Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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Frey Lindsay @freylindsay.bsky.social · 3d

Made possible by your invaluable insights, Wolfram, thank you!

The Libyan Coast Guard – explained

Reposted by Frey Lindsay

Wolfram Lacher @wlacher.bsky.social · 4d

The Libyan Coast Guard - explained @freylindsay.bsky.social @infomigrants.net

The Libyan Coast Guard is often in the spotlight, in connection with the role it plays in irregular migration from Libya to Europe. This attention has sharpened in recent years as it is increasingly i...

www.infomigrants.net

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Reposted by Frey Lindsay

Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 12d

The EU’s latest idea is to deport people to countries they have zero connection to.

EU member states are talking about changing the “safe third country” rules so they can deport more people—even if it means undermining safeguards. And the Council agrees.

Read more: buff.ly/8RuyAP4

Text says "the EU’s latest idea is to deport people to countries they have zero connection to." Around the text are faded and noisy images. One is of a table full of conversing people who appear to be light-skinned and wearing formal attire. A lightbulb floats above them.

Black text on a paper background says "EU member states are talking about changing the “safe third country” rules so they can deport more people—even if it means undermining safeguards. And the Council agrees.

This is despite the fact that some of the countries considered “safe” include Tunisia, Egypt, and Morocco—places with ‘well-documented rights abuses and limited protections for both their own citizens and migrants’ according to EuroMedRights."

faded and noisy green scissors are about to cut a ribbon, above text that says "this change would mean reducing or deleting the current "connection criteria" which limits where states deport people to. Apparently, member states consider the problem of where to send people to be the biggest administrative hurdle to deporting them. They do not, however, seem to see it as a moral issue, as many others might. "

Text states "13 member states want to delete the 'connection criteria' altogether. A map of Europe indicates the countries that want to delete it, with their borders filled in with green, contrasting the lighter shade of others. This includes: Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia.

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Reposted by Frey Lindsay

Di Volpe @dianavolpe.bsky.social · 19d

I shared some of my thoughts on the relationship between the EU, search and rescue NGOs, and the so-called Libyan coast guard in a conversation with Frey here:

Frey Lindsay @freylindsay.bsky.social · 19d

Everybody knows the Libyan Coast Guard is involved in the mass abuse/torture/murder of people in Libya. Over the years this hasn't been enough for the EU to break off its partnership. The LCG is now targeting NGOs - apparently that used to be a Commission red line, but we'll see if it still is.

Beyond Slavery @beyondslavery.bsky.social · 20d

The Libyan Coast Guard fired hundreds of bullets at a rescue ship. The European Commission had suggested direct fire would be a ‘red line’. Now the line has been crossed, they show no signs of ending the partnership with Libya. ✍️ @freylindsay.bsky.social

www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...

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Reposted by Frey Lindsay

opendemocracy.net @opendemocracy.net · 20d

Rescue ship shooting: Where is the EU’s red line with Libya?

The Libyan Coast Guard attacked a rescue ship in international waters, but EU shows no sign of ending partnership

bit.ly

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Frey Lindsay @freylindsay.bsky.social · 19d

Everybody knows the Libyan Coast Guard is involved in the mass abuse/torture/murder of people in Libya. Over the years this hasn't been enough for the EU to break off its partnership. The LCG is now targeting NGOs - apparently that used to be a Commission red line, but we'll see if it still is.

Beyond Slavery @beyondslavery.bsky.social · 20d

The Libyan Coast Guard fired hundreds of bullets at a rescue ship. The European Commission had suggested direct fire would be a ‘red line’. Now the line has been crossed, they show no signs of ending the partnership with Libya. ✍️ @freylindsay.bsky.social

www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...

Rescue ship shooting: Where is the EU’s red line with Libya?

The Libyan Coast Guard attacked a rescue ship in international waters, but EU shows no sign of ending partnership

Seasonal workers: no halt to exploitation as scheme expands

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Reposted by Frey Lindsay

Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 25d

Frontex pays out hundreds of millions of euros every year to EU and Schengen member states.

