Booklet on Refugee Resettlement in Europe

02/28/2008 ~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

Just came across mention of a booklet published by the International Catholic Migration Commission about refugee resettlement in Europe. We’ve had several readers asking about how this “durable solution” works in Europe and we didn’t know. This booklet sounds like it might be a place to start. I’m betting there is no mention of Raispail’s novel, The Camp of the Saints.

The International Catholic Migration Commission recently published Welcome to Europe: A Guide to Resettlement, which contains a comparative review of partnerships between governments and non-governmental organizations involved in resettlement of refugees in Europe.

______

The resettlement of refugees is perhaps the least known and most misunderstood of the durable solutions that offer protection to people who have fled persecution in their countries and who can neither return nor stay in the country to which they’ve fled. In fact the actual number resettled in Europe every year is limited; some 5,500 only in 2007.

______

The Guide assembles on a comparative basis and for the first time most of the information on resettlement as it is practiced in Europe.

Where to find information category: Negative Population Growth

02/06/2008 ~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

We have a category that we often neglect, but we are trying now to beef it up some with links to information you might need about refugees or immigration generally. Actually it’s also a way for those of us with old brains to keep track of information that we might normally lose in the sticky note desktop jungle.

The other day I heard a local radio advertisement for an organization called Negative Population Growth; check them out here. Some of our readers have wondered where the environmental organizations are on immigration and we have reported that the major groups are silent. This appears to be an organization that is concerned with preserving the quality of life for Americans as uncontrolled immigration puts pressure on our resources.

Vanishing American blog says we are excellent!

02/06/2008 ~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

Wow! We are very honored to have been chosen by the Vanishing American to receive this blog award! Thanks so much, all of you go over to Vanishing American and check this out and while you are there spend some time reading about the other winners. Vanishing American we think you are excellent too (see our blogroll)!

Here is my list of choices for the Excellent Blog Award.
It’s always hard to choose recipients for one of these awards; there are so many great bloggers out there, and I know I have missed some that deserve it. However, at the same time, I don’t want to overrate the importance of my opinion but I trust many of you share my high opinion of these bloggers.

Am hoping this inspires you all to go out and start a blog!

Jump Start! Special deals for special refugees

02/04/2008 ~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

I’m just going to throw this out to you. I am not a business genius, but something doesn’t look right with this JumpStart Fund outfit in Seattle. Here is some of what they say they do:

JumpStart Fund provides micro-loans and business technical assistance to help refugees and other eligible newcomers start, strengthen or expand their micro-business.

———

What services does JumpStart provide?

———

Micro-loans

Riba Free Loans for Muslim Clients

We reported to you in an October post entitled “How do refugees get businesses” that the federal government has a special loan program to help refugees start businesses. I don’t know if this JumpStart, run by a volag, is getting federal loans, maybe it’s all private money.

If they are getting federal money, here is what I’m wondering: is the federal government condoning ‘riba free’ loans? Riba is the charging of interest and is a sin according to the Koran and Haddith. So, is it possible that federal microenterprise loans are being used by some refugee agencies in a way that discriminates between refugees on the basis of religion? Where is the ACLU when you need them?

There is an entire new area of study that readers should begin to pay attention to and it’s called Sharia Finance. Check out this blog called Sharia Finance Watch to learn more. BTW, this blog is what I’ve been talking about when I say we need more research blogs.

If anyone with a business mind could look into this JumpStart Fund’s apparent sweet deal for a certain group of refugees, it would be much appreciated.