The World is on Fire
Where there is smoke ...
The world is on Fire. And, like with any conflagration, when people smell smoke - they head for the exits. I’m writing this today, March 25th, the anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New York City in 1911. An infamous tragedy that killed 146 people, most of them young girls, who their employer had locked into an unsafe building in which the exits and stairwells were locked - “to prevent unauthorized breaks and prevent theft.” Many jumped to their death to avoid being burned to death.
The most recent data from “Developed Countries" (OECD)1 shows that over 6 million new permanent immigrants sought a better life in 2022. That tiny number represents legal immigrants.
The World Bank claims the number of international migrants increased by 60 million over the last decade, which is 3.6% of the global population. That number doesn’t reflect many of those in transitional status, like the nearly five million Ukrainian Refugees forced to flee, the two million displaced Palestinians (many still trapped inside Gaza), and the eight million Venezuelans forced by extreme poverty and political unrest to flee. And the list goes on into mindnumbing territory.
Developed Countries—we throw that term around loosely, frequently, but what does that really mean? The collective population of 1.38 billion people on the good side of the equation enjoy an average life expectancy of 80 years, against a global average of 30. If you are over 30 years of age and living in a good place, you have already won life’s lottery. Let that number sink in for a moment; I promise not to bury you with any more.
Migration is an effect; the causes are complex. From war, terror on the streets, extreme poverty, economic opportunity, and climate change, take your pick. All are threads woven into the tapestry of modern life, one that blankets us all. But migration itself is becoming the issue of the decade, a boon and bedevilment shaping the political landscape. The welcoming arms of European compassion are closing, and the “refugee crisis” at the southern border of the United States threatens to become the defining issue for a pass-fail election about Democracy itself.
How you feel about immigration is likely either a reflection of your experiences, a digestion of the media you inhale, or a little of both. The Hollywood moment that floats to my mind is the movie “Titanic,” the abandoned ship/lifeboat scenes. Or the reality of all those young people jumping from eight stories up to escape the horror of a sea of flames. Whatever your political leanings or core values are, the raw truth is that each of us will be affected by this mass movement of humanity. It’s only a question of time before you smell the smoke.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development is a 38-member intergovernmental organization founded in 1961.
Well said, Rustam. I sent a link to an interesting article from The Economist, sorry I can’t seem to figure out a way to do it here. It makes reference to an American academic studying impacts of immigration on voters. I think his gist is that immigration issues don’t “energize more liberal-thinking people, but conservatives get “highly motivated” by them, leading politicians to push their buttons.
“Strong feelings” can be both positive and negative. I feel immigration builds immunity, strengthens problem solving, and creates a more just society for everyone. However, as we saw with the recent Portuguese elections, some view immigration as threatening to their world view and way of life.
It’s always easy to “otherize” another group, either ethnic, religious or political. Creating an “Us vs them” narrative is the oldest political trick in the book. Unfortunately, we’re seeing a rise in Europe of its use. Italy, Sweden, Holland, France and now Portugal. It makes me sad.
We’re all human, and all want safe and decent lives.