EAP 2
Pu Qin, Bright

Immigration in Scotland

I went to BBC.com and a story interested me, “Visa move to beat population drop”. In the story, the author said the first minister has agreed to make a loose immigration system to deal with population decline. First, the author mentioned that 8,000 new people including work permitted and international students moved to Scotland each year. However, the greatest threat of Scotland was the country’s population, which would be expected to drop below five million by 2009 (about 5,170,000 in 2003 from BBC.com). Second, the author said the government wanted to encourage foreign student to stay in Scotland after they graduated then helped Scotland grow the local economy. The current policy was that students could only stay until October of the year they graduate, but Scotland would change it to give them 2 more years’ visas to stay and work in there. Third, the author said that some people considered the current policies such as locking up the children of asylum seekers at the detention center would make a wrong first impression to people from abroad who might want to live in Scotland. And also some people deemed the immigration policy was a passive way to stimulate economic growth. They said the policy was cooked on purpose by some politicians for their own office careers.

First of all, Scotland is reallly facing a big threat from the population problem. According to UK government, Scotland does have a very low Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 1.48 in contrast with the UK as a whole of 1.65. Also the Scotland’s birth rate is lower than the UK’s ( Migration Into Scotland, 15 January 2004). This is naturally giving cause for some longer term concern. Its lower rates will lead to slightly faster population ageing than the UK. The reason for the low birth rate is the emigration of young people, who are early in their reproductive life, who move to England or elsewhere to obtain better jobs than Scotland’s.

Second, in the past, immigration did not make Scotland's population go up. The United Kingdom has had very high levels of net migration (about 875,000) in the last 10 years. But in the same period Scotland has had a loss of 41,000 by emigration. This shows that heavy immigration into the UK does not help Scotland to prevent a loss of population. Basically, international migrants are more likely to select London or the South East as their destination. On the other hand, Just a few people decide to move into Scotland because of there inactive economy.

Finally, the economy is the key of Scotland’s future. Based on the large emigration, it should be concluded that Scotland needs more jobs, not more workers actually. Scotland has a high rate of unemployment (6.8% in 2002). But in 2001 its claims for unemployment benefit were 4.2% of its workforce. This is why migrants will choose England, which has a better economy to stay and work in. Even the Scottish cannot get suitable jobs; can migrants? If Scotland liberalizes the immigration policy, how Scotland prevents from becoming the back door of England for new immigrants will be the hardest problem for policy makers.

In conclusion, Scotland should solve its own economic problem, make markets actively and increase domestic demand. It is should be a vibrant economy, which attracts migrants and reduces emigrants, rather than the other way. Also, Scotland should imitate other countries by taking family-friendly actions to raise the birth rate. Such actions have been successful in Scandinavia, still enjoys birth rates which are at or near natural replacement levels.

EAP-2 WW
Pu Qin, Bright

The Outlook for Scotland’s Population

In the article “The outlook for Scotland’s population”, by the UK government, in BBC.com, the author says the population of Scotland decreases gradually, but the immigration increases. There are two causes. First, the author mentions the immigration is the main problem. Before 2000 there was generally a net movement of people each year from Scotland to the rest of the UK and international destinations. Second was because the low birth rate led to concerns about the decline and ageing of the Scottish population. Therefore, The Scottish Executive recommended an immigration policy as a solution to this problem.

First, I think Scotland does need immigration to keep their population so it does not decrease any more. It is necessary because of some population facts. Let’s look at some information which is given by an official website. Until Sptember of 2002, Scotland’s population was 5,062,011, and the females were more than males by about 200,000; more than one fifth of the people lived in Glasgow, the capital of Scotland; the birth rate was 10.7/1,000, and the death rate was 11.0/1,000. This means the dead people are more than newborn babies every year. The population was going down! However, there are 4.1 migrants per 1,000 people. So thank goodness, population still had a 0.4% growth.

Second, does Scotland need its own immigration policy? I don’t think so; it will cause a lot of problems in the future. They surely need immigration, but the policy needs to be directed by the government, by the UK as a whole. Scotland should not have its own work permit rule, unless within the context of a generally limit to the levels immigration allowed into the UK, because the migration to Scotland may become a back door route to England.

