Umbrella Revolution - Hong Kong

I didn’t know much about it these days, but it seems that many big accidents have occurred in the world. Recently, a large scale demonstration which even young students participated in broke out.

Hong Kong’s citizens who desired for complete free direct election system against intervention of election of Hong Kong’s chief executive collided with Chinese government.  It was named ‘Umbrella Revolution’ since citizens blocked teargas with their umbrella.


Umbrella Revolution gathered the maximum 60,000 people as it was the largest scale challenge after Hong Kong’s return to China in 1997. This situation tested ‘one country, two systems’ which was Hong Kong’s governing principle and plan for unification with Taiwan. Deng Xiaoping achieved returning Hong Kong to China from United Kingdom by suggesting ‘one country, two systems’ which guaranteed Hong Kong’s high autonomy and economic freedom. However, Hong Kong citizens opposed and protested since China limited candidates for minister of administration to celebrity who gained a majority vote from pro-Chinese Electoral College.

It is said that this challenge was named as ‘Umbrella Revolution’ due to influence of a 17-year- old student activist, Josyuawong(picture)


He established middle and high school student activist groups and took on representative at the age of 15 in 2012. Also, he led this demonstration and stood shoulder to shoulder with university students and representatives of citizen organizations.  He attracted voluntary participation from citizens and students, saying “I don’t want to see elementary students protesting for Hong Kong’s democracy after 10 years.  It is our responsibility.” Some people are concerned about probability for it to develop into the small scale Tiananmen Square protest.
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I hope that this protest could be settled peacefully as young students participate for reaching democracy.

Situation in Ferguson

This year is the 50th anniversary of enactment of 1964 USA Civil Rights Act which prohibits segregation of African-Americans in public places and in the field of finding employment and legislation, and ensures legal equality.

According to a variety of polls, legal equality for African-Americans has been achieved considerably. However, there were many surveys which represent that economical inequality still exists.

Rev. Jesse Jackson, African human rights activist, said that “We became more free compared to the past, but not equal.” in the speech for 50th anniversary of the enactment of Civil Rights Act.

Like this atmosphere, the Situation in Ferguson showed us clearly that there still remained the racial problems in the U.S society. It shows how severe the racism is even in the 6 year-ruling of African-American president.

 

Here, what is the Situation in Ferguson? It broke out from the death of 18 year-black youth, Michael Brown, who was living in Ferguson from a police’s shot. Because of the continued disturbance, the U.S government put the state guard to settle the dispute, but the situation is getting even worse.

The African-Americans are not just pouring out their feeling of discontent against police’s excessive responses, but against the usual racism and insulter.





This situation doesn’t seem to be just limited to the U.S.A. There exists the racism in Korea, too. It is prevalent among Korean to treat European or American whites with respect, or blacks with fear, or Southeast Asian people with ignorance.

It is, therefore, needed to reflect on ourselves about whether we sincerely treat and understand people without discrimination or not. I’m afraid if we unconsciously treat them inequally according to their skin color or nationality.

If anyone in the world puts him/herself in other’s shoes first, before mine with broad understanding and tolerance, there will come the loving and peaceful world without discrimination and borders.
I hope for immediate and amicable resolution to this situation, and for peaceful days to Ferguson city.