Welcome to the TRES International Book Club!

This book club is meant for you to enjoy at your own pace to absorb what you read about pressing refugee issues. We have a recommended reading trail to help break the book up into easy to digest sections.

We invite you to post your observations, comments, questions and revelations at any time on this discussion forum to learn more about the issues and to raise awareness.

Please sign up for the book club officially with an e-mail to the.refugee.experience.series@gmail.com with "book club" in the subject box. (This is a separate e-list from the TRES e-list, which only promotes our events when we have one.) Once an official member of the book club, you will receive periodic e-mails informing you when new forum comments have been posted, updates on notable book club members, as well as other noteworthy news.

Absolutely amazing what people go thru when they become refugees; so far, the reading of Human Cargo gives one a picture of the circumstance. Can’t fathom why someone would want to do such cruel acts to another human being – as described in the book…?

But beyond that, I’m pondering exactly what Caroline Moorhead was getting at with the story of the torture victim and the cow? Of course you cannot bring cattle into your therapy sessions in any office building in NY. So what’s the point of this Prelude? Is she trying to illuminate the psycho trauma that refugees sometimes go thru when recounting experiences? Or is it something else? Not sure.

“Dx”

Interestingly enough was Carol’s take on the human awakening from Geneva (1859) to the development of the full compliment of not only international organizations designed to procure humanitarian rights, but the growth of how society now accepts them. With me, there’s ambivalence with the scenario: on one hand – it is great to know that such ideals are well accepted. But on the other, is the fact that it took not only so long, but it always seem that a near complete catastrophe has to happen before the human consciousness wakes up. The other dimension is that this still seems to happen today.

But, in spite of all its misgivings, it is still a marvel of marvels to see an institution like the UN High Commission for Refugees working on this scenario. Just think, for most of the time in Human history – nothing like it ever existed. So, in many cases, the global community is fortunate.

My only big question seems to be: what’s the difference between a refugee and a internally displaced person? Seems to me, if the country is big enough, then both would be considered displaced persons….?????

What's the difference between a refugee and an internally displaced person?

Article 1 of the Convention defines a refugee as a person who is outside his or her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his or her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself o the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution.

Asylum seekers are described by the UN as someone who has made a claim that he or she is a refugee and is awaiting the determination of his or her status. The term contains no presumption either way - it simply describes the fact that someone has lodged the claim. Some asylum seekers will be judged to be refugees and others will not.

There is no legal definition for an internally displaced person as there is for a refugee. However, a United Nations report, Guiding principles on Internal Displacement by Francis Deng uses the definition: Internally displaced persons are persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognized State border.

Economic migrants are said to move for financial or personal reasons and not reasons of persecution or war. In Human Cargo, the author Caroline Moorehead also talks about the extremes economic migrants from Mexico go through to escape poverty. I get the sense that she doesn’t think there is much distinction between the three categories of migrant populations…there’s a basic need to improve their desperate life situation. It’s my interpretation that definitions of who is in what category and deserving of consideration and admittance or assistance is purely political and has always been according to world history Ms. Moorehead has pointed out.

I found it extremely interesting and surprising to learn that among the Mexicans, other groups of people attempt to enter the US at the US-Mexico border such as the Turkish Kurds, Iraqis, Sri Lankans, Nigerians, and even Chinese.

Since western countries are creating stricter policies to keep immigrants out of their countries due to xenophobic fears, desperate people of the world seeking to escape persecution, war, civil conflict, and poverty are forced to find illegal means to survive and find a better life. I didn’t realize how many resort to paying Human Traffickers for assistance. It’s very sad and shocking as illegal journeys to western countries end tragically in death for a good number. This book is certainly an eye opener and very well written. I like the way the author is able to present the perspective of all sides to help the reader get a grasp on the global phenomena and reasons behind illegal immigration. It’s very difficult not to feel compassion for the people she writes about and angry by our own government’s policies.

