Demonstration in solidarity with Peru’s indigenous people

Thought-provoking post. I admire how you and Matador don’t take the easy way out by ignoring the controversial issues that come up. It’s far easier to pretend it isn’t happening.

I believe that all the so-called “pointless” protests in the U.S. about South Africa helped end apartheid there.

As for Peru, if it wasn’t for the protests, I wouldn’t have even known about the issue. The world has gotten smaller over the past decade or so. Raise awareness about an issue and you’re half-way there.

Agree. Who can make the difference are the legislators and not everybody can make laws. “Pointless protests” are actually “civil society” and we are all part of it, both nationally and internationally. We create our social capital and world leaders, put there for and by us, cannot simply ignore our protests and demands.
PS: The Peru petition has reached almost 124,000 signatures

Yeah!! Julie, nice rebuttal, you rocked this issue! Hal, love your comment. Anybody who has gone to a demonstration and held “a sign and pretended to make a difference” knows that solidarity is important, raising your voice is important, raising awareness is important, and raising a ruckus is important. Social change requires all sorts of the methods and strategies–demonstrations, direct actions, letters, petitions, media, education, lobbying legislatures, etc.–yes, and sometimes even homemade signs.

Like Ben Harper sings in Better Way, “what good is a cynic with no better plan?”