Refugee Mistreation Information

Refugee Rights

Human Rights

Identify & Get Informed

A definition given by the UN refugee agency UNHCR, states that a refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country due to persecution, war, or violence. Consequently, the refugee’s return to his or her home country is prevented because of the fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion and membership in a particular social group. Sadly, refugee rights have only gained global recognition in the last few decades alongside the overall advent of the concept of general human rights.

Despite the recent spotlight on refugee rights and the well-being of refugees, there are still individuals who do not acknowledge that refugees are in need of basic protection and safe refuge. As a result, millions of refugees are refused legal entry on a daily basis. Moreover, public policies have the capacity to direct public attitude whether we like it or not. Restrictive mandates like the Dublin Regulations are an example of policies that fuel the popular misconception that refugees are unwanted and should not be given the option of a safe haven. Such regulations impose the need for refugees to have legitimate visas and various other documents, without taking concern for the special circumstances of refugees.

To learn more about the Global Issues’ Guide-to-Action model used for this issue click here


Lead & Get Others Involved

Bosnian national Jelena Silajdzic was just one of thousands of refugees that managed to escape with their families from Sarajevo to the Czech Republic during the breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the early nineties. She was working in the Czech film industry at the time which helped her safely secure a way for her husband, two children and herself to come to Prague. Being a refugee herself, Jelena decided to create an organization that could contribute to developing Czech society and its attitude towards multiculturalism and ethnic diversity, which she felt was still being taunted by hints of xenophobia and the fears of "foreigners."

Thus came the birth of Slovo 21 in 1999, which is an non-profit organization that organizes cultural events and educational projects aimed at supporting the integration of refugees and providing particular media support to refugees living within the Czech Republic. Such programs that Jelena has taken the initiative for and created along with Slovo 21 are the “Days of Prague Culture” and the “Days of Sarajevo Culture” which are both annual week-long events that bring together thousands of Bosnian, Czech artists, families and affiliates to celebrate their respective culture through photo exhibitions, film screenings and music productions. Slovo 21 is also responsible for an annual publication called “Family Next Door” which is a medium that shares pictures, life stories, thoughts about integration and perspectives of refugee families within in the Czech Republic.

If you have lead others to get involved in making an impact on the issue of child labour or any other global issue, let the rest of the TakingITGlobal (TIG) community know by writing your own TIG member's story and inspire others to create change just like you!


Get Connected

Now that you’re inspired to lead others on this global issue check out these links to learn more about how you can get involved with this issue.

Participate in a letter exchange program with refugees around the world with, RESPECT, a refugee education sponsorship program.

Organize a Benefit concert and find other ways to get involved with the Invisible Children Organization

Subscribe to KAIROS' monthly newsletter and learn more about KAIROS’ efforts to reunite refugee family members.


Plan and Get Moving

So how are you going to share this global issue with others? Many people are often dumbfounded by the unrealistic belief that they alone cannot bring any change by themselves. The excuse of “I’m just one person, what can I really do to help?” is truly faulty on account of the fact that there are so many opportunities to inspire nowadays with the introduction of social networking and online blogs.

Here are some things that you can do on TIG:

• Create a petition or make a commitment raise awareness on refugee rights
• Start a TIG group or a project dedicated to informing and empowering young people in your community and around the world about trends in refugee rights like the recent abuses to refugees by Greek border patrol, or about the refugee children in areas on ongoing conflict like the Congo and Somalia
• If you’re not sure how to start a conversation around this issue, connect with other TIG members on our discussion boards.
• Check out TIG’s Action Guides to learn how to make the action you want to take on this global issue a reality.

Here’s what else you can do:

• You can work within student-run/student-led groups and associations and engage in advocacy for refugee rights/protests/campaigns.
• You can get in touch with your local political representative and express your concerns about how you government is dealing with refugee rights-related issues.
• Watch refugee rights-related videos on Youtube to get a sense of what refugee camps are like. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVGTb4gtJTU
• You can become a member of an International organization that takes action on refugee rights and engage in activities like letter writing campaigns, vigils, public demonstrations, email petitions and awareness-raising concerts to rally support for refugee rights.

This is simply the beginning for there is a world of opportunities for you to plan and get moving on. So what are you waiting for? Get Moving!

Have a Lasting impact

Learning about a new global issue is only the first step to developing the skills you need to have a lasting impact. So let the rest of TIG know what kind of change you want to see with the issue of Refugee Rights by joining us in one of our online discussions described below.

