Is there something called an ethical protest?
From the Ethics Bistro Blog
by Tara Leparulo,
Shenila Shahabuddin, Juan Posada Toro, Yannick Arekion, Albert Agbemenu, Kannan Ganesan, Ming Yeung, Laszlo J. Kremmer MBA, CSPO®, CSM®, PMP®, Stelian ROMAN, Witold Hendrysiak
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I have witnessed several protests in my city and around the world lately. These protests were against the action taken or not taken, perceived bias by the government, organizations etc.
Residents from my locality took part in these protests. When I spoke to them as why they were protesting against the government while they are not directly affected by the proposed law changes, they said that they are doing it for the betterment of the society as a whole.
And after few days, I read in the news that protesters burned public transport buses, chocked the traffic on the road and caused delays for several hours impacting commuters and causing inconvenience to the same society they want to make better by protesting!
One of the arguments given to me is that protest is their human right given by the constitution - the same constitution that explains the citizens’ roles and responsibilities. How convenient it is for these citizens to choose one side of the constitution while choosing to ignore another!
And then there is a section of general public who are not part of these protests, but they suffer greatly even when there were not faulty. For example, Hong Kong airport was shut down during the protests; there were significant property loss in India due to protest against an amendment in the existing law.
In my view, protesters must ask themselves some questions, no matter what they are protesting for, before they
Posted
by
Alankar Karpe
on: July 01, 2020 05:35 AM |
Permalink
Comments (7)
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Very interesting., thanks for sharing
Ashleigh Kennett-Smith
ICT Project Manager| Australian Red Cross Lifeblood
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Interesting post Alankar.
Your comment "cause huge trouble to the general public who has little or nothing to do with the cause of the protest" is actually part of the problem. If we don't treat issues as a common issue (because it doesn't affect us) then nothing will change for those directly impacted by the issue. I do agree that sometimes not much thought appears to have gone into negative impacts of protests.
And also remember if someone has been being treated poorly and been denied opportunities open to everyone else for many years (and cannot get anyone to care), then being loud and disruptive might the only option.
Alankar Karpe
Project and program management, Speaker and mentor | Wipro
Bangalore, India
Thank you Eduin and Ashleight for your comments!
Alankar, thank you and interesting. I think protests will be there no matter what. Its just a human tendency to rebel against what they dont like.
I feel if there is an ethical protest, its truly for the reason of ethical behavior. Protest for the sake of protest is of no benefit.
Thx
Alankar Karpe
Project and program management, Speaker and mentor | Wipro
Bangalore, India
Mohamed Hassan
Project Management Consultant, Author and Speaker| LIFELONG
Kuwait, Kuwait
Very interesting topic, thanks Alankar for sharing your though
Amany Nuseibeh
Speaker, Global Leader | Optimal Consulting
Sydney, Nsw, Australia
Thank you for sharing Alankar! The right to protest is a democratic right that at its core trying to bring to the public's attention an injustice, an unfair treatment and a lack of opportunity. While so many people might feel they are not impacted, hence it's nothing to do with them, the standard we walk past is the standard we accept. And if we accept it for others, then sooner or later it will come our way.
Having said that, how people conduct themselves in a protest needs to still convey responsibility and respect. Responsibility on how it will convey the purpose, draw public's empathy and action.
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