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Let Them In | Archana Dhinakar Bala | TEDxYouth@HCIS


[Applause]

[Applause] sixty five point three million forcibly

sixty five point three million forcibly

sixty five point three million forcibly displaced twenty one point three million

displaced twenty one point three million

displaced twenty one point three million refugees and of these a measly 170,000

refugees and of these a measly 170,000

refugees and of these a measly 170,000 resettled these are the numbers don’t

resettled these are the numbers don’t

resettled these are the numbers don’t from decades ago not from the first or

from decades ago not from the first or

from decades ago not from the first or the second world wars these are the

the second world wars these are the

the second world wars these are the figures from 2015 hardly here years ago

figures from 2015 hardly here years ago

figures from 2015 hardly here years ago violence and instability have infested

violence and instability have infested

violence and instability have infested some countries and no one seems to be

some countries and no one seems to be

some countries and no one seems to be able to contain it stranded in the

able to contain it stranded in the

able to contain it stranded in the crossfire between the regime the rebel

crossfire between the regime the rebel

crossfire between the regime the rebel groups extremists and foreign troops

groups extremists and foreign troops

groups extremists and foreign troops people flee their homes in search of new

people flee their homes in search of new

people flee their homes in search of new ones they set out to find themselves a

ones they set out to find themselves a

ones they set out to find themselves a future in an unknown country they hope

future in an unknown country they hope

future in an unknown country they hope will be kind enough to host them and

will be kind enough to host them and

will be kind enough to host them and that’s where they get it wrong ladies

that’s where they get it wrong ladies

that’s where they get it wrong ladies and gentlemen the wars rage and so does

and gentlemen the wars rage and so does

and gentlemen the wars rage and so does an international debate on the people

an international debate on the people

an international debate on the people fleeing them we talk and talk and talk

fleeing them we talk and talk and talk

fleeing them we talk and talk and talk but how much do we really know our

but how much do we really know our

but how much do we really know our refugees really so undesirable will

refugees really so undesirable will

refugees really so undesirable will helping them mean hurting ourselves for

helping them mean hurting ourselves for

helping them mean hurting ourselves for a long time now refugees have been

a long time now refugees have been

a long time now refugees have been considered a burden to nations their

considered a burden to nations their

considered a burden to nations their pitiable condition is not denied but

pitiable condition is not denied but

pitiable condition is not denied but they are seen as harbingers of nothing

they are seen as harbingers of nothing

they are seen as harbingers of nothing but trouble there is shown closed doors

but trouble there is shown closed doors

but trouble there is shown closed doors by most we think that we understand the

by most we think that we understand the

by most we think that we understand the plight of these people that we would

plight of these people that we would

plight of these people that we would help them if we could the stories of

help them if we could the stories of

help them if we could the stories of refugees and articles videos and

refugees and articles videos and

refugees and articles videos and pictures don’t feel to move us but when

pictures don’t feel to move us but when

pictures don’t feel to move us but when it comes down to actually welcoming them

it comes down to actually welcoming them

it comes down to actually welcoming them to our lands we find ourselves at a dead

to our lands we find ourselves at a dead

to our lands we find ourselves at a dead end we see that we have our own problems

