**IImmMMIIGGRRAATTIIOONNiin n

AASSTTUURRIIAASS**By Alberto Bernal By Alberto Bernal and Vanesa and Vanesa BordalloBordallo

THE PROCESS - 1THE PROCESS - 1 Before analyzing specific aspects Before analyzing specific aspects

about the immigration, we tried to about the immigration, we tried to understand better the concept and understand better the concept and some aspects about it. For that we some aspects about it. For that we looked for general information of it.looked for general information of it.

We tried to answer some general We tried to answer some general questions to organize our project questions to organize our project and make it clearer.and make it clearer.

How many immigrants live in How many immigrants live in Spain?Spain?

Many of the immigrants come Many of the immigrants come to Spain illegaly and for that it’s to Spain illegaly and for that it’s difficult to know the real number of difficult to know the real number of that live here at the moment. that live here at the moment.

When they come, they don’t When they come, they don’t need any document and they can need any document and they can stay here around 90days. After, they stay here around 90days. After, they must have a ‘visa’ to stay living for a long time if they must have a ‘visa’ to stay living for a long time if they want.want.

Investigators try to know every year how many Investigators try to know every year how many immigrants request the visa and where they want to immigrants request the visa and where they want to live then. In 2005 Cataluña (112.842) and Madrid live then. In 2005 Cataluña (112.842) and Madrid (135.876) were the communities where more people (135.876) were the communities where more people asked for it.asked for it.

Where are the immigrants from?Where are the immigrants from?

All the immigrants who live at the moment in All the immigrants who live at the moment in Spain come from different countries. Spain come from different countries.

We will see them ordered We will see them ordered from highest to lowest from highest to lowest according to the volume according to the volume that they represent.that they represent.

FROM DIFFERENT PLACESFROM DIFFERENT PLACES...... South America (37%) [Ecuator (14.6%) and (37%) [Ecuator (14.6%) and

Colombia (9%)] - Colombia (9%)] - in 12 years it has increased in in 12 years it has increased in large numbers.large numbers.

European Community (22.5%) [British origin (22.5%) [British origin (6%) and German (5%)] - (6%) and German (5%)] - their presence is their presence is biggerthan others and in recent years it has biggerthan others and in recent years it has doubled.doubled.

African Continent (19.6%) [ (19.6%) [Morocco (14%), the (14%), the second largest group of foreigners after the second largest group of foreigners after the Ecuatorian people] - Ecuatorian people] - it also has grown a lot but it also has grown a lot but not as South America.not as South America.

Eastern Europe (13%) (among Pole people, (13%) (among Pole people, Romanian people and Bulgarian people) - Romanian people and Bulgarian people) - it is it is very recent and it is still small in number.very recent and it is still small in number.

Asian Continent [mainly from China (2%)] - [mainly from China (2%)] - it it has quadrupled in the last decade.has quadrupled in the last decade.

How do they come to Spain? Why?How do they come to Spain? Why? There are many differences between all the There are many differences between all the

countries and its level of development. countries and its level of development. Economy and politics are the basic Economy and politics are the basic

aspects that make people move to aspects that make people move to better places. better places.

In some cases when they come, In some cases when they come, they arrive in bad conditions and they arrive in bad conditions and they are tired and weak because they have they are tired and weak because they have travelled during hours in a small boat with a lot of travelled during hours in a small boat with a lot of immigrants. They usually must come back to immigrants. They usually must come back to their countries.their countries.

In other cases they travel by plane but they have In other cases they travel by plane but they have to work a lot before to can pay the trip.to work a lot before to can pay the trip.

What characteristics do they What characteristics do they have?have?

The immigrants that come to Spain are young The immigrants that come to Spain are young people about 25-29 years old. Obviously there people about 25-29 years old. Obviously there are also people from other ages are also people from other ages but are less common. but are less common.

There aren’t many differences There aren’t many differences between the sex of the people between the sex of the people who arrive, only that men who arrive, only that men represent the majority with 55,05%.represent the majority with 55,05%.

They usually work in the construction of They usually work in the construction of buildings or services.buildings or services.

