We Need to go Beyond Sponsoring Syrian Refugees

We Need to go Beyond Sponsoring Syrian Refugees

I just want to clearly state I have no problem at all with Canada helping Syrian or any other refugees.  My heart breaks for all the families whose lives have been torn apart and changed forever by the violence in Syria and in other countries.  Living in a refugee camp is not really living at all.  But I believe that we need to go beyond sponsoring refugees in order to solve the refugee problem.

First of all, we need to carefully look at our own government.  Are our own governments’ policies helping to cause the crisis?  Nations, like Canada, Great Britain, and the United States, must stop acting on our ethnocentric views and begin to act with integrity.  We must stop interfering in these countries national policies.  We must stop selling arms to countries such as Saudi Arabia who support terrorist groups.  Providing weapons and other supports enables these despots to start civil wars on their fellow countrymen or sell the weapons to other countries.  Nothing will change until we first world nations look at our actions and responsibilities in causing these problems.

Next, Canada needs to change its immigration policies.  When our government accepts immigrants to Canada they are usually wealthy and educated individuals; people who will be able to pay their own way and not be a burden on the system. Just because you live in poverty does not mean your life has no value or nothing to offer.  And if we continually take their top talent and educated minds, who are we leaving behind to rebuild their country?  Are there people who are technically savvy and educated enough to make decisions for millions of people?  Perhaps we should look at bringing in some refugees on a temporary basis.  While providing respite from the unrest in their country, Canada could be educating them in skills such as economics, globalization, agriculture, conflict management skills, etc. Then, once a level of peace has been restored to their home country, they can go back in a leadership role and help with rebuilding it.  Giving them the tools and skills to help solve the problems that led to the crisis and a way to re-imagine their future will improve the standard of living for the whole country and thus prevent another crisis.

Unfortunately, the number of refugees around the world that we can help is just a drop in the bucket.  Millions of refugees will not get the help they deserve or need.  So how do we help the ones left behind?  I believe that Canada reprising its Peace Keeper role would be an important first step.  We should also enlist other countries to become Peace Keepers instead of war makers. By de-escalating conflict, Peace Keepers would ensure that there were safe zones in war torn countries where global aid, such as food, clean water, shelter, medical supplies, etc. can get through to the people who need it most.  Providing a safe zone in their own country would also prevent refugees from making the arduous, often life-threatening journey to other countries while lessening the economic and political impact on the sanctuary country. 

We need to approach the problem or war and refugees in new and different ways in order to help more people.  By empowering displaced persons to help rebuild and solve the problems of their own country we may see real and lasting change in the refugee crisis.