I believe we should double the refugee quota in NZ, not just because of Trump’s appalling decision to half America’s refugee intake, but because historically our intake has been weak and embarrassing.
As a member of the 5 Eyes, we are part of the hegemonic  military structure that bombs the countries where most are fleeing from. We aren’t bombing these people directly but we are helping target what does get bombed.
In short, we as a country have blood on our hands and an obligation and responsibility to help clean up after our carnage.
As a nation who produces a large amount of climate change emissions because of our devotion to Dairy, we have an extra obligation to start including climate refugees into out refugee quota. So let’s double the quota and that also add another 500 on top just for climate refugees.
Immigration however by the rich and property speculative is something we as a nation need to desperately put a halt to.
The stress mass immigration puts on our infrastructure, housing and social services have reached levels where the Auckland Airport is now actually gridlocked most days.
All mass immigration does is keep the speculative property bubble afloat, it does nothing for the poorest amongst NZ.
We should double and then add a bit more for our Refugee intake, but we should slash mass immigration to sustainable levels, which would be less than half of what we are currently taking in.
Free market neoliberal globalisation is not the answer and we need to force it closed by regaining our economic sovereignty while exercising our liberal values on refugees.
I’m more than a little pissed off that the Yanks interfere in the Middle East, cause untold wars, coups, fake WMD stories, and suffering, and then the rest of the world has to step in to clean up their mess. In this case taking in refugees, displaced by US-sponsored uprising in Syria.
Then Trump has the galling cheek to close their borders to the victims of US imperialism??
Fuck him.
Yes, let’s do the decent think and take in more refugees. It’s the least we can do. At the end of the day we we’re all refugees from somewhere or descended from refugees.
We should take more refugees!
… and no rich New Yorkers
…and no more wealthy Chinese or Indians
( they can sort the overcrowding and political problems out in their own countries)
… without plundering our little country …where we can’t afford housing and jobs for our own youth or tertiary education… or hospital care for the elderly and those needing ‘non- urgent’ surgery
Of course none of these people would be refugees if it weren’t for the West interfering time and time again, but then the arms trade in the US needs to keep pumping those arms out.
New Zealanders should be ashamed about their government’s refugee policy. While they allow mass immigration, for ulterior motives, that is to pump up the “economy”, they let down many desperate who seek a safe home away from where they are living in threat of life and health.
Shame on you National and ACT.
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