Thoughts on // Immigration

With the recent opening of British borders to Romanian and Bulgarian workers, there has been much media attention to the so called 'issues' of immigration and a desperate fear of a sudden influx of job-snatching Eastern Europeans flooding our borders. In reality this is of course a far fetched outcome and here the Daily Telegraph even admit to the lack of immigrants that have arrived at UK borders since the new regulations have been put in place. The whole nation seems to be in denial of the blindingly obvious positive impact immigration has already had on our country. Of course it is always easier to have someone else to blame for your own misery, but the fact of the matter is immigrants from Eastern Europe are not to blame for Britain's economic and unemployment issues.

People are quick to point the finger and accuse these migrants of taking "our" jobs. Yet sometimes workers come and set up their own businesses creating more jobs, and sometimes they do the jobs we don't want to do, or ones that allow our economy to run more efficiently. Ultimately in a nation of declining population, immigrants strengthen the UK workforce. It's not one for one, sometimes one equals three new jobs plus tax revenue. And sometimes it doesn't, but Britain is a multi-cultural nation whose population need to wake up and be proud of this fact. Economics aside, we should be grateful that we have generations growing up in a place where acceptance is a skill we can all learn, as well as being able to learn from each other. Different should not be a word we are afraid of.

Me & Mum

My own life has given me strong feelings about immigration; my mum originally comes from Munich in Germany, and having this as part of me is something I am extremely proud of. When I hear people condemning these "goddamn immigrants taking our jobs and benefits" I feel angry at this ignorance our society breeds. My mum has not come over to England to just "scrounge off the state", and has instead worked, created a businesses, a family and a loving environment in which me and my brother could grow up in. As an immigrant and a part of multi-cultural Britain, she has in my opinion given back just as much as any other citizen, and in some cases perhaps even more.

This beautiful video of spoken word by Hollie McNish really sums up the positive reality of immigration.

Nelson Mandela, Freedom Fighter.

Today the world has lost one of its greatest real-life heroes; Nelson Mandela, a man of great spirit, a symbol of hope and an influential figure in the struggle against racism. His legacies reach far beyond the borders of his native South Africa and there is no doubt his ideas of equality and peace will continue to inspire many generations to come. I can only say that I am honoured to share my lifetime with such a powerful icon, politician and freedom fighter.
 

http://guardianlv.com/

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

Nelson Mandela

Next stop....the World!

The World.

Big place huh.

When people use to say to me so what do when you grow up I would say that I wanted to travel the world. I wanted to explore it. People never seemed to get it. Instead of dreaming of a life as a vet, a teacher, a doctor, pop star; I dreamt of becoming an explorer, venturing boldly and bravely across the globe to the new and exciting, making discoveries to make the explorers of times past I so idolised smile in their places of rest. Oh you mean exploring like studying plants dear? no...but love, they've discovered all the countries already...

I know this of course. And that to be an explorer like those I spent my childhood obsessing over [instead of focusing on whatever my humanities teacher was actually saying] is impossible. But we can have a dream right? Well mine is to travel the world, to see and enjoy as much of our wonderful planet as humanly possible.

Everyone deserves a dream, something to fuel excitement, imagination and inspiration. Something to hold promise and hope. Something for when you want to give up to make you carry on. And who knows, maybe one day I can realise my dream, but for now I can imagine and lust after a life of absorbing new cultures, sights, countries, people, cities, foods, streets, landscapes...

Here's to dreaming, our planet and to the future.

[P.S. Please feel free to comment your own aspirations or travel wishes! I love reading every one of your comments.]