tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24900977.post2605115331476557126..comments2024-01-26T23:15:06.335+02:00Comments on Northern Light – chilled thoughts from the top of Europe: Sociology from the desertToby - Northern Light Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342195033125549912noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24900977.post-59541125606302312442008-03-03T14:00:00.000+02:002008-03-03T14:00:00.000+02:00There's a very good documentary by Spanish film-ma...There's a very good documentary by Spanish film-maker called "en el camino" about a group of Nigerians who make it to Spain by walking - yes walking - from Nigeria to Ceuta, crossing into Spanish territory by swimming round the perimeter fence and then they attempt to get through the immigration process in Spain. <BR/><BR/>Their journey takes something like 6 months and they are by no means wealthy when they set off from Nigeria. I think one of them said he left home with 50 dollars. I'm not sure if there's a version with English subtitles but its well-worth watching if you can find one. <BR/><BR/>My own limited experience suggests they may be a mix of naivité and otherwise. Last year I spent two weeks in Senegal and, when I said I live in Spain, was met with a number of different responses. One guy showed me a boat which was used to traffic people to the canaries. He told me he would never do it - even though he has a wife and children to support - because too many people die. Another guy looked at me wide-eyed and asked if it was a wonderful place. <BR/><BR/>I also met a very smart and sassy 18-year-old girl who was keen on getting a western boyfriend and seemed well-aware of the practicalities, "I could come and visit you in Spain; you would have to sort out the paper work with the embassy". <BR/><BR/>On the other side of the world, I read a couple of years ago in the New York Times that a people trafficker has been elected to Mayor of a village in El Salvador. His popularity is built on his success smuggling people into the US. <BR/><BR/>Like you say, the truth is almost certainly more complicated than the broad-brush summaries make out.Dan Greaveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931251004532125500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24900977.post-39360672019292893812008-02-02T15:38:00.000+02:002008-02-02T15:38:00.000+02:00Very interesting... always good to get a challenge...Very interesting... always good to get a challenge to the orthodoxy. I imagine she must get some rather hostile receptions if she speaks at Unis and academic conferences. Though those could be my own narrow preconceptions at work ;)Quizbohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02515562036171132088noreply@blogger.com