way2go! 7. Coursebook, Schulbuch

112 Unit 07 | You be the judge Look at the picture and discuss: 1 What could the people be protesting against or demonstrating for? 2 Why would they do this? SPEAKING 26 Civil disobedience Expand your vocabulary: Civil disobedience Read the text below and choose the correct words to complete the sentences. LANGUAGE 27 Throughout history, people have fought (1) for the right to vote, for freedom, (2) , and, more recently, they are protesting against companies which pollute our environment. Based on the principle of (3) , an act of civil disobedience involves deliberately refusing to obey unjust laws to initiate political, social or economic (4) . Clearly, protests of this kind will lead to clashes between the authorities (e.g. the police) and those protesting, with the authorities claiming that the (5) , camp-ins, blockades, marches or hunger strikes are a threat to public safety and need to be banned. Most protesters are trained in how to peacefully resist if the police use water jets, mace, dogs, clubs and violent methods of arrest. They are prepared to get beaten, arrested, taken before a (6) and thrown into jail. Often, larger organisations support the protesters by paying lawyers who defend them in (7) . Civil disobedience is an effective tool to fight (8) by drawing attention to important issues that would otherwise go unnoticed. Social media has created new possibilities to strengthen (9) . During the Arab spring, for example, people used Facebook and Twitter to communicate and report with/to each other and YouTube to document what they (10) and experienced. As Mahatma Gandhi very correctly said, “Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of man- kind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man.” Discuss with a partner: 1 Do you think non-violent protests are an effective way to reach the protesters’ aims? Why?/Why not? 2 Have you ever taken part in such a protest? What was it about? What was it like? 3 Which of these forms of peaceful protest are most effective, and why? sit-ins flash mobs protest marches or demonstrations hunger strikes boycotts signing (online) petitions 4 What do you think about people who use violence to achieve their aims? Work in groups and choose one of the activists below or another civil rights activist you want to know more about. Research their lives on the internet and prepare a poster for class. Nelson Mandela Rosa Parks Martin Luther King Malala Yousafzai Mahatma Gandhi Emmeline Pankhurst Things you could include: when and where they were/have been active, their reasons for protesting, their achievements, anything else you find remarkable. SPEAKING 28 29 a change b civil society c court d equality g non-violence h peacefully i sit-ins j witnessed e injustice f judge Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv