Human Rights advocacy comes in all shapes, sizes, and ways. In America, we have the ability to write or speak about issues that exist and even reach out to policy makers demanding change. Halfway across the world in India, individuals do not have the same abilities to express - as seen with Chanu Sharmila, who continues to live on a hunger strike in order to bring attention to human injustices that occur in her community (Read the full article). Though the government continues to push back (by keeping her in solitary confident and force-feeding her), she continues to live each day suffering with the idea that her actions could impact change for others. She says:
I cannot get the advantage of exercising my nonviolent protest for justice against my concerned authority as a democratic citizen of a democratic country.
1 comment:
Her ability to not give up is commendable. It's been eleven years, and she is still holding strong to her demands, but I'm not sure if her approach is correct. In order to make a statement, you have to be in the eyes of the public. As the article states, "authorities tightly control access to her." It seems impossible to fight for a cause without others knowing about you. The article cleverly states that her situation is probably talked about mostly in international venues like the UN, and barely talked about in her own home town of New Delhi. Her cause, a noble one, is being hidden from those who can help her the most, her native citizens. Perhaps the best way to approach this is not rotting away in prison (where death is imminent), but gathering supporters who are willing to fight with her.
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