end we see that we have our own problems

end we see that we have our own problems to worry about

to worry about

to worry about that they will put more pressure on our

that they will put more pressure on our

that they will put more pressure on our already flailing economies that they

already flailing economies that they

already flailing economies that they will drain our resources that when we

will drain our resources that when we

will drain our resources that when we don’t have enough for ourselves

don’t have enough for ourselves

don’t have enough for ourselves how are we going to share

how are we going to share

how are we going to share we see that they will steal our jobs

we see that they will steal our jobs

we see that they will steal our jobs that there are terrorists in disguise

that there are terrorists in disguise

that there are terrorists in disguise these widely prevailing beliefs are

these widely prevailing beliefs are

these widely prevailing beliefs are further propagated by the media and

further propagated by the media and

further propagated by the media and nationalist politicians but are these

nationalist politicians but are these

nationalist politicians but are these really the facts or are they just are

really the facts or are they just are

really the facts or are they just are biased misconceived perceptions let us

biased misconceived perceptions let us

biased misconceived perceptions let us take a look at the examples of two

take a look at the examples of two

take a look at the examples of two countries two countries that are in the

countries two countries that are in the

countries two countries that are in the thick of things and have as much in

thick of things and have as much in

thick of things and have as much in common as chalk and cheese Germany

common as chalk and cheese Germany

common as chalk and cheese Germany probably the most famous first refugee

probably the most famous first refugee

probably the most famous first refugee policy has allowed over a million

policy has allowed over a million

policy has allowed over a million refugees to cross over its borders under

refugees to cross over its borders under

refugees to cross over its borders under the leadership of Angela Merkel in 2015

the leadership of Angela Merkel in 2015

the leadership of Angela Merkel in 2015 alone Germany welcomed more refugees

alone Germany welcomed more refugees

alone Germany welcomed more refugees than the entire European Union had in

than the entire European Union had in

than the entire European Union had in 2014 if refugees really are such a

2014 if refugees really are such a

2014 if refugees really are such a burden then how is Germany going to

burden then how is Germany going to

burden then how is Germany going to manage such a large influx of them what

manage such a large influx of them what

manage such a large influx of them what is the rationale behind this with

is the rationale behind this with

is the rationale behind this with declining birth rates and an

declining birth rates and an

declining birth rates and an increasingly aging workforce of an

increasingly aging workforce of an

increasingly aging workforce of an average age of over 46 Germany is

average age of over 46 Germany is

average age of over 46 Germany is desperately in need for a young

desperately in need for a young

desperately in need for a young population of both skilled and unskilled

population of both skilled and unskilled

population of both skilled and unskilled laborers and believe it or not it has

laborers and believe it or not it has

laborers and believe it or not it has found its solution in these very

found its solution in these very

found its solution in these very refugees a few thousand miles away lies

refugees a few thousand miles away lies

refugees a few thousand miles away lies Lebanon a tiny country that shares its

Lebanon a tiny country that shares its

Lebanon a tiny country that shares its borders with Syria it experienced an

borders with Syria it experienced an

borders with Syria it experienced an increase in its population by more than

increase in its population by more than

increase in its population by more than one third after over a million Syrian

one third after over a million Syrian

one third after over a million Syrian refugees crossed over into its borders

refugees crossed over into its borders

refugees crossed over into its borders and increased by one third let’s think

and increased by one third let’s think

and increased by one third let’s think about that for a moment for Germany that

about that for a moment for Germany that

about that for a moment for Germany that would mean taking in more than 30

would mean taking in more than 30

would mean taking in more than 30 million refugees and for the United

million refugees and for the United

million refugees and for the United States more than a hundred million

States more than a hundred million

States more than a hundred million mind-boggling isn’t it the entry of such

mind-boggling isn’t it the entry of such

mind-boggling isn’t it the entry of such a large number of Syrians initially had

a large number of Syrians initially had

a large number of Syrians initially had a very rocky effect on the Lebanese

a very rocky effect on the Lebanese

a very rocky effect on the Lebanese economy almost leading to an existential

economy almost leading to an existential

economy almost leading to an existential crisis and threatening to death upset

crisis and threatening to death upset

crisis and threatening to death upset the delicate sectarian

the delicate sectarian

the delicate sectarian balance in the economy however with aid

balance in the economy however with aid

balance in the economy however with aid from the United Nations High

from the United Nations High

from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other

Commissioner for Refugees and other

Commissioner for Refugees and other organizations the Lebanese situation has

organizations the Lebanese situation has

organizations the Lebanese situation has witnessed a drastic improvement in early

