Larry Cervelli: Mass migration a worldwide issue

Ethnic Rohingya people take shelter under a a tent after landing on a beach in Kuala Besar, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. Dozens of likely Rohingya refugees, mostly hungry and weak women and children, were found on a beach in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province after weeks at sea, officials said.

Ethnic Rohingya people take shelter under a a tent after landing on a beach in Kuala Besar, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. Dozens of likely Rohingya refugees, mostly hungry and weak women and children, were found on a beach in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province after weeks at sea, officials said. AP PHOTO/DEDY ZULKIFLI

Migrants hoping to make it to Italy are rescued from the sea some 30 miles off Libya by the members of the humanitarian ship Geo Barents on Oct. 6. Political and economic forces roiled by climate change are fueling a growing tide of migration around the globe.

Migrants hoping to make it to Italy are rescued from the sea some 30 miles off Libya by the members of the humanitarian ship Geo Barents on Oct. 6. Political and economic forces roiled by climate change are fueling a growing tide of migration around the globe. AP

Published: 02-02-2024 5:29 PM

Modified: 02-02-2024 8:46 PM

President Joe Biden still fails to effectively communicate regarding America’s existing immigration goals and policies. It may cost him dearly during the election despite the fact he cannot prevent Central and South American societies from collapsing, which is leading to mass migrations.

More importantly, worldwide there already are tens of millions of refugees fleeing from domestic terror and economic desperation, and we haven’t yet seen the additional tens of millions of refugees that will have to leave home due to the effects of climate change. I have not read anything meaningful about how the U.S., the U.N., the EU, etc. are engaging in conversations that will lead to proposing structures or processes with which to manage this overarching trend.

Even before Gaza, dozens of governments and NGOs were spending billions just to keep people from dying in the streets due to famine, thirst or excessive heat or cold. This is a valiant defensive effort, but not a roadmap to a more adaptive future. The children are not thriving, human potential is being wasted, and bad actors are sowing social discontent.

We need our elected officials to speak to us honestly, in bite-sized chunks, so we can know how to prepare for a future our kids and grandkids can more effectively manage.

Larry Cervelli

West Chesterfield