In some countries for example they must work In some countries for example they must work when they’re children, and for that reason, they when they’re children, and for that reason, they can’t acquire a suitable education.can’t acquire a suitable education.

A map which represents the level of illiteracy around the A map which represents the level of illiteracy around the

worldworld

How do they live here?How do they live here? They always try to find here a job to earn some money to live or to They always try to find here a job to earn some money to live or to

send it to their families in their countries. send it to their families in their countries. Some of them haven’t studied and for that they Some of them haven’t studied and for that they have to choose the jobs that the Spanish people have to choose the jobs that the Spanish people don’t want don’t want There are lots of examples: There are lots of examples: working hardly like workers, working hardly like workers,

constructing buildings, taking care of old people or constructing buildings, taking care of old people or children during long hours... All of this children during long hours... All of this

in very bad conditions, without a contract and with low wages.in very bad conditions, without a contract and with low wages. There are also other few cases There are also other few cases in which they are able to find a job in which they are able to find a job

with a temporary contract. This case affects more to the with a temporary contract. This case affects more to the immigrants than to Spanish people.immigrants than to Spanish people.

When they come to Spain they also have got other problems. The When they come to Spain they also have got other problems. The most important is to find a house where they could live. most important is to find a house where they could live. Sometimes there are people who don’t want to rent their buildings Sometimes there are people who don’t want to rent their buildings to immigrants or they request much money for them.to immigrants or they request much money for them.

There are couples that come to Spain with their children. There are couples that come to Spain with their children. The The children can have problems with their partners of school and that children can have problems with their partners of school and that supposes another possible problem for them.supposes another possible problem for them.

THE PROCESS - 2THE PROCESS - 2 Then we tried to specify a bit more Then we tried to specify a bit more

explaining the situation that there is explaining the situation that there is in Asturias.in Asturias.

We found out some information We found out some information about Gijón too.about Gijón too.

Ecuator, Colombia, Portugal, Brazil, Ecuator, Colombia, Portugal, Brazil, Romania, Argentina and Morocco are Romania, Argentina and Morocco are the countries of origin of most of the the countries of origin of most of the 29,656 immigrants residing in Spain. 29,656 immigrants residing in Spain. Of these, 15,985 are women and Of these, 15,985 are women and 24,779 have a residence permit. At 24,779 have a residence permit. At February 28, 12,615 were affiliated to February 28, 12,615 were affiliated to the Social Security, which makes up the Social Security, which makes up 0.67 percent of the national total, 0.67 percent of the national total, amount to 1,876,401 immigrants. amount to 1,876,401 immigrants.

Asturias is the third autonomous region with Asturias is the third autonomous region with the smallest number of immigrants. Only the smallest number of immigrants. Only computed less foreign people Extremadura, computed less foreign people Extremadura, with 10. 789 (the 0.57 percent of the national with 10. 789 (the 0.57 percent of the national total), and Cantabria, with 11,435 (0.61 total), and Cantabria, with 11,435 (0.61 percent). percent).

The situation in which they live many of the The situation in which they live many of the immigrants residing in the Principality was immigrants residing in the Principality was denounced yesterday by the secretary of denounced yesterday by the secretary of UGT Asturias, coinciding with the celebration UGT Asturias, coinciding with the celebration today, "Day against racism and xenophobia". today, "Day against racism and xenophobia".

• The district of El Llano is the largest of Gijon The district of El Llano is the largest of Gijon and have the most immigrants another district and have the most immigrants another district is Arena and it has a lot of immigrants. Somió is Arena and it has a lot of immigrants. Somió receives more than half of the immigrant receives more than half of the immigrant population. According to the municipal study, population. According to the municipal study, most of these citizens have a level of education most of these citizens have a level of education comparable with the Spanish Secondary comparable with the Spanish Secondary Education Certificate. On the other hand, the Education Certificate. On the other hand, the numbers of illiterate immigrants or without numbers of illiterate immigrants or without any kind of training are high. Up to 1,781 any kind of training are high. Up to 1,781 people from other countries have not academic people from other countries have not academic studies.studies.

