Taking to the streets: Why, how and for what? | Marcelo Bertorelli | TEDxHSG

[Music]

[Music] thank you hello good day good afternoon

thank you hello good day good afternoon

thank you hello good day good afternoon good morning it’s better etc etc my name

good morning it’s better etc etc my name

good morning it’s better etc etc my name is Marcelo I’m 19 years old and I was

is Marcelo I’m 19 years old and I was

is Marcelo I’m 19 years old and I was part of the student vessel and uprising

part of the student vessel and uprising

part of the student vessel and uprising I’m here to talk about my experience in

I’m here to talk about my experience in

I’m here to talk about my experience in the uprising and namely what I believe

the uprising and namely what I believe

the uprising and namely what I believe are the three key aspects in any act of

are the three key aspects in any act of

are the three key aspects in any act of civil disobedience why how for what but

civil disobedience why how for what but

civil disobedience why how for what but let’s take it back for a minute if

let’s take it back for a minute if

let’s take it back for a minute if you’ve been following the news for the

you’ve been following the news for the

you’ve been following the news for the past three years you may have noticed

past three years you may have noticed

past three years you may have noticed that two and a half years ago at the

that two and a half years ago at the

that two and a half years ago at the beginning of 2014 a student uprising

beginning of 2014 a student uprising

beginning of 2014 a student uprising erupted in my home country of Venezuela

erupted in my home country of Venezuela

erupted in my home country of Venezuela and I was there I was gasping through

and I was there I was gasping through

and I was there I was gasping through the expired tear gas I was dragging

the expired tear gas I was dragging

the expired tear gas I was dragging rubble and tired stuff to the barricades

rubble and tired stuff to the barricades

rubble and tired stuff to the barricades I taught myself how to make a Molotov

I taught myself how to make a Molotov

I taught myself how to make a Molotov cocktail and I opened my doors to the

cocktail and I opened my doors to the

cocktail and I opened my doors to the students that were fleeing from the

students that were fleeing from the

students that were fleeing from the police and their boots and their batons

police and their boots and their batons

police and their boots and their batons and their guns on the riot gear and the

and their guns on the riot gear and the

and their guns on the riot gear and the rows of armored vehicles see I’m here to

rows of armored vehicles see I’m here to

rows of armored vehicles see I’m here to talk about my experiences but I can tell

talk about my experiences but I can tell

talk about my experiences but I can tell you the truth such a thing as subjective

you the truth such a thing as subjective

you the truth such a thing as subjective at best what I can do is try to tell you

at best what I can do is try to tell you

at best what I can do is try to tell you exactly why i was out there fighting

exactly why i was out there fighting

exactly why i was out there fighting alongside people who are still today

alongside people who are still today

alongside people who are still today trying to make people that refuse to see

trying to make people that refuse to see

trying to make people that refuse to see open their eyes people whose voices from

