FORTRESS EUROPE

The observatory of the victims of migration towards Europe
FORTRESS EUROPE

http://fortresseurope.blogspot.com/

present

DECEMBER 2007 REPORT- Another month of tragedies: 243 migrants and refugees died trying to reach EU: 120 drowned in the Aegean, 96 off Canary, 17 along the Algerian coasts and 10 off the French island of Mayotte. At least 1,861 victims in 2007, they had been 2,088 in 2006, but the number of arrivals is clearly decreasing. Great concern over the agreement for the joint patrols signed by Italy and Libya. In the meanwhile, as the Schengen area enlarged to east, new wall are built along EU eastern borders. Online exclusive Frontex official documents with the draft budget of the agency and the complete list of its activities [...]

SPECIAL

Video: Eritreans deported from Malta and tortured

A very important documentary, made by Human Rights Concern Eritrea, with the interview of 4 Eritrean refugees who were deported from Malta in 2002 and were tortured for years once they landed back in Eritrea. Someone has been killed. Who survived denounce what happened. It’s very important to show it in this moment, as Italy has just signed, the 29th December 2007, an agreement with Libya in order to return in Libya all migrants who'll be intercepted in Libyan waters from now on. In 2006 more than 2.500 Eritrean refugees entered in Italy from Lampedusa. And the 60% of the about 10.000 application for asylum in Italy were made by migrants who reached our Country transiting in Libya, via the sea

More info at: http://fortresseurope.blogspot.com

CONFRONT HATE SPEECH

Thematic Leaflet 'How to Understand And Confront Hate Speech'

http://www.unitedagainstracism.org/pages/thema03.htm

UNITED

THE NIGHT OF BROKEN CRYSTALS

Media Release - International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism

UNITED REMEMBERS THE NIGHT OF BROKEN CRYSTALS - 9 November 2007

COMMEMORATION IN 35 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

The largest pan-European network against intolerance commemorates the night of Broken Crystals to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive and speak up about the danger of hatred in the European present days, where according to several reports, new and old forms of Antisemitism and related intolerance are growing.
The 9th of November 1938 marked the first step of the extermination of European Jewish citizens. More than 2500 deaths are attributable to this pogrom. Hundreds of Jewish citizens were beaten to death and 30 000 were deported to concentration camps.
Right-wing extremism is an increasing force in the entire continent, hate crimes against vulnerable people are turning into a permanent and invisible Night of Broken Crystals. Official and unofficial reports show that the number of hate crimes has been growing enormously during the last years. According to the European Crime and Safety Survey of the Fundamental Rights Agency, 9 million people have experienced some form of hate crimes in 18 European countries in 2004. Extreme right political parties gain influence and are elected into democratic institutions.
According to reports of the Anti-Defamation League, a large number of Europeans express anti-Jewish attitudes and refer to the classical conspiracy theories that Jewish had to endure through the centuries. It seems that lessons of the past are not painful enough to avoid intolerance in the present.
Activists from all around Europe, from Russia to Spain and from Italy to Finland, will prepare hundred of activities to warn about the danger of repeating the darkest hours of European history.

FORTRESS EUROPE

ESCAPE FROM TRIPOLI
REPORT ON THE CONDITIONS OF
MIGRANTS IN TRANSIT IN LIBYA

The deaths in the desert and in the Channel of Sicily, the tortures and rapes in detention centres funded by Italy, deportations to the Sahara, collective refoulements, the repatriation of refugees on flights paid by Rome deportations from Lampedusa, murders in police stations, the abuses perpetrated by passeurs and racist attacks in Tripoli. Everything that must not be known about the country to which Italy and the EU entrust the control of the southern border, on the eve of Frontex patrol operations in Libya in 2008, when refoulements at sea will become the norm

Download the pdf report: http://www.infinitoedizioni.it/fileadmin/InfinitoEdizioni/rapporti/REPORT_LIBYA.pdf

FAITH NO MORE!

Το catalyst mag έχει αφιέρωμα στην πίστη και στην ταυτότητα:

In Just plain folk, philosopher Michael Neumann argues that North American religiosity is stifling inclusive ethnic identities that may be centred on religious traditions but do not necessarily require religious beliefs.

In Faith no more? Hamish Macpherson expounds on the virtues of secularism. Responding to the final report of the Commission for Integration and Cohesion, he argues that successful inter-faith dialogue depends upon the inclusion of non-religious groups.

And Dal Nun Strong writes In support of stereotypes, citing Canadian sitcom Little Mosque on the Prairie in his argument that there are attractions in conforming to ethnic and religious clichés.

Catalyst also has an exclusive extract from James Hopkin's debut novel Winter Under Water, a love story across different cultures and identities. Travelling to Poland to visit Marta, Joseph finds himself on the other side of language, in a place where everything feels slowed down, a world reduced to gestures.

Finally, this week's Spotlight looks at two controversial figures who have dominated recent headlines and commentaries. One, Bernard Manning, is dead, and some people appear to wish the other, the newly knighted Sir Salman Rushdie, would join him sooner rather than later.

http://www.catalystmagazine.org/

FORTRESS EUROPE

The observatory of the victims of illegal migration
Fortress Europe
presents

June 2007 Report

154 victims at the border the last month, 7 women and 3 children. 118 off Sicily Channel; 28 on the routes to Sardinia, in Algeria; 4 in the Canary islands and 2 in the Aegean. In France a man was found dead in the truck where he travelled hidden towards England, while in Spain a 23 years old guy died during a deportation flight. Arrivals keep on decreasing in Spain as in Italy, but not in Malta. Worrying about 2.137 migrants arrested in Libya in May. Since 1988 at least 9.200 migrants died along the borders of Europe

More info at http://fortresseurope.blogspot.com