SENTINEL WATCH April 26, 2010 Issue

PEOPLE POWER—EVERYWHERE

ANNETTE KREUTZIGER-HERR

THE NEWS lately has been full of people's efforts to gain democracy and freedom either through active government reforms or by bringing down totalitarian regimes through the rise of "people power." This term is generally used for nonviolent democratic movements to achieve social and political reforms, to assert their freedom and their right to dignified living.

I have vivid memories of how "people power" brought down the Berlin Wall in 1989, but more recent events show the continuing power of people to change the course of events. In 2005 the so-called "orange revolution" brought unexpected protests and demonstrations for democracy in Ukraine, which with another election in February 2010, showed how stable and democratic the country has already become. People power won.

Last summer the quest for democracy in Iran sparked what has since been called Iran's "Green Revolution." It has been supressed by arrests and violence, yet during the celebration of the anniversary of the 1979 Iranian revolution earlier this year, the tiny flames were still evident despite the overwhelming security meant to stifle them. These small flames need more air.