TOP 5 People’s Power in the World
The global economic meltdown has led a majority of the world population to suffer endlessly, while the 1% of the world’s rich is accumulating wealth out of proportion. Greed and corruption has seeped every nation around the world to such an extent that political leaders along with huge incorporations have turned a blind eye towards their own respective citizen’s struggle to survive.
Meaningless wars like in Somalia (1991-Present), Afghanistan (2001-Present), Iraq (2003-Present), Nigeria (2009-Present), Syria (2011-Present), Libya (2011-Present), South Sudan (2013-Present), Ukraine (2014-Present), Yemen (2015-Present) and India/Pakistan (2016-Present) led by the rich powerful nations too have created further sufferings with destruction and killings of millions of innocent to no end.
As if it is not enough, nations’ heads are suppressing their own people with various means lying blatantly and creating fear. The significant questions are – where is the world heading to? How can or will the economy of the nations pick up momentum towards growth? Johnny D explores the significant reasons for the rise of ‘Top 5 People’s Power in the World’.
The ancient adage – ‘History repeats itself’ has seen time and again the rise of people’s power against the mighty rulers to overthrow them to oblivion. The struggle for existence around the world seems as old as 6,000 ancient years, in spite of living in the modern 21st Century. ‘Enough is enough’ has seen the rise of people’s power in recent times around the world.
The rise of ‘Mouvement des gilets jaunes’ or the Yellow Vests Movement in France, on the 17th of November 2018, has spread in as many as 25 countries around the world. Just like during the 17th Century French Revolution, people’s power overthrew monarchy, established republic, violent periods of political turmoil and dictatorship of States’ Heads – history is being repeated in our modern world this very moment.
Sudan overthrew the 30-year corrupt evil dictator President Omar al-Bashir just because his government raised the price of bread. The Sudanese people were fed up of their existence. Imagine the magnitude of 30 years of suppression of Sudanese broke all their emotions in a do-or-die attempt to stand tall against the mighty evil dictator.
Our modern world is on its course of recovery just like the French Revolution period. Liberal democracies is the only way out for every citizen to not only enjoy life to its fullest, but also be happy and content just like the happiest nation of the world Finland.
The rise of the ‘Top 5 People’s Power in the World’ has overthrown corrupt and evil dictators and the demands for a good governance for the people of the countries is spreading around the world. It is high time for all the State Heads of the world to realize it is time for them to work for the betterment of their citizens.
No. 5: PUERTO RICO
Governor Ricardo Rosselló’s heights of callousness was revealed in the leaked personal chat about his own dead Puerto Ricans in hurricane Maria, vulgar language, internet troll networks on social media and death threat against San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin has seen the rise of people’s power. On the 17th of July 2019, 500,000 plus Puerto Ricans took to streets demanding Rosselló’s resignation. In spite of the continuous protest, the power-hungry Governor has refused to step down.
Latin sensations Ricky Martin, Residente and Bad Bunny joined the public. Puerto Ricans in London, Santiago, Seattle, New York City, Boston, Kentucky, Amsterdam, St. Kitts, Barcelona, Madrid, Stockholm, Paris, Slovenia, Norway and Vienna rose together as one to join in solidarity with the people. The Governor was trapped in his own house surrounded by millions of people for more than a week.
On the 22nd July, thousands of Puerto Ricans joined the largest demonstration to shut down the main highway connecting San Juan and the rest of the island. It was really amazing to see the whole Puerto Ricans coming together as a whole. The callousness of the Governor is hard to imagine post hurricane Maria in one of the exchanges saying to his former Chief Financial Officer, “Don't we have some cadavers to feed our crows?”
In just 12 days, the success of “People’s Power” forced the Governor to ultimately resign on the 24th of July 2019. He will step down on the 2nd August and the Secretary of Justice Wanda Vázquez will take over as the new Governor. Puerto Ricans celebrated ‘People’s Power Victory’ outside the Governor's mansion in San Juan at night.
No. 4: FRANCE
The birth of grassroots ‘Mouvement des gilets jaunes’ started on the 17th of November 2018 against President Emmanuel Macron’s increased ‘Fuel Tax’. The Yellow Vests Movement has remained continuous since the last 7 months and 26 days till date every weekend. Rising fuel prices, government’s tax reforms and high cost of living has burdened disproportionately the French working class and the middle class, especially in the rural and peri-urban areas.
The rise of people’s power in France has spread in 25 other countries around the world. The gilets jaunes are demanding resignations of Macron and the Second Philippe Government, lower fuel taxes, a minimum-wage increase, a reintroduction of the solidarity tax on wealth and the implementation of Citizens' initiative referendums. It is one of the longest People’s Power demonstrations in our modern era.
