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RIGHTS & SOCIAL PROTESTS

Social Protest – It is a form of political expression that seeks to bring about social or political change by influencing the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of the public or the policies of an organization or institution.

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Knowledge + Understanding -> Bring about a greater change -> Political or Social

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Forms of Protest: 

  • Public Display

    • Self-immolation[1]

    • Flash mobs

    • Signage

    • Sit-ins

  • Demonstrations

    • Shouting

    • Silence and stillness

    • Marches

  • Civil Disobedience

    • Hunger strikes

    • Sabotage (right or wrong? Morally?)

  • Boycotts

  • Lobbying

    • Humor

    • Propaganda

  • Online activities

  • Petitions

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[1] Setting fire to oneself as a final act of protest

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Internet Activism – The use of electronic communication technologies such as social media, e-mail and podcasts for various forms of activism to enable faster and more effective communication by citizen movements

Internet activism is AKA - “Digital Activism Campaign”

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Benefits of Internet Activism:

  1. Fast

  2. Well-coordinated

  3. Reaches large masses of people

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Internet Activism used for? 

  • Fundraising – Gathering voluntary contributions of resources

  • Community building – Creating a sense of community amongst individuals with common interest

  • Lobbying – Influence legislators and officials to influence decision making

  • Organizing – Proper organization of tasks, activities, resources to achieve goals 

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***Protests usually represent the collective interest and issues of activist groups, social movements or coalitions that challenge mainstream institutions (e.g. the government)

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Communication is a central element in the success of a protest group as it facilitates the following:

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Activism is necessary for change (It allows the disapproval of the people to be heard)

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“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.[1]

 

[1] An American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson of the civil rights movement in America (1929-1968)

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I Have a Dream – Speech by Martin Luther King Jr.

  • 28th August, 1963 @ Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC

  • 24 million people for a ‘March for Jobs and Freedom’ to urge congress and President John F. Kennedy to pass a national civil rights bill

  • International cooperation + social equality

  • Most memorable speech in US history

  • Rhetoric and repetition (important literary devices used)

 

King was inspired by:

  • Mahatma Gandhi

  • Henry David Thoreau

  • Bayard Rustin

  • Leo Tolstoy

  • Hosea Williams

  • Benjamin Mays

  • Howard Thurman

  • Theodore Parker

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STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL PROTEST

  1. Define the change you want to see – Identify the problem and propose a solution to it; revolution begins with a clear vision

  2. Shift the spectrum of allies – (Core -> Neutral -> Opposition) To win, you need to persuade them to join your cause, to show that you’re better than the opposition

  3. Identify the pillars of power – Allies which can help implement your change; Police, media, education system, government etc.

  4. Seek to attract, not to overpower – Anger + Hope -> Power; Keep your support happy (Gandhi & the salt march for salt tax laws)

  5. Have a plan to survive victory – Get your victory; work hard to implement the change you saw; MOST IMPORTANT

HUMAN RIGHTS

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What are Human Rights?

“Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language or any other status”

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  • All UN countries agree on adhering to these rights

  • Human rights must be fulfilled by all nations, regions and states

  • Human rights can be guaranteed by implementing laws

  • These rights are indivisible and may be political or civil rights

  • Fundamental discipline of non-discrimination

  • Basically:

    • Right to life

    • Equality before law

    • Freedom of Expression

    • Economic rights

    • Social rights

    • Cultural rights

 

Universal Declaration on Human Rights (1948)

  • UN General Assembly in Paris

  • 10th December 1948

  • Palestine, Taiwan, and Kosovo not part of UN

  • 30 articles (Human Rights)

 

Vienna World Conference on Human Rights (1993)

  • 14-25th June, 1993

  • 171 states recognized and acted on agreement of this conference

  • A plan for the international community for strengthening human rights around the world

  • Constructed on the basis of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

 

How have Human rights changed today’s world?

  • Developed countries take stand for human rights

  • Children are given rights (education, labor, marriage)

  • Provided citizens basic necessities of life

  • Consequences for violation of rights

  • Women’s rights (work, vote identity

 

‘In less developed countries, human rights violations are common’

Examples:

  • Oppression of women

  • Kashmir Issue

  • Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar

  • Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (USA – refer to war on terror)

  • Child labor/torture

 

How does awareness of rights change lives?

