BritCits

Easter links

Halting immigration 'would cost UK £18bn in five years'.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/halting-immigration-would-cost-uk-18bn-in-five-years-8555344.html

The economic benefit of immigration to the UK is revealed today in a report showing that halting net migration would cost every taxpayer in the country £137,000 over their lifetime.

Analysis of Office for Budget Responsibility figures by the Migration Matters Trust reveals that if net migration were stopped tomorrow, the UK's net public sector debt would rise from 74 per cent of GDP to 187 per cent within the next 50 years – higher than Greece's current national debt of 161 per cent.
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EU warns Cameron over 'knee-jerk xenophobia'. Employment commissioner condemns prime minister's speech.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/30/eu-cameron-xenophobia-immigration

"There is a serious risk of pandering to knee-jerk xenophobia," he said. "Blaming poor people or migrants for hardships at the time of economic crisis is not entirely unknown, but it is not intelligent politics in my view.

Of course, such overblown rhetoric can and will cause real hurt. This isn't a game. http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/rip-i-was-afraid-something-like-this.html
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Italian tradition of ‘suspended coffee’ takes hold elsewhere in tough economic times.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/25/italian-tradition-of-suspended-coffee-takes-hold-elsewhere-in-tough-economic-times/

Can’t afford coffee? No matter. In Bulgaria, an old Italian tradition that sees good souls buying hot drinks for those who struggle to make ends meet has taken hold after weeks of tensions over deepening poverty.

More than 150 cafes across Bulgaria have joined a goodwill initiative modelled on the Italian “caffe sospeso” tradition, which literally means “suspended coffee”, according to a Facebook page devoted to the movement.

https://twitter.com/MigrantVoiceUK tweets :
Naples to Bulgaria to USA to UK those pesky #migrants spreading kindness!
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MPs of all parties need to choose their words wisely before stoking fears on immigration.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/31/immigration-politicians-dont-stoke-fears

https://twitter.com/sturdyAlex tweets :
The UK has the largest expatriate population of any European country. They are, of course, not mentioned by Cameron.
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https://twitter.com/MigrantVoiceUK tweets :
Church leaders speaking out for the poor and migrants! -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21987497 https://twitter.com/BishopDudley
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https://twitter.com/PeterGraystone tweets :
Grant Shapps says he understands poverty like a vicar. But post-surgery he goes to Westminster. Vicar goes with needy person to a food bank.
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https://twitter.com/BishopDudley tweets :
My parable was about how we meet the risen Jesus in the person with no shoes. Guess this Easter we will meet Jesus in the #Foodbank
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https://twitter.com/MigrantVoiceUK tweets :
Migrant voices from Scotland! 'We're helping the economy': Irina Dinoci, 20, from Romania
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/education/were-helping-the-economy.20661727
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https://twitter.com/vmantouvalou tweets :
Let's face up to reality: people migrate because migrant labour is in demand' says Europe's @CommissionHR
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/29/eu-watchdog-britain-shameful-rhetoric-migrants
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https://twitter.com/emmabmoussa tweets :
Can't make no sense of this Burden on the taxpayer, ATM Hubble looks after me 4 free, take him away and the public pay 4 my care nd my sons!

Dee's story makes the same point :
http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/dee-and-ozan-he-has-supported-me-and-my.html

https://twitter.com/emmabmoussa :
exactly good example we become a burden because we are forced in 2 single parenthood, if our husbands were here no need for benefits
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UK human rights blog, weekly smorgasbord of human rights news.

http://ukhumanrightsblog.com/2013/03/31/abu-qatada-rise-of-the-secret-court-and-the-european-question-the-human-rights-roundup/
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https://twitter.com/gerardhearne tweets :
@TheresaMayMP @Mark_J_Harper What God hath joined together let not man put asunder
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Joan Rivers seized by UK border guards as she films new TV show… after they mistook her for an illegal immigrant.

http://www.arthurmcdonalds.com/joan-rivers-mistaken-for-an-illegal-immigrant-whilst-filming
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The Irish high court judgement of Raducan & Anor -v- MJELR & Ors   [2011] IEHC 224 illustrates EU free movement rights denied, and serious consequences following from that.

http://eumovement.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/free-movement-denied/

From http://eumovement.wordpress.com/ , an interesting blog on free movement in Europe.
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Christian church opens doors to Muslims.

http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/news/article/2642/christian-church-opens-doors-to-muslims
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The week that was at Beijing Cream.

http://beijingcream.com/2013/03/week-in-review-03-31/
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"We are powerful and we will soon be dominant": Golden Dawn's intimidation in the courtroom.

http://www.newstatesman.com/austerity-and-its-discontents/2013/03/we-are-powerful-and-we-will-soon-be-dominant-golden-dawns-inti
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Golden Dawn's "national awakening" sessions.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/charlemagne/2013/03/greek-politics

Now Golden Dawn is targeting pupils at primary schools. Its official website recently hosted pictures of neatly-dressed 6 to ten-year-olds, accompanied by parents, at a  “national awakening” session held  at a Golden Dawn branch office outside Athens. The session included a discussion on “the Olympian gods, the ancient Greek pantheon and the Christian faith". More such lessons are planned, says the party.

Shocked educators and commentators drew comparisons with propaganda methods used in Nazi-era Germany and by the military junta that ruled Greece in the 1970s. Golden Dawn was defiant. “You’re bothered by us teaching Greek history? …We’re going to write it, too”, shouted Dimitris Koukoutsis, one of 18 Golden Dawn lawmakers, during a rowdy exchange with left-wingers in parliament. 
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Trying to get through: Hungarians send video messages to Prime Minister.

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/03/31/trying-to-get-through-hungarians-send-video-messages-to-prime-minister/
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Russians can't agree on Berezovsky's suicide.

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/03/27/russians-cant-agree-on-billionaires-suicide/
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Fractures in the Beaufort Sea! Huge.

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=80752
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