The financial hardships gave rise to People’s Power for economic justice to oppose the wealthy urban elite and the establishment. Life has become very difficult with Macron’s policies favouring the rich. Excessive police brutality has been faced by the gilets jaunes during each Saturday’s demonstration. The 8-month long leaderless demonstrations have achieved very little in terms of their demands against Macron’s adamant stance so far.
No. 3: ALGERIA
The Algerians ‘People’s Power’ successfully overthrew the 20-year-ruling President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on the 2nd of April 2019. It is fascinating because Bouteflika was the longest-serving President of Algeria, who ruled from the 27th of April 1999 to the 2nd April 2019. In just two months of massive demonstration against the President, the ‘People’s Power’ of the Algerians rose on the 22nd of February 2019.
Algerians showed great courage to denounce the long-ailing Bouteflika, when he announced on the 10th of February that he would seek consecutive fifth term. The discontentment saw the rise of people’s power with national demonstrations in the biggest manner since the last 18 years. Street protests are illegal in Algeria. With continuous massive demonstrations, the two decade ruler had no choice but to resign on the 2nd of April 2019.
No. 2: HONG KONG
CEO Carrie Lam has become the most unpopular person in the alpha+ world city Hong Kong, ever since she pushed for the controversial amendment to the extradition law. The rise of ‘People’s Power’ saw millions on the streets demanding complete withdrawal of the ‘China Extradition Bill’.
The faceless-leaderless monumental million people comprising of young, old, men, women and children grabbed the attention of the world demanding resignation of pro-Beijing CEO. The Hong Kong government’s callous approach towards a single-issue, peaceful protest movement against the ‘China Extradition Bill’ has escalated the situation into a much bigger crusade against a Beijing-controlled puppet government.
On the 31st of March 2019, 12,000 people voiced their concern regarding Secretary of Security John Lee’s proposal of an amendment in China Extradition Bill. By the 9th of June, the numbers swelled increased to a million. Instead of pacifying public’s anger, the government tried to table the bill for a second reading on the 12th of June.
On the 16th June, more than 2 million people joined the rally in unison. Violent clashes between police and the public were witnessed with multiple arrests. People’s Power rose in more than a dozen cities around the world in solidarity with Hong Kong people to condemn Carrie Lam’s adamant stance. Lam was forced to apologize to people and assured to sincerely and humbly accept all criticism and to improve and serve the public.
Lam’s apology-act fell short and the demonstration continued towards Hong Kong Legislative Council Building being stormed and spray-painted on the 1st of July – ‘There are no rioters, only tyrannical rule’, ‘It was you who taught me peaceful marches did not work’ and defaced the Hong Kong Emblem. On the 9th of July, Carrie Lam announced that the ‘Extradition Bill’ is dead and called the amendment efforts a total failure.
The People’s Power in Hong Kong is not resting till the ‘Extradition Bill’ is scrapped completely and Carrie Lam resign from the post.
No. 1: SUDAN
The 30-year-long rule of President Omar al-Bashir came to an end for one of the silliest reasons in the world – ‘Raising the price of daily bread 300%’ in Atbara, Sudan. On the 19th of December 2018, the first ‘People’s Power’ rose in Atbara and soon spread to Port Sudan, Dongola and Khartoum – the Capital. National Party Headquarters were set on fire in Atbara and Dongola. This was just the beginning of discontentment of people against high cost of living and deterioration of economic conditions at large.
‘Enough is enough’ and the demands were loud and clear – Urgent economic reforms and resignation of President Omar al-Bashir. Government’s violent reaction on peaceful demonstrations grabbed the attention of the world. On 22nd February 2019, the dictator declared a state of emergency and replaced the National and Regional Governments with military and intelligence-service officers to save his power.
However, the rise of ‘People’s Power’ saw massive protests for the first time on the weekend of 6th and 7th of April. The intense magnitude of People’s Power saw the military removing the evil and corrupt President from power in a coup d'état on the 11th of April 2019. The 30-year-ruler is currently languishing in Kobar jail in Khartoum for all his crimes and killings. The army arrested all al-Bashir’s cabinet ministers and dissolved the National Legislature to form TMC – Transitional Military Council.
The TMC is being led by its own first Vice President and Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf. The Sudan crisis has further escalated after the recent talks between the military and Sudan's pro-democracy movement. It has dragged out over the final and crucial part of a power-sharing deal for the nation's transitional period. The future of Sudanese People’s Power may be uncertain at this juncture.
However, overthrowing the 30-year-old dictator Omar al-Bashir is one of the most successful rises of the People’s Power in the world. History will marvel, how poor people united against the mighty to put him in jail for life.
