u l-pajjiżi tat-tluq.1  Dan kollu żgur jieħu ż-żmien, u wieħed irid jara jekk din l-inizjattiva hijiex biss qatra fl-oċean.

 

Fl-istess ħin, il-migrazzjoni l-kbira l-oħra lejn il-pajjiżi tal-Punent mill-Lvant Nofsani, għadha għaddejja b'ritmu mgħaġġel, b'nies mill-Iraq u s-Sirja jaħarbu l-infern li jeżisti hemmhekk bil-mijiet tal-eluf.  Apparti l-gwerra ċivili fejn ħafna Sirjani jridu jeħilsu mid-dittatur Assad, l-organizzazzjoni fuq fomm kulħadd hija l-Istat Islamiku.

 

Dan l-aħħar, fi ftit ġranet, dan il-grupp wettaq attakki f'Bejrut, il-Libanu, fuq il-grupp Musulman Xijta il-Ħeżbollaħ (40 ruħ mejta), fl-Eġittu ġew akkużati li splodew bomba fuq ajruplan li kien qed jieħu turisti Russi lura pajjiżhom minn żjara f'Sharm el-Sheikh (200), u l-aħħar atroċitàjiet kienu l-attakki suwiċida f'Pariġi ġewwa Franza (fejn mietu 120) u l-qtil ġewwa lukanda fil-Mali.  Qed jiġi ssuspettat li mill-inqas wieħed minn dawk li attakkaw lin-nies f'Pariġi kien infilza ruħu mar-rifuġjati li daħlu l-Ewropa mill-Greċja ftit tax-xhur ilu.

 

Dan qiegħed iwassal sfortunatament għal pressjoni f'diversi pajjiżi sabiex jinżammu minnufih id-dħul tar-rifuġjati.  Dan rajnieh hawnhekk fl-Awstralja, fejn it-talba saret anke minn membru tal-parlament tal-koalizzjoni fil-gvern,2 fl-Ewropa stess u issa anke fl-Istati Uniti, fejn anke kandidati għall-presidenza ta' dak il-pajjiż, inkluż Donald Trump, qed isemmgħu l-vuċi tagħhom għal dan il-pass.

 

Minflok ma jsiru kontrolli iktar stretti fuq min jiġi aċċettat bħala rifuġjat, inwaqqfu l-kulħadd.  Jekk grupp ta' sewwieqa jiksru r-regolamenti tat-traffiku, inwaqqfu s-sewqan.  Loġika, le?

 

U minn min qed jaħarbu r-rifuġjati?  Mhux mill-istess terroristi?

 

It-traġedja hi li r-rifuġjati qed jiġu mpinġija li huma kollha, jew ħafna minnhom huma, Musulmani u  terroristi.  Qed jingħad li ma jistgħux ikunu ċittadini tajba għax għalihom Alla jiġi l-ewwel, ma jistgħux jagħmlu ħbieb mal-Insara u l-Lhud, li l-mexxejja spritwali tagħhom iridu l-qerda tal-Iżrael u l-Amerika, li (preżumibbilment raġel) irid jiżżewweġ erba' nisa u jsawwat lill-mara meta ma tobdix, li d-demokrazija u l-Islam ma jistgħux jeżistu flimkien eċċ eċċ.

 

Jien m'għandix dubju li hemm Musulmani li jemmnu hekk, imma dawn jistgħu jitqiesu rappreżentattivi?  Il-Klu Klux Klan jirrappreżentaw lill-Insara?  M'hemmx ukoll Insara li jemmnu li l-liġi t'Alla tiġi qabel dik tal-istat?3  Il-Knisja Kattolika ma tgħidx lil ċittadini biex ma jobdux liġijiet immorali jew kontra t-tagħlim tal-Evanġelju?4

 

Jien ngħid għalija f'ħajti għamilt diversi ħbieb Musulmani, uħud fil-qrib.  Fl-istess ħin naf ukoll Insara li lanqas joħolmu li jagħmlu ħbieb ma' xi Musulman.  Dan jirrifletti fuq l-Insara kollha?  Abram, il-patrijarka tal-Lhud, Insara u l-Musulmani, mhux żewġ nisa kellu?  Għadni ma smajt lil ebda qassis fil-knisja jikkundannah.  U possibbli ma smajniex bl-Indoneżja u t-Turkija, pajjiżi b'sistema demokratika fejn is-soċjetà hija predominantement Musulmana?

