IS THE WORLD REALLY CRYSI ?

PROTEST EVERYWHERE IS THE WORLD REALLY CRAZY? Explosions of protest and public discontent are spreading along with the pandemic 09-15-2020 23:11 | Author: Dubravko GRAKALIĆ Protesters of the global Extinction Rebellion movement in London (EPA) Mass protests over corona measures, human rights, politics and ecology have rotated the planet. But the year 2020 is not only the year of the pandemic, but also the year of the civil uprising Citizens of a large number of countries - from Australia to France - have stopped being silent and watching what governments they have, more or less democratically, elected themselves are doing. There are protests everywhere, on the streets of the capitals there are screams and rage of citizens seeking their rights and freedoms, fighting for their own work and against corruption, for a clean environment and gender rights, for minority rights and fair elections, for transparent measures regarding the pandemic crown and for many other things. Public discontent has become a daily protest in much of the world and there is no doubt that this is a trend that will mark 2020. THE TEXT CONTINUES AFTER THE AD Sponsored content Don't miss the big action on Mall.hr! The promotion is valid until September 20! Midas - Native Internet Advertising The catalog of protests and street riots records the actions of angry citizens who often protest across the planet despite bans and police repression. It is being demonstrated despite epidemiological measures in place around the world - often against them - and it is not uncommon for the authorities to use the corona crisis for their own benefit, sparking new civil protests. Protests by thousands of "yellow vests" in Paris last weekend showed that the pandemic did not bother to renew their demands - even in cases of tens of thousands of newly infected people a day. In recent months, the "yellow vests" have been silenced by fear of the crown, but fierce Saturday protests in which more than two hundred demonstrators were arrested have brought them back into the public spotlight. At the Paris protests, "yellow vests" highlighted anti-fascist symbols. A few days ago, at least three hundred people were arrested at protests in Hong Kong because they rose to their feet against the decision of the Government, which, under the pretext of the plague crown, wants to postpone the elections for the Legislative Council for a year. Observers of the situation in that Chinese metropolis see the real reason for the government's decision that provoked the protests in fear of losing power. In Hong Kong, there have been regular protests on the streets since June 2019. Thousands of people gather every weekend to oppose the laws passed by the ruling Communist Party of China. After the August presidential elections in Belarus, there are almost daily protests against the rigging of results in favor of the dictator Alexander Lukashenko there. Thousands of citizens are gathering in Minsk and other major cities in support of Svetlana Tihanovska, the opposition leader who they say won a majority in the election. On the streets of Belarusian cities, complete political and social reform is increasingly being demanded, with the recognition of the election results and the departure of President Lukashenko. The United States is under a wave of protests following the brutal police murder of African-American George Floyd in Minneapolis in June. Protests since then, and several more examples of police violence against African Americans have been reported, have been happening on a daily basis and will certainly affect the outcome of the November 3 presidential election. The last mass protests in the United States were held in Portland, Oregon, where they lasted more than a hundred days. Dozens of citizens were arrested for violence and throwing Molotov cocktails at the police. President Donald Trump has decreed federal funding for "cities ruled by lawlessness." Even in the countries of the region, Croatia's neighbors, there is no peace on the streets. In Montenegro, months before the parliamentary elections, street protests were held against the Law on Freedom of Religion, which was encouraged by the Serbian Orthodox Church. After the August 30 elections, which saw a change of government and the defeat of "Montenegrin Lukashenko" Mile Djukanovic, the largest rally in the country's history was organized by election losers. The "Patriot Rally" in Podgorica was attended by more than 50,000 Montenegrins who support the government of President Djukanovic and the Democratic Party of Socialists - almost 10 per cent of the population of the small Balkan state. The protests of Djukanovic's supporters are also expected to continue, while the election winners have stated that they will not protest because they are not responding to provocations. In neighboring Serbia, protests have marked everyday life for years. Right-wing marches against Aleksandar Vučić's government under the slogan "One in Five Million" were replaced in April by protests against harsh police measures imposed over the pandemic crown. They began on April 26 by banging on pots and playing loud music on balconies and windows, in response to a curfew that lasted six weeks daily. The reintroduction of curfew due to the crown in June led to mass and violent protests in Belgrade and other Serbian cities. Prior to that, there were protests against migrants in Belgrade. Violent riots against corruption and the government have taken place in recent months in Bulgaria. The protests against Prime Minister Boyko Borisov lasted for two months, and the last rally in front of the parliament in Sofia was called the "Great People's Uprising". Protesters demanded the resignation of Prime Minister and Chief State Attorney Ivan Gashev. The protests were accompanied by violence and a large number of those arrested. Prime Minister Borisov has offered to resign following a constitutional change in parliament, but it is estimated that this is only buying time until the March 2021 elections. Bulgaria is the poorest EU country (ahead of only Croatia), and according to Transparency International, the most corrupt. The UK, although living in lockdown for months, is recording protests demanding greater freedom from epidemiological measures - as has been seen in France and other "old European" countries. However, there are exceptions. The global movement Extinction Rebellion (can be translated as "Rebellion due to extinction") continues to operate with long-lasting protests in Great Britain and 72 other countries, including Croatia. It is a political and non-partisan international movement that uses nonviolent direct action to persuade governments to act fairly on climate and environmental emergencies. The British branch has three demands on its government, and similar demands are in other states. They demand that the government tell the truth and declare a climate and environmental crisis, work with other institutions to communicate the urgency of change, work to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025, and be guided by civil assembly decisions on climate and environmental justice. Extinction Rebellion operates through 1139 local groups (one is also in Zagreb) in 72 countries on all continents and so far they have organized 128 protests. A new wave of global civil disobedience from Poland to Ecuador and Australia to Austria has been announced for the coming autumn. "XR rebels will gather in creative, vibrant, determined but peaceful protests to disrupt ordinary business and call for urgent truth-telling and government action to address climate change and biodiversity loss," Extinction Rebellion said. In Germany, very diverse gatherings were held regarding the corona of the epidemic, which were attended by those who believe that the infection does not exist at all, fans of conspiracy theories, but also members of the far-right AFD party. In short, something similar to the Zagreb "Freedom Festival". In Berlin, some protesters carried the Reich flag, the "Reichflagge," which was also used by the Nazis and was an official insignia during the German Empire. Colorful flags with the inscription "Peace" fluttered next to them. Along with them, students who oppose wearing protective masks at school also demonstrated. Corona restrictions have recently been protested in Brussels. The protests had the slogan "Stop, measures - stop, madness", and were organized by a group called Viruswaanzin (Viral Madness). They argue that the Belgian government is exaggerating with the measures of mandatory wearing of a mask and other restrictions in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The banners read "No, masks", "Freedom begins where fear disappears", "No to the health dictatorship" and "We don't want vaccines". At the other end of the world, in Australia, police arrested dozens of people in several cities during protests against anti-crown measures. In Melbourne, Australia's most infected city, protesters chanted "freedom" and "human rights matter." There were also protests in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, and protesters paid fines for non-compliance with epidemiological measures. About 800 people have died in the country as a result of the infection. Is the world "crazy" enough for civil disobedience, which is also expressed in other countries, to change the social reality? It's hard to guess. But 2020 is not only a year of pandemics, but also a year of civil insurgency.