learn more about refugees and asylum, and share what I learn

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7816611.stm

I don’t understand.

I don’t understand how people can be kidnapped, thrown into Guantanamo Bay, get interrogated and tortured, finally proven to be innocent all along – and not be given public apologies, compensation, citizenship, and protection. Where’s the fucking shame?

but the article on refugee is a good example of the less positive side of Wikipedia – it’s bloated and needs some serious editing, full of emotive, biased language. I did read the whole of it – it’s as good a starting point as any I guess.

One thing that was good about it was, it directed me to read about several things I didn’t know about: the Nansen passport; the Flight and expulsion of Germans during and after WWII; Operation Keelhaul; and Australia’s Pacific Solution. These are all topics I need to do more research on, as Wikipedia is hardly comprehensive and reliable.

But another thing that struck me about the Wikipedia article on refugee was the numbers. Most of them in tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands. Every one a life. A person. Like you and me.

I am so lucky – I still have a chance to make something of my life.