The Thai Student Protest and the Global Youth Protest Movement: Equity for all, or just humans?
The Thai student protests – what exactly are they? And how are they connected to the many other youth protests around the world?
In a word: equity.
In the last nine years since the Arab Spring (link), there have been and/or are youth protests in Sudan, Lebanon, Iraq, Hong Kong, Haiti, Senegal, Spain and now Belarus. Young people around the world are recognizing the vast economic and social inequalities and demanding equality.
These protests are challenging oppression; conscious, coordinated efforts to keep people down, keeping them from recognizing, owning and expressing their power, and thereby to claim their inherent human rights.
All these diverse protests are about the same fundamental thing – equity – but what about the global youth environmental protests, which are even more numerous than the economic and social ones? Groups such as the School Strike Movement (Fridays for Future), Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, 350.org and many others, are demanding an end to environmental destruction and a beginning of environmental stewardship.
Are these movements essentially different, with different aims? At first glance, one might think so, but when we look closer, it is clear they share the same fundamental goal: equity for the Earth and all of her creatures, not just humans.
We have come to believe in the supremacy of humans; if we want a new mall, we just bulldoze a few acres, pave over it and build a mall. Simple. No problem, right? Wrong; we have just destroyed an entire ecosystem, and thousands of creatures. Hundreds if not thousands of thriving, interconnected communities annihilated. Gone. Forever.
Do we have that right? Of course we do, goes the conventional mindset. We do it all the time, and have been doing it since the beginning of civilized humans. We plunder and pillage whatever we want – after all, we are the superior species, are we not?
Of course, more and more people are realizing that this is not only a false belief, but a self-destructive one as well. We depend on the biodiversity of life on earth; the varieties of life we are currently destroying is to destroy our own chances of survival.
But more than just survival, there is the ethical question of, once again, equity. The Buddha realized this and implored his followers to harm no living thing. When we allow all sentient beings their inherent right to live and thrive, we remind ourselves of our inherent dignity and true humanity.
It is heartening indeed to see young people rise into their own power and to use it to claim their inherent human rights. One of the most important ways that these disparate yet unified protests can organize, protest and conduct other nonviolent civil disobedience successfully and sustainably is to learn from one another and successful protest movements and organizations, from the past and present. Like the Civil Rights and Women’s Liberation Movements, Greenpeace, the Anti-Nuclear Movement and now Extinction Rebellion, the School Strike Movement and 350.org. Each has invaluable lessons to impart and strategies to share.
Let us be clear that whatever forms this struggle takes – economic, social or environmental activism – it is all for the same thing: a more equitable and sustainable world. And let us join forces and, hand-in-hand, stand strong and proud for we know so deeply and intimately in our hearts: the time has come for equity and justice!
Links:
Protests around the world explained
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/10/protests-around-the-world-explained/
Do today’s global protests have anything in common?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-50123743
Learning from Successful Movements
http://effectiveactivist.com/movement-success/
Activist Campaign Tactics (at end of each section, click for next section)
http://effectiveactivist.com/tactics/
How Protests Become Successful Social Movements
https://hbr.org/2017/01/how-protests-become-successful-social-movements
Lessons from the Civil Rights Movement
Women’s Liberation Movement
https://www.lse.ac.uk/library/collection-highlights/womens-liberation-movement
Fridays for Future: why the movement is successful
https://www.deutschland.de/en/topic/politics/fridays-for-future-why-the-movement-is-successful
Greenpeace’s Campaign Strategies
http://peacemagazine.org/archive/v20n3p13.htm
Extinction Rebellion’s Path to Success
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/08/world/europe/extinction-rebellion-london-greta.html
350.org Resources for Organizers
https://trainings.350.org/for/organisers/
I really like your writing style, fantastic info , appreciate it for posting : D. Yovonnda Moise Furie
Appreciating the hard wprk yyou puut into your blog and detailed information you present. Kiersten Shawn Lenz
Attractive portion of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to say that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Samara Curr Robina
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something that I think I would never understand. Dode Bond Bonnee
Here are a few of the internet sites we suggest for our visitors. Ruthann Lanie Corby
I have read so many articles on the topic of the blogger lovers except this article is actually a nice piece of writing, keep it up. Vilma Sigvard Hellene
To the wedding they are other than semi-formal outfit, constantly made estimation from phony leaves all around. Molly Saw Arnoldo
There is apparently a bundle to realize about this. I think you made some good points in features also. Sile Gilberto Darsey
I have read so many articles or reviews about the blogger lovers but this article is truly a nice piece of writing, keep it up. Sophey Flynn Whitby
I have read so many content concerning the blogger lovers but this article is in fact a pleasant article, keep it up. Becca Derry Thorner
This is a truly respected post. Thanks instead of posting this. Darlleen Kellen Evie
Remarkable! Its truly amazing piece of writing, I have got much clear idea about from this paragraph. Blaire Patrice Bird
Respect to article author, some good selective information. Florette Crawford Strait
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this write-up and also the rest of the website is also really good. Melisenda Tannie Kizzie
Thanks-a-mundo for the article post. Much obliged. Moina Dimitri Vail
Here are some hyperlinks to sites that we link to for the reason that we believe they are worth visiting. Erda Ryun Zosi
I’m extremely pleased to discover this website. I wanted to thank you for ones time just for this fantastic read!! I absolutely enjoyed every part of it and i also have you bookmarked to see new stuff in your site.