 

F'ħajti rajt wisq preġudizzji, u nies jgħaġġlu biex jiġġudikaw u jikkundannaw.  Jien f'waqtiet diffiċli bħal dawk li qed ngħixu fihom daż-żmien, nistaqsi lili nnifsi, kieku Ġesù x'kien jagħmel?  X'attitudni kien jieħu?

 

Forsi mistoqsija aħjar, x'għamel fi żmienu?

 

It-tweġiba malajr neħduha fil-Bibbja tal-Insara, u hija sorprendenti.  Ġesù xeħet ħarstu fuq ħafna minn dawk il-kategoriji ta' nies mwarrba li kien hemm fis-soċjetà ta' żmienu: is-Samaritani, il-prostituti, il-kolletturi tat-taxxi, ir-Rumani, u l-morda (bħall-lebbrużi u l-għomja, li l-marda tagħhom kienet titqies evidenza tad-dnub fil-familja); tkellem magħhom, ħabbhom u għannaqhom miegħu!

 

Lil Samaritan (kien ikun aktarx Palestinjan Musulman illum) f'parabbola faħħru talli għen lil wieħed imsawwat f'nofs ta' triq, lil prostituta qalilha li ma jikkundannahiex, fuq ċenturjun Ruman qal lil ta' madwaru li ma kienx ra fidi ikbar minn tiegħu, lill-morda neħħielhom il-kawza tal-istmerrija li kienu jħossu għalihom is-soċjetà ta' madwarhom, u nistgħu nibqgħu sejrin.

 

Il-messaġġ hu ċar: niftħu qalbna għal min hu ta' rieda tajba anke minn barra s-soċjetà tagħna, u ma nħallux il-preġudizzji jagħmuna.  Il-ġlieda tagħna għandha tkun mal-minoranza żgħira imma storbjuża u qerrieda - it-terroristi li l-Islam jinqdew biss bih - u mhux mal-maġġoranza kwieta u ġwejda, li l-Islam jaraw fih l-istess għerq tal-kelma SLIEM.

 

1http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2015/11/11-12/, retrieved 17/11/2015

2http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-16/dutton-rejects-internal-call-for-australia-to-close-borders/6943552, retrieved 17/11/2015

3http://www.theocracywatch.org/biblical_law2.htm

4Catechism of the Catholic Church, para 2242

1http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2015/11/11-12/, retrieved 17/11/2015

2http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-16/dutton-rejects-internal-call-for-australia-to-close-borders/6943552, retrieved 17/11/2015

3http://www.theocracywatch.org/biblical_law2.htm

4Catechism of the Catholic Church, para 2242

Indigenous People in Prison -- L-Indiġeni fil-Ħabs

Adult Incarceration in Australia

Recently, during a conference for Official Visitors of jails in NSW, I learnt that around 27% of Australia's jail population were indigenous1 (that is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders), when the indigenous proportion of the general Australian population is only around 3%.  The indigenous representation in jails is extraordinary, and alarming.

We Maltese have no experience of an aboriginal population.  I remember being surprised on arrival in Australia, or more specifically Sydney, as in daily life I could not note people obviously aboriginal, except for a few in well known tourist haunts, such as Circular Quay.

It was years later that I realised that although unrecognised, several aboriginal persons may have light skin, even being blond and blue eyed.  My eyes were opened by an aboriginal Uncle during the citizenship ceremony, who looked Anglo-Saxon, who had explained that there was much mixing by communities with time.

I can add that around Australia, in other states like Queensland and especially the Northern Territory, there are many other people who have the more traditional aboriginal appearance.

Coming back to the jail situation.  Another statistic is that aboriginal adults are incarcerated 13 times more often than non-aboriginal adults, and for minors the ratio is 24 times!