I was quite stunned to read how proud the Sicilians were about helping extracummunicatos (or assylum seekers) with basic needs after they turn up on their shores. Or, Lampedusa for that matter. It was baffling at first because if anyone spends any time in Europe these days, one will find that countries that make up the EU, and peripherals are hardening their immigration policies to the max. Also, there are cultural tension between settled people and their native counter parts in countries like Holland, Belgium, and France. A lot of this tension is based on persons considered unwanted and not willing to acculturate. To make things worse, were the incidences of the murder of Dutch film maker Theo Van Gogh – “murdered by Mohammed Bee,” the street riots in France, and the 7 July bombings in England. And if those weren’t bad enough, there is always good-old Sept 11 and the rejection of the EU constitution to fall back on. Governments used these issues well to portray the immigrant populous as an interfering force.
However, the reading consequently gets real. The modern era of Silvia Berlusconi - and the now hard right party in Italy - that have just about abolish asylum laws, and hardened immigration policies that it is virtually impossible to get any such status in Italy or Sicily. Now that the EU union is taking a similar stance, one has to assume that their policies won’t change anytime soon.

Bonsoir friends,

This Friday is World Refugee Day. In Washington, DC (or rather in Silver Spring, Maryland) The Refugee Experience Series will honor this day with a dinner & discussion event with a fun role play activity for dessert! If you're in the area, come join us!

The Refugee Experience Series
Honors
World Refugee Day – June 20

The United Nations General Assembly designated June 20 as World Refugee Day to recognize and celebrate the contribution of refugees throughout the world. Since 2004, World Refugee Day has become an annual commemoration marked by a variety of events in over a hundred countries. This year, events around the world will focus on the fundamental need for protection.

Protection is also about raising awareness. We cannot protect refugees if their plight remains invisible. On World Refugee Day, The Refugee Experience Series will turn our attention to the millions of refugees who live without material, social and legal protection.

Join us on June 20 as we have fun highlighting the universal nature of refugee protection through a dinner, discussion, and role play event at A Taste of Jerusalem, a lovely Palestinian restaurant. The evening's dinner discussion will focus on Human Cargo: A Journey Among Refugees by Caroline Moorehead as a springboard for dialogue on the issue of refugee protection.

We hope you can join us and look forward to seeing you at this casual, enlightening event in the Washington, DC area. The Refugee Experience Series seeks to raise awareness of the plight of global refugees. Help us promote awareness by passing this event forward and inviting your friends to join you.

What: World Refugee Day Dinner
(Dinner, discussion, and role play event)

When: Friday, June 20 at 7 p.m.

Where: A Taste of Jerusalem
8123 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 495-3067

RSVP: PLEASE send us an e-mail by Wednesday night, June 18 at the.refugee.experince.series@gmail.com if you plan to join us. We need to provide a head count to the restaurant for a group reservation.

Getting there via public transport:

Redline Metro to Silver Spring stop.

Upon exiting the station, walk to right side up steps towards the red brick building (Eleven – Ten Bonifant building).
Walk down Bonifant St. then turn right on to Georgia Ave.
Walk a couple of blocks. You'll find the restaurant across the street, across from the fire house. (5 min. walk from the Metro)

Did you know...
"In the year 2000, 33 of the world's 41 most indebted countries lay in Africa. Forty percent of the world's refugees and 70 percent of its AIDS victims, were also African. In the early and mid-1990s, when civil war inside Liberia and Sierra Leone had turned some 7 million people into refugees, either displaced within their own countries or driven abroad into nearby ones, Guinea...had willingly absorbed one of the largest per capita refugee influxes in the world. Seven hundred thousand people--a tenth of Guinea's own population--had found shelter there, either within camps run and financed by the international community, or scattered around the country. As Guinea belongs to the West African Economic Community, Sierra Leoneans and Liberians, who also belong, are allowed to reside and work there. By the Spring of 2003, according to official UNHCR figures, 185,000 refugees were being protected and cared for by Guinea, though the true figure, including new arrivals and those who for one reason or another had not been registered, was certainly far higher. Of all those now crossing over from Liberia and Sierra Leone, 70 percent, over two thirds...were under the age of eighteen." ~Caroline Moorehead, Human Cargo: A Journey Among Refugees (188)

Although we are wrapping up the book, you should consider reading it if you haven't yet. It's a very insightful book.