The freedom to move is a basic human right from "summary" of The Next Great Migration by Sonia Shah
Human beings have always been on the move. For millions of years, we have wandered the earth in search of food, water, shelter, and opportunity. Migration is in our blood, our bones, our very nature. Yet, in recent times, some have sought to restrict our movement, to fence us in, to keep us out. They have turned migration into a crime, a sin, a threat to be feared and controlled. But migration is not a problem to be solved; it is a fundamental human right to be respected.
The freedom to move is essential to our well-being, our survival, our humanity. It is what has allowed us to adapt, to thrive, to innovate. When we are free to move, we can escape danger, find new opportunities, and forge connections with others. We can learn from different cultures, share our knowledge, and build a better world for all. To deny someone the right to move is to deny them their very humanity, their identity, their dignity.
In the face of climate change, political unrest, and economic inequality, the need for migration has never been greater. People are being forced from their homes by war, famine, and natural disasters. They are seeking refuge, safety, and a better life for themselves and their families. It is our duty as fellow human beings to welcome them, to help them, to stand with them in their time of need.
We must reject the fear, the hate, the division that seeks to divide us and keep us apart. We must embrace our common humanity, our shared destiny, our interconnectedness with all living beings. We must recognize that we are all migrants on this earth, that we all have the right to move, to seek, to dream. And we must fight for that right, for ourselves, for each other, for future generations yet to come.