This situation is only one example of life's divide between being aboriginal and not, where the former have a lower life expectancy, higher child mortality, worse health and lower levels of education and employment, amongst others.2

The Australian Government's report 'Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage', which has been published approximately bi-annually since 2003, quotes several researchers who suggest that there are profound reasons for these issues, collectively called 'intergenerational trauma' being the result of colonisation, loss of land, language and culture, the loss of spiritual and cultural identity, the forced removal of children, racism and discrimination.3  This is apart from more immediate concerns of alcohol and drug abuse, mental health and child experiences of violence.

In my travels around Australia, I could see with my own eyes aboriginal people being blind drunk, roads full of rubbish and aimless loitering.  Nevertheless, I have to say that I've seen these things also in non-aboriginal people, so that it's clear that these aren't just characteristics of indigenous people.

I was sad to note in that government report that although some aims of previous reports had been reached (such as a reduction in child mortality), others weren't (such as the rate of domestic and community violence) or indeed went backwards (such as a marked rise in incarceration, especially young people).  The image below shows the marked increase in overall indigenous population.4

I think that many don't understand the lasting impact what indigenous people have gone through in this country.  They think that the White Australia policy, forced removal of children etc happened decades ago, now are no longer the case and therefore all is well now.  Hence when they hear of such problems, many people blame the indigenous, as if these choose the problems they are facing.

It would be much better if we all show a bit more respect to this ancient culture, that has its beauty and unique characteristics, as we Maltese have.  People who are down on the ground and trying to get up need help, not disdain.

------------------------------------

Dan l-aħħar, waqt konferenza għal Viżitaturi Uffiċjali tal-ħabsijiet ta' NSW, tgħallimt li madwar 27% tal-popolazzjoni tal-ħabsijiet fl-Awstralja huma indiġeni1 (jiġifieri Aboriġini jew nies ta' Torres Strait), dan meta l-proporzjon ta' indiġeni fil-popolazzjoni ġenerali Awstraljana huma biss ta' madwar 3%.  Ir-rappreżentanza indiġena fil-ħabsijiet hija straordinarja, u allarmanti.

Aħna l-Maltin m'għandniex esperjenza ta' popolazzjoni aboriġina.  Jien niftakarni kont sorpriż meta wasalt l-Awstralja, jew iktar speċifikatament f'Sydney, fil-ħajja ta' kuljum ma nnutajtx nies li kienu ovvjament aboriġini, ħlief għal xi wħud f'postijiet magħrufa mat-turisti, bħal Circular Quay.  

Kien xi snin wara li ndunajt li għalkemm ma jintgħarfux, diversi nies aboriġini jistgħu jkollhom karnaġġjon bajda, u saħansitra bjondi u għajnejhom blu.  Kien fetaħli għajnejja Ziju aboriġenu waqt iċ-ċerimonja taċ-ċittadinanza, li kien jidher Anglo-Sassonu, li kien spjegali li sar ħafna taħlit tal-komunitajiet matul iż-żmien.

Irrid ngħid li madwar l-Awstralja, fi stati oħra bħal Queensland u speċjalment in-Northern Territory, hemm ħafna iktar persuni li għandhom id-dehra tradizzjonali Aboriġina.

Niġu lura għas-sitwazzjoni fil-ħabsijiet.  Biċċa statistika oħra hi li adulti aboriġini jiġu inkarċerati 13-il darba iktar minn dawk mhux aboriġini, u għal minorenni l-istatistika hija ta' 24 darba!

Din is-sitwazzjoni hija biss eżempju wieħed tal-qasma fil-ħajja bejn dawk aboriġini u dawk le, fejn tal-ewwel jistennew tul ta' ħajja iqsar, rata iktar għolja ta' mortalità tat-trabi, saħħa agħar u livelli iktar baxxi ta' edukazzjoni u impjiegi, fost l-oħrajn.2

Ir-rapport tal-Gvern Awstraljan 'Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage', li ilu jiġi ppubblikat madwar kull sentejn mill-2003, jikkwota lil diversi riċerkaturi li jissuġġerixxu li hemm kawżi profondi ta' dawn in-nuqqasijiet, imsejħa kollettivament 'trawma interġenerazzjonali' b'riżultat tal-effetti tal-kolonizzazzjoni, telf tal-art, il-lingwa u l-kultura, it-tnaqqis tal-identità kulturali u spiritwali, it-teħid sfurzat tat-tfal, razziżmu u diskriminazzjoni.3  Dawn huma apparti effetti iktar immedjati bħall-abbuż tal-alkoħol u drogi, mard mentali u esperjenza miċ-ċokon tal-vjolenza.

