#MigrantsContribute

Some of you may have noticed this hashtag floating around the “Twittersphere” during the past few weeks. A social campaign meant to raise awareness on the benefits of migration and dispel myths concerning mobility, #migrantscontribute has been making the rounds on Twitter, spearheaded by the International Organization for Migration. Just yesterday, Laura Thompson, Deputy Director General of IOM, delivered a speech at a conference in Brussels titled “A World on the Move: The Benefits of Migration.”  In my opinion, it is brilliant and highly worth a read-through. Click on the title to read the full speech, but until then, let me leave you with my favourite tidbit that I feel sums up the direction of mobility in this world, a direction which seems to scare many people, when it should not.

“The XXI Century is the century of human mobility and migration. We can no longer think about our economies, societies or cultures without thinking about human mobility.”

 

#MigrationMeans: IOM’s Global Social Media Campaign

Source: IOM Haiti Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/IOMHaiti/photos/a.699790913409784.1073741840.150319315023616/700185843370291/?type=1

It seems that as the immigration debate around the world (or maybe just particularly in Europe) heats up, it’s hard to hear the voices of those who advocate for more tolerance concerning those who are mobile, or desire to be more mobile, whatever their reasons.

The global social media campaign launched by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is exactly the step in the right direction to showcase the positive impacts and benefits migration, at an individual level. Posting tweets and/or pictures of people all over the world stating what #migrationmeans to them, using the hashtag.

It is beautiful. It is brilliant. And most importantly, it is powerful enough to override those who shout at the top of their lungs the “evils” of migration.

Anyone can join in. You can post a picture of yourself with a sentence using #migrationmeans, or, if you are more camera shy, simply tweet using the hashtag! And while you’re at it, head over to the #MigrationMeans website to see the heart-warming compilation of twitpics and tweets.

My favourite one, thus far, is the picture I posted above, taken from IOM Haiti’s Facebook page, which is also featured on the #MigrationMeans website. But as for myself, what does migration mean?

#migrationmeans breaking down cultural barriers to form beautiful new friendships.

As always, you can email me at thetransitnational@gmail.com or tweet me @transitnational!