Are refugees a burden to the host country that takes them in?

Should border regulations be more compassionate towards refugees?

Should the state of refugees be a top priority to national/international governments within our local communities?

References

Slovo 21: Integration of Freign Nationals. Web Address: http://www.slovo21.cz/en/index.php?id=rodiny2004

Radio Praha Czech Republic: A Second Homeland. Web Address: http://www.radio.cz/en/article/58580/limit

Have something more to add to what we’ve discussed above? Then check out this global issue’s wiki page to have your say! (wiki)

Ideas for Portfolio Work

Some ideas for my portfolio:

--> I decided that i wanted to incorporate the letter that i wrote to Andy about allowing laptops at schoool.
--> This would be classified as 'an unnecessary law, or a law that hinders progress or productivity'
--> It would be from a personal perspective; my own perspective at school.
--> From a local/national perspective an example could be the issue with the Shariah law system.
--> From a global perspective an example i could use is the issues with ethical laws that prevent biological/stem cell research or cloning etc...

--> Gender issues maybe
--> Animated, fictional interview
--> Man who wants to do girl things/vice versa

--> Refugee issues maybe
--> Use 'District 9' movie as an example

Project Ideas

One idea for my project is that i could make an animation, or a series of images with music and narration. Or one that tells a story. Though, i may not do this because my skills may not be sufficient.

Step Two

Step two of our recent patent project:

Step Two:

1. What is a patent?

A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted by a state to an inventor which provides the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, offering for sale, or importing the patented invention for a set amount of time.

2. What is the intentional purpose of patents?

Patents are made o encourage scientists and inventors to make discoveries, because they can keep property of it and profit from sales of it.

3. How long does a patent last? Can a patent be renewed (extended)?

In most countries patents last for twenty years and an annual fee must be paid on or around the anniversary or filing the patent to continue holding the patent.

4. Why do patents expire?

Patents expire because if patent terms were longer or unlimited patent owners could take advantage of the public by charging high prices for their products without fear of competition.

5. What are three or four controversies surrounding patents/ownership rights?

Apple holds a patent for multiple finger touch screen technology and is vowing to defend it even though other companies like Microsoft and Palm have already begun to develop products with the technologies.

Step One

Step one of our current patent project:

Step one:

1. What is a patent? What is the major benefit of holding a patent?

A patent (pronounced /ˈpætənt/ or /ˈpeɪtənt/) is a set of exclusive rights granted by a state (national government) to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for a public disclosure of an invention.

A patent provides the right to exclude others[10] from making, using, selling, offering for sale, or importing the patented invention for the term of the patent, which is usually 20 years from the filing date

{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent}

A patent for an invention is the grant of a property right to the inventor, issued by the Patent and Trademark Office. The term of a new patent is 20 years from the date on which the application for the patent was filed in the United States or, in special cases, from the date an earlier related application was filed, subject to the payment of maintenance fees. US patent grants are effective only within the US, US territories, and US possessions.

The right conferred by the patent grant is, in the language of the statute and of the grant itself, “the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling” the invention in the United States or “importing” the invention into the United States. What is granted is not the right to make, use, offer for sale, sell or import, but the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, selling or importing the invention.

{http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/whatis.htm}

It is a property right for an invention granted by a government to the inventor. A United States patent gives inventors the right “to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling their invention throughout the United States or importing their invention into the United States” for a limited time. In exchange for public disclosure of the invention when the patent is granted and for fees paid to the United States.

{http://inventors.about.com/od/inventing101patents/f/What_patent.htm}

2. What is the intentional purpose of patents?

to promote the progress of science and useful arts," and to secure "for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right

{http://www.danablankenhorn.com/2006/07/the_purpose_of_.html}

According to the Constitution, the overriding purpose of patents is to promote or stimulate the progress of science and the useful arts.

{http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/cotton-gin-patent/about-patents.html}

3. How long does a patent last? Can a patent be renewed (extended)?

Most U.S. patents have a life span of twenty years, commencing with the date of application. Patents cannot be renewed. Design patents offer protection for fourteen years.

{http://www.businesstown.com/legal/patents.asp}

In most countries the life span of a patent is twenty years subject to the payment of annual renewal fees on or around the anniversary of the filing of the patent. The renewal fees are generally only payable after the grant of the patent but a notable exception to that rule is the European Patent governed by the European Patent Office where renewal fees are paid annually from filing.

