Steele Hard

Freedom of movement is under assault

Freedom of Movement ‘s destruction will usher in the dawn of a New Slavery.

Freedom of movement is a fundamental human right that is essential for the realization of other rights and for promoting human dignity (United Nations, 1948). It enables individuals to travel, reside, and work in different locations, and is crucial for the development of a vibrant and diverse society. However, numerous governments are implementing policies and practices that restrict or even destroy this basic right. Without Freedom of movement, no other human right is possible. Freedom of speech, bodily autonomy, due process and even the right to arms don’t happen in a closed society, where travel is controlled. Freedom of movement, stimulates individual thought, thereby encouraging the exchange of ideas, or learning other ways of life through personal experience. It also breaks the back of traditional censorship tactics because information passes by word of mouth.

Governments worldwide are imposing restrictions on this essential liberty, ostensibly for reasons such as national security, public health, and environmental protection. The restrictions on freedom of movement imposed by governments around the world represent a disturbing trend towards overreach and control. This overreach is particularly concerning when it comes to career politicians, who may be using these restrictions as a means to consolidate power and maintain their grip on society.

The imposition of these restrictions can be seen as a form of mass enslavement, where individuals are no longer free to make fundamental decisions about their own lives. As long as whom you speak to and where you are allowed to go is limited, people can be corralled like livestock. What’s more, they trample the outliers who try to break from the herd and go their own way. Instead, they become subject to the whims of those in power, who can dictate where they live, work, and travel. This insidious form of control is often cloaked in the guise of public safety, health, or environmental protection (Source 1).

Border Controls and Immigration Policies

Governments have implemented strict border controls and immigration policies, regulating the movement of people across their borders. These restrictions are often said to be justified in order to protect national security, and maintain cultural cohesion. However, people who seek power tend to have the desire to control and dominate the population. As it stands only the very wealthy, who can literally purchase multiple passports/citizenship and those who claim refugee status (and absolute dependence on the government) are able to go where they want. Any hardworking regular person, must return within a short term to their “owners”.

Played out there are several examples globally of this overreach. Nationalist ideologies often emphasize the importance of maintaining cultural and ethnic homogeneity, which can lead to policies that limit immigration and freedom of movement (Mudde & Kaltwasser, 2017). The United States’ travel ban, which restricts entry for citizens of several Muslim-majority countries, is a prime example of how nationalist and populist rhetoric can translate into policy (DHS, 2020). Another tactic is in the name of security, where governments implement stringent border controls and immigration policies, arguing that these measures are necessary to protect their citizens from potential threats (Neal et al., 2018). These measures often disproportionately impact innocent individuals seeking to exercise their right to freedom of movement. For example: The European Union’s External Border Management Policy, has been criticized for limiting freedom of movement and imposing additional hardships on refugees and asylum seekers (European Commission, 2020).

Resource Management

Some argument could even be made that this global practice of border control and stringent immigration policies, isn’t really to keep fresh minds out as much as it is to keep citizens home. The reasoning being that citizens, particularity the working class are part of a country’s resources. Concerns resource scarcity are also used to justify restrictions on freedom of movement. Australia’s strict immigration policies, which are often justified on environmental and resource scarcity grounds, have been criticized for limiting freedom of movement and failing to address the root causes of migration (Baker, 2012). While managing resources and addressing environmental challenges are crucial, these concerns should not be used as a pretext for limiting the fundamental rights of individuals.

Economic factors play a significant role in driving restrictions on freedom of movement. Some governments believe that limiting immigration is necessary to protect domestic labor markets and ensure employment opportunities for their citizens (Friedberg, 2001). These concerns can lead to policies that restrict the movement of workers, such as, the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. Which was driven in part by concerns about immigration and labor market competition, now has led to increased restrictions on the freedom of movement for both British and EU citizens (Jones et al., 2018). Post Brexit only the those with at least half a million euros in investment capital can purchase their freedom and an EU passport. (source 4)

Travel Restrictions and Quarantines

In response to public health crises, governments have imposed travel restrictions and quarantines. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant curtailment of freedom of movement around the world. Governments implemented travel restrictions, border closures, and quarantine measures in an attempt to control the spread of the virus (WHO, 2020). While many in the medical community have good intentions, there is a growing body of both rumors and evidence which point that the health crisis was a pretext for a political power grab. A soft coup carried out by career politicians, high-level political bureaucrats and their billionaire allies to impose draconian authoritarianism by limiting freedom of movement.

The closure of international borders and implementation of strict quarantine measures in countries such as New Zealand and Australia severely limited freedom of movement, even for citizens and permanent residents (Hufbauer et al., 2020). Looking back, the use of quarantines and lock-downs were a form of mass imprisonment, stripping individuals of their basic rights and liberties.

Throughout history, restricting freedom of movement has often preceded episodes of mass enslavement and oppression. For example, the Nazi regime in Germany began by imposing restrictions on the movement of Jews and other minorities, eventually leading to the Holocaust (Source 2). In the United States, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 allowed for the capture and return of escaped slaves, severely limiting the freedom of movement for African Americans and perpetuating their enslavement (Source 3).

The restrictions on freedom of movement have far-reaching implications for society as a whole. They stifle the exchange of ideas, culture, and knowledge, as people are prevented from interacting with one another on a global scale. This isolation can lead to increased xenophobia, as individuals are less exposed to diverse perspectives and experiences. Moreover, these restrictions can have devastating economic consequences, as individuals are unable to pursue job opportunities or engage in international trade. This can lead to increased poverty, inequality, and social unrest, as people become more desperate to provide for their basic needs.

Freedom of movement is a fundamental human right that is under significant pressure from various governmental actions around the world. From nationalism and populism to security concerns and economic factors, governments are implementing policies that restrict or even destroy this basic right. It is crucial that we remain vigilant and continue to advocate for the protection of freedom of movement, both in our own countries and on the global stage. Only by doing so can we ensure that this fundamental human right is preserved for future generations.

It’s your future… It’s your children’s future… It’s your grandchildren’s future… Use your voices today or have no choice but to use guns tomorrow. What your future will be depends on what you do now.

Also read : The Dumbing Down of Society

Sources:

1. “The Global Compact for Migration: A Threat to Sovereignty and Freedom.” (2018). Retrieved from <https://www.heritage.org/immigration/report/the-global-compact-migration-threat-sovereignty-and-freedom>
2. “The Holocaust: A Tragic Legacy.” (n.d.). Retrieved from <https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005143>
3. “The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.” (n.d.). Retrieved from <https://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/document.html?doc=10&title.raw=Fugitive%20Slave%20Act%20of%201850>
4. “EU Passport for non-EU citizens:” (2024) <https://www.globalcitizensolutions.com/how-to-get-an-eu-passport-for-uk-citizens-after-brexit/>
5. DHS (2020). Proclamation 9645. Retrieved from <https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/01/31/proclamation-9645>

1. Baker, G. (2012). Environmentalism and the ‘New’ Immigration Politics in Australia. In G. Connor & S. Lester (Eds.), Immigration, Emigration and Migration: International Perspectives on a Changing World (pp. 19-34). New York: Routledge.European Commission (2020).
2. External Border Management. Retrieved from <https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/european-agenda-migration/background-information/external-border-management_en>Friedberg, R. M. (2001).
3. You Can’t Take It with You? Immigration and the Portability of Human Capital. Journal of Labor Economics, 19(2), 221-251.Hufbauer, G. C., Schott, J. J., & Zhang, Y. (2020).
4. The Global Trade Disruption: COVID-19 Consequences and Policy Responses. Washington, DC: Peterson Institute for International Economics.Jones, R., Lodge, G., & Jayasuriya, K. (2018).
5. Brexit and the British Constitution: The Impact on the Union State and the Future of the UK. The Political Quarterly, 89(3), 425-434.Mudde, C., & Kaltwasser, C. R. (2017).
6. Populism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Neal, R., Aas, K. F., & Kalland, A. H. (2018).
7. The Ethics of Immigration Policy: A Survey. Journal of Ethics and Migration Studies, 4(3), 325-346.United Nations (1948).
8. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Retrieved from <https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/>WHO (2020).
9. WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 11 March 2020. Retrieved from <https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19—11-march-2020>

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