Opinion: March in March was big on people power and it had a point

OPINION: Yesterday we told you why the March in March protests were pointless. That made a lot of people angry. Including me. Here’s why they made an impact.

WHEN people feel powerless, they protest.

When people feel they have no other option, no other alternative, and no other voice, they protest.

And if Sunday’s nationwide March in March rallies against the Abbott government indicated anything, it’s that there’s a few of us out there who feel exactly that.

Powerless.

As with, no doubt, many other Australians across the country, I read certain views on the subject through gritted teeth yesterday.

MORE: THOUSANDS TURN OUT FOR MARCH IN MARCH

MORE: MARCH IN MARCH COULD BE VICTORIA’S LAST PROTEST

It’s well known the political spectrum has distanced itself from this grassroots social media movement, most likely because the purpose of the march, other than to give Tony Abbott the finger, is relatively unclear.

For the left, it was a chance to air the many grievances of the Federal Government in a public arena. For the right, it was simply a bunch of left-wing hippies doing what they do best — making a mess of things.

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#MarchInMarch For the record I'm marching for Human Rights (esp asylum seekers) climate change action, no CSG & more pic.twitter.com/jfDDgxPVi8

One of the hand-made banners for Canberra. What have you done?#MarchInMarch #auspol pic.twitter.com/xaSVBTegLi

While I’m not an avid follower of March in March, nor did I attend the weekend’s activities, I can understand the frustration which brought these people to the point of protest. Their need to be heard. Their concern for our great land.

MORE: AUSTRALIA’S ENVIRONMENT IN CRITICAL CONDITION

I believe Australia is being dragged by its fingertips back into the stone age. Instead of flourishing, we’re floundering. Conservatism is killing Australia.

Deputy Greens Leader Adam Bandt was the only pollie to show his support, bless.

Frustrating: Marriage equality has dropped off the national agenda. Picture: Stefan Postles

Australia has so much baggage it’s no wonder our closest allies feel the need for some space.

The abuse of asylum seekers is nothing short of appalling, and the government’s mishandling of the death of Iranian Reza Berati is outrageous.

So much so, the UN felt the need to step in.

“The practice of detaining migrants and asylum seekers arriving by boat on a mandatory, prolonged and potentially indefinite basis, without individual assessment, is inherently arbitrary,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“Moreover, alternatives to immigration detention should always be considered.”

One word: Bananas. Picture: Ian Hitchcock

Meanwhile, Four Corner’s epic scoop last night on the rising tensions between Australia and East Timor was enlighteningly disturbing.

The program alleges an Australian spy from our secret intelligence service (ASIS) bugged East Timor’s Prime Minister and his political allies during “crucial treaty talks”. Oh, and all this was during the Howard era.

Then there’s the “morally repugnant” amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act, the disappearance of same-sex marriage from the national agenda and the removal of an independent Science Minister from Prime Minister Abbott’s cabinet — for the first time since the creation of the science portfolio in 1931.

Almost goes hand-in-hand with the lack of female leadership in the current cabinet. Julie Bishop looks great in red but she’s no Gillard.

I have to admit, he does look good in heels.

And don’t even get me started on the worrying affairs of Tasmania’s forests.

To hear the Assistant Minister for Education Sussan Ley squirm on Q&A last night after Tony Jones’ suggestion that we should “hold onto our seatbelts because Tasmania might not be the only place opened up for logging” is terrifying.

How can we let this happen to our environment? How can we willingly watch trees as old as 200 be demolished with a simple signature?

According to Ms Ley, “sustainable logging of forests is a good thing” because without it, it “makes no sense environmentally or economically”.

I cringe.

The person holding this sign officially speaks for me too! #AusPol via @harkin61 #MarchInMarch pic.twitter.com/gGLDbc95n7

#MarchInMarch Melbourne - what an incredible crowd. pic.twitter.com/sh2ZAKLQQW

The public are growing increasingly anxious about the decisions our government is making in the NOW.

Could the March in March have been handled better? Probably. Was the message clear? Not really. Could more be done to better the cause for future protests? Absolutely.

But to discredit March in March for a lacklustre mission statement is preposterous.

Almost as preposterous as ignoring the feelings of more than 100,000 Australians.

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