Incredible Idea: Constructive Protesting

[XLFD]

Our local government's actions, or inactions, have went greatly into the establishment of three distinct groups of normal people who are disenchanted by their recent actions.  Those were all delineated in this December Torch article, and included 1) CARRE who rallied against the unjust way that wind energy was introduced and zoned in Mason County, and continue to rally against the inevitable  2) The Baby Katers who were appalled at the handling of the Baby Kate investigation by officials, and continue to rally against the process and its negligence in finding what happened to Kate  and 3) The Ludington Torchers who endeavor to learn about all the workings of our secretive local governments, and continue to expose the corruption and hypocrisy hereabouts and beyond.

 

All three groups have a noble aim and purpose, all are seeking accountability and responsibility from our local government agencies, all have protested in one way or another.  But the public has a difficult time in getting the message of 'safe setbacks', 'justice for Kate', or 'open government now' with the traditional way of protesting-- carrying a sign and walking around certain areas trying to get the point across-- when the local newspaper clouds the issue and defends the transgressors. 

 

But in Japan, there was a recent protest, and it seems to me to be a welcome form of protest that can cut across government-apologist media in a way totally unlike the recent Occupy protesters.  Constructive protesting.  Here's the article:

 

TOKYO —

About 80 masked people, calling themselves allies of the global hacker group Anonymous, picked up litter in Tokyo Saturday in a novel protest against Japan’s tougher laws against illegal downloads.

In light rain, they took part in an “anonymous cleaning service” for one hour in a park and on pavements in the shopping and entertainment hub of Shibuya, a change from the group’s trademark website attacks.

They were dressed in black and wore masks of Guy Fawkes, the central figure in England’s 1605 Gunpowder Plot to blow up parliament, which have become a symbol of protests by the loosely linked alliance around the world.

Last month, the Diet enacted new copyright laws that could mean jail for anyone illegally downloading copyrighted music and movies.

On June 26, websites of the Japanese finance ministry, the Supreme Court and other public offices were defaced or brought down after an Anonymous online statement denounced the new laws.

The statement claimed Japan’s recording industry and other content providers were now pushing Internet service providers to implement surveillance technology that will spy on every single Internet user in Japan.

The group, which assembled for the clean-up service in Tokyo, attributed the cyberattacks to other Anonymous elements around the world.

“We prefer constructive and productive solutions,” the group said in a statement. “We want to make our fellow citizens aware of the problem with a productive message.”

“In IRC (Internet relay chat), somebody proposed cleaning as a means of protest as we didn’t want to follow the style of mass anti-nuclear rallies which are getting too much,” said a spokesman for the assembly.

“I guess this is the first time that a Japanese-led Anonymous group stages an outside operation,” said the man who said he works as an engineer in the computer industry.

“The cleaning service has amused overseas Anonymous allies as something unique to the Japanese,” said another spokesman. “We want to continue stating our case on the Net.”

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/japan-anonymous-pi...

Something to think about if you are deciding to protest, and regular protesting may cloud your peaceful/constructive message, whether it be to raise awareness of Baby Kate, the County's secretive behavior, City Hall corruption, or any other issue you think that our government or irresponsible businesses are taking advantage of the people.  Be creative, alert the media, and do something positive with your message being part of the background. 

[Willy]

Good idea, but I find those masks to be extremely irritating, however I understand their intent. Why doesn't everyone concerned with the 3 situations you describe cut out the rear portion of a pair of jeans and walk around in them, minus underwear, for a day  with your particular protest concerns branded on your cheeks. I bet that will gather some attention. 

[XLFD]

The tanlines from my brazilian-cut Speedos might interfere with the message, but I like how you think, Willy.