On the way home, an eight-year-old child Min-ki teased his mother to buy him a new toy. He insisted hard to persuade his mother that he has few toys and needs more toys. But no amount of persuading could change her mind. Then Min-ki became a disobedient child. He started blubbering and kept repeating 'toys'.
A kind of 'demonstration' had begun in his way for Min-ki. This is a pure and basic form of demonstration. However, as people get older, they create a better way to carry their points of debate.
These days, there are various forms of demonstrations held by various people. A candlelit rally, a hunger strike, and cutting one's hair are typical examples of demonstrations. But rather than using such a rigid forms of demonstration, there are new and striking forms of demonstration that are coming into the spotlight. Here are some examples.
Demonstrations on the sea
This spring in Gwangyang, Korean fishermen, who demonstrated as a group, were brought into custody. They used their small boats to block a large cargo ship, which was coming into port. Though it was a very dangerous situation, fishermen planned the demonstration because of compensation for a loss. (A loss for terminal construction near the port.) They were the first fishermen, who were brought into custody, because of their marine demonstration.
On the other hand, there is quite a different demonstration was held on the sea. It was performed by Greenpeace, an international environmental organization. In the offing of Newcastle, Australia Greenpeace flashed light to a stranded coaler. They warned that the use of coal will bring about climatic disaster.
Demonstrations related to sexual matters
An annual event ‘Moonlight demonstration' has been held in Korea since 2004. This year, 27 cities in Korea held the demonstration. This demonstration is intended to promote women's rights by women's night walking. Women, who participate in this demonstration, gather in the street at night. And they sing and dance while dressing freely. They also ride a bike all night. Manifestants criticize the idea that sex crimes are caused by how women dressed.
In addition, this year in Rome, Italy, manifestants, which protect homophile's rights demonstrated. They wore Pope Benedict XVI's mask and shouted their slogan. This demonstration satirized Catholicism, which opposed homosexual love. However, the pope still stubbornly adheres to opposition to the homosexual love.
Demonstrations related to Internet
Have you ever participated in 'flash mob'? Flash mob is a compound of words 'Flash crowd' and 'Smart mob'. Flash mob is a guerilla performance, where performers are gathered in specific area and time. Performers do promised performances and are scattered quickly. This process is mostly finished in a few minutes. Flash mob may look like a sort of art form, but it is quite lighter, funnier and more impromptu than art. So it is mostly regarded as a play, but despite this amusing atmosphere, there exists a flash mob, which has a serious purpose. One of example is a 'Peace mob' a compound of words of 'Peace' and 'Flash mob'. This flash mob is against sending troops to Iraq and aims at give publicity for a peaceful message.
Compared to a flash mob, which is performed on street or outdoors, a 'Parody' is performed on the Internet. It usually includes satires on politics, writings and movies. A kernel of parody is arousing people's laughter. Therefore, it can carry out the role of an on-line demonstration, while parodies express only truth and novel ideas. Both flash mobs and many kinds of parodies could not be easily wide-spread without the Internet's diffusion. Unlike extreme demonstrations, this form of demonstration has no violence. Furthermore, it can also catch the public's eyes. Applied forms of flash mob can be a good way to demonstrate.
Desirable cases
Earlier this year, the labor union of Wando Gun government-employees donated 1000 cabbages to a food bank, which were used to make Kim-chi. These cabbages were sent to neighbors who have poor living conditions. The labor union decided to donate the cabbages, because they believed that this donation could change the labor union's image. Some labor unions, which belong to private corporations, have made demonstrations that were publicly criticized as stricken, unreasonable and violent. The labor union of Wando Gun government-employees wanted to gain credit with the citizens.
To avoid demonstrations which are threatening to citizens' rights to live, there needs to be a way to express imminent feelings freely. Extreme demonstrations can not be an answer. Rather than extreme solutions, there is a way to express their position. Members of several symphony orchestras in Korea gave street concerts against dismissal from the orchestra. Regardless of their motive or detailed stories, this form of demonstration is desirable. The reason is they did not use violence and used their ability to show their circumstances. A novel and quiet voice gives more impact than a noisy voice.
There are a variety of ways to demonstrate. However, the purpose of manifestants is the same. They want to earn public concern. The important thing to them is shaping the public's opinion advantageously. Therefore, forms of demonstration in Korea must make progress to a novel way rather than an extreme way.