Hello, Svalbard, my old friend

Let’s say you’re a young Thai or Indian looking to migrate to Europe in the hope of a better life. Where might you go? Well, France, which is about to deport tens of thousands of immigrants, isn’t looking particularly inviting these days. So why not give Svalbard a try? That’s right, Svalbard. The artic island owned by Norway sits about 600 miles from the North Pole and is the only place in Western Europe where migrants do not need a visa or permit to live and work. Al Jazeera is reporting that the island is fast becoming a “haven” for people from the developing world. But just in case you’re under the impression that life on Svalbard is all flowers and chocolates, the governor of the island would like to remind you that:

“It’s not a good idea to spread the impression that the people coming here have found their lucky life. It’s too cold…”