Blogger’s Unite is an attempt to harness the power of the blogosphere to make the world a better place. It asks bloggers to write about a particular subject on 1 day of the month, a single voice can be joined with thousands to help make a difference; from raising awareness for cancer, to an effort to better education systems or supporting 3rd world countries.
What is Asylum?
Asylum is a form of protection granted to individuals in the United States who have been persecuted or fear they will be persecuted on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Individuals who meet this definition of a refugee and who are already in the United States or who are seeking entry into the United States at a port of entry may qualify for a grant of asylum and be permitted to remain in the United States as long as they are not barred from either applying for or being granted asylum. Individuals who are granted asylum are eligible to apply to adjust their status to that of a lawful permanent resident.
In Jamaica right now their is a steady influx of refugees that pour into the country by way of "Haiti." The Jamaican government is concerned about a possible massive arrival of Haitian refugees fleeing violence in the country. It is happening now. These people are seeking something better. The violence and poverty has literally crippled their country. They have left love ones to seek so many other countries to call their homes.
In the United States the refugee camp at the U.S. Naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba, where the U.S. warehouses more than 15,000 Haitian refugees, has become "increasingly tense and prison-like," according to the Haiti Commission. In Cuba these people are also treated like, "dogs" and imprisoned, (men, women and even children).
A coalition of Miami - based Haitian community advocates and a Jamaican - based organization in 2005 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) pledging to work together.
The agreement is as a result of the growing number of Haitian nationals who
have gone to Jamaica since Feb. 2004, when political turmoil led to the
ouster of Haitian President Jean - Bertrand Aristide.
With the recent Hurricane (that has crippled Jamaica as well) Paloma and the disaster that killed all those innocent school children in PETIONVILLE, Haiti, the country is on the brink of extinction if it doesn't get help soon.
Jamaica is a country that does not have much in resources itself, however one thing that people have always said about Jamaica is the way its people (as little as they have) will make you feel welcome.
Thousands of Haitians fled to Jamaica in the mid-1990s after Aristide was ousted in a military coup. Many were housed in U.S. relief ships docked in Kingston’s harbor.
Here are some other resources:
Aotearoa-New Zealand Refugee Services
http://www.refugeeservices.org.nz/
United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrant Children
http://www.refugees.org/
Church World Service Immigrant & Refugee Program
http://www.churchworldservice.org/Immigration/index.html
Women's Commission for Refugee Women & Children
http://www.womenscommission.org/
Additional Links/Resources
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/protect?id=3b8265c7a
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugees
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statelessness
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2001/road_to_refuge/default.stm
These people have survived war, displacement, hunger, disease, sexual assault, ....they are a part of our world, this is why we should care.
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing this.
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