Third, the economy is the key which attracts migrants rather than other ways. A lot of immigrants, in fact, do not stay in Scotland but move to England. After Holland, England is already the second most tightly populated country in Europe. Its population is projected to rise from 49.856 million in 2003 to 55.881 million in 2031( www.gad.gov.uk). Much of this increase is due to the results of immigration. But the whole reason is that England’s economy is better than Scotland's. It would be possible to give special consideration to Scotland’s labor market needs, if there was a general limit immigration to the UK which gave preference to those planning to work in Scotland.

In conclusion, Scotland is unlikely to have a very hopeless in population problem. the Scottish should consider how to increase their own economy at first. They cannot always live in England’s shadow. Scotland needs migrants to keep population development, but it has to be under control.

Reference:
Census 2001 - Population Pyramids – SCOTLAND, www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/pyramids/pages/179.asp , 7 July 2007
Population of Scotland, Statistics of Scottish City Population, www.scotland.org/about/fact-file/population/index.html , 7 July 2007

EAP 2
Pu Qin, Bright

Baby Boom in China

As you know, China has the largest number of population in the world. In 1950’s, The Chinese government encouraged married couples to have lots of children to help develop the country. They trusted that if population increased, the nation would be forever. The policy was changed to family planning in the early 1970’s because of overpopulation. However, when the baby-boomers from the mid-50’s became marrying age, another baby boom happened in the city. The “one child” policy still made low birth rates, and China became old too early and too fast. According to government, around 2035, China will have 20 percent of the population who are aged 65 and over. Therefore, currently, a married couple who both comes from a one-child family is allowed to have their second child. So, the next baby boom is expected between 2010 and 2015.

EAP2
Pu Qin, Bright

Are You Ready to Wed?

Marriage is a wonderful and holy thing. Since God created men and women, the love was born on the earth. How many romantic things they made! From songs to theaters, from paintings to movies, people always praise love and marriage to the skies. But people probably forget something real. The love is not the whole elements of the marriage.

Responsibility is the most important element that people should perform in the marriage. Men are likely able to be interested in women while they meet each other at the first time. Actually, this is caused by desire, which was described to the root of the sin. It is why God should punish those two ignorant guys and kick them out. However, Desire is a talent of the human being. That is impossible to remove it from our soul, but we, especially men, should control it. People should be mature and men should be responsible. To protect them you should protect, and your family. Never bring a great deal of anxiety to the family because of your irresponsible behavior.

Also, fairness is another rule that a family should obey. “Everyone is equal” was written in the Declaration of the Independence. So everybody must obey it. The family members should respect each other, no levels and no prejudices. Someone may say that is unreal, impossible to avoid discrimination in families. But how do you think we explain family violence? Don’t say women were guilty since they were born, because everyone is guilty. The man and woman are equal in the family, and kids also. Democracy has to be in anywhere of the world.

Third, money is important. Maybe someone would say, “that is too mean”, but it is the only one thing that people who prepare to get married should think about. It relates to everyone’s happiness. Money is a very real thing; not like love or emotion, which you cannot touch and you cannot see, it is the reality. People need food and drink above everything. It is not you just say “I love you” and your lover will be full. It is not a joke. Recent young people do not consider this matter. They do not care about the future. They dream and dream every day. How many girls and boys have imagined some stories such as “Snow White” to happen onto themselves! A tale is just a tale. When you open your eyes, life still continues: The wife needs a new dress, babies need to drink milk and your belly is fighting for lunch. How terrible they are! Life is easy when eyes are closed, isn’t it?

“When people should have their own families” that is not a time problem. Actually people can get married whenever and wherever, only if the law allows. The key is how happy they are after the wedding. There is not a model of the harmonious family for reference. However, a prepared marriage is better than recklessness.

EAP2
Qin, Pu

Steven Spielberg, one of the most famous movie directors of the world, is my favorite person. I have seen a lot of his products, including Jaws, E.T., Indiana Jones and Titanic. The latest movie that I saw is “Munich”, which is talking around the terrorism of the 1980’s Munich Olympic Games. I think the movie that is produced by Steven Spielberg is always talking about the research of the soul and human being. I always get myself into his movie to imagine that I am a character in the story while watching. I admire his flair. He is a movie genius.
In modern history, I’m interested in World War II, the most important event in 1900s and the distress in mostly people’s memory. However, in that time, technology developed very quickly. The first computer was born at that time. Actually, it was produced for the military. Nobody thought that stupid box would change the world and human behavior later. But now everything can prove this point; computer is a fantastic invention!
“Be an honest guy!” My parents always say that to me. I know even though it is not special, it is the most genuine word, which I heard in my life.