Failure to pay the renewal fee will lead to the loss of the patent and so it is important to ensure that the fees are paid on time for all those patents that are vital to your continuing business.

{http://www.novagraaf.co.uk/en/patents-home/renewals}

4. Why do patents expire?

. History

. In 1994, the U.S. Patent Law was redefined, extending the inventors' rights' duration to 20 years after the first filing. This is, in fact, an overall increase from the original 1790 original law "An Act to promote the progress of Useful Arts," which gave the inventor 14 years of ownership.

. Pros: Longer Terms

. Proponents of longer terms argue that technology in the United States would benefit from longer patent terms. Inventors would feel more incentive to work hard, knowing they would continue to receive revenues from their product for a longer period of time.

. Cons: Longer Terms

. On the down side, longer patent terms place a greater restriction on competition. If patent terms are longer, patent owners could take advantage of the public by charging inordinately high prices for their product without fear of competition.

. Patent Limits and Business

. The 20-year limit promotes the free market by allowing other companies to manufacture a product. Without term limits, patents would fuel mega-companies that could wield their advantage over other, smaller companies.

. Patent Limits and Consumers

Often, after the 20-year term ends, the competition from other manufacturers drives down prices and increases quality, thus making the product more available to consumers.

{http://www.ehow.com/facts_5171651_do-patents-expire-years.html}

5. What are three or four controversies surrounding patents/ownership rights?

THE ENOLA BEAN PATENT CONTROVERSY: BIOPIRACY, NOVELTY AND FISH-AND-CHIPS

Particularly, the group is concerned with the situation that many poor farmers face today: having to pay licensing fees to grow crops native to their regions and grown for generations that have been patented by large biotechnology and seed companies ActionAid has filed an application to patent chips (as in "fish-and-chips." Basically, French fries). If granted, ActionAid's patent would cover a ready-salted chip, called the ActionAid Chip, with a scope broad enough to potentially cover any salted French-fried potato. Because their goal is solely to draw attention to these patenting injustices, the charity has no intention of collecting licensing fees from those who infringe the salted chip patent.

{http://www.law.duke.edu/journals/dltr/articles/2002dltr0008.html}

Apple is calling out it’s rivals and vowing to defend patents it holds on multiple finger touch screen technology. That kind of talk, with Palm, Microsoft, HTC and Garmin in the cross hairs will generate a lot of scrutiny of the patents in question. Some are claiming that the patent issued to Apple was granted in error. The application did not disclose prior art from Bell Labs and others.

{http://www.delawarebusinessblog.com/?p=810}

The recent issue of Dr. Seed's human cloning project has been a heated debate, but not the only one surrounding biotechnology and biotechnology patents. The following is a review of material that tackles the controversial issues surrounding biotechnology patents RAFI has several fascinating and serious patent controversies documented on their website, the most recent (as of this writing) of which is subtitled how to "invent" a chickpea without really trying, a controversy involving the Australian seed industry's attempt to gain a monopoly on Asian chickpeas. Another interesting story is Bolivian Quinoa Claimed in US Patent, a report of how agronomists Duane Johnson and Sarah Ward of Colorado State University received US patent# 5,304,718. The patent gives Johnson and Ward exclusive monopoly control of male sterile plants of the traditional Bolivian "Apelawa" Quinoa variety and its use in creating other hybrid Quinoa varieties. Quinoa if you do not already know is a hardy, nutrient rich and tasty (I've tried it) South American grain that has been grown and developed by indigenous peoples for centuries.

{http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa980114.htm}

What we've been doing in Global Perspectives

In our first few Global Perspectives classes we talked about the meaning of the class and what kind of stuff we would be doing. We then decided on a topic to focus on for our portfolios that we would be using throughout the year. The topic we chose, after much debating, was Law and Criminality because everyone seemed the most interested in this subject.

We had a guest speaker come in named Renee Martinas. She works in the UN in a certain human trafficking division and told us a whole lot about it. Every disturbing detail.

After this we were given an assignment based upon freedom of speech and whether or not it should be legal or not. We analyzed an article and picked out information to use in debates we had in the class. We also had to make a creative piece to express our opinion on the subject.

Now we have begun learning all about patents and its pros and cons. We watched a documentary called 'Who Killed the Electric Car?' that was all about how patents could be used really badly to increase pollution. At the moment we are researching about patents to answer specific questions to help us write an essay.

...