We have visualised the data to show the scale and scope of the funding: more than €2 billion between the beginning of 2008 and the end of 2024.

Read it here:
buff.ly/Tto3m1L

Vague and pixelated, Frontex trucks with officers standing around float behind the text: "Frontex funding for Fortress Europe", referring to Europe's highly militarised borders and policy of exclusion. Around the image and text are the words "where, why, and how much".

Text starts it off, "2008-2024: 2 billion euros spent." Then, a diagram indicates the various amounts that member states have received. Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal are among those who received the most. You can find more data and visualisations at the link above.

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Reposted by Frey Lindsay

Statewatch @statewatch.bsky.social · 29d

The 9th issue of the #ExternalisationBulletin is out now 🚨
It covers:
• The extensive operations across Africa;
• Plans to use development aid as leverage for deportations;
• Budget proposals with more external control and less democratic scrutiny;
And much more.

Read here: buff.ly/K5esfCb

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Reposted by Frey Lindsay

Focus on Labour Exploitation @focusonlabour.bsky.social · Sep 2

“Ultimately workers and employers both need to know that the workers have the option to withdraw their labour and find another job, and won’t lose their immigration status or risk destitution if they are unable to work"

- @focusonlabour.bsky.social, in this new piece by @freylindsay.bsky.social

Beyond Slavery @beyondslavery.bsky.social · Aug 29

Kate Roberts @focusonlabour.bsky.social says the Employment Rights Bill (due back in parliament) “won’t do much” for seasonal workers. She says it's essentially incompatible with Labour’s commitment to improving labour standards. ✍️ @freylindsay.bsky.social

Migrant workers’ legal precarity reveals incompatibility of Labour’s policies on worker’s rights and immigration

Seasonal workers: no halt to exploitation as scheme expands

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Reposted by Frey Lindsay

Beyond Slavery @beyondslavery.bsky.social · Aug 29

Kate Roberts @focusonlabour.bsky.social says the Employment Rights Bill (due back in parliament) “won’t do much” for seasonal workers. She says it's essentially incompatible with Labour’s commitment to improving labour standards. ✍️ @freylindsay.bsky.social

Migrant workers’ legal precarity reveals incompatibility of Labour’s policies on worker’s rights and immigration

Seasonal workers: no halt to exploitation as scheme expands

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Reposted by Frey Lindsay

Beyond Slavery @beyondslavery.bsky.social · Aug 28

Migrant workers’ legal precarity reveals the incompatibility of Labour’s policies on worker’s rights and immigration.

How seasonal workers continue to face exploitation as the visa scheme expands ✍️ @freylindsay.bsky.social ⤵️

www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...

Migrant workers’ legal precarity reveals incompatibility of Labour’s policies on worker’s rights and immigration

BBC World Service - Business Daily, Nigeria’s underage gambling problem

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Frey Lindsay @freylindsay.bsky.social · Jul 22

In the last months I've been speaking with young people, NGOs and influencers in Nigeria about how online gambling and gambling scams are exploding - with thousands of young Nigerians (many underage) falling into serious gambling problems and addiction

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...

We hear how it's causing havoc amongst the country's young population

www.bbc.co.uk

BBC Audio | Business Daily | The rapid rise of online gambling in South Africa

Frey Lindsay @freylindsay.bsky.social · Jul 21

For the World Service, I've been speaking with people struggling with gambling problems in South Africa. NGOs and researchers also told me how Covid and cost-of-living crises have seen an alarming amount of people turning to gambling, just to make ends meet. www.bbc.com/audio/play/w...

We hear how the Covid-19 pandemic led to an increase in young people gambling

www.bbc.com

Frey Lindsay @freylindsay.bsky.social · Jul 16

Last week the Greek government announced an unlawful asylum suspension for people arriving from N. Africa. Now the new migration minister is pushing a bill to send rejected asylum seekers to prison if they don't return to their home country or Libya. Thanks to @manos.ms and @adrianatdn.bsky.social‬

EUalive @eualive.bsky.social · Jul 16

Prison or exit: Greek migration minister expected to continue crackdown on asylum legislation eualive.net/prison-or-ex... By Frey Lindsay

Prison or exit: Greek migration minister expected to continue crackdown on asylum legislation

Following last week’s news that the Greek parliament had approved a measure to suspend asylum ...

eualive.net

‘One in, one out’ Channel deal is just another cruel gimmick

Reposted by Frey Lindsay

Border Criminologies @bordercrim.bsky.social · Jul 11

"New deterrents” are not the solution. This new deal will cause considerable further harm, resulting in the forcible transfer of people back to France.

