{"id":3976,"date":"2020-09-10T03:08:47","date_gmt":"2020-09-10T01:08:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/weekly.uhm.org.mt\/?post_type=article&p=3976"},"modified":"2020-09-10T03:08:47","modified_gmt":"2020-09-10T01:08:47","slug":"il-hajja-umana-hija-prezzjuza","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"http:\/\/weekly.uhm.org.mt\/en\/article\/il-hajja-umana-hija-prezzjuza\/","title":{"rendered":"Human life is precious"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

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The\u00a0<\/span>human<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>cost<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>border<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>policies<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>has<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>been<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>made<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>painfully<\/span>\u00a0real.\u00a0<\/span>When<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>people<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>die<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>trying<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>cros<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>borders<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>response<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>from<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>politicians<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>almost<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>always<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>same<\/span>. They\u00a0<\/span>say<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>they<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>shocked<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>saddenned<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>but<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>they<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>carr<\/span>y<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>on<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>as<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>usual<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Words<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>sympathy<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>do<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>not<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>make<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>routes<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>travel<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>safe<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>legal<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>or<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>stop<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>policies<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>will<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>leave<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>so<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>many<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>others<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>same<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>fate<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>evidence<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>has<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>been<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>clear<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Border<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>policies<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>problem<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>whereas<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>safe<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>legal<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>routes<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>one<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>solutions<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Individuals<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>who<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>cross<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Mediterranean<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>seek<\/span>\u00a0a\u00a0<\/span>better<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>future<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>must<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>not<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>make<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>deathwishes<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Deaths<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>avoidable<\/span>\u00a0but\u00a0<\/span>still<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>politicians<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>push<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>on<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>with<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>making<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>it<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>near<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>impossible<\/span>\u00a0for\u00a0<\/span>people<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>reach<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>European<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>shores<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>thing<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>if<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>we<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>not<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>stigmatising<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>migrants<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>we<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>blaming<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>smugglers<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>who<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>depicted<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>as<\/span>\u00a0a\u00a0<\/span>group<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>can<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>be<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>held<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>responsible<\/span>\u00a0for\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>whole<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>problem<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>However<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>this<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>not<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>excuse<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>damage<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>done<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>by<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>smugglers<\/span>\u00a0but\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>put<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>this<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span>\u00a0a\u00a0<\/span>broader<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>context<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Where<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>governments<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>have<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>shut<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>down<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>safe<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>legal<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>routes<\/span>,\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>many<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>people<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>have<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>no<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>option<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>No<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>one<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>would<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>choose<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>pay<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>large<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>sums<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>money<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>make<\/span>\u00a0a\u00a0<\/span>dangerous<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>journey<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span>\u00a0a\u00a0<\/span>dinghy<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>if<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>they<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>could<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>pay<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>much<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>less<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>pay<\/span>\u00a0a\u00a0<\/span>f<\/span>erry<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Several<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>people<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>who<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>trying<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>reach<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Europe<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>from<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Libya<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>likely<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>have<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>crossed<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>thousands<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>miles<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>land<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>sea<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>make<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>it<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>even<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>that<\/span>\u00a0far.