Thanks for the diverse tips contributed on this blog. I have noticed that many insurance providers offer shoppers generous reductions if they favor to insure a few cars with them. A significant variety of households own several autos these days, in particular those with more aged teenage kids still located at home, as well as the savings with policies may soon increase. So it will pay to look for a great deal.
Definitely, what a great blog and revealing posts, I definitely will bookmark your site. Best Regards!
I got what you intend,bookmarked, very decent website.
I am incessantly thought about this, thanks for posting.
I reckon something truly special in this website.
Some really great info, Gladiola I detected this. I’m not spaming. I’m just saying your website is AWSOME! Thank you so much! Please vist also my website.
The Yoga 2 Pro and the Yoga 900 have the same design. Sonny Titus Kerry
Good article. I will be facing many of these issues as well.. Jeanie Marmaduke Bamby
Astonishingly user pleasant website. Enormous information readily available on few clicks on. Arabela Rodrick Pablo
Thanks, Film – Have you found some of the resources useful, and have you passed some on to others? This is the only way we will create a more sustainable world, but helping to educate and empower each other!
Well I truly enjoyed reading it. This subject offered by you is very effective for accurate planning. Susette Ferrel Hennie
Thanks Susette! Planning for what?
You made some clear points there. I looked on the internet for the topic and found most individuals will go along with with your site. Leoine Winfred Innes
Thanks Leoine! Will go along with [the] site?
I have been examinating out many of your stories and i can state clever stuff. I will make sure to bookmark your website. Pavla Hailey London
Thanks Pavla – Please pass along any of the resources you find useful!
Hi, of course this piece of writing is actually good and I have learned lot of things from it on the topic of blogging. Darcy Ilario Whit
Thanks Darcy! What have you learned?
Appreciation to my father who shared with me on the topic of this webpage, this web site is genuinely awesome. Jemie Courtnay Berkshire
Hi there Dear, are you actually visiting this website regularly, if so afterward you will absolutely get nice experience. Alix Manfred China
Thanks Jemie! How has it helped you?
The article is worth reading, I like it very much. I will keep your new articles. Lisbeth Quintus Verdi
I will right away grasp your rss as I can not in finding your email subscription link or e-newsletter service. Donella Matthias Avigdor
I have been told that sedating pets on trips has been proven to be dangerous! Dredi Arvin Affrica
Great, Debbie! You nailed it. I recall a comment Frank Laubach made back in the Cold War days, to the effect that East and West, armed to the teeth, faced each other prepared to do battle, not discerning that the real enemy was BEHIND them both, and that enemy was world hunger. Or, we might say, and Dr. Laubach would certainly approve, the real enemy is the dark lord of evil, not the enemy we discern. Margaretta Hadleigh Marlea
although web-sites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we really feel they may be actually really worth a go via, so have a look Jeni Monte Derte
These are truly enormous ideas in on the topic of blogging. Selia Ethan Karee
Delectus cum suscipit ut ipsam est. Repellat eos ipsam voluptatem sed. Omnis tempore harum quia sint. Commodi sunt quia illum impedit autem pariatur voluptatibus accusamus. Lyda Ruperto Allegra
After looking at a few of the articles on your web site, I honestly appreciate your technique of blogging. I book-marked it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back soon. Please visit my web site as well and let me know how you feel. Christin Malchy Omer