Monday, 23rd November 2009

A newspaper for immigrants

Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi.

The Peace Lab in Ħal Far is issuing a newspaper for immigrants with the aim of strengthening ties between them and Maltese society, director Fr Dionysius Mintoff said.

The newspaper, Africalink, gives immigrants information about matters relevant to them, such as the situation of other immigrants around the world and in their country and also information on activities in Malta, especially at the Peace Lab.

Over the last few years, the Peace Lab has become a sanctuary for migrants because, according to Fr Mintoff, it believes that such migration is mostly due to the search for peace and prosperity and a move away from places overcome by violence or natural disasters.

Fr Mintoff insists that for humanitarian and Christian reasons, these people deserve our brotherly love and help to build a better future according to the resources of the country where they seek refuge.

He said that in a country like Malta, where resources were scarce, this was more difficult. The economic implications were also larger.

"Nonetheless, the immigrants are still our brothers and we still have a Christian duty to help them. This is why the Peace Lab, besides its traditional work for peace, has extended its scope and is now offering some 50 African migrants a place to stay," he added. The first edition of Africalink, issued in October, includes articles about refugee problems, St Francis, Peace Lab activities and information about Malta and some African countries.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Joe Fenech (on 24/11/09)

And what's the purpose of this? To celebrate their illegality? Are we going to end up like France where the 'sans papiers' (illegal immigrants) protest and even go on strike? These, up till now, have been employed without too much hassle There is now a new law which states that businesses employing illegal immigrant will be closed down. What flabbergasts me in Malta is that we do not learn from other countries' experience! SAY NO TO ILLEGALITY!

Joe Fenech (on 24/11/09)

The demographical, cultural and security damage this is inflicting on the country is beyond belief!!!

lgalea (on 23/11/09)

T Mifsud, Rafel Sammut, ABORG, mario gellel, Louis Gialanze, d. borg, Joseph Calleja Totally agree with you.

Jesmond Micallef (on 23/11/09)

Reading and being informed is educational and does benefit these people, no doubt. Quote : "Over the last few years, the Peace Lab has become a sanctuary for migrants because, according to Fr Mintoff, it believes that such migration is mostly due to the search for peace and prosperity and a move away from places overcome by violence or natural disasters." In my opinion, that could not have been better said,really. Additionally, may I be bold enough to suggest lessons of the Maltese language to these people.

Joseph Calleja (on 23/11/09)

Fr Dionysius Mintoff said that in a country like Malta, where resources were scarce, this was more difficult. The economic implications were also larger. How did he arrive at that conclusion? Yet now he initiated a newspaper for illegal immigrants. How convenient. Is this another sign of what is to come later on? Offer a finger and there goes your whole hand, think about it. As the saying goes, the pen is mightier than the sword. It's like a baby taking his/her first step, after a while he/she will start to walk on their own.

R, Schembri (on 23/11/09)

I so do not want to imagine myself in these illegal immigrants' position. I cannot even imagine how I would react if I come from their background and having to flee the country. At least we come from a civilised country so we know how to communicate with others but these deprived people who do not know much about civilisation obviously react different from us. I know this problem has been going of for ages in Malta and can't really see the situation getting better.. both for the Maltese and the Africans. There is clearly a problem of communication going on and lack of respect from both sides. Fighting and racism is definitely not the solution. After all I feel the situation is very similar to the one in England. When I moved over here I was shocked to find that the nice English tourists I used to encounter in Malta are actually racists in their own country... not just to the Pakistanis and Indians who are all over the country but even me as a Maltese, I was and still am being discriminated against... even by the ones who love Malta as their holiday destination!

d. borg (on 23/11/09)

A very bad idea. They came here illegally and they should be treated as such. The majority of the Maltese do not want stronger or any other ties for that matter with these illegal immigrants.

Louis Gialanze (on 23/11/09)

The internet is replete with such links. Why more of the same.

D.MANGION (on 23/11/09)

If Christians, give their gold to adorn their statues and churches, some bloggers would start to argue that money should be directed towards the poor and the needy. Then Mons Calleja and Fr. Dionisius Mintoff do exactly that and the same bloggers criticize them for helping the immigrants. Mons Calleja and Fr. Dionisius ARE LIVING EXAMPLES OF COHERENCE. They are practicing what they preach- and no half measures. On the other hand, it is common practice that those writing against illegal immigrants are the first to employ their services in order to obtain cheap labour. Nothing but incoherent misers.

Victor Fiorini (on 23/11/09)

Well done Fr Mintoff!! This is a great idea and I am sure that migrants will benefit from this.

mario gellel (on 23/11/09)

WHY NOT ISSUE A NEW PASSPORT THAN NEWSPAPER, IT MAKES MORE SENSE.

ABORG (on 23/11/09)

Caution should be excercised as to the contents of the newspaper especially as to 'the situation of other immigrants around the world' - let's not forget that no country is like the other and we cannot compare ourselves to other countries hosting migrants. Also, such information could easily give rise to unpleasant situations if wrongly compared.

Re: 'move away from places overcome by violence ...' - then why do they riot and injure our own nationals in the process?

T Mifsud (on 23/11/09)

They are called ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS not Migrants!

While I agree to give temporary shelter to the unfortunate, it has to be temporary, for a short time. Definitely encouraging stronger ties between illegal immigrants (please not migrants!) and Maltese is spelling a disaster.

I won't speak for the rest of Malta but certainly I do not agree on establishing "stronger ties". giving temporary shelter on their way yes, dropping anchor here no.

Rafel Sammut (on 23/11/09)

This will only make immigrants feel more at home and will continue to attract more immigrants ! Bad idea !

A newspaper for immigrants

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