The definition of a refugee - and how we think about the entire refugee system - needs to be changed, says Alex Aleinikoff, who was UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees from 2010-15. He talks to Ravi and Grant about why the definition matters, what it needs to expand to include, and how to build a humanitarian system that responds to the needs of the day. As the nature of conflict and displacement has changed, Alex brings a historical perspective to the discussion. They dive into the challenging and important issue of 'burden-sharing': how do we decide who takes on the responsibility for helping refugees? Enjoy their discussion and also check out Alex’s upcoming book, “The Arc of Protection: Towards a New International Refugee Regime.
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Alex Aleinikoff: let's start with how we define ‘refugee'

The world is facing the largest displacement crisis since WWII as a number of humanitarian emergencies rage on. Grant Gordon and Ravi Gurumurthy from the International Rescue Committee (IRC) have in-depth conversations with leading humanitarians, foreign policymakers, and innovators to understand how they think about, and tackle these global crises. Produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.

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In 1942, nine year-old Krishnan Gurumurthy fled to India from Burma with his family. It was just after the Japanese invasion, and they had just missed the final ferries out of Rangoon. So his family travelled by a treacherous land route -- a 1,500 mile journey that took over 42 days.
Years later, Krishnan moved from India to the U.K., worked as a radiologist, and had a three kids: Krishnan, Geeta, and Ravi. Today, Ravi interviews his father about his journey from Burma to India and how his experience of displacement shaped the rest of his life. 
Displaced is a production by the International Rescue Committee and Vox Media. You can read more about this episode in our show notes.
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What it Takes to Succeed After Displacement

Glenna Gordon is a documentary photographer and photojournalist. She's been commissioned by the New York Times Magazine, Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and other outlets. She’s photographed a range of subjects, from Muslim women writing romance novels in Boko Haram territory in Northern Nigeria to the American women of the alt-right. 
She’s also Grant Gordon’s older sister. This week, Grant interviews Glenna about her work in Nigeria, her current project documenting the alt-right, and the danger of a single narrative.
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Complicating Narratives with Documentary Photographer Glenna Gordon

The cruel irony of climate change is that it disproportionately impacts those who have contributed least to global warming—the world’s poorest and most marginalized groups. 
For Mary Robinson—former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, president of the Mary Robinson Foundation–Climate Justice, and the former, first female President of Ireland—rectifying these injustices is an essential part of the international effort to address climate change. This week, Ravi and Mary Robinson discuss the links between climate change-related displacement, human rights, and global equality.
Displaced is a production by the International Rescue Committee and Vox Media. You can read more about this episode in our show notes.
Join our conversation about climate change by tweeting your thoughts to @grantmgordon and @rgurumurthy. Make sure you include the hashtag #DisplacedPodcast!
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Climate Change: Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson on Climate Justice

Although cross-border displacement affects local communities, international efforts to address it typically take place at the highest levels. How can affected communities make their voices heard in these intergovernmental negotiations?
This week, Ravi and Grant sit down with Walter Kaelin, Envoy of the Chair at the Platform on Disaster Displacement and former Representative of the UN Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons. Kaelin has been at the forefront of these intergovernmental processes, and he discusses how they've sometimes generated solutions - and sometimes been detached from them. 
Displaced is a production by the International Rescue Committee and Vox Media. You can read more about this episode in our show notes.
Join our conversation about climate change by tweeting your thoughts to @grantmgordon and @rgurumurthy. Make sure you include the hashtag #DisplacedPodcast!
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Climate Change: How Local Communities Can Build Resilience to Climate Change

As climate change causes rapid and large-scale migration, countries already facing environmental challenges become increasingly vulnerable to instability and humanitarian crisis. Sherri Goodman, Senior Fellow at the Wilson Center and former U.S. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Security, describes climate change as a threat multiplier. This week she joins Grant and Ravi to discuss how climate change is linked to conflicts happening now, and what it might lead to in the future. 
Displaced is a production by the International Rescue Committee and Vox Media. You can read more about this episode in our show notes.
Join our conversation about climate change by tweeting your thoughts to @grantmgordon and @rgurumurthy. Make sure you include the hashtag #DisplacedPodcast!
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Alex Aleinikoff: let's start with how we define ‘refugee'

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