In The News

Money Trickles North as Mexicans Help Relatives

Marc Lacey November 23, 2009
Mexicans immigrants in the US have long sent money back to their families, providing a vital source of capital to a country where almost half of the population lives in poverty. The global recession, and the consequent lay-offs has left many Mexican immigrants unemployed, leading to a 13.4 percent drop in remittances. Mexico is suffering too. But Mexican families are now combining funds to...

A New Mosque in Nicaragua Fires Up the Rumor Mill

Steve Stecklow November 16, 2009
A new mosque in Managua is sparking suspicions in the Nicaraguan capital, as citizens come to terms with the religion of the small Muslim community there. A variety of rumors are circulating about the mosque – that it was built by Iran, that all Muslims there are Taliban, and that all Muslims are actually Turks. None of these claims are true, assert leaders of the small Islamic community in...

South Koreans Struggle With Race

Choe Sang-Hun November 3, 2009
South Korea's development in the past half-century is a testament to the opportunities for prosperity globalization affords. Yet, despite South Korea’s export-led growth and its populace's near-obsession with learning English (particularly from foreign-born, white speakers), many South Korean’s are hostile to foreigners living and seeking work among them. Such reactions are likely...

The Cosmopolitan Tongue: The Universality of English

John McWhorter November 2, 2009
Today, languages are becoming extinct faster than species. One estimate predicts 90% of the 6,000 languages will cease to be spoken in the next century. Though lamenting such a loss, linguist and Columbia University Professor John McWhorter challenges the notion that language death equates to cultural loss. Languages show the diverse ways humans conceptualize the world. But, McWhorter notes, the...

Dollars Without Borders

Dilip Ratha October 20, 2009
For many countries, a significant source of national income comes from remittances sent by family members working abroad. Remittances play a crucial role in the economic health of poor countries, providing funds for social services and capital for new businesses and investments. While the global economic crisis and high levels of unemployment are forcing many migrant workers to remain in the host...

Public and Government Views on Migration Diverge

Joseph Chamie October 16, 2009
There is a surprising gap between government and public views on migration. Most governments tend to be favorably disposed to immigration, while the public remains fearful of admitting foreigners. Such a divergence in opinion is likely to cause significant turmoil in the future, according to Joseph Chamie, research director at the Center for Migration Studies. Less than 20 percent of governments...

Numerous Foreign Trainees Forced to Work under Harsh Conditions in Japan

September 1, 2009
Far away from home and eager to work, migrant workers can be easy targets for exploitation. In Japan, the story is no different. Foreign vocational trainees in Japan, especially from China, have been forced to work overtime at little or no pay and are often paid illegally low wages. Even worse, foreign employment agencies charged exorbitant fees to send trainees to Japan, leaving many indebted...