Fuck Borders. European Shame.

This is going to be a rant on a racist Europe that kills thousands of refugees each year. To put all my cards on the table, I disapprove of borders (writing this seems as trivial as saying I disapprove of being run over by a car but as it turns out, it is not as trivial). They exist so people inside the borders don't have to deal with what is going on outside. The whole argument about people from all over the world coming to some presumably "developed" country and thus ultimately lower its standard of life, boils down to the attitude, that those who enjoy this standard of life don't want to share it. They enjoy being on the favored side of the inequality. Of course, this inequality exists with or without borders. But with borders, it's much easier not to look at it, making the people inside the borders feel good.I am aware, that the world being the way it currently is, makes the vision of a human society without borders look like a leftist, anarchist utopia (to those who lack imagination and especially to those, who in fact appreciate their borders). I'm just writing this as a primer on why borders suck in general so you don't have to point out my position, when I now continue to write, why they suck in particular.The dying of more than thousand refugees in the Mediterranean during the last week has in fact very little to do with one's stance on borders in general. Like them or not, it is apparent that people are willing to cross them at all costs, even risking their own lives. And it is also apparent, that the Mediterranean Sea is the kind of border, you either cross or you die. And the European border policy and police makes it clear, they rather see you die than crossing the Mediterranean. One could argue, this is not true, sure do the various European border guards rescue refugees in distress at sea. Oh these hypocrites. Making sure that refugees can't just take the safe ferries from Tangier or Tunis - and, instead, have to resort to overloaded, life-threatening boats - and then even getting credit for picking a few back out of the water. So what's gonna happen, if the coast guard destroys potential border crossing boats as has been proposed in the last days? Besides effectively destroying the fishing fleet of the North African countries...rubber boats! Even more distress at sea. Even more deaths.So if all the people that expressed their sorrow over the most recent catastrophes would actually mean to save lives, they would allow legal and affordable ways of entering the country. What happens then, is where my leftist anarchist vision would come in. In my world, there would be people waiting for the newcomers with music and hot tea and the newcomers could immediately do and get what everyone else is allowed to do or entitled to get. The point is, even if one disagrees with this vision and everyone would have to apply to remain in the country and the application would be assessed according to the rule of the law (as it is now - at least in theory - the case for everyone who manages to get into Europe alive. The theory-qualification is due to the fact, that more often than not, refugees are not treated according to the rule of the law and instead are being abused or deported without a fair process), people would not have to die in the sea. So all the proposals of increasing the funds for search and rescue missions aren't changing a thing, that refugees still have to resort to the dangerous sea in the first place. The green proposal to not only increase funds but also widen the area in which theses rescue missions can operate, is not an exception.Therefore, if politicians wanted to save lives, they would NOW allow everyone to legally enter Europe. History has thought us that the unconditional opening of borders from one moment to the other is possible. Compared to the saving of thousands of lives, all the problems that may arise in consequence are subordinate. Kenia, Ethiopia, Jordan, Turkey and Iran have accepted more than 500.000 refugees each. Lebanon and Pakistan more then a million. Did this cause massive humanitarian problems in the refugees camps? Yes. Still, people choose these camp over residing in countries of war, terror, torture and/or political prosecution. I am not saying that massive, slum-like camps are the best way to treat people. They are actually pretty bad. Still, the rescuing of human lives must come first.I don't see this happening, though. And as a result, I accuse those in power in Europe and everyone who supports them of racism, as the life of a foreign refugees seem to weigh less than the quality of life of people from inside the border. Secondly, I accuse the same people of complicity to murder. As had been expressed several times, the death of refugees in the Mediterranean is not only accepted, it is used as a (inefficient) tool to control borders by scaring new people from crossing the sea by boat. Thus, refugees die by purpose of the European border policy. To me, that's an act of active, fatal violence that I, lacking legal expertise but owning a common sense and some degree of sympathy, call murder. Shame on you, Europe.

Europe as a trial to overcome national thinking

Today, the election of the European Parliament started. Reason enough to outline my desired Europe. Being grown up after the second world war and inspired by different journeys within Europe, I really feel like a member of a new, European generation. To me, the term European Union doesn't only mean the possibility to live and work anywhere in the Schengen area, but the overcoming of national thinking.Having said this, I'm very concerned, that Europe is right on the way to become and elite club, excluding the rest of the world: The Fortress Europe. As a interstation on the way to real global governance, Europe must not make the same mistakes of the national countries again, just on another level. Therefore, the success of the European projects depends on its ability to be open to the world and to take international responsibility.As on every stage, human rights and sustainability must be the main criteria of European politics. I support an Europe, which finally acknowledge the right on asylum as well as the freedom of torture and which stops any discrimination of whatever minority. I support a sustainable Europe, as well in economic as in ecological terms. Both the recent economic crisis and the ongoing climate crisis thought us, that the only reasonable way of living is a sustainable one.On that account I wish, that every European take advantage of her or his constitutional franchise and vote for a party which stands for the values mentioned above.An alle deutsche: Leute, wählt Grün. Welche partei bitte sonst hat eine stimmige antwort auf die probleme der zeit? Die CDU steht für nationalstaat, abschottung und überwachung, die FDP für den komplett gescheiterten (und zerstörerischen) neoliberalismus. Der linkspartei ist vielleicht noch am ehesten nachhaltiges handeln zuzutrauen, aber die einzige konsequenz ihrer extremen europaskepzis ist eine renationalisierung der politik. Wäre noch da noch die SPD.Wirkt nicht gerade erfrischend progressiv, aber man begeht sicher auch keinen großen fehler, die zu wählen. Und eben die Grünen: Die haben nicht nur mit Ska Keller, Franziska Brantner und Jan Philipp Albrecht die einzigen deutschen kandidaten unter 30 (und damit die Generation Europa) auf aussichtsreichen plätzen, sondern bieten u.a. mit dem Green New Deal einen progressiven entwurf für das Europa von morgen.

European values end at its external borders

After the United States of America lost their integrity as an advocate for Human and Civil Rights due to gross scandals such as Abu Ghraib or Guantánamo, Europe claims to be the ideal for these values. Unfortunately, these role is nothing but a dream, only existing in speeches of ruling politicians. Apart from the discrimination against homosexuals in Eastern Europe, pogroms against Romani people in Italy among others, the EU border policy is the most embarrassing and horrible violation of Human Rights in Europe.According to official figures, 1861 refugees died during their attempt, to reach Europe. The real figure might be much higher. Frontex, the EU agency for external border security, has rightly the reputation of a brutal and inhuman authority. But not only Frontex exercise the violation of the Geneva Conventions. The national police authorities are in charge to carry out the deportation of "illegal" immigrants and failed asylum applicants. As a recent incidence in France shows, also the people who show moral courage and try to stop the deportation are in danger to be treated by the police in a violent way.A young man from Senegal should be deported to Senegal. After he was beaten into a plane, the other passengers stood up to object against the police and to force the pilot not to start. Some minutes, a unit of menacingly equipped policemen stormed into the plane, beating the passengers and arresting one of the critics. One of the passengers documented the situation with a camera.Deportation.Abschiebung eines jungen Senegalesen from opendoor on Vimeo.Europe, shame on you