So to follow with our discussion in class today I ask that you read this article and make an informed decision about allowing Syrians into our country.Read and think:
1) With a country on the brink of bankruptcy why would Greece allow refugees at all?
2) If the refugees are simply passing through, where are they going? Why?
3) Why is Macedonia holding things up at their border right now? Who do they blame? Why?
4) Do you think the situation is going to get better or worse for the refugees in that region in the coming months?
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/29/teargas-fired-as-refugees-try-to-breach-greece-macedonia-border
Mark this one: Greece is part of the European Union, and under EU law a request for asylum must be processed. Since Greece is the closest EU country, most refugees and migrants first choice is to pass through there. Besides, what would Greece be able to do? They can’t send them back to Austria, the coastguards are required to save them if they are drowning or sinking due to the UN and EU. The decision to allow refugees into Greece is not up to Greece. The refugees and migrants are heading to Germany or another EU country to gain asylum. Macedonia is holding up the border because they aren’t part of the EU, and are allowed to deny access. Macedonia probably sees it as, most war refugees would be content in Greece since they are now out of the war zone, so everyone wanting to enter is most likely an economic migrant. Macedonia can blame a lot of people for this issue. A mistake was made when Merkel said that Germany would accept anyone from around the world. Germany should only be accepting actual asylum seekers, and not economic migrants. Merkel had an opportunity to retract that statement, and chose not to. I believe Merkel holds a great deal of responsibility for the uproar that is happening. A thousand refugees are entering Greece each day, and if Merkel really had an open door policy, she would find a way to get them to Germany. The reality is that no country really wants the refugees, they only want to appear like they are friendly. The situation in Greece is definitely getting worse. The EU won’t be able to solve this at the next summit, since Macedonia and the other countries closing off their borders will not be attending. Merkel saying “there is no plan B” really demonstrates her ignorance. Her plan A is only making the situation worse. With no end to the Syrian Civil War in the near future, those escaping Syria can enter Greece in it’s current state, or take the dangerous journey to Italy.
ReplyDeletehttp://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/asylum/index_en.htm
http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/648702/There-is-no-plan-B-Angela-Merkel-German-admits-no-back-up-to-deepening-migrant-crisis-EU
I agree Annabelle. A lot of countries truly do open their doors just to look like they care or if this was to happen to them other countries would help them. This situation is tragic and war should not happen so people could feel safe in their own countries, however this is reality and looking at options is the only thing that people in charge can do. Weighing the pros and cons is difficult when it is deciding to safe close to an entire nation. It just sucks that this is happening and everyone should open their doors to help these people, the ones that actually need refugee
DeleteI also agree with Annabelle. I think that alot of countries around the world have only been taking in the refugees to make themselves look better. Greece is not in good shape to begin with and they are the ones who have to currently deal with the situation. Canada has only taken in 25 000 refugees when we are more than capable to take in more. I think the Canadian and US governments should get involved in this situation since the rest of Europe isn't jumping to their feet to help. This is a world issue so the rest of the world should be prepared to help.
DeleteMark this one:
ReplyDeleteI believe that Greece cannot send back or deny entry of Syrian refugees, even though they are on the brink of bankruptcy. This is because of the fact that if Greece were to send back Syrian refugees to Turkey and deny access into Europe after dangerously travelling by boat across the Aegean Sea, they risk being looked down on in very critical light if this boat sunk for being sent back or if people were killed for not being able to take refuge. Greece has also shown itself to be a very welcoming country, where 2,000-3,000 refugees arrive in Lesbos every day.
Syrian refugees travel the long route from Syria to the western-most point of Turkey, to which they then cross by boat into Greece. Then, from Greece, they will start moving north to Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary, Croatia, Austria, and Germany. This journey takes up to three months to complete, and sometimes they are split up from family members such as spouses, parents, or their children. Refugees are looking to establish a life — to find a job, finish their studies, have a family, adapt, and learn the language. They want to continue with their lives – they don’t want this situation to dictate their spirits.
