Gabriëlla Cleuren

Poverty is the father of revolution and crime.

Revolutions? Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, etc.

In Europe too, you see small and large marches of malcontents every week: in the banlieux of Paris during Sarkozy, the green shirts under Macron. The result of growing inequality. For some people, everyday life has become unaffordable.

Stephane Hessel (93) released his critical and awareness-raising booklet ‘Indignez Vous’ in January 2011. An outrage at the excesses of capitalism, the banking crisis, the associated indecision of politics, a lack of change through dictatorship in Algeria, Tunisia , Libya, Lebanon, and other African countries. A tremendous emigration occurred, often amplified by wars, climate change, drought, desertification, so the urgency for change only increased.

Taking your chance in Europe or the USA because things had become hopeless at home, there was no future. The fighting spirit from WWII seemed to have disappeared, according to Hessel. It caused general unrest: need for outrage because of the attitude of banks and the erosion of social security. It spurred revolt in Spain, among others. In the rest of Europe, it brought a rise in crime : including drug trafficking (the Netherlands and Belgium)

Leaders no longer have an exemplary role, often serve themselves and this creates even more implausibility.

Meanwhile, emigration to Europe and the USA continues, with disruptive consequences.

The only holdout in this is the Declaration of Human Rights.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)