Xarabank is a great medium to reach the masses, but unfortunately unless you’ve got the lungs of a sea gull, it’s unlikely that you’ll get more than ten minutes to make your point.
So allow me to say here what I would have liked to say during yesterday’s show; important points I never got the chance to make because I categorically refuse to scream and shout over other people’s irrational squeals.
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED THAT IMMIGRANTS WILL TAKE MALTA OVER, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE MUSLIM AND HAVE MANY CHILDREN.
Whilst these are people and should not be talked about in numbers, numbers help us put things in the right perspective. Numbers do not lie; numbers are not based on emotions or sensational interpretation.
24% of the population in Amsterdam is Muslim; in Paris and other parts of Europe it’s at 15% and more.Yet, the last time I checked the Dutch are still Dutch and the French still French.In Malta, the percentage of Muslims is less than 2%, so please, chill.
Have faith in your own culture and religion. If you believe that 2%, or let’s say even 20% (in God knows how many years) will take us over, then we’re to blame because our culture must have no spine to speak of.
PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT ‘THESE IMMIGRANTS’ CONDONE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Women are more likely to be victimized by someone that they are intimate with.
According to The World Health Organisation 40% to 70% of murders of women are committed by their husband or boyfriend.
2/3 of all rape is committed by someone known to the victim (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
So unless you want to stop people from having relationships, once again, chill; when it comes to violence against women, immigrants are not the issue you should be concerned with.
PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT PUSHBACKS WILL WAKE UP EUROPE
Not only is it illegal, but more importantly, it is immoral not to process irregular immigrants individually and according to their own merit. Everyone has the right to seek asylum and before you are refused one, you are NOT an illegal immigrant.
It’s only when you’re refused asylum that you become illegal and can be sent back. Before that you are only irregular and NOT a criminal. Once you are granted asylum, you become a refugee. Once again you’re not illegal and certainly not a criminal.
Pushbacks do not allow us to filter the good from the bad, and should therefore never be an option. The Government, who just praised the AFM for their efforts to save lives, should stop saying that all options are being kept open in a passive aggressive style of lobbying – pushbacks are not an option full stop – anyone in his right mind can either declare heroes for saving lives or consider pushbacks, but not both.
PEOPLE THINK THAT THIS YEAR, THE SITUATION GOT WORSE
Despite popular belief, this year we had less arrivals of irregular immigrants than we did in the past few years. Despite the conflicts going on around us, the number of irregular immigrants hitting our shores has decreased.
Most refugees eventually leave Malta, either through relocation programs and, mostly through their own steam.
Whether you choose to believe it or not, the truth is that for the past six years there have been approximately 5000 irregular immigrants (or refugees) on the island. That’s just 1% of our entire population.
If global trends continue the same way, even with our birth rate compared to ‘theirs’, in 2030 the World’s Muslim population will be at 26%. (PEW research).
In Europe it’s expected to go from 6% to 8% and, in Malta the increase will be statistically insignificant – a fraction of a percentage point.
Again if you think that our culture and our traditions can’t sustain that minority, then it’s our culture our traditions, and certainly our self-confidence, that need to be strengthened.
PEOPLE THINK THAT WE’RE ALL ALONE, THAT WE’VE BEEN ABANDONED BY EUROPE
Yes Europe should help out more, but we also need to keep things in perspective.
Luxembourg and Cyprus get more refugees than we do and they have never received any help from Europe for relocation of refugees.
We on the other hand have had help to relocate 2000 of them and since 2007 have received €86 million in aid.
PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT IMMIGRANTS ARE A STRAIN ON OUR
WELFARE SYSTEM
Quite frankly I’d rather have my tax money go towards saving lives and helping these unfortunate people, than towards paying fines for breaking international law – the latest fines amounted to €60,000.
DUBLIN 2
Yes the responsibility for irregular immigrants should be borne by all of the European Union but for this to happen a change needs to be made in the European Union regulations known as Dublin II (also known as the Dublin Convention).
Malta is a signatory of this convention which says that immigrants are the sole responsibility of the country that they first enter; that their asylum application needs to be processed there, and if granted, they cannot legally leave that country.
A change needs to be made so that it becomes possible and legal for immigrants to move to another country, other than the one they land in, either for the processing of their refugee status, or even to be reunited with family etc.
Stamping our feet, panicking the public with false numbers and threatening inhumane treatment as well as breaking international law, will NOT get us there.Even if it did, we’d have too much blood on our hands, to sleep well at night.