Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai are as different as chalk and cheese. Nonetheless, for all of their diversely different backgrounds and circumstances, the two young ladies are fast becoming role models that politicians and administrations are finding difficult to ignore.
The teenaged Thunberg not only turned out to be the spearhead of the children’s movement for action on climate change, she has put many to shame by declining a lucrative award for her contributions. More so by the frank statement that there’s more work yet to be done -- and certainly more convincing. Yousafzai has already made her mark in her efforts to force greater attention to girls’ education in developing countries.
The one area where they are similar is the ease with which they have challenged administrations, thereby, encouraging sweeping protests against incumbent governments across the world. From Hong Kong, through Africa, the Middle East, to South America -- it is the youngsters that are facing up to governments on a range of issues.
Democracy is one of them, but it is more about the state of economies and governance that has fuelled their ire.
As the United States loosens its grip, Iraqi citizens are pouring out in protest that their living standards, during the days of Saddam Hussein, was so much better. Nor are they happy with the lack of progress of integration as well as the impunity with which radical forces are causing mayhem.
Leaders in South America blame undue foreign interference, pointing fingers at the CIA for their woes barring the bankrupt Argentina that is being kept afloat by liberal doses of loans from the IMF. These are loans that most believe, like Greece, will never be repaid.
In Hong Kong, where pro-democracy activists, again mostly young people, are nearly six months into protests, seeking democratic reforms and to be less dependent on the dictates of China. No apparent leadership is visible, but that these have the general support of most Hong Kong citizens is evident by the inconsequential but notable victory of the movement-supporting candidates in the council elections. So much so that Carrie Lam has promised that their voices will be heard.
This is the same Lam who was forced to initially suspend and then scrap a controversial amendment to the law allowing for offenders to be deported to China for trial.
That of course was the beginning -- and the end is not clear. Nor is it known what Lam proposes to do and whether she can do much. The movement has caused the vibrant Hong Kong economy spiralling into recession and is a cause for concern to China which exports a significant amount through the tiny region.
The movements in Spain and France were as much about affordability of public life as anything. While the intensity has subsided to a degree in France, with Emmanuel Macron embarking on a series of town-halls to understand people’s views, Spain was forced into another election, that too unconvincing in gaining a clear mandate.
The one feature emerging is that people are fast losing faith in even elected governments to give them the sense of overall security of livelihood and the Thunbergs and Yousafzais of the world are increasingly becoming the preferred options -- ridiculously young as they are. Thunberg forced her place in United Nations discussions on climate change as the embattled secretary general clutches at every straw to keep the momentum of the climate change agreement alive.
And as the young generation become voters, they are sending unmistakable signals to their leaders to distance themselves from big business and take decisions based on scientific and economic information and facts.
There is simmering discontent in Bangladesh too -- some of which has been vented by no less than the president in his recent statements that includes public beatings of food adulterers. One only hopes he was misquoted or meant something else. The last thing that is required is for people to take the law into their own hands.
Mahmudur Rahman is a writer, columnist, broadcaster, and communications specialist.