  1. Taking a stand against issues

  2. Creating awareness

  3. Imposition of sanctions

  4. International pressure

 

Article 11 ‘Rights to protest and freedom of association’ -> Peaceful protests should be conducted

  • Protests in Kashmir

  • Aung San Sukyi to international court of justice

  • Civil Rights movement, USA

  • Nelson Mandela and Apartheid movement  

 

MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

  1. Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty

  2. Achieve Universal Primary Education

  3. Promote gender equality and empower women      

  4. Reduce child mortality

  5. Improve maternal health

  6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria & other diseases

  7. Ensure environmental sustainability

  8. Develop a global partnership for development

 

UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

  1. Equality

  2. Freedom from discrimination

  3. Life, liberty and personal security

  4. Freedom from slavery

  5. Freedom from torture and degrading treatment

  6. Right to recognition as a person before law

  7. Equality before law

  8. Remedy by competent tribunal

  9. Freedom from arbitrary arrest/exile

  10. Fair public hearing

  11. Considered innocent until proven guilty

  12. Freedom from interference with privacy, family, homes, correspondence

  13. Free movement in/out of country

  14. Asylum in other countries from persecution

  15. Nationality, freedom to change it

  16. Marriage and family

  17. Ownership of property

  18. Freedom of belief and opinion

  19. Freedom of opinion and association

  20. Peaceful assembly and association

  21. Participate in government and free elections

  22. Social security

  23. Desirable work and joining of trade unions

  24. Rest and Leisure

  25. Adequate living standard

  26. Education

  27. Participate in cultural life of community

  28. Social order

  29. Community duties essential to free and full development

  30. Freedom from state or personal interference in above rights 

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Maori Protest Movement

A broad indigenous rights movement in New Zealand, it has existed since Europeans first colonized New Zealand.

**Maori Protest movement is part of a broader Maori Renaissance

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Maori Affairs Amendment Act of 1967

“Maori land ‘economic’ by encouraging transfer to a Pakeha[1] system of land ownership; this generally allowed greater interference in Maori landholding, seen widely as Pakeha land grab; strong opposition, yet the amendment was passed. 

  • This Act was a catalyst for the Maori Protest movement

  • Wider civil rights movement globally in 1960s  

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Modern form of the movement emerged in the 1970s. Focused on:

  • Treaty of Waitangi

  • Maori land rights

  • Maori language and culture

  • Racism  

Successes of the movement:

  • Waitangi Tribunal establishment

  • Return of some Maori land

  • Maori made an official language of New Zealand 

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By fighting, protesting, court cases, deputations to British monarchs and British/New Zealand governments, passive resistance, and boycotts, the Maori tried to achieve a separate Maori political system.

Maori Women’s Welfare League

New Zealand Maori Council

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[1] Maori were indigenous New Zealanders, Pakeha are the European settlers

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Indian Caste System

  • Brahmins (Priests

  • Kshatriyas (Warriors and rulers)

  • Vaisyas (Skilled craftsmen)

  • Sudras (Unskilled workers)

  • Pariahs (Untouchables)

 

1932 – Gandhi went on a fast to protest against the segregation of the untouchables in the electoral arrangement planned for the new Indian constitution[1]

  • There was a spontaneous upsurge of feelings after this act, leading to temples, wells and public places being open to all untouchables

 

A number of Hindu leaders met with representatives of untouchables, and an electoral alternative arrangement was agreed upon and approved by the British government.

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HARIJAN SEKH SANGH – Combat ‘untouchability’ (organization)

     Started a newspaper ‘HARIJAN’

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1933 (9 months) – Gandhi went on a country wide tour which covered 12,500 miles, to help break down barriers between untouchables and the rest of the Hindu community. 

   

1938 – Removal of civil Disabilities Act (Passed by Madras Legislature, it provided that no Harijan[2] would be disabled from any social or public amenity)

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GOOD EDUCATION FOR HARIJANS[3] -> YOUTH CAN SOLVE PROBLEMS REGARDING IT

Caste is a social custom; all great preachers have tried to break it.

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[1] Critics described this as a form of coercion, political blackmail

[2] Harijan – Children of God (name of Pariahs by Gandhi)

[3] Lead to investment in schooling

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Rights & Social Protests (Further Notes)

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