Jien fl-ivvjaġġar tiegħi madwar l-Awstralja, stajt nara b'għajnejja persuni aboriġini fis-sakra ma' jarawx art, żdingar fit-toroq, u tlajjar bla skop.  Madankollu, rrid ngħid li dawn l-affarijiet rajthom ukoll f'nies mhux aboriġini, ħalli nkun ċar li dawn mhumiex biss karatteristika ta' nies indiġeni.

Huwa ta' dispjaċir li ninnota f'dak ir-rapport tal-Gvern, li għalkemm xi miri ta' rapporti ta' qabel intlaħqu (bħat-tnaqqis fil-mortalità tat-tfal), oħrajn ma ntlaħqux (bħar-rati ta' vjolenza domestika u fil-komunità) jew saħansitra marru għall-agħar (bħaż-żieda qawwija fir-rata ta' inkarċerazzjoni, l-aktar taż-żgħażagħ).  L-istampa fil-qiegħ turi din iż-żieda qawwija fl-inkarċerazzjoni tal-indiġeni.4

Naħseb li ħafna nies ma jifhmux l-impatt dejjiemi ta' dak li għaddew minnu l-indiġeni f'dan il-pajjiż.  Jaħsbu li l-politika ta' firda, it-teħid sfurzat tat-tfal eċċ sar ħafna għexieren ta' snin ilu, u issa m'għadhomx isiru u għalhekk kollox sewwa issa.  Għalhekk meta jisimgħu b'dawn il-problemi, ħafna nies aktarx iwaħħlu fl-indiġeni stess, qishom dawn qed jagħżlu l-problemi li jinsabu fihom.

Kemm hu aħjar kieku lkoll nuru ftit iktar rispett lejn din il-kultura antika tagħhom, li għandha s-sbuħija u karatteristiċi uniċi tagħha, bħal ma għandna aħna l-Maltin.  Min qiegħed mixħut fl-art u qed jipprova jqum, għajnuna għandu bżonn u mhux stmerrija.

1http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4517.0, retrieved 3/11/2015

2http://www.australianstogether.org.au/stories/detail/the-gap-indigenous-disadvantage-in-australia, retrieved 4/11/2015

3Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2014; Commonwealth of Australia; Chapter 1.5 - The Historical Context

4Adult Imprisonment Rate (source Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage - Key Indicators 2014, Fig 4.12.2)

1http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4517.0, retrieved 3/11/2015

2http://www.australianstogether.org.au/stories/detail/the-gap-indigenous-disadvantage-in-australia, retrieved 4/11/2015

3Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2014; Commonwealth of Australia; Chapter 1.5 - The Historical Context

4Adult Imprisonment Rate (source Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage - Key Indicators 2014, Fig 4.12.2)

Simshar

Simshar

 

In Sydney, the Maltese film Simshar is currently being shown.  The Maltese film industry has produced many globally-renowned films made in Malta, like Troy, Popeye and Gladiator, but this is the first one I know, full length (almost 2 hours), filmed almost completely in Maltese and with English subtitles, and showing around the world.

 

I took the opportunity to view it at a Leichhardt theatre.

 

The main story, based on a true story that occurred in 20081, is of members of a Maltese family that together with an immigrant went fishing in the Mediterranean on a boat with the film's namesake, which end up sinking after an on-board explosion.  The film by Rebecca Cremona shows very well the distress of those in the middle of the sea, and that of their family on land, until just one of those on board is found after days at sea.

 

Part of the film shows another fishing boat where fishermen see this group clinging to objects floating on the surface, and instead stopping to give help continue with their fishing, leaving them behind, commenting that God forbid them gathering very immigrant they encounter!

