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cover of episode Why closed borders don't work: refugee perspectives

Why closed borders don't work: refugee perspectives

2025/6/19
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Media Storm
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A
Amanda Kamanda
D
Dorsa Yavarivafa
H
Helena Wadia
M
Mathilda Mallinson
Topics
Mathilda Mallinson: 我认为媒体使用'难民危机'一词具有误导性，因为它将责任从那些实际上制造危机的政府身上转移开来。媒体常常将难民描绘成危机的源头，而我们是受害者。但事实上，如果有一个完善的系统来处理难民问题，就不会演变成危机。我更倾向于使用'流离失所危机'，因为这强调了难民是受害者，而不是危机的原因。流离失所是战争、自然灾害、气候变化等造成的，任何人都可能面临。因此，各国政府应该建立相应的支持体系，而不是忽视这个问题。 Helena Wadia: 我完全同意。许多政府故意采取敌对和低效的政策，妖魔化和犯罪化弱势群体，这才是造成混乱和危机的根本原因。现有的庇护系统似乎更侧重于阻止难民入境，或者寻找理由拒绝和驱逐他们，而不是真正帮助那些需要庇护的人。数据显示，绝大多数流离失所者实际上停留在本国或邻近的贫困国家，只有一小部分人来到富裕的西方国家寻求帮助。因此，所谓的'难民危机'或'欧洲难民危机'是站不住脚的。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter challenges the common use of the term 'refugee crisis,' arguing that it misrepresents the situation. It suggests using 'displacement crisis' instead, highlighting the systemic issues that cause displacement rather than blaming refugees. The UNHCR's data is presented to illustrate the scale of displacement and the inadequacy of global responses.
  • Over 120 million people are currently displaced globally.
  • In 2024, 25.5 million people were forcibly displaced, while nearly 10 million returned home.
  • Only 0.7% of those forcibly displaced were resettled via legal routes.
  • Closed border policies are ineffective and fail to address the root causes of displacement.

Shownotes Transcript

This week is Refugee Week, a time to celebrate the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. And here at Media Storm, we can't do it without delving into media hypocrisy when reporting on the group. Why do closed borders not work - and why, in the face of hard evidence), do politicians still continue to ignore the facts and figures on displacement? 

We’re joined in the studio by Ugandan model and transgender refugee rights activist, ⁠Amanda Kamanda⁠), and Iranian Refugee Olympic athlete, ⁠Dorsa Yavarivafa⁠). They tell us about the importance of LGBTQ+ refugee protection and the power of sport to create community. In contrast, we cover the rise of homophobia and transphobia in the West, and specifically in media coverage of migration.

After the break, we turn our focus onto the US where anti-ICE protests embody the theme of this week’s Refugee Week: ‘Community as a Superpower)’. And as we approach the one-year anniversary of UK riots after the Southport stabbing, our guests also respond to Keir Starmer’s ‘Island of Strangers’ speech. 

The episode is hosted and produced by Mathilda Mallinson (⁠⁠⁠@mathildamall⁠⁠⁠)) and Helena Wadia (⁠⁠⁠@helenawadia⁠⁠⁠)) 

The music is by⁠⁠⁠ @soundofsamfire⁠⁠⁠)

Support us on⁠⁠⁠ Patreon⁠⁠⁠)!

Follow us on⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠),⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky⁠⁠⁠), and⁠⁠⁠ TikTok)

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