'Why stories? Because charachters in a story help us see where we stand in relation to others. Stories sublimate us, and help us do whatever is necessary for our dreams to come true. They motivate our dreaming power, and help relaize our plan.”
Vedat Akman

Immigrant stories both mirror and mimic the careers of their immigrant story tellers. For many educated immigrants, their mother tongue became a fortress, defending their identities from the American cultural mainstream. Language is one of the barriers standing between the immigrant and his/her potential American life.
“We inhabit a language rather than a country.”

From Global Immigrant Stories, by Vedat Akman

When “Away” Becomes “Home”:
Cultural Consequences Of Migration

The spread of globalization is naturally leading to more free movement of people, goods and know-how, although some goverments are trying hard to control or even prevent it. The 'immigrant' problem is becoming more global in scope. We want to hear your story regardless of where you are from.  It is important for us to understand the serious challenges ahead and give others insights into the universal aspects of immigration. Your stories will provide a useful document for the next generations. We hope to be diverse in the selection of immigrant stories and present both a cross-cultural and a contemporary view on the topic in a global perspective. We also have a NYCR 2006 International Short Film Festival that will present films from a variety of genres and plots adressing the common theme of global immigration.

From Global Immigrant Stories, by Vedat Akman

“Lydia was a middle school history teacher, well respected in her native Poland. Then, she along with her husband and daughter won the green card lottery and moved to Chicago. Lydia worked for an office maintenance company, one that sends it's employees to clean the offices after hours. She had dreams for her 14 year old daughter, whom she sent to private school, and worked as a cleaner because it was the only thing she was qualified for besides teaching Polish history. She too shruged her shoulders, it was a decision that she had taken for the future benefit of her family.”
“We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.”
www.ThinkExist.com

From Global Immigrant Stories, by Vedat Akman

As a Turkish immigrant I was fashinated by the extent and scope of the Turkish immigrant experience. Traditionally, Turkey has been known as a country of emigration. Starting from the early 1960s and well into the 1970s, large numbers of Turkish nationals migrated to western European countries, particularly West Germany. What is less well known is that Turkey has long been a country of immigration and asylum. From 1923 to 1997, more than 1.6 million people immigrated to Turkey, mostly from Balkan and East Bloc countries. The overwhelming majority were recognized as refugees, and were resettled to third countries such as Canada and the United States by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Recently, Turkey has also become known as a country of transit to the European Union for irregular migrants from Asian countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan. Turkey, whose population approaches 70 million, has also become a destination for irregular migrants from former Soviet Bloc countries, and a magnet for illegal immigrants.

“There are no refugees, no displaced persons here, ... They are our guests and we treat them as such.”

Mike Turner


From Global Immigrant Stories, by Vedat Akman

Do You Know Turkey?
“It is difficult to deal with prejudices. Love in people and love of people has no boundaries.”
Vedat Akman
Turkish immigrant community overseas is still one of the lesser known immigrant communities in the world.Today, it is estimated that there are approximately 3.6 million Turkish nationals living abroad, of whom about 3.2 million are in European Union countries. According to the researchers, people of Turkish origin compose the major national group among immigrant groups in Europe. Germany alone harbors two-thirds of the Turkish immigrants in Europe. Germany and German-speaking countries in Europe has been the main gateway for Turkish immigrants. The 1.3 million Turkish immigrants in Europe who already have dual citizenship with the country they live in is almost equal to the sum population of Luxemburg, Greek Cyprus, and Malta.
“People are really rather afraid that this country might be swamped by people with a different culture. People are going to react and be rather hostile to those coming in.”
Margaret Thatcher , 30.01.78
 

Films on Immigrants