 

This comment reminded me of another tragedy occurring years before in 1996.  I was still living in Malta when the Yioham tragedy occurred, where another vessel collided with this boat, sinking with almost 300 Pakistani immigrants aboard.  I'm still amazed when I remember reading about fishermen hauling up bodies, or body parts, from the sea in their nets and throwing them back in the water!2

 

In fact, the film's story revolves around the background of that blight on humanity in the form of refugees.  In the film, at the same time of the sinking of the fishing boat, another event was taking place (also based on a true story happening in 20093) of a Turkish vessel (in real life named Pinar E) that gathered tens of immigrants from sinking boats, and was left bobbing around the Mediterranean for days on end until Italy and Malta decided between them who was to take responsibility.

 

I enjoyed watching the scenes from Malta in the film, and also listen to our sweet language.  I also peeled my eyes to see if I could recognise anyone familiar, and wasn't disappointed as I saw Clare Agius, a familiar face on TV, who had a prominent role, and also an old school friend Gabriella Callus who I remember at the New Lyceum at l-Imsida, who was visible in a short scene.

 

However the subject matter and the background of the film left me sad, probably as the unhappy ending has more to do with reality than fantasy.

 

I've always been lucky to live in countries that during my lifetime did not see any serious conflicts, hunger or deprivations, and heard, read and saw these situations through the media happening in other countries: Ethiopia, Sudan, Rwanda, ex-Jugoslavia, Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq and now Syria.

 

Each one of these countries has produced refugees, o technically, asylum seekers: people, individuals, families, whole communities fleeing unbelievable atrocities, pleading for a nation in a country perhaps more advanced, mature or calm, take pity on them.

By the end of 2014, there were 55 million people around the world forced to leave their homes, those coming from Syria alone 11.5 million.4  The scale of this problem is astronomical.

 

As we know, some of these refugees pass through Malta, which is located in one of the mail routes for several of these peoples.  Brought up in a Catholic family and country, my tendency is to look at these people with compassion, and expect that countries feel a moral duty to offer every assistance.

 

I was always amazed to note that many people around me hadn't the slightest sympathy for these refugees, even those who I thought were quite devout and Church-going.  Apart from a lack of sympathy, they also expressed anger and hostility for those that had the temerity to pass through Malta (many times without even knowing) on their way to Europe.

 

From a very young age, I realised that for many people, being Christian merely meant not missing Sunday Mass and not having sex before marriage.  Perhaps they don't know that Jesus had said that if you had two shirts, you should give one to the needy (Luke 3:11).  Perhaps they think it had been Jesus who had first said “I'm all right - f*** you Jack”.

 

Today, there are several political groupings that generally display this anti-immigrant, anti-refugee and anti-multicultural attitude.  Malta has its Imperium Europa, Australia has One Nation, France has Front National and you could go on.

 

Nevertheless, I take heart to see some positive moves, such as that recently in Europe with the decision to distribute 120,000 refugees amongst the members of the EU this year.  This happened despite the opposition of some EU members: the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.5

 

There was a positive development in Australia too.  A month ago, it was decided that Australia would accept 12,000 refugees from Syria, additional to those that are taken every year6.  Also this week, a decision has been taken that refugees on Manus Island would not longer be kept in detention, which I had argued against in the 80th edition of The Voice .

 

Is the devil slowing down?

 

 

Simshar

 

Bħalissa f'Sydney qed jintwera l-film Malti Simshar.  L-industrija Maltija tal-films rat lil ħafna films ta' fama globali jiġu miġbuda f'Malta, bħal Troy, Popeye u Gladiator, imma dan hu l-ewwel film li naf, twil ta' dan id-daqs sħiħ (kważi sagħtejn), miġbud kważi kompletament bil-Malti u s-sottotitli bl-Ingliż, u jintwera madwar id-dinja.

 

Ħadt l-opportunita' li mmur narah  f'tijatru f'Leichhardt.