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Our<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>country<\/span>\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>debate<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>on<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>illegal<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>immigration<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>has<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>not<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>been<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>allowed<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>approximate<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>truth<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>So<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>we<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>have<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>explain<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>these<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>people<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>human<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>beings<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>encourage<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>others<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>imagine<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>if<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>it<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>were<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>them<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>What<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>would<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>it<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>be<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>like<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>flee<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>your<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>country<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>because<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>war<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>or<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>persecution<\/span>?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>loss<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>life<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Mediterranean<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>make<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>headlines<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>we<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>pity<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>unfortunate<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>souls<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>while<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>same<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>anti-asylum<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>anti<\/span>-immigrant\u00a0<\/span>rhetoric<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>policies<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>remain<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>same<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More\u00a0<\/span>will<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>die<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>like<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>this<\/span>. More\u00a0<\/span>children<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>adults<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>It<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>does<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>not<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>have<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>be<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>this<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>way<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Movement<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>can<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>be<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>made<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>safe<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>legal<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>easy<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>However<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>change<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>has<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>begin<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>with<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>recognising<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>borders<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>problem<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>not<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>solution<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  The\u00a0human\u00a0cost\u00a0of\u00a0border\u00a0policies\u00a0has\u00a0been\u00a0made\u00a0painfully\u00a0real.\u00a0When\u00a0people\u00a0die\u00a0trying\u00a0\u00a0to\u00a0cross\u00a0borders,\u00a0the\u00a0response\u00a0from\u00a0politicians\u00a0\u00a0is\u00a0almost\u00a0always\u00a0the\u00a0same. They\u00a0say\u00a0they\u00a0are\u00a0shocked\u00a0\u00a0and\u00a0saddenned\u00a0but\u00a0they\u00a0carry\u00a0on\u00a0as\u00a0\u00a0usual.\u00a0 Words\u00a0of\u00a0sympathy\u00a0do\u00a0not\u00a0make\u00a0routes\u00a0of\u00a0travel\u00a0safe,\u00a0legal\u00a0or\u00a0stop\u00a0the\u00a0policies\u00a0that\u00a0will\u00a0leave\u00a0so\u00a0many\u00a0others\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0fate.\u00a0 The\u00a0evidence\u00a0has\u00a0been\u00a0clear.\u00a0Border\u00a0policies\u00a0are\u00a0\u00a0the\u00a0\u00a0problem\u00a0whereas\u00a0safe\u00a0and\u00a0legal\u00a0routes\u00a0are\u00a0\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0\u00a0solutions.\u00a0Individuals\u00a0who\u00a0cross\u00a0the\u00a0Mediterranean\u00a0to\u00a0seek\u00a0a\u00a0better\u00a0future\u00a0must\u00a0not\u00a0make\u00a0deathwishes.\u00a0Deaths\u00a0are\u00a0avoidable\u00a0but\u00a0still\u00a0politicians\u00a0push\u00a0on\u00a0with\u00a0\u00a0making\u00a0it\u00a0near\u00a0impossible\u00a0for\u00a0people\u00a0to\u00a0reach\u00a0\u00a0European\u00a0shores.\u00a0 The\u00a0thing\u00a0is\u00a0that\u00a0if\u00a0we\u00a0are\u00a0not\u00a0stigmatising\u00a0migrants\u00a0we\u00a0are\u00a0blaming\u00a0smugglers\u00a0who\u00a0are\u00a0depicted\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0group\u00a0that\u00a0\u00a0can\u00a0be\u00a0held\u00a0responsible\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0whole\u00a0problem.\u00a0However\u00a0this\u00a0is\u00a0not\u00a0to\u00a0excuse\u00a0the\u00a0damage\u00a0done\u00a0\u00a0by\u00a0smugglers\u00a0but\u00a0to\u00a0put\u00a0this\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0broader\u00a0context.\u00a0Where\u00a0governments\u00a0have\u00a0\u00a0shut\u00a0down\u00a0safe\u00a0and\u00a0\u00a0legal\u00a0routes,\u00a0\u00a0many\u00a0people\u00a0have\u00a0no\u00a0option.\u00a0No\u00a0one\u00a0\u00a0would\u00a0choose\u00a0to\u00a0pay\u00a0large\u00a0sums\u00a0of\u00a0\u00a0money\u00a0to\u00a0make\u00a0a\u00a0dangerous\u00a0journey\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0dinghy\u00a0if\u00a0they\u00a0could\u00a0pay\u00a0much\u00a0less\u00a0to\u00a0pay\u00a0a\u00a0ferry.\u00a0 Several\u00a0people\u00a0who\u00a0are\u00a0trying\u00a0\u00a0to\u00a0reach\u00a0Europe\u00a0from\u00a0Libya\u00a0are\u00a0\u00a0likely\u00a0to\u00a0have\u00a0crossed\u00a0thousands\u00a0of\u00a0miles\u00a0of\u00a0land\u00a0and\u00a0sea\u00a0to\u00a0make\u00a0it\u00a0even\u00a0\u00a0that\u00a0far.\u00a0Our\u00a0country\u2019s\u00a0debate\u00a0on\u00a0illegal\u00a0immigration\u00a0has\u00a0not\u00a0been\u00a0allowed\u00a0to\u00a0approximate\u00a0the\u00a0truth.\u00a0So\u00a0we\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0explain\u00a0that\u00a0these\u00a0people\u00a0are\u00a0human\u00a0beings\u00a0and\u00a0to\u00a0encourage\u00a0others\u00a0to\u00a0imagine\u00a0if\u00a0it\u00a0were\u00a0them.\u00a0What\u00a0would\u00a0it\u00a0be\u00a0like\u00a0to\u00a0flee\u00a0your\u00a0country\u00a0because\u00a0of\u00a0war\u00a0or\u00a0persecution?\u00a0\u00a0 When\u00a0loss\u00a0of\u00a0life\u00a0\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Mediterranean\u00a0make\u00a0headlines\u00a0we\u00a0pity\u00a0the\u00a0unfortunate\u00a0souls,\u00a0while\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0anti-asylum\u00a0and\u00a0anti-immigrant\u00a0rhetoric\u00a0and\u00a0policies\u00a0remain\u00a0the\u00a0same.\u00a0\u00a0 More\u00a0will\u00a0die\u00a0like\u00a0this. More\u00a0children\u00a0and\u00a0adults.\u00a0It\u00a0does\u00a0not\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0this\u00a0way.\u00a0Movement\u00a0can\u00a0be\u00a0made\u00a0safe,\u00a0legal\u00a0and\u00a0easy.\u00a0However,\u00a0the\u00a0\u00a0change\u00a0has\u00a0to\u00a0begin\u00a0with\u00a0\u00a0recognising\u00a0that\u00a0\u00a0borders\u00a0are\u00a0\u00a0the\u00a0problem\u00a0not\u00a0the\u00a0solution.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3972,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"spay_email":""},"issuem_issue":[181],"issuem_issue_categories":[9],"issuem_issue_tags":[],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"2.8.8","language":"en","enabled_languages":["mt","en"],"languages":{"mt":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/weekly.uhm.org.mt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/3976"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/weekly.uhm.org.mt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/weekly.uhm.org.mt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/weekly.uhm.org.mt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/weekly.uhm.org.mt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3976"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/weekly.uhm.org.mt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/3976\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3978,"href":"http:\/\/weekly.uhm.org.mt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/3976\/revisions\/3978"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/weekly.uhm.org.mt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/weekly.uhm.org.mt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3976"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"issuem_issue","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/weekly.uhm.org.mt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issuem_issue?post=3976"},{"taxonomy":"issuem_issue_categories","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/weekly.uhm.org.mt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issuem_issue_categories?post=3976"},{"taxonomy":"issuem_issue_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/weekly.uhm.org.mt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issuem_issue_tags?post=3976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}