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Children of Kosovar asylum seekers in a London hotel. |
Let me tell you a story about some modern day economic migrants.
The flights are booked. The courtesy apartment is waiting fully furnished. The private school places are confirmed and the tax-free salary is earmarked. How did you guess I'm not talking about Iraqi or Afghan migrants coming into Europe? On no! This is our own brand of economic migrant: Mr and Mrs Middle England and Jenny and Joe en route for Riyadh and a job for Dad in an oil company. Why do they leave the loving arms of the motherland? Because they want to better themselves, of course. They are prepared to live in compounds and survive on homemade alcohol with the odd trip to the souk (market) for the Missus and family visits to the desert. They are prepared to keep their heads down and earn. Two years in the Gulf translates into a better house, a better car, better schools and a better life.
For those who can't stomach Saudi at any price, Australia is open to anyone who can stump up the deposit or Canada or New Zealand or anywhere. The world is your oyster when you have a British passport.
Of course, if you are an Afghan and you want to better yourself, transport is a little more primitive. You drum up the deposit and hand it over to your neighborhood people trafficker and then wife, kids, luggage and all, you pile into a jeep then a leaky ship and you're off. Any sacrifice would be worth it because at the end is your dream. You heard about it from Ahmed who went before. A welcoming country with merciful people and the chance to earn an honest living for anyone who is prepared to wait.
The money you would get while you are waiting would be more than you can earn in months at home. There would be a spacious home, maybe even a garden, free school for the kids. You'd be able to see the doctor whenever you like. All you have to do is say you're an asylum seeker and you're in. Never admit you're an economic migrant. That's the ultimate crime. Britain chooses her economic migrants carefully. They have to be white with small families and rich.
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| Afghani asylum seekers in the UK |
This is the brotherhood of man where each life is equal to a life. According to one refugee map, the top three refugee countries of origin for Britain were Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia. Others were from Sri Lanka, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Sierra Leone and China.
Another map shows country size morphed to represent their generosity in taking refugees. So you find a giant Iran and Pakistan with 1.9 million and 2 million a piece and a teeny Australia with 58,000.
Remember the fuss they made about the Afghan souls in sinking boats jumping the queue? “Why don't they go off to Indonesia,” they wailed, “or Norway or back where they came from? Persecution, my foot!” This was from an Australian nation that is only one or two generations from UK and Irish migrations.
The giant of Europe is actually Germany, who took 906,000 during this period in 2001 whilst Britain took a modest 150,000, but I hear that Britain has come on a bit since then. Many are reported to be very keen on the UK as a destination, especially Iraqis and Afghans.
As we have seen from the Sangatte stories, there are people willing to die to hitch a lift on the Eurostar to Blighty's paradise or so we like to tell ourselves.
But we're doing our bit.
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| Iraqi asylum seekers in Australia |
Meanwhile, resources and goods float around the globe as if they had diplomatic passports. The US pulls out all the stops to ensure that there is a free flow of goods, usually theirs going east and resources coming west. Such policies ensure that farmers and workers of the southern hemisphere barring some notable exceptions (sit down Oz) remain poor and desperate and dependant on handouts and aid which comes with certain strings attached.
Thou shalt have only three children!
Thou shalt sow this crop here!
Thou shalt use this fertilizer and this pesticide!
Thou shalt keep thy religion on the back burner!
Just to ensure the job gets done, they have their client rulers in place carrying a big stick keeping order and discipline for them. They are not averse to torture if need be and so the wayfarers, the consequences of our policies (and when I say we, I don't exempt British Muslims) wend their way to our shores and what a welcome, what a welcome they receive!
Into the lift! A bit smelly I know. Ooops! Mind the syringes! I know that broken pushchair's been there for ages. Thirteenth floor actually. Oh don't mind him! Just the local wit. The graffiti? Not to worry. It'll wipe off. Well here we are, and isn't the view spectacular and you've got all your essentials? Only one shop on the estate actually, I'm afraid. Mostly an off-license actually but they do have the basics. Come to think of it, they're Muslim too. That'll be nice for you. No, I'm sorry, they don't take vouchers.
Come over to the window. The view is really marvelous. There you are. Sighthill Glasgow. Bit like Paradise, really, isn't it?
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