Dafni Leef put up a tent in one of the most expensive neighborhoods of Tel-Aviv in June of 2011. This came as a result of having to leave her apartment and learning that rents across the city were sky high. By mid-July, she used her Facebook page to create a fantastic movement. She simply posted that she would be sleeping on the street of Rothschild Boulevard and that anyone was invited to join, in protest to the country's cost of living. Within hours of her post, the streets began filling up with tents from other people in the middle class who are angered also. PBS reports that 87% of the people are supportive of this demonstration. In September 2011, there are plans in process for a 3 million person march to occur, and Israel only has a population of 7 million people.
A whole new spectrum of possibilities has been opened and seen by the entire world, and that, in itself, is a huge change for many of us.
The Prime Minister has formed a committee to try to stave off the inflation, with an economist (having a really good reputation) as the leader of the group. Israeli Parliament also has called a special session during the summer break, although this is viewed as more of a symbolic move.
Not in a million years would I have expected so much to come from a Facebook post. Of course I realize that if the upset was not present in the masses of people, Dafni would have been tenting all by herself. However this story is one for the history books. How powerful just one voice can be!
I am a generation Xer. From the time I was little I was told that each voice is powerful and can make a difference, but I never really believed that. It always seemed that someone else was talking louder than I was... but Dafni has broken that belief for me. I am completely in awe that a result to her post, people are demanding change. Her peers are conglomerating with her. Her government is acting (appearance-wise, anyway) in response to the masses.
A whole new spectrum of possibilities has been opened and seen by the entire world, and that, in itself, is a huge change for many of us.
For further reading and a couple of stunning pictures, check out Psychology Today or PBS.
Wow, I hadn't heard about this before. Its crazy to think that so much can happen from a simple post a website from one person. That just goes to show the power of technology and the impact that only one person can have on another person or even a country in this case.
ReplyDeleteHow fast has this come? This would of never happened even five years ago. The change of pace we live in is scary, but exciting at the same time.
Thanks for sharing!