Yearly Archives: 2015

The era of symbolic policies

 in Kumkapi One by

I have always approved of the idea of symbolic policies and its emphasis on the symbolic power of policies rather than what their actual effect is or what any practical implication might actually be. In the case of migration studies, Massey (1999) explained that controlling migration flows is not possible for politicians due to global economic forces promoting the movement of people which lie beyond the power of national governments. In situations where popular discontent […]

Istanbul keeper of dirty secrets

 in Kumkapi One by

Istanbul — the intoxicating crossroads of east and west; Constantinople, the Golden Horn, Imperial Capital of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman Empires, the only sea route from the Black Sea through the Sea of Marmara to the Mediterranean, strategically placed on the Silk Road; now named a European Capital of Culture – Istanbul, the keeper of dirty secrets. Most of us become involved in issues when they touch us personally and I am no […]

The power of the many

 in Kumkapi Two by

The pictures in the recent news show the increasing movement of refugees towards the central and northern European states. One of the questions coming to mind when seeing the pictures of people is why now and not before? What causes these increasing movements of people? What does this mean? One of the main reasons for this migration is the devastating situation in Syria, Iraq and other states. Also, many refugees have found their forced journey […]

Apartheid

 in Uncategorized by

  So what are we looking at? Fences, BIG fences going up fast- built by convicts. Why the fences? Why STOP refugees who have no desire to stop, people who have TICKETS to RIDE out!!? Hungary’s President Viktor Orban had no problem expressing his reasons for stopping Refugees intent on reaching Germany and the promise of hope offered by Angela Merkel when he stated in Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper “We shouldn’t forget that the people […]

Behind the glorious bazaar

 in Kumkapi Two / Uncategorized  tagged Detention Centre / Grand Bazaar / Human Rights / Istanbul / Kumkapi / Tourists by

Kapali Çarsi, the Grand Bazaar, is Istanbul’s famous shopping destination for tourists from around the world, the ultimate Oriental shopping experience. Located adjacent to Sultan Ahmet, around the corner from The famed Blue Mosque, Haggia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar employs around 26,000 people and hosts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. A grand cacophony of sounds, scents and colors populated by gaily dressed visitors from all corners of the earth gaily flock […]

Children and Kumkapi

 in Uncategorized  tagged Detention Center / Human Rights / Istanbul / Kumkapi / Minors / Tourists by

Children and Kumkapi Both Turkish law and International Law through UNHCR make specific provisions for the handling of children in Detention. In Turkey, Detention Centers are termed Removal Centers, an upgrade from the term “Guesthouse”. The Turkish Law #6458. Article 59 http://www.goc.gov.tr/files/files/eng_minikanun_5_son.pdf states in paragraph (c) the best interest of the child shall be considered, and families and unaccompanied minors shall be accommodated in separate areas.  Sounds like a good plan and would be if […]

The Dublin Convention

 in Kumkapi Three  tagged Asylum Seekers / Detention Center / Dublin Convention / Human Rights / Istanbul / Kumkapi / Refugees / Tourists / Turkey by

Anywhere but Here The Wall of Deterrence has been carefully constructed by the EU. The repercussions from this wall play out hourly on major media platforms across the EU with images of desperate refugees plucked from the waters of the Mediterranean, sitting hopeless in camps, families scaling barbed wire confronted by men with clubs, all are becoming the norm.  WHY the movement now?? The cornerstone of the wall is Dublin III – established as the […]