witnessed a drastic improvement in early

witnessed a drastic improvement in early 2017 the International Rescue Committee

2017 the International Rescue Committee

2017 the International Rescue Committee reported that over 84 percent of the

reported that over 84 percent of the

reported that over 84 percent of the refugees resettled by them in Lebanon

refugees resettled by them in Lebanon

refugees resettled by them in Lebanon had become self-sufficient in less than

had become self-sufficient in less than

had become self-sufficient in less than six months in fact they were giving back

six months in fact they were giving back

six months in fact they were giving back to point 1 $3 for every dollar that had

to point 1 $3 for every dollar that had

to point 1 $3 for every dollar that had been spent on them so what we can see

been spent on them so what we can see

been spent on them so what we can see from these two examples is that

from these two examples is that

from these two examples is that economies and societies around the world

economies and societies around the world

economies and societies around the world are vastly different from each other we

are vastly different from each other we

are vastly different from each other we could see that in Lebanon the entry of

could see that in Lebanon the entry of

could see that in Lebanon the entry of refugees was initially a burden on the

refugees was initially a burden on the

refugees was initially a burden on the economy

economy

economy however aid from different organizations

however aid from different organizations

however aid from different organizations helped the situation developing

helped the situation developing

helped the situation developing countries often tend to see a few G’s as

countries often tend to see a few G’s as

countries often tend to see a few G’s as a burden at least in the short term on

a burden at least in the short term on

a burden at least in the short term on the other hand developed countries such

the other hand developed countries such

the other hand developed countries such as Germany are the ones with greater

as Germany are the ones with greater

as Germany are the ones with greater ability to invest in and integrate these

ability to invest in and integrate these

ability to invest in and integrate these refugees into their societies and ensure