 

L-istorja prinċipali, ibbażata fuq storja vera li ġrat fl-20087, hija ta' membri ta' familja Maltija li flimkien ma' immigrant imorru jistadu fuq dgħajsa fil-Mediterran bl-isem tal-film, li tispiċċa tegħreq wara splużjoni abbord.  Il-film ta' Rebecca Cremona jpinġi tajjeb ħafna l-qtigħ il-qalb ta' dawk f'nofs ta' baħar, u tal-familjari tagħhom fuq l-art, sakemm wieħed biss minn dawk kollha abbord jiġi misjub wara ġranet il-baħar.

 

Parti mill-film kien jinkludi biċċa fejn dgħajsa oħra ta' sajjieda rat lil dan il-grupp iggranfat ma' oġġetti jgħumu fil-wiċċ, u minflok waqfu għall-għajnuna komplew bis-sajd tagħhom u ħallewhom warajhom, bil-kumment li allaħares jiġbru kull immigrant li jiltaqgħu miegħu!

 

Dan il-kumment fakkarni f'diżgrazzja oħra li kienet saret snin qabel fl-1996.  Kont għadni noqgħod Malta meta seħħet it-traġedja tal-Yioham, fejn bastiment ieħor ħabat magħha u għereq b'kważi 300 immigrant Pakistani fuqu.  Għadni mbellaħ niftakarni naqra fuq sajjieda li kienu jtellgħu iġsma, jew partijiet minn iġsma, mill-baħar fix-xbieki tagħhom u jergħu jitfgħuhom fil-baħar!8

 

Fil-fatt, l-istorja tal-film tiżvolġi fl-isfond ta' dik il-ġerħa tal-umanità fil-forma tar-rifuġjati.  Fil-film, waqt li kienet qed isseħħ l-għarqa tad-dgħajsa tas-sajd, kien qed iseħħ avveniment ieħor (ukoll ibbażat fuq storja vera li ġrat fil-20099) ta' bastiment Tork (li fl-istorja vera kien jismu Pinar E) li ġabar għexieren ta' immigranti minn dgħajjes li kienu qed jegħerqu, u tħalla jitbandal fil-Mediterran għal ġranet sħaħ sakemm l-Italja u Malta ddeċidew min kien se jieħu responsabbiltà tagħhom.

 

Ħadt pjaċir nara x-xenarji Maltin fil-film, u nisma' lill-lingwa ħelwa tagħna.  Kelli wkoll għajnejja mġebbdin biex nara nilmaħx lil xi ħadd familjari, u ma kontx iddiżappuntat meta rajt lil Clare Agius, wiċċ familjari fuq it-TV li kellha parti prominenti, kif ukoll ħabiba antika tal-iskola Gabriella Callus li niftakarha l-Liċeo tal-Imsida, li dehret f'xena qasira.

 

Però s-suġġett u anke l-isfond tal-film ħallewni b'ċerta dieqa, probabbli għax it-tmiem ċertament mhux feliċi iktar għandu x'jaqsam mar-realtà milli mal-fantasija.

 

Jien li dejjem kelli x-xorti noqgħod f'pajjiżi fejn fi żmieni ma kienx fihom kunflitti serji, għaks jew ġuħ kbir, dejjem smajt, qrajt u rajt mill-midja dawn is-sitwazzjonijiet iseħħu f'pajjiżi oħra: l-Etjopja, is-Sudan, l-Irwanda, l-eks Jugoslavja, il-Palestina, il-Libanu, l-Iraq u issa s-Sirja.

 

Kull wieħed minn dawn il-pajjiżi pproduċiet ir-rifuġjati, jew teknikament, dawk li jfittxu ażil f'pajjiż ieħor: nies, individwi, familji, komunitajiet sħaħ jaħarbu minn ħruxijiet li bilkemm jitwemmnu, li jokorbu li xi poplu ta' pajjiż forsi iktar żviluppat, matur jew kalm, iħenn għalihom.

 

Sal-aħħar tal-2014, kien hemm 55 miljun ruħ madwar id-dinja mġiegħla jitilqu minn darhom, u dawk ġejjin mis-Sirja biss 11.5 miljun.10  L-iskala ta' din il-problema hija astronomika.

