Governor Jerry Brown made California the fourth state in the US on Monday to allow physician assisted dying. Yes, only the fourth, and it's disappointing that the numbers (or the lack of) overshadow the real achievement. Everyone has the right to live, and everyone should have the right to die. Of course life is sacred, but the opponents of this law must not seriously think that California's true intentions are to have a genocide. They simply just want to help those people who have no hope of a cure, and are suffering. That's it, there is no story here, Everyone is allowed to make their decisions about their life and body. If you can go and get an abortion from a professional, you should also be able to go to your doctor to die. They are there to help you and to lessen your pain. In any way possible. Of course we support that background checks must take place, and several doctors (including psychologists) should sign off before you are allowed to die. You sho
As the sun goes down on the shores of Marbella, the wind starts up, and the peaceful Mediterranean turns into a wild beast. Upon seeing this, it is easier to understand how people can drown in it, but is harder to imagine the conditions that drive the less fortunate into crossing this wide body of water.
Everyday thousands of people try to cross from Africa into Europe through the sea, but far from everyone makes it. Hundreds of people drown and disappear, and there is not much that is done about it.
Which side of the Mediterranean you were born matters a great deal.
The people on the African side are leaving everything behind (which is not much) and are setting of to Europe, where they believe that anything is possible and that they will be rich.
Marbella is located near the Southern edge of Spain, near Gibraltar. However, it is mostly know for its eloquent lifestyle, and due to how crowded it is with millionaires. Seeing luxury cars and houses is as frequent here as in the most well-off neighbourhoods of London or New York.
People are enjoying fine meals and expensive drinks, but little do they acknowledge the fact that only meters away, they are looking at one of the biggest graveyards: The Mediterranean Sea.
The boats people are trying to travel with are destined for disaster even before they start to sail. And so are the travellers aboard them. But the real tragedy is that most of these migrants have sacrificed all of their belongings so they can get across, and the illegal traffickers who get them across don't care and probably lead them to death.
As for the ones who do make it to Southern Italy or Spain, their future doesn't look so much brighter. Many of them will be deported back to Africa, but at least in a safe way. Only a few of them can stay in Europe, and even some of those are for temporary stays in shelters and camps that are frankly not very hygienic or humane. Europe can't cope with the influx, nor is anyone expecting them to do so.
While Spain is mostly exempt from the influx of boats, their enclaves in Morocco have always been targets for people who are less off. They believe if they can just enter the borders of the EU somehow they will be able to stay and be rich.
That is very far from reality, and rarely does it ever happen.
The ones who do somehow manage to stay in Europe will probably end up on the streets or be recruited to the gangs or the maffia. Either way it is not a very bright future for them. At least though, they will not be living in famine, civil wars or diseases stricken regions. But they are not in heaven either.
And as they end up in places like Marbella, the difference in lifestyles and the problem of income inequality becomes apparent.
Society has become so unequal, that only drastic changes will bring back the equilibrium, but these are very unlikely to happen, and will be very unpopular.
What is needed is a change in the mindset, through education and informing the public. What is needed is people looking out for other people, and for them to help out in any way they can. For the poor and unfortunate people, any little help can be life saving or changing!
The governments of Europe need to recognise this too and help where the source of the problem originates from: Africa. More aid and assisted help should be given to improve conditions there, so that these people can make a living in their own culture and societies, and won't feel the need to risk their lives for a slightly better, although highly unlikely future elsewhere.
If you can, please visit the UN's website that deals with the refugee crisis, and try to help them out in some way!
Please visit this link: http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c344.html
This is Part 2 of the new series: Europe in the 21st Century: Struggles and Solutions. Return for Part 3 which will be live from Budapest, Hungary at the end of August. This is an original material of Finchley 1959.
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