Migration, Immigration, and Emigration, and Their Effects on Religion, Women, and Minorities in the Developing World

Migration, Immigration, and Emigration, and Their Effects on Religion, Women, and Minorities in the Developing World
Migration/Immigration Issues Bolivia has a population of 10 million regular citizens and approximately 1.6 million emigrants. Migration is an important issue in this country, and there are currently efforts underway to establish a law of migration that will serve as a basis for the implementation of a policy to meet the needs of foreigners in Bolivia. In addition, because of the huge socioeconomic gap between the rich and the poor, migrants are highly vulnerable to human trafficking and labour exploitation (IOM, 2011, para. 1). About half of Bolivia citizens have migrated inside or outside to other countries; however, Bolivia also receives many immigrants from Brazil, Paraguay, Eastern Europe, and Japan. Some Bolivians migrate to other properties only wanting to return home; however, many stay permanently. Spainish immigrants have the largest portion living in Bolivia. In the earlier days, it was easy to migrate to Spain with not having a visa; however, today it is not as easy to immigrate. The issues for Bolivia migration are that people are worried about increased crime, increased pollution, congestion, and loss of traditional cultural practices and values. Let us take a look at the issues people are worried about. The crime rate is connected to drug-trafficking in rural areas even though it is a big problem in large cities; people are worried about it will come to their community. Pollution is the biggest worry because sewage is released directly into the river without any treatment and this makes it not safe for drinking after the river has passed through a main city. The congestion problem is another major fact for rural communities in Bolivia. The more people that you have the more cars will be on the road and even though they normally use public transportation, it would be more attractive to use their own private cars which would cause congestion. People are also concerned with the negativity in migration in their cultural. They are afraid that people will tend to adjust their habits and beliefs which include changes in religion, clothing, ceremonies, and sexual habits. Remittances from family members who have moved might help those left behind, but these remittances are not common. Less than ten percent of rural households receive transfers from family members in other parts of the country. For those that do receive transfer from family members they tend to account for an important part of total household income. Even though in today’s century, migration and immigration are still in operation today. Bolivia is one of those countries that would prefer to improve conditions for poor people to stay at their location instead of trying to migrate somewhere else.
The Impact of Religion on Social Issues In Bolivia, the religion is the Roman Catholic Church. There are a majority of Catholic Christians but a small portion of the population participates. The Church tried to make religion a more active force in social life. In 2009, Bolivia became a secular state and it mandates religious freedom, and the government has no record of any religious groups. Beliefs and practices are being reconstructed in several ways which means building a new sense of community after emigration, as a method of cultural reflection to make sense of everyday life, as a commodity in generalized market relations, or as folklore or examples of local ethnic flavor tourists (Romero, 2001). They also have a theological reflection that has an opportunity for individuals to bring their traditions and beliefs of their personal lives and their communities. This will have a social action that may create more of a universal world. According to Catalina Romero, the Pope’s support for Lech Walessa and the union workers of Solidarity in Poland offers an example of a local response. In Peru, at the same time, the Pope offered unexpected support for a wave of national strikes against Liberal reforms. This Papal outreach offered reinforcement to Catholics whose religious beliefs led them to become involved in social issues, but who felt they were being restrained by the local Catholic hierarchy ( Romero, 2001). Religion has informed Latin Americans that they reflect on their lives as individuals and a member of a group. With this they can confront social issues such as violence, defense of human rights, poverty, equality for women, and indigenous rights.
Ethnic Issues and the Status of Women In South America, Bolivia is one of the poorest countries, with less than 50 percent of the population making less than a dollar a day. Indigenous women suffered the impact of being a female, ethnic and poor. From the day they were born, they were taught how to do the house chores, take care of the children, and to obey their husbands. House chores for women did not come easy. For example, households contained six to seven children along with more than one husband. Also, in some circumstances, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and other relatives live in the household where women were still responsible maintaining the household. Leonida Zurita Vargas, an indigenous activist and president of the Coordinating Committee of Peasant Women of the Tropics of Cochabamba participated in the protests against imposing taxes on foreign companies investing in Bolivia’s gas reserves, has seeked to improve conditions for indigenous women and their families living in the Chapare region of Bolivia (Global Fund for Women, 2010). In this region, there has been violence on war on drugs and on women. Today, Bolivia has gone through some dramatic changes regarding the roles of women. For instance, women are trying to achieve equality with men, such as, advancing their rights and working towards empowerment and development. Where they struggle for the empowerment is in the area of land rights. It is crucial for women to take control of the land because of the rural area being poor. The lack of knowledge, such as, uneducated, is an important factor for restricting women’s access to land. In 2010, there have been leadership seminars and educational projects to promote the empowerment and political participation of women, and has initiated a dressmaking income-generation program for local women (Global Fund for Women, 2010). In 2012, Bolivia women want to get involved in politics and they are making sure their voices are being heard but joining a women’s organization, some women are on an indigenous council. According to Yolanda Cuellar, “women’s lack of political experience and the discrimination by male peers have not made our work on the council easy. Also, being a council woman is very different from being an indigenous leader. There is a lot of bureaucracy, which slows down any project, but the worst is the lack of support. Our ideas are ignored and we feel alone. It is like nobody is interested in doing anything for young people and women” (Torrico, 2012). The program is being implemented by the ministry of equal opportunities in 18 rural districts with $9 million in financing from the UN and, so far, has benefited 4,000 women (Torrico, 2012). In conclusion, even though in today’s century, migration and immigration could be an advantage in boosting their economy or a disadvantage could hurt people not getting a job while and the immigrates have taken over their jobs. Religion is a cultural sphere where people interact, produce meaning, and interpret reality because of their Catholic beliefs.

Reference
Global Fund for Women. (2010). Retrieved October 8, 2012, from http://www.globalfundforwomen.org/what-we-do/economic-a-environmental-justice/89
International Organization for Migration. (2011, May). Retrieved October 8, 2012, from http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/bolivia
Romero, C. (2001). Globalization, civil society and religion from a latin american standpoint. Retrieved October 9, 2012, from http://socrel.oxfordjournals.org/content/62/4/475.full.pdf
Torrico, J.C.(7, August 2012). Bolivian women are breaking down barriers to seek political power. Retrieved October 8, 2012, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/global- development/2012/aug/06/bolivian-women-barriers-political-power