open their eyes people whose voices from

open their eyes people whose voices from hopes who believes they feel that have

hopes who believes they feel that have

hopes who believes they feel that have been falling into deaf ears and to be

been falling into deaf ears and to be

been falling into deaf ears and to be able to do that I have to paint a

able to do that I have to paint a

able to do that I have to paint a picture for you I have to paint a

picture for you I have to paint a

picture for you I have to paint a picture of what it was like to live in

picture of what it was like to live in

picture of what it was like to live in Venezuela in the early 2014 just the

Venezuela in the early 2014 just the

Venezuela in the early 2014 just the year before 24,000 people were killed

year before 24,000 people were killed

year before 24,000 people were killed and murdered in Venezuela now this point

and murdered in Venezuela now this point

and murdered in Venezuela now this point it’s worth noting that most of the

it’s worth noting that most of the

it’s worth noting that most of the murders in Venezuela are not actually

murders in Venezuela are not actually

murders in Venezuela are not actually reported either from

reported either from

reported either from gang retaliation or from the miles miles

gang retaliation or from the miles miles

gang retaliation or from the miles miles of red tape that any sort of official

of red tape that any sort of official

of red tape that any sort of official report entails not to mention that all

report entails not to mention that all

report entails not to mention that all of the Venezuelan morgues were given

of the Venezuelan morgues were given

of the Venezuelan morgues were given strict instructions not to release any

strict instructions not to release any

strict instructions not to release any kind of number of how many bodies have

kind of number of how many bodies have

kind of number of how many bodies have come in in 24 2013 the inflation rate

come in in 24 2013 the inflation rate

come in in 24 2013 the inflation rate was of sick 56.2 percent which is give

was of sick 56.2 percent which is give

was of sick 56.2 percent which is give or take 800 times more than the

or take 800 times more than the

or take 800 times more than the inflation rate for Switzerland in the

inflation rate for Switzerland in the

inflation rate for Switzerland in the same year let that sink in for a moment

same year let that sink in for a moment

same year let that sink in for a moment to give you an example if a Swiss person

to give you an example if a Swiss person

to give you an example if a Swiss person went to buy groceries at the beginning

went to buy groceries at the beginning

went to buy groceries at the beginning of 2013 and they would spend the hundred

of 2013 and they would spend the hundred

of 2013 and they would spend the hundred francs by the end of that year they

francs by the end of that year they

francs by the end of that year they would only have to spend seven cents

would only have to spend seven cents

would only have to spend seven cents more while a Venezuelan person would

more while a Venezuelan person would

more while a Venezuelan person would have had to spend fifty six more francs

have had to spend fifty six more francs

have had to spend fifty six more francs for the same product and that is only if

for the same product and that is only if

for the same product and that is only if they found the product in fact food

they found the product in fact food

they found the product in fact food scarcity and a viscosity of other

scarcity and a viscosity of other

scarcity and a viscosity of other products in Venezuela had become so

products in Venezuela had become so

products in Venezuela had become so terrifying that the government in early

terrifying that the government in early

terrifying that the government in early 2013 had to finance a plan to import

2013 had to finance a plan to import

2013 had to finance a plan to import over 700,000 tons of just food items

over 700,000 tons of just food items

over 700,000 tons of just food items into the country now it’s also worth

into the country now it’s also worth

into the country now it’s also worth noting that a very deep and quite old

noting that a very deep and quite old

noting that a very deep and quite old political rift came to a boiling point

political rift came to a boiling point

political rift came to a boiling point at the end of 2014 13 when the ruling

at the end of 2014 13 when the ruling

at the end of 2014 13 when the ruling party won the presidential elections by

party won the presidential elections by

party won the presidential elections by a margin of just over one percent of the

a margin of just over one percent of the

a margin of just over one percent of the votes with over 3200 irregularities and

votes with over 3200 irregularities and

votes with over 3200 irregularities and breaches in the electoral process which

breaches in the electoral process which

breaches in the electoral process which led venice developing and people to

led venice developing and people to

led venice developing and people to believe that while they want to change

believe that while they want to change

believe that while they want to change their votes could not get them that

their votes could not get them that

their votes could not get them that change anymore the protest properly

change anymore the protest properly

change anymore the protest properly begun when people students were

begun when people students were

begun when people students were protesting the lack of security and

protesting the lack of security and

protesting the lack of security and impunity in venezuela just after the

impunity in venezuela just after the

impunity in venezuela just after the attempted rape of another student in the

