Before migrants created the “melting pot” of the United States, they had first settled in Europe. Ever since the dawn of humanity, people were moving, migrating and relocating. How such constant change has altered our genetics and identity? How did it alter our perceptions on strangers?
Uncover the deep layers of migration with the Associate Sociology Professor at Vilnius University Rūta Žiliukaitė.
Unfortunately, there have been immensely devastating events that have greatly shaped our identities as nations and immigration patterns worldwide. The outbreak of the World Wars started new waves of migrations, hindered others and made some disappear forever. It has even been pointed out that not only did people move across borders, but new borders were drawn across people due to the political and territorial changes in Europe. The World Wars affected the migration waves to such a great extent that even the symbol of immigration in the US – Ellis Island – which was opened in 1892 and plays a symbolic role as nearly forty percent of all current US citizens can trace at least one of their ancestors back to it, was closed down and began to function as a detention centre for prisoners of war.
Can migrants fully and comfortably integrate in lands far away from home? Nerijus Milerius, researcher at the Vilnius University Faculty of Philosophy discusses their chances.
While in the 21st century, travelling is more accessible than ever before and nearly every individual is able to find their cup of tea, human behaviour has also set clear barriers when it comes to exploring our planet – something that is coded into human DNA.
Yes, that’s right! Scientists have discovered that some people have been blessed (or cursed) with 7R – a restless gene – that has been tied to human migration. Furthermore, studies have shown that 7R makes people more likely to risk, discover new locations, relationships, drugs and even sexual opportunities. We are not encouraging you to test whether you have this gene, eh! However, maybe this exact gene encouraged Christopher Columbus to complete his voyage across the Atlantic Ocean and discover America? One cannot deny that it was a remarkable landmark indicating the start of colonization, i.e. waves of European settlers immigrating to the New World. However, it would be naïve to believe that one gene present in the minority of the world’s population is the only reason for leaving one’s home and going looking for novel adventures abroad.
Political systems and ideologies haven’t stopped influencing migration even in the 21st century. While the youth of today haven’t experienced worldwide horrors like our grandparents did, there are countries from where civil war migrants pose important social and fiscal challenges for EU members states’ societies and economies. While some countries have decided to accept millions of refugees or support those respective countries, which carry the burden of a civil war, financially, there are some that would rather build a wall, just like you would build a fence in order to draw a line between your and your neighbour’s property. However, while neighbour’s might keep friendly relationships despite the “wall” separating them, the US plays the role of a hostile grumpy neighbour who doesn’t look forward to any visits and even makes the neighbour pay for the fence.
Rasa Tumaševičiūtė, PhD student at Vilnius University Life Sciences Center, invites to reconsider the current pace of exploring the world.
It seems that human control has reached unimaginable limits, but nature has its own ways in order to bring us back to reality. For centuries people have emigrated due to unsuitable and extreme climate and temperatures and the case is no different nowadays. This century has coined a new term “climate refugee” and even the United Nations has implemented a new ruling that if there is an immediate threat to one’s life due to climate change, one should not be sent back. So, even though there are countries and individuals denying climate change and its effect on both flora and fauna, the UN has clearly stated that is one of the reasons of migration.
Filmmaker Rugilė Bardzdžiukaitė talks about the intricacies of cormorant language.
Do you have family or relatives who left to live abroad? Why they did, how did they feel? Mark in a map the place, find out, how much travelling to the location costs, how expensive is the living there, what are (were) the jobs that immigrants usually do.
Prepare an analysis and presentation of that place.
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The project is sponsored by Nordplus
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