Nerd Church - Moving Around Europe

For those of you who live outside the UK, I can tell you that we here in Britain have a referendum coming up.

This referendum will decide whether we leave the European Union (EU) - an economic alliance of European countries.

Honestly, it's not that riveting an institution - but it is important. It allows free trade and free movement in Europe.

Unfortunately, the issue has become firmly focussed on migration. Because people don't know enough about the EU to discuss any other issue.

And also because it is, honestly, very boring stuff - and the 'sexy' issue is the migration one.

(Yeah, I know, it's not that sexy - but here's a gif of Gerard Way. And he is.)

via GIPHY

People who are citizens of countries within the EU are permitted to migrate and generally travel about within the EU without a Visa.

Migration is also an issue in the USA if Mr Trump's over-compensating statements are anything to go by (seriously, even if you build a f**king wall, Mexico isn't going to pay for it - why the hell would you think they'd agree to that? They don't have to do anything you say.)





Generally, people who dislike migrants do so because:

• Politicians use migration as a distraction - if you blame foreigners, people won't blame you.

via GIPHY

• People like to have a scapegoat to blame when things are out of their control. (E.g. the economy is bad, but it must be because of migrants that I don't have a job.)

via GIPHY

• People fear things they don't understand - like other cultures, customs, and languages.

via GIPHY

And, unfortunately:

• Some people are just bigots.

Let me explain to you a few proper, non fear-mongering facts about migration in the UK and EU:

• The migrants in the Calais jungle are not EU citizens - and the UK takes below the EU average in asylum applications.

• EU migrants contribute £2bn to the UK economy per year.

• The NHS is supported by migration. 1 in 7 migrants living in the UK are working in the health and social care sector. These people are benefiting the country.

• Irish people are EU migrants. Spanish people are EU migrants. Italian people are EU migrants. EU migration does not just mean Eastern Europeans.

• 1.2 million British-born people live in the EU. 2 million British citizens live and work in the EU.

• Between 1.2 million and 1.3 million British-born people live in Australia.

I hope that's given you a few things to think about, I'll be writing two more posts around this topic for 'Nerd Church' before the referendum on the 23rd, because it actually is an important issue.

I'll try to make the posts interesting - y'know, stick some of my patented Cee Arr flair in there, because... economics, blech!

I'll make it interesting somehow though! Please read my posts! :)

Nerd Church is a weekly post where I rant a lot discuss issues. Feel free to continue the discussion, but be respectful & link back here :) Please share if you liked this post.






Like this post? Try these:

• Nerd Church - Use Your Vote, Raise Your Voice
• Nerd Church - More Tolerance, Please?