MIGRATIONS

NOTION 2: MIGRATIONS

I would like to tackle the theme of migrations. I will discuss on this theme through the notion of spaces and exchanges. The history of mankind has always been influenced by migrations. People have emigrated for various reasons over the centuries. But what comes to mind first are security reasons: they try to escape from poverty or warfare; they flee a native country where fundamental liberties are in danger (due to dictatorship, censorship); they run away from various kinds of persecution. These asylum-seekers are sometimes so desperate to reach another country that they are ready to take huge risks and even live as illegal aliens. But the prospect of more opportunities, more jobs, more security and a higher quality of life tops the risks. Today immigrants can have different faces, from the students or scholars who have been attracted by high-quality qualifications, to the refugees who try to cope with the culture of their host country.

To get the point, we’ll have to understand what drives people to cross borders . I will concentrate on the empty spaces, then I will analyze people who run away. Finally, I will speak about people who want to find a better environment to live/work.

Firstly, people cross the borders in order to populating empty spaces. A company calls « Canadian Pacific » sells farms with land with the aim of attracting people in unoccupied spaces.Moreover it’s important for the next generation to start in good conditions.That why British farmers with children were necessary for the next generation. This ad was created to promote farm life in Canada, to convince farmers to come to Canada, to attract them with prospects, guarantees, with the promise of a better life. Canada established at the end of XIX and XX century « Open Door Policy ». It allowed to populate the empty spaces of Canada, feed the population, farm the land, grow crops, to improve the economy of the country. Also to help the country become wealthier more powerful and raise taxes. This « Open Door Policy » was a success because hundreds and thousands of British came and settle in Canada. It was for British farmers of moderate capital because they spoke english and they were able to buy the farms and material to start because they had experience.

To continue, people whose cross borders can want to run away. They can wanted to escape from their country and for that they are ready to take huge risks. The first text is an extract from the novel « Sapphira and the slave girl » written in 1940 by Willa Cather explain this situation. Rachel the daughter of Henry wants to help the slave girl who’s called Nancy to escape to Canada because it’s an abolitionist country. The characters are speaking about the planned route but they’re not all agree on the plans because it’s dangerous they risk death, it’s illegal.

Sometimes, they tried to escape from the poverty, the bad conditions . They are ready to do everything. The second document is an extract from Enrique’s Journey written by Sonia Nazario. The story take place in Honduras. The characters are Enrique who’s 5 years old, Belky his sister who is seven and his mother Lourdes, 24 years old. They are destitute they live in bad conditions. Lourdes wants to leave in order to find a job. If she finds it she will be able to help her children with the money she had earned. She decided to leave for the USA.

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