refugees into their societies and ensure

refugees into their societies and ensure that they have a positive impact on all

that they have a positive impact on all

that they have a positive impact on all if given the opportunity refugees can

if given the opportunity refugees can

if given the opportunity refugees can contribute a society in numerous ways

contribute a society in numerous ways

contribute a society in numerous ways the unskilled laborers fill gaps in the

the unskilled laborers fill gaps in the

the unskilled laborers fill gaps in the industries and take up jobs that

industries and take up jobs that

industries and take up jobs that allowing locals to do jobs that they

allowing locals to do jobs that they

allowing locals to do jobs that they would rather prefer skilled workers

would rather prefer skilled workers

would rather prefer skilled workers don’t actually steal all many all that

don’t actually steal all many all that

don’t actually steal all many all that many jobs rather if guided by the

many jobs rather if guided by the

many jobs rather if guided by the government and given the right skill

government and given the right skill

government and given the right skill building sessions they can be guided

building sessions they can be guided

building sessions they can be guided into the right workforce that needs them

into the right workforce that needs them

into the right workforce that needs them the most aging populations such as

the most aging populations such as

the most aging populations such as Germany facing demographic challenges

Germany facing demographic challenges

Germany facing demographic challenges can benefit from the younger composition

can benefit from the younger composition

can benefit from the younger composition of refugees and of course refugees

of refugees and of course refugees

of refugees and of course refugees become taxpayers directly contributing

become taxpayers directly contributing

become taxpayers directly contributing back to society in a recent interview

back to society in a recent interview

back to society in a recent interview I am golden a world renowned economist

I am golden a world renowned economist

I am golden a world renowned economist address these positive impacts that

address these positive impacts that

address these positive impacts that refugees can have

refugees can have

refugees can have the ability of refugees to give to

the ability of refugees to give to

the ability of refugees to give to society depends to a certain extent on

society depends to a certain extent on

society depends to a certain extent on their capabilities and their

their capabilities and their

their capabilities and their characteristics but most importantly it

characteristics but most importantly it

characteristics but most importantly it depends on the aid and policies that

depends on the aid and policies that

depends on the aid and policies that receive them

receive them

receive them if the refugee crisis and the debate was

if the refugee crisis and the debate was

if the refugee crisis and the debate was purely about the economic viability of

purely about the economic viability of

purely about the economic viability of hosting refugees then there wouldn’t

hosting refugees then there wouldn’t

hosting refugees then there wouldn’t really be too much of a debate but the

really be too much of a debate but the

really be too much of a debate but the world isn’t such a simple place is it in

world isn’t such a simple place is it in

world isn’t such a simple place is it in recent times the most prominent bias

recent times the most prominent bias

recent times the most prominent bias against refugees seems to be the idea

against refugees seems to be the idea

against refugees seems to be the idea that they are dangerous people several

that they are dangerous people several

that they are dangerous people several politicians have made statements saying

politicians have made statements saying

politicians have made statements saying that allow allowing refugees to come

that allow allowing refugees to come

that allow allowing refugees to come into their countries would be giving

into their countries would be giving

into their countries would be giving free entry to potential terrorists these

free entry to potential terrorists these

free entry to potential terrorists these statements are rather and founded and

statements are rather and founded and

statements are rather and founded and not supported by any statistics this may

not supported by any statistics this may

not supported by any statistics this may come as a surprise to many but according

come as a surprise to many but according

come as a surprise to many but according to an analysis by the Cato Institute in

to an analysis by the Cato Institute in

to an analysis by the Cato Institute in Washington DC the probability of an

Washington DC the probability of an

Washington DC the probability of an American dying because of a refugee in

American dying because of a refugee in

American dying because of a refugee in the United States is 1 and 3 point 6 4

the United States is 1 and 3 point 6 4

the United States is 1 and 3 point 6 4 billion let me say that again

billion let me say that again

billion let me say that again 1 in 3 point 6 4 billion so we have all

1 in 3 point 6 4 billion so we have all

1 in 3 point 6 4 billion so we have all these ideas all these facts and figures

these ideas all these facts and figures

these ideas all these facts and figures but what do they really tell us they

but what do they really tell us they

but what do they really tell us they tell us that if given the right

tell us that if given the right

tell us that if given the right environment and support education

environment and support education

environment and support education employment and enterprising

employment and enterprising

employment and enterprising opportunities then refugees can and will

opportunities then refugees can and will

opportunities then refugees can and will positively impact both the society and

positively impact both the society and

positively impact both the society and the economy but what is it that we can

the economy but what is it that we can

the economy but what is it that we can do firstly it is of utmost importance

do firstly it is of utmost importance

do firstly it is of utmost importance that we realize the tref yuji’s are no

that we realize the tref yuji’s are no

that we realize the tref yuji’s are no different from any of us they were just

different from any of us they were just

different from any of us they were just the unlucky ones to be born in the wrong

the unlucky ones to be born in the wrong

the unlucky ones to be born in the wrong place at the wrong time

place at the wrong time

place at the wrong time all they want is another chance to live

all they want is another chance to live

all they want is another chance to live live a life in which they can do more

live a life in which they can do more

live a life in which they can do more than just try to stay alive try to be

than just try to stay alive try to be

than just try to stay alive try to be happy maybe

happy maybe

happy maybe to everyone watching I see reflect on

to everyone watching I see reflect on

to everyone watching I see reflect on the numbers what does they really tell

the numbers what does they really tell

the numbers what does they really tell us it’s time that we renewed the bond

us it’s time that we renewed the bond

us it’s time that we renewed the bond that we all share a bond of humanity

that we all share a bond of humanity

that we all share a bond of humanity that we may have forgotten it’s time we

that we may have forgotten it’s time we

that we may have forgotten it’s time we refreshed our perspectives understood

refreshed our perspectives understood

refreshed our perspectives understood what we believe in and why it’s time we

what we believe in and why it’s time we

what we believe in and why it’s time we realized that the humanitarian appeal

realized that the humanitarian appeal

realized that the humanitarian appeal and the pragmatic one are not mutually

and the pragmatic one are not mutually

and the pragmatic one are not mutually exclusive rather two sides to the same

exclusive rather two sides to the same

exclusive rather two sides to the same coin letting them in can be more than an

coin letting them in can be more than an

coin letting them in can be more than an act of kindness it may explain economic

act of kindness it may explain economic

act of kindness it may explain economic sense so to everyone watching

sense so to everyone watching

sense so to everyone watching I tell you listen to the numbers read

I tell you listen to the numbers read

I tell you listen to the numbers read the facts understand the crisis let them

the facts understand the crisis let them

the facts understand the crisis let them in thank you

in thank you

in thank you [Applause]

”

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