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Originally posted by jambo

i mentioned in June that one of the sons of a family i visit had been persuaded to go to europe they paid money and the man disappeared,
I asked why and he said no hope in Gambia he is always struggling, what a shame. i do think if they go through school and university or trade school they should have a job.
but i look at the other side of the coin they see people with respectable jobs who are earning a pittance of a slary, teachers and nurses, all used to be well paid but not now.

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Originally posted by jambo

it is still a pittance, but you have made the suggestion that you weretheir for gambia, why are the youths not doing the same now as you did, if the money is better

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Originally posted by leokat

Whilst on both my recent and first visits to The Gambia I spent a lot of time talking with the boys on the beaches trying make them aware of the pitfalls of trying to reach Europe this way. I was mostly listened to politely, many of the boys believed me (some had even heard the stories of deaths, being forced to return home, and losing - to them - vast amounts of money). However, I do not think that my words (as a white woman living a relatively comfortable existence) carried any real weight at all. I am in no doubt that nothing I said would have had any effect on anyone determined to take this course of action.

In my opinion it is time we in The West woke up to the reality that migration from (western) sub saharan Africa is a fact that will not go away. People have always migrated, and been prepared to take risks doing so, in an attempt to secure a better future for themselves and their families. However, it is my belief that there are factors which mean that the growth of migration from developing and poor countries to wealthy ones that started at the begining of the 21st centuary will continue to esculate until the factors underpinning it are addressed.

Whilst I was in The Gambia I saw the work being done by many charities and individuals in an attempt to 'make a difference'. One can only applaud the efforts of these people and marvel at their determination, dedication and energy. However, I believe that it is no longer sufficient for us in The West to view those in the developing world as passive recipients of charity. Continuing efforts by people such as Bob Geldof to challenge developing world poverty have gone a long way to bringing, and keeping, the issue in the public and political domain. However, Live Aid took place decades ago and I feel that a totally different approach is now needed.

Globalisation is possibly the biggest feature of 21st centuary life. Never before have we had as great access to the 'world stage.' From my house in a rural English town I can buy goods from all over the world, more cheaply than ever before from manufacturing bases in the developing world too. I can receive news as it happens via my laptop, pc, mobile, television, cable etc. I can talk and text directly and cheaply with people from all over the world via my laptop, landline, and mobile. I can buy a ticket to most places in the world relatively easily and cheaply by phone, pc, and laptop or from one of the many travel agents in my high street.

People all over the developing world also now have access to mobile phones, telivisions, DVD players and computers etc. They are being exposed daily to western values. I was amazed and saddened to see the American soap opera The Bold And The Beautiful being promoted as 'educational'(sic) on Gambian telivision.

They see us in The West, having paid a huge amount for the air ticket, lying on their beaches and spending (to them) vast amounts of money in hotels and restaurants, and on entertainments and excursions. They hear tale of our (again to them) vast wages. They marvel (as they struggle to provide for the basic needs and medical care of their families) at our welfare state and national health system. Many believe (maybe with some justification) that life in our prisons is of a higher standard than the life they are able to live. Some are in touch with us daily via mobile phone or the internet, and know first hand how greatly our day to day lives differ from theirs.

What message is all this giving to Gambians and others in the developing world? We in 'The West' are promoting a materialistic, selfish, self serving view of the world and a totally unrealistic and unsustainable in the long term (even for the majority of working class Americans and Europeans) standard of living. The developing world is begining to demand equal access to this. It is only human nature for those exposed to apparent wealth on this scale to demand their 'slice of the cake.'

It is my belief that the only way the issue of migration from countries such as The Gambia will be resolved is if the standard of living in such countries can be raised to an acceptable level. I know that there is no easy way to achieve this and I have no suggestions as to how it might be done. Equally, I am certain that, now they are aware of the 'better' life that's 'out there,' there is no other humane way to stem the flow of immigrants from countries such as The Gambia.

I was once asked if I were a person sitting on a river bank with access to a life bouy would I attempt to rescue a drowning person passing by.

Naturally I answered "yes."

I was then asked if I would do it again and again if drowning people kept coming by.

"Yes I would," I said, "as hard and for as long as I was able I would try to help."

"Would it not be better to find out why these people kept coming past me drowning and to try to do something about finding a solution to the problem rather than to keep on trying to deal with the outcome?" My questioner asked

A valuable lesson I think.

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