Switzerland in a referendum on immigrants
One part of the society believes that the speedy growth of the population a serious problem, others feel that it is xenophobia.
In Switzerland, will be held on Sunday a referendum that would, if passed, reduce the number of new immigrants in the country. Launched at the initiative of environmental organizations ECOPOP, who believes that the speedy growth of the population a serious problem. Others are of the opinion that it is xenophobia.
Andreas Thommen is an environmental activist. His organization has initiated a referendum aimed, as they say, to preserve the natural resources of their country.
"It's not only about migration in Switzerland, our motivation is excessive growth of the world population, but the population of Switzerland. Here we have a large population growth due to immigration, and around the world we have a large population growth due to high birth rates. We have two items in our initiative: to limit immigration to Switzerland and put more money in voluntary family planning, "says Thommen.
The core of the problem
Switzerland has a strong economy that requires additional work force each year. Immigrants now account for one third of the population of the country. Annually they arrive another 80,000. Organization ECOPOP it wants to reduce the 16,000.
But not everyone agrees that the problem is in the immigrants.
"This initiative is not about ecology, it is about xenophobia. The migrants are used as scapegoats for environmental problems for which they are not responsible. Behind the organization ECOPOP are people who live in villas and private homes in rural areas of the country. They claim that the immigrants, who mostly live in the suburbs of urban buildings, blamed for the loss of green space in the rural suburbs, "said Joseph Lang, vice president of the Green Party.
"What makes this particular referendum that is the second in the past ten months which aims to limit the number of immigrants in Switzerland," reports from Bern reporter Al Jazeera Harun Karčić.
bad image
Some political analysts believe that it harms the image of the country in the world.
"They were not so interested in what people outside of Switzerland think about them, the more they are interested in what is happening in the country. But, I think there are a number of people have become aware that the image of Switzerland as a clean and beautiful country begins to change due to numerous referendums that we have had in the past - not only against foreigners but also against minarets. The image of the country is becoming more negative and can further worsen in the future, "said George Lutz from the University of Lausanne.
Every year an increasing number of immigrants trying to reach the developed European countries in search of a better life and a safer environment. This causes a reaction, especially right-wing political parties, which strengthens not only Switzerland but also in Greece, Hungary, France and the Netherlands.
What is specific for this referendum is that it is not launched by the right-wing than environmental organization.
- 30 Nov, 2014
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