Erstellt am: 23. 9. 2015 - 15:22 Uhr

Die Angst vor dem "Ansturm"

Reality Check speaks to author Simon Hadler, and checks out the EU's plans for refugees, the VW scandal, the coup in Burkina Faso and micro-financing with Oikocredit.

Refugees, Austrians & the future

When the first refugees started arriving in Austria after their journey across the Western Balkans, we were taken by surprise. Not just by the numbers and the fact that the consequences of the civil war in Syria had reached our doorstep, but by what’s been described as a “wave” of solidarity.

www.inshot.at

Helpers at the reception centre in Traiskirchen, which was overcrowded before the "wave" of refugees started arriving in Austria.

Our screens have been filled with pictures of citizens trying to provide help and comfort to hungry, exhausted people. There have been expressions of pride, euphoria even, at such a clear demonstration of humanity.

At the same time we’ve seen fear and rejection expressed towards the people coming to Europe in search of safety and a better life, bitter comments which have elicited angry responses on social media.

Jan Hadler

Demonstrators in Vienna call for better conditions for refugees.

The reactions on both sides of the emotional spectrum are adding to the pressure on Europe’s leaders to come up with a fast and adequate response

ORF.at journalist Simon Hadler has been investigating the situation of refugees in Austria for years. In his newly released e-book "Die Angst vor dem Ansturm" he documents personal stories as well as facts and the consequences of political decisions.

The book is available to download for free until the end of September.

Simon gave us his thoughts on the debate around the refugee crisis that has been taking place in Austria:

EU & Refugees

We talk to Johannes Pollak, Professor of Political Science at Webster University Vienna and Head of the Department of Political Science at the Institute for Advanced Studies, about the plan to redistribute 120,000 refugees across the EU, as well as moves by the European commission to punish 19 countries for failing to properly implement asylum laws:

VW

A device to circumvent emissions-testing installed in hundreds of thousands of diesel cars in the US? And what about Europe? We ask Greg Archer from the Brussels based NGO "Transport and Environment":

Burkina Faso

It looks like the general who seized power in a coup last week has returned power to the transitional president. Patrick Smith from the Africa Confidential newsletter explains what’s been happening.

Oikocredit

Providing access to financial resources for those who would normally be excluded from the mainstream financial system. Riem Higazi hears from Ging Ledesma how it works: