A Minority within a minority: The Portuguese entrepreneurs of Paris

BY ALVARO VILLALOBOS LOPEZ, SCIENCES PO, SPECIAL TO THE MEDILL NEWS SERVICE

Sitting at a table, he drinks his coffee while talking to two women. His white shirt is spotless. His hair, in place. His words roll slowly. He looks determined. António de Macedo Andrade, Portuguese immigrant, is the owner of the restaurant Paris Madeira, in Paris' 9th district.

Like Andrade, Alberto Alves, Antonia Gonçalves, and José da Silva arrived in Paris between 1968 and 1970. They had to work hard to create their own companies in and around Paris. Affluent and prosperous, they represent a vital minority in France's Portuguese community.

In 1962, 50.000 Portuguese immigrants lived in France. Six years later, there were 300,000. By 1975, 800,000 Portuguese had settled. Since then, the figure stabilized and the community composed of Portuguese and Franco-Portuguese, is now approaching a million individuals. Within Paris, the Portuguese population of 47,000 is the largest foreign community, before the Algerians, Moroccans or Tunisians, according to the latest official census in 1999.   (More)

The Iraqi collaborator and his family's exit strategy

BY KATHERINE GLOVER, MEDILL NEWS SERVICE

After three years in the United States, 25-year-old Mohammed went back to his home in Baghdad, Iraq, to live with his mother and younger brother and sister.

He thought with Saddam Hussein gone, everything would be better. He didn't realize the city had fallen into violent chaos and his U.S. ties would put his family in danger.

This is the story of Mohammed's time in Iraq and his struggle to get his family safely to Syria.

He has asked that his last name not be used for the safety of his family.

To listen to the story, click on the screen.  (More)

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