while waiting for my asylum application

我是住在美國的烏干達移民，

to go through.

正在等待我的政治避難申請被批准。

Migrants do not enjoy much freedom of movement

在我們現今的世界上，移民者不太有

in our world today.

移動的自由。

This certainly applies to those who are desperate enough

對於那些絕望到得坐上船， 在狂風暴雨中、

to navigate choppy and stormy seas in boats.

在怒海上航行的人而言， 肯定是如此。

These are the risks my cousins from West Africa and North Africa face

我在西非和北非的同胞 試圖前往歐洲時

while trying to cross over to Europe.

就是要面臨這種風險。

Indeed, it is a rare but fortunate opportunity

的確，對於一個移民者而言， 能在這樣的會議上發表演說

for a migrant to address a gathering like this.

是個稀有但幸運的機會。

But this also signifies what often is missing

但這也表示，

in the global debate over refugees,

在關於難民、移民、 移入移民的全球辯論中，

migrants and immigrants,

通常都遺漏了被剝奪公民權者的聲音。

voices of the disenfranchised.

許多移民目的國的公民，

Citizens of many host countries,

甚至那些先前歡迎新住民的國家，

even those that previously welcomed newcomers,

對於有越來越多人移入，

are uneasy about the rising numbers of individuals

都感到有些不安。

coming into their countries.

立即的批判就是，新來者會擾亂

The immediate criticism is that the newcomers upend the stability

國家中社會福利和就業的穩定。

of social welfare and employment in their countries.

充滿不確定性及懷疑的公民， 會指望政治人物做事，

Uncertain and skeptical citizens look towards politicians

政治人物互相較勁，看看誰才能成為

who are competing against each other to see who can claim the prize

民粹主義和民族主義中最大的聲音。

of the loudest voice of populism and nationalism.

這是項競賽，比誰對移民政策最強硬，

It is a contest of who is the toughest on migrants,

誰最願意實行入境禁令，

the most willing to impose travel bans

誰最熱衷於提出建立圍牆的方案。

and the most eager to propose projects in building walls.

所有這些限制，只是在治標，

All these restrictions simply address symptoms of the problem,

沒有治本。

not the causes.

他們為什麼要來？

Why are they coming?

移民者可以分享觀點，

Migrants can share perspectives,

但前提是政治人物要願意傾聽。

if only politicians would be willing to listen.

在杜拜，我記錄了 移民勞工階級經常受到的

In Dubai, I chronicled injustices and inequalities inflicted regularly

不公正和不平等待遇。

on the migrant labor force.

因此，來自各國政府的壓力

As a result, pressures from the governments

迫使我失去了 在中東擔任記者的工作。

of the respective countries

我被驅逐回烏干達，

led to me being forced out of my career as a journalist in the Middle East.

在那裡，經濟剝削讓 每個人都面臨挨餓的風險。

I was deported to Uganda,

我逃出烏干達，到了美國，

where economic deprivation puts everyone at the risk of starvation.

希望能夠替我的兄弟姐妹發聲，

I fled Uganda to come to the United States

同為移民，他們所經歷的情況更困苦。

in the hope of sustaining a voice for my brothers and sisters

我父親告訴我， 他很不樂見我因為寫一本書

who experience a more serious plight as migrants.

而遭驅逐出境和失業。

My father told me he was not happy about me writing a book

我還在杜拜工作時， 他已罹患糖尿病多年，

that risked deportation and unemployment.

我當時的薪水足以支付他的治療費用。

He had been diabetic for many years when I still worked in Dubai,

在我被驅逐之後，

and my salary was always sufficient to pay for his treatments.

我無法繼續負擔他的治療費，

After I was expelled,

即使在他人生最後的日子，

I could not afford to sustain his treatment,

我也沒錢送他去醫院。

and even in the last days of his life,

我親手抱著他的遺體，將他埋葬，

I could not afford to take him to a hospital.

那是去年六月的事，

As I carried his body in my hands to lay it in the ground

我了解到，為了大膽發聲

in June of last year,

我付出了很大的代價。

I realized I had paid a profound price

大聲發聲，對抗層層交疊的不公正 從來就不是一件容易的事，

for amplifying my voice.

因為問題需要的不只是華麗的言語。

The act of speaking up against injustices that are multilayered is never easy,

只要在非洲的金礦、油田， 以及大型農場的所有權都是屬於

because the problems require more than just rhetoric.

外國投資者，

So long as gold mines, oilfields and large farms in Africa continue to be owned

且那些重要資源被運送到西方，

by foreign investors

非洲移民者的流動就會持續不斷。

and those vital resources are shipped to the West,

沒有任何限制能夠嚴格到

the stream of African migrants will flow continuously.

足以阻止決定了人類歷史的移民潮。

There are no restrictions that could ever be so rigorous

在邊界管制變得更嚴，

to stop the wave of migration that has determined our human history.

及新的簽證限制上路之前，

Before border controls can be tightened

長期以來一直在接收移民者的國家

and new visa restrictions imposed,

應該要進行一場更開放的討論。

countries that have long received migrants

只有這樣的實際起始做法， 最終才能夠去調解

should engage in a more open discussion.

開採的遺產、

That is the only practical start for reconciling, finally,

奴隸制度、

a legacy of exploitation,

殖民主義，

slavery,

及帝國主義，

colonialism

同心協力，我們就能向前走，

and imperialism,

在 21 世紀創造出 更公正的全球經濟，

so that together, we can move forward in creating a more just global economy

讓所有人受惠。

in the 21st century --

one that benefits all.