 

Bħal ma nafu, uħud minn dawn ir-rifuġjati jgħaddu minn Malta, li tinsab f'waħda mir-rotot prinċipali ta' diversi minn dawn il-popli.  Imrobbi f'familja u pajjiż Kattoliku, it-tendenzi tiegħi huma li nħares lejn dawn in-nies bil-ħniena u nistenna li l-pajjiżi jħossu d-dover morali li joffru kull assistenza.

 

Dejjem kont nibqa' skantat ninnota li ħafna nies madwari ma kellhomx l-inqas simpatija għal dawn ir-rifuġjati, anke minn dawk kont narahom devoti u 'tal-Knisja'.  Mhux biss nuqqas ta' simpatija, imma anke rabja u ostilità għax kellhom l-ardir li jgħaddu minn Malta (ħafna drabi mingħajr ma jafu) huma u sejrin lejn l-Ewropa.  

 

Minn żmien bikri tat-tfulija tiegħi, irrealizzajt li għal ħafna nies, li tkun Nisrani kien ifisser biss li ma titlifx il-quddiesa ta' nhar ta' Ħadd, u li ma tagħmilx sess qabel iż-żwieġ.  Forsi ma jafux li Ġesù kien li qal li jekk għandek żewġ qomos, għandek tagħti waħda lil min hu fil-bżonn (Luqa 3:11).  Forsi jaħsbu li kien Ġesù dak li lissen għall-ewwel darba 'Jien orrajt ħabib - int mur inħ***' (I'm all right - f*** you Jack).

 

Illum, jeżistu diversi gruppi politiċi li ġeneralment jħaddnu din l-attitudni anti-immigranti, anti-rifuġjati u kontra l-multikulturaliżmu, u dawn igawdu appoġġ mhux żgħir.  Malta għandha l-Imperium Europa, l-Awstralja għandha One Nation, fi Franza hemm Front National u tista' tibqa' sejjer.

 

Madankollu, inqawwi qalbi meta nara lil xi pass pożittiv, bħal dak li sar riċentement fl-Ewropa, fejn ttieħdet deċiżjoni li 120,000 rifuġjat se jitqassmu bejn il-membri tal-UE din is-sena.  Dan sar minkejja l-opposizzjoni ta' xi pajjiżi tal-UE - ir-Repubblika Ċeka, ir-Rumanija, is-Slovakja, l-Ungerija.11

 

Fl-Awstralja wkoll, kien hemm xi zviluppi pożittivi f'dan ir-rigward.  Xahar ilu ġie deċiż li l-Awstralja se taċċetta 12,000 rifuġjat mis-Sirja, addizzjonali għal dawk li jittieħdu kull sena12.  U din il-ġimgħa, jidher li ttieħdet deċiżjoni li r-rifuġjati ta' Manus Island mhux se jitħallew iktar fid-detenzjoni, ħaġa li kont argumentajt kontriha fil-ħarġa numru 80 ta' The Voice.

 

Tgħid ix-xitan qed ibatti xi ftit?

 

 

1http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/simshar-review-maltas-heartbreaking-tale-of-migration-pressures-20150929-gjwrwh.html, retrieved 6/10/2015

2http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jun/10/davidrose.rorycarroll, retrieved 6/10/2015

3http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/world/europe/20migrants.html?_r=0, retrieved 6/10/2015

4UNHCR Global Trends 2014, Annex Table 2.

5http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/11883024/Europe-ministers-agree-relocation-of-120000-refugees-by-large-majority.html, retrieved 7/10/2015

6http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-government-agrees-to-resettle-12000-syrian-refugees-in-australia-20150909-gjibqz.html, retrieved 7/10/2015

7http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/simshar-review-maltas-heartbreaking-tale-of-migration-pressures-20150929-gjwrwh.html, retrieved 6/10/2015

8http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jun/10/davidrose.rorycarroll, retrieved 6/10/2015

9http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/world/europe/20migrants.html?_r=0, retrieved 6/10/2015

10UNHCR Global Trends 2014, Annex Table 2.

11http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/11883024/Europe-ministers-agree-relocation-of-120000-refugees-by-large-majority.html, retrieved 7/10/2015

12http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-government-agrees-to-resettle-12000-syrian-refugees-in-australia-20150909-gjibqz.html, retrieved 7/10/2015