The Passportdonor project is presented in Groningen at the Floss night in the Pudding Factory (March 19, 2004)
The European Passport Donor Project aka Stichting Paspoort Donor
At the beginning of 2004, the Dutch Immigration Minister, Rita Verdonk, expressed the intent to return 26.000 failed asylum seekers within three years to their country of origin. Simple calculus tell us that in the time lapse between 2004 and 2006 every single hour one person is forced to leave our country. Disregarding the incredible high costs and the impossible logistics resulting from her plans, the minister has not counted on the tough resistance and the civil disobedience her policy evokes amongst the Dutch people. Proud of the Dutch flag, perhaps yes, but not at any cost, certainly not of those near to us, even if they have no Dutch ancestors or a Dutch passport.
As artists we support the growing resistance against the policy of Verdonk with the introduction of the equally brilliant as impossible concept of passport donorship. If you can save some body's life by donating a kidney, why shouldn't it be equally possible to save a life by donating your passport, your nationality and your citizenship to an alien or immigrant who needs such a legal status? After your death, your place in the world is left empty - why not let it be filled in by someone worthwhile?
In pursuing this line of thought, we have developed and designed a passport donor card and a corresponding registration form for the European Passport Donor Foundation. It comes included with a free poster to download and print on A4 tot A0 size. Hang it where it can be seen publicly in protest against the Immigration Minister's policy! It is in the interest of 26.000 deportees, including thousands of children, to spread as many posters as possible throughout Holland and the rest of Europe to show our concern.
Please note
Passport donorship is not exclusively intended for failed asylum seekers. You could also donate your passport to other groups subject to what could be termed 'migrational discrimination':
-illegal workers with a clean record, living and working in Europe for a number of years
-asylum seekers who are awaiting the outcome of their asylum procedure for more than three years
-marriage partners in countries outside of Europe awaiting their staying permit and who are not so lucky to marry a real crown prince (like our princess Maxima, who is of Argentinean descent but who was naturalized and legalized in a special and super fast procedure.)
Dutch version of the poster in shop window
News & Updates
Since the start of our action in January 2004 several foreign newspapers and magazines have reported on the impending deportation of the 26.000 failed asylum seekers. The Human Rights Watch has written a letter of concern to the Dutch Immigration Minister, calling attention to the fact that the planned deportations are in violation of International Law and jeopardize the lives of thousands of children who were born in Holland of asylum seeking parents and have never even visited the land where they are to be 'returned' to. This letter and other relevant links can be accessed through the link menu on the right.
In November 2004 a group of Dutch filmmakers has launched the project "26000 faces". Their goal is to make filmed portraits of each one of these asylum seekers, to be shown on public television on a daily basis. You can watch the movies here. Visit the website! The portraits are beautiful and heartbreaking. In the news section of the website you can read about news, recent developments and more.
Shown above is the European Donor Card, especially developed on request of <rotor> for their exhibition Entering EU. Download your copy here.
More resources - mostly in Dutch - relating to this issue:
Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland, Human Rights Watch, Stichting INLIA, Van Harte Pardon, Stichting Vluchteling, de IND ofwel de Immigratiedienst, Ministerie van Justitie, samenwerkende vluchtelingen organisaties, Humaan Asiel, Fabel van de Illegaal, ASKV - steunpunt vluchtelingen