|
She has two jobs -- AND also is writing letters and calling people trying to stop the bush administration plan to deport these hard working, tax paying refugees from a volcanic island.
She can educate us all on the issues and what we can do to help these people.
In the meantime -- people check on Matcom's link to the article -- there are photographs of the devastation to the island and the condition of the HOMES that the Montserratians now living in the US.
In a nutshell -- The volcano came back to life slowly starting in 1996 and the scientists ordered an evacuation of everyone living in the southern part of the island. Homes and businesses were abandoned and a UK ship was standing by in case the whole island had to be evacuated.
People were persuaded to leave their homes and leave the island to be relocated in other countries. The US took in a very small number of refugees. This was the same island that was hit really hard by Hurricane Hugo around about 1989 -- and I am told they worked hard to recover from that natural disaster, only to be hit by the Volcano.
At the same time I don't want to give the impression that the whole island is unlivable -- the UK government has spent millions to clean up the ash after the dome collapsed in July of last year. There are still beaches and tropical forests and very nice people on this island. I am told it is a non-tourist trap sort of island. There are places to stay and places to eat -- things to do -- if you like to be on your own and explore a place that doesn't have a MacDonald's or any fast food restaurants.
This is an English colony -- so it is like visiting a Tropical bit of England.
Population before the volcano has been estimated to be between 10,000 and 12,000 people
Current population is about 4,500 -- living only in the top 1/3 of the island, which is very mountainous -- with no level spots for any serious agriculture. There are no industries on the island -- besides a slowly growing tourist industry and government work -- supported by grants from the UK.
Basically there are no homes or jobs for the people that the US now threatens to deport -- because -- get this -- the VOLCANO IS STILL ACTIVE. They didn't have any place to live last week and they won't have any place to live once they are deported to an island that is still recovering from a volcanic eruption.
My friend who is from Montserrat has been working on behalf of her country people (she is a US citizen) trying to get someone to listen -- that these people have NO PLACE TO GO. They have a life in America -- they are hardworking, taxpaying humans who deserve special consideration. They speak English -- and have merged with the American population.
She has even written Tony Blair -- asking for his attention and help on this issue.
It would seem that if we put the power of 65,000 registered DU users on this problem that we can add voices to my friend's voice.
My friend can tell us who to write email to and who to send faxes to. I would guess writing to our Senators and congressional Reps might be a place to start. She can give us additional talking points that were left out of the news article that Matcom posted.
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
