Violence is Not the Key to Society
On the 29th of July 2012, thousands of people flew off after it was announced that in 2015, they would incorporate mandatory national-education to classes within Hong Kong public schools. Many people saw this as a way of "brainwashing" students and speeding up the integration of Hong Kong. As many people did not like this new idea, roughly 90,000 people marched in July from Victoria Park to the government headquarters. The mob then proceeded to block parts of Causeway Bay which happens to be a major economic center. The renegades held banners, chanting "No thought control! Preserve one country, two systems!"
The leaders of this resistance were many Hong Kong residents, students, and teachers. Groups allied with the Hong Kong residents were the National Education Parents' Concern Group, Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, and the Civil Alliance Against National Education. Hong Kong government, Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying, mainland Chinese government, Education Minister Eddie Ng, China Civic Education Promotion Association of Hong Kong were all certain individuals or groups that were pro-mandatory national-education.
Along with the constant chanting, people soon decided that black would be the color of the resistance. Not long after, the resistance was a giant black crowd. Taking it to the extreme, one demonstrator even poured red paint over herself, saying she'd rather drown in blood than follow such orders given to them by the government. The protesters held meetings frequently, discussing their next plan of action. However, such tactics were not needed as the Hong Kong government had enough of the resistance. They publicly announced that on the 8th of September, Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying, gave in to demands of the people and decided to take back the 2015 deadline for public schools. Protesters were happy at that, however Leung Chun-Ying made it very clear that the project could restart at any time.
For now, the resistance has won.
Sources:
Lau, Joyce. “Thousands Protest China’s Plans for Hong Kong Schools.” New York Times. 29 July 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/world/asia/thousands-protest-chinas-curriculum-plans-for-hong-kong-schools.html>.Liu, Juliana. “Hong Kong debates ‘national education’ classes.” BBC News. 31 Aug. 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-19407425>.
Pomfret, James and Bobby Yip. “Hong Kong protests grow against China “brainwashing” in schools.” Rueters, Alert Net. 3 Sep. 2012. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. <http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/hong-kong-protests-grow-against-china-brainwashing-in-schools>.
“More protests over HK ‘national education’ row.” BBC News. 4 Sep. 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-19472918>.
Lai, Alexis. “Hong Kong school year starts with hunger strikes.” CNN. 4 Sep. 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/04/world/asia/hong-kong-national-education-protests/index.html>.
Higgins, Andrew. “Protesters beseige Hong Kong plaza as crisis over ‘national education’ mounts.” Washington Post. 6 Sep. 2012. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/protesters-besiege-hong-kong-plaza-as-crisis-over-national-education-mounts/2012/09/06/cb2ff548-f80e-11e1-a93b-7185e3f88849_story.html>.
Bradsher, Keith. “Hong Kong Retreats on ‘National Education’ Plan.” New York Times. 8 Spet. 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/world/asia/amid-protest-hong-kong-backs-down-on-moral-education-plan.html>.
Name of researcher, and date dd/mm/yyyy:
Iris Fang, 18/11/2012
The leaders of this resistance were many Hong Kong residents, students, and teachers. Groups allied with the Hong Kong residents were the National Education Parents' Concern Group, Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, and the Civil Alliance Against National Education. Hong Kong government, Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying, mainland Chinese government, Education Minister Eddie Ng, China Civic Education Promotion Association of Hong Kong were all certain individuals or groups that were pro-mandatory national-education.
Along with the constant chanting, people soon decided that black would be the color of the resistance. Not long after, the resistance was a giant black crowd. Taking it to the extreme, one demonstrator even poured red paint over herself, saying she'd rather drown in blood than follow such orders given to them by the government. The protesters held meetings frequently, discussing their next plan of action. However, such tactics were not needed as the Hong Kong government had enough of the resistance. They publicly announced that on the 8th of September, Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying, gave in to demands of the people and decided to take back the 2015 deadline for public schools. Protesters were happy at that, however Leung Chun-Ying made it very clear that the project could restart at any time.
For now, the resistance has won.
Sources:
Lau, Joyce. “Thousands Protest China’s Plans for Hong Kong Schools.” New York Times. 29 July 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/world/asia/thousands-protest-chinas-curriculum-plans-for-hong-kong-schools.html>.Liu, Juliana. “Hong Kong debates ‘national education’ classes.” BBC News. 31 Aug. 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-19407425>.
Pomfret, James and Bobby Yip. “Hong Kong protests grow against China “brainwashing” in schools.” Rueters, Alert Net. 3 Sep. 2012. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. <http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/hong-kong-protests-grow-against-china-brainwashing-in-schools>.
“More protests over HK ‘national education’ row.” BBC News. 4 Sep. 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-19472918>.
Lai, Alexis. “Hong Kong school year starts with hunger strikes.” CNN. 4 Sep. 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/04/world/asia/hong-kong-national-education-protests/index.html>.
Higgins, Andrew. “Protesters beseige Hong Kong plaza as crisis over ‘national education’ mounts.” Washington Post. 6 Sep. 2012. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/protesters-besiege-hong-kong-plaza-as-crisis-over-national-education-mounts/2012/09/06/cb2ff548-f80e-11e1-a93b-7185e3f88849_story.html>.
Bradsher, Keith. “Hong Kong Retreats on ‘National Education’ Plan.” New York Times. 8 Spet. 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/world/asia/amid-protest-hong-kong-backs-down-on-moral-education-plan.html>.
Name of researcher, and date dd/mm/yyyy:
Iris Fang, 18/11/2012