THE PROCESS - 3THE PROCESS - 3 INVESTIGATION IN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE

STREET…STREET… In order to continue with the In order to continue with the

investigation we made some investigation we made some interviews to different immigrants to interviews to different immigrants to be able to know some more things. be able to know some more things. Alberto made the interviews to three Alberto made the interviews to three young boys (of similar age to ours) young boys (of similar age to ours) and Vanesa to three adult people. In and Vanesa to three adult people. In this way we wanted to know all cases this way we wanted to know all cases that could be in the different ages.that could be in the different ages.

The questions that we The questions that we made...made...

What´s your name? How old are you?What´s your name? How old are you?

Where are you from?Where are you from?

When did you come to Spain?When did you come to Spain?

Why did you decide to come?Why did you decide to come?

Do you feel good here? Why/why not?Do you feel good here? Why/why not?

Have you been rejected any time? In what way?Have you been rejected any time? In what way?

Can you explain how was your life there?Can you explain how was your life there?

What is the main difference between your country What is the main difference between your country and Spain?and Spain?

CONCLUSIONS FROM THE INTERVIEWSCONCLUSIONS FROM THE INTERVIEWS All of them come to Spain to earn some money because All of them come to Spain to earn some money because

they really need it.they really need it. When they travel to other country they leave all their When they travel to other country they leave all their

families in their own country because they haven’t got families in their own country because they haven’t got enough money to come all together. Many want them to enough money to come all together. Many want them to come in the future.come in the future.

In some cases they’re rejected by the people and for that In some cases they’re rejected by the people and for that they feel bad and uncomfortable.they feel bad and uncomfortable.

If they find a job they don’t usually receive much money.If they find a job they don’t usually receive much money. In their countries they don’t have enough money or food In their countries they don’t have enough money or food

and these are main causes that make them come to Spain.and these are main causes that make them come to Spain. Ecuator is the country from which most people come.Ecuator is the country from which most people come. All think that the main difference is the economical All think that the main difference is the economical

situation that there is between their countries and Spain. situation that there is between their countries and Spain. They don’t mind the posibble differences in the religion or They don’t mind the posibble differences in the religion or the culture.the culture.

OUR OPINION ABOUT OUR OPINION ABOUT IMMIGRATIONIMMIGRATION

We often talk about this subject but I think that in fact we We often talk about this subject but I think that in fact we don’t know as much as we think. Doing this project we don’t know as much as we think. Doing this project we could know some things that maybe we hadn’t could know some things that maybe we hadn’t previously realised. Now I know real cases of people who previously realised. Now I know real cases of people who are immigrants and they all said that it wasn’t easy for are immigrants and they all said that it wasn’t easy for them. For that in my opinion knowing the situation and them. For that in my opinion knowing the situation and trying to put into their shoes we could change our point trying to put into their shoes we could change our point of view. It’s difficult to imagine in what conditions they of view. It’s difficult to imagine in what conditions they live for deciding to move to other country and change live for deciding to move to other country and change all their life.all their life.

In the media we can read or listen a lot of information In the media we can read or listen a lot of information about it but in my opinion it only really speaks about it about it but in my opinion it only really speaks about it like a problem, to receive immigrants to Spain could be a like a problem, to receive immigrants to Spain could be a good aspect in some ways.good aspect in some ways.

Individualy we can think about it seriously to have a Individualy we can think about it seriously to have a reasonable opinion. We may also try to make people reasonable opinion. We may also try to make people aware about the importance of accepting differences aware about the importance of accepting differences between all people and learn to live with them.between all people and learn to live with them.

To sump up...To sump up... think about it!

We are all different We are all different and we have to and we have to learn to accept learn to accept these differences.these differences.

It doesn’t matter It doesn’t matter where they’re from.where they’re from.

The immigrants are common people like us The immigrants are common people like us who usually come to Spain to find a job.who usually come to Spain to find a job.

When they live in Spain they acquire the When they live in Spain they acquire the same rights and duties as us.same rights and duties as us.

THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBALIZATION: IMMIGRATION AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY

A PRESENTATION MADE FOR THE ETWINNING PROJECT ABOUT IMMIGRATION

AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY

I.E.S. ROSARIO DE ACUÑA

VANESA BORDALLOALBERTO BERNAL

1º BACHILLERATO B