After a meeting including the Balkan countries, nine countries decided to tighten border control and allow significantly less amounts of people to cross the border and take asylum. Macedonia justified its actions, saying that it wanted to boost the security of settlements and to deal more efficiently with the rising influx of refugees. As a result, thousands of refugees are stranded at the Greek border to neighboring countries – some with urgent needs to food, water, and medical care.
This situation is causing lots of problems for Greece and for thousands of refugees crossing into Europe. After being bailed out for bankruptcy from the EU for the third time, these same European countries are now allowing Greece to plummet into catastrophe by basically forcing them to hold onto refugees who all require extensive amounts of necessities and attention.
In my opinion, I think that it’s shameful that these nine Balkan countries have closed their borders. The Syrian crisis is one of the biggest humanitarian catastrophes of our time, and all countries need to band together in order to help these poor, defenseless and vulnerable people find safe ground. This crisis will not solve itself, and if these countries do not work together to find a solution to support these refugees, the problem in Syria will not only get worse, but disaster may even start flooding into European nations if this situation is not put to an end.
https://www.mercycorps.org/articles/iraq-jordan-lebanon-syria-turkey/refugee-crisis-whats-happening-ground-greece
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/macedonia-border-refugees-greece-150821193545554.html
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/23/greece-implores-macedonia-to-reopen-border-to-refugees
I agree with your views Mahshad that all countries should assist Syrian refugees. What has been going on in Syria is horrible and I agree it is one of the biggest humanitarian crisis to this date. The civil war in Syria has been going on over 4 years now and in my opinion, it's just going to get worse. Aiding the weak and vulnerable people of this catastrophe by giving them shelter, food, water, medical and equally important psychological/social care may not help the actual crisis but it's saving lives and I believe that's significant
DeleteI agree that the Syrian crisis is one of the biggest human catastrophes to happen, but I disagree that it is "shameful" for a country to close their doors to refugees when they've already taken in so many. To explain, there are only so many people a country can take in. Instead of being ashamed, a country should be proud that they took in as many refugees as possible. Instead of taking in more refugees, they should harbour them or provide departure for the refugees to another country who can afford to take them in. For example, countries like Canada and the US. By doing this, countries would be beginning to work together in order help find a solution to the situation.
DeleteMark this one:
ReplyDeleteGreece has been letting millions of refuges into Europe for a few years now because ever since 2005 they have been governed by pro-European liberal parties, and in 2015 a party that describes themselves as “Marxist-Leninists” took power, both ideologies that tend to not believe in border patrol or security. The Greek people are becoming increasingly unhappy toward the refugees which are shown by Golden Dawn a party that openly attacks non-Greeks and describes themselves as neo-Nazis coming in 3rd place in the 2015 election.
The refugees are not staying in Greece though they are almost all going to northern Europe. They are going there because in those northern European countries there is tax payer funded welfare, healthcare, etc. and they can easily take advantage of this.
As for why Macedonia is securing their border I think it is because of what the migrants leave behind when they go through a country. Macedonia might also be being requested by northern European countries to stop the flow of migrants.
I think for the migrants the situation will probably get worse but for the European peoples I think it will get better. People in Europe are slowly turning against the migrants because every day they will see a news story about how a women is raped by a group of migrants, or a child is beaten in school for being a Christian or sometimes just for being white. So if these migrants were deported or they stopped coming in then I think the average European would have a happier life, but a lot of migrants, if deported will stop getting the benefits of living in a welfare state.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/10/sexual-offence-complaints-at-cologne-carnival-quadruple-from-last-year
http://www.thelocal.de/20160229/large-majority-of-germans-want-refugee-limit
Things are going to get very interesting over there if more countries decide to close their borders. At what point do we have to step into Syria and forcefully remove Isis and get their country back on track? In the long run it would be cheaper and better for the people; wouldn't it?
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