Read @vickytaylor.bsky.social's new piece for @opendemocracy.net :

Don’t be fooled by Labour’s show of providing safe migration routes. It’s justifying a cruel trade in people

Internal Affairs Commissioner seeks new migration deals in Libya

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Reposted by Frey Lindsay

IMIS - Institute for Migration Research & Intercultural Studies @imisosnabrueck.bsky.social · Jul 3

IMIS and #SFB1604 member @mauricestierl.bsky.social commented to EUalive on the EU's migration control strategy: Framing migration across the Mediterranean as “instrumentalized” might serve as “an attempt to justify further derogations or restrictions on asylum on this route.”

European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner is expected to travel to Libya ...

buff.ly

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Frey Lindsay @freylindsay.bsky.social · Jul 3

Mitie, a major player in UK immigration detention, has just been awarded $192m to run the infamous Campsfield immigration prison when it reopens later this year. This makes a certain sense - it was Mitie's running of Campsfield which saw it shut in the first place. www.forbes.com/sites/freyli...

$192m Contract To Reopen Notorious U.K. Immigration Detention Center

The center was closed in 2019 amid outcry over conditions for inmates. The government, pledging to do things differently, has hired the same contractor to run it.

Internal Affairs Commissioner seeks new migration deals in Libya

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Frey Lindsay @freylindsay.bsky.social · Jul 3

For ‪@eualive.bsky.social: EU Migration chief Brunner has begun talking about the 'weaponisation' of migration from Libya to the EU, orchestrated by Russia and Belarus - suggesting he may be considering invoking 'hybrid warfare' to justify harsher (or more openly harsh) methods in the Mediterranean.

European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner is expected to travel to Libya ...

eualive.net

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Reposted by Frey Lindsay

Bernd Parusel @bernd-parusel.bsky.social · Jun 25

Also reported by @freylindsay.bsky.social here: www.forbes.com/sites/freyli...

EU Watchdog To Investigate Commission Over New Migration ‘Directive’

Nonprofits are warning that the commission's plans will lead to many ordinary and vulnerable people falsely charged as 'smugglers.'

Prosecutions Under ‘World Leading’ U.K. Modern Slavery Act Remain Low

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Reposted by Frey Lindsay

Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) @modernslaverypec.bsky.social · May 14

“If we don’t make it easier and more human for survivors, they won’t want to engage in these processes.”

@Forbes covers our report on the barriers to increasing successful modern slavery prosecutions.

www.forbes.com/sites/freyli...

Ten years on from the historic Modern Slavery Act coming into power, slavery and lavor exploitation remains rife across the British economy.

Global Commission Urges Action And Clarity In Fighting Modern Slavery

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Frey Lindsay @freylindsay.bsky.social · Apr 8

I spoke with ex-PM Theresa May, now chair of the Global Commission on Modern Slavery, about their new report, the *steep* goal of eradicating slavery by 2030, the need for better understanding of underlying causes and how immigration politics just get in the way.
www.forbes.com/sites/freyli...

A new report urges governments and businesses act to eradicate modern slavery by 2030. Amid confused politics on the issue and other global crises, that is a tall order.

Modern Slavery Act Ten Years On: Many Victims Still Going Unprotected

Frey Lindsay @freylindsay.bsky.social · Mar 26

Ten years on for the Modern Slavery Act and the results are in: protections are down, prosecutions never really got off the ground, and there are more people apparently in need than ever. www.forbes.com/sites/freyli...

The MSA was described as 'world-leading' when it was introduced, but after a decade there are apaprently more people in need of protection than ever.