Roxilla

My first introduction to the new wave of revolution sweeping across the world was the protests in Iran a while back. Twitter was ablaze with incredible footage of angry people who were fighting for their lives to keep their freedom. Then came Egypt, which was even more amazing. Images of Christians standing in a protective ring around Muslims as they prayed have remained in my thoughts for a long time. When the army decided to stand with the people, the world realised that maybe there was a way for peoples voices to be heard. Libya was perhaps less of a success story, but by then it was clear that social change had given regular people the chance to stand up against dictatorships and regain their freedom.

So with all of this in mind, why is it that I have been less than moved by the Occupy Wall Street and subsequent Occupy movements over the rest of the world?

Part of it is the fact there is no clear point or message. People are not fighting for basic rights or even their lives, and for the most part, they seem to be fighting against The Man instead. These are people with smart phones and jobs for the most part, who are trying to save the world from corporations and those evil rich folk. The 99%, apparently.

What really bothers me however is that the media hype, huge turnouts for marches, massive amount of time, energy and funds that have come with this latest movement is pretty significent indeed. All for a movement with no clear end, and no clear objective other than to try and change a world that has been this way since the beginning of time.

With the vast number of NGOs and causes out there, and the millions of people who are starving to death in Somalia alone, not to mention the millions of people who have no food, no jobs, no home and no hope. There are cancer patients as young as 4 years old, and people taking to the streets to protest against no water, no houses and no help. Rhinos are being poached into extinction, township animals are being abused and abandoned. Children all over the world do not have access to even the most basics of food.

The biggest threat to humanity is not corporations, or even government – although they are doing their bit to add to the state of our planet. The biggest threat is that all of this is happening around us, and a large number of people are choosing to use their time to make a statement rather than actually doing something constructive.

Yes, social change is vital. But what about real change, that involves more than a sign purchased from an online store? Surely we are losing sight of the potential that we have to do something huge?

Maybe I have missed the point. Or maybe, this just isn’t a revolution that can free an entire nation.