attempted rape of another student in the

attempted rape of another student in the border state of data after that the

border state of data after that the

border state of data after that the police cracked down hard in the

police cracked down hard in the

police cracked down hard in the protesters using excessive methods

protesters using excessive methods

protesters using excessive methods violence and police brutality which in

violence and police brutality which in

violence and police brutality which in turn led us to believe that the police

turn led us to believe that the police

turn led us to believe that the police and the law were no longer working to

and the law were no longer working to

and the law were no longer working to protect us the citizens now we couldn’t

protect us the citizens now we couldn’t

protect us the citizens now we couldn’t let that happen so we took to the

let that happen so we took to the

let that happen so we took to the streets we started protesting in a

streets we started protesting in a

streets we started protesting in a desperate attempt to prevent the horrors

desperate attempt to prevent the horrors

desperate attempt to prevent the horrors that Venezuela is facing today horrors

that Venezuela is facing today horrors

that Venezuela is facing today horrors like the International Monetary Fund

like the International Monetary Fund

like the International Monetary Fund predicting an inflation rate not of

predicting an inflation rate not of

predicting an inflation rate not of fifty-six percent but of one thousand

fifty-six percent but of one thousand

fifty-six percent but of one thousand four hundred and sixty percent for next

four hundred and sixty percent for next

four hundred and sixty percent for next year horrors like NGOs finding that over

year horrors like NGOs finding that over

year horrors like NGOs finding that over thirty percent of Venezuelan school

thirty percent of Venezuelan school

thirty percent of Venezuelan school children are malnourished horrors like

children are malnourished horrors like

children are malnourished horrors like not 24,000 over 28,000 people Kara

not 24,000 over 28,000 people Kara

not 24,000 over 28,000 people Kara murdered last year alone horrors like

murdered last year alone horrors like

murdered last year alone horrors like the smell of corpses flooding the

the smell of corpses flooding the

the smell of corpses flooding the streets through the sudden power outages

streets through the sudden power outages

streets through the sudden power outages that leave morgues absolutely no way to

that leave morgues absolutely no way to

that leave morgues absolutely no way to stop bodies from decaying horrors like a

stop bodies from decaying horrors like a

stop bodies from decaying horrors like a starving four-year-old being raped by a

starving four-year-old being raped by a

starving four-year-old being raped by a 16 year old in exchange for a loaf of

16 year old in exchange for a loaf of

16 year old in exchange for a loaf of bread see now that I have painted this

bread see now that I have painted this

bread see now that I have painted this picture for you I’m sure you can

picture for you I’m sure you can

picture for you I’m sure you can understand why we took to the streets

understand why we took to the streets

understand why we took to the streets why we went out to protest and in fact

why we went out to protest and in fact

why we went out to protest and in fact I’ll ever go one step further and say

I’ll ever go one step further and say

I’ll ever go one step further and say that if you were right then and there

that if you were right then and there

that if you were right then and there with us you may have agreed and gone out

with us you may have agreed and gone out

with us you may have agreed and gone out onto the streets and you along with the

onto the streets and you along with the

onto the streets and you along with the rest of us would have had a very good

rest of us would have had a very good

rest of us would have had a very good reason to protest but my experience in

reason to protest but my experience in

reason to protest but my experience in the venison uprising having a good and

the venison uprising having a good and

the venison uprising having a good and valid reason it’s not always enough you

valid reason it’s not always enough you

valid reason it’s not always enough you see I believe that there are three main

see I believe that there are three main

see I believe that there are three main elements key elements that need to be at

elements key elements that need to be at

elements key elements that need to be at the core of every act of civil

the core of every act of civil

the core of every act of civil disobedience why are you breaking the

disobedience why are you breaking the

disobedience why are you breaking the law how are you breaking the law and for

law how are you breaking the law and for

law how are you breaking the law and for what purpose are you breaking the law

what purpose are you breaking the law

what purpose are you breaking the law see the picture I painted could possibly

see the picture I painted could possibly

see the picture I painted could possibly constitute some of the most valid

constitute some of the most valid

constitute some of the most valid reasons to the first question why are we

reasons to the first question why are we

reasons to the first question why are we breaking the law but if we consider that

breaking the law but if we consider that

breaking the law but if we consider that to be the only prerequisite in an

to be the only prerequisite in an

to be the only prerequisite in an uprising or an act

uprising or an act

uprising or an act civil disobedience the results can be

civil disobedience the results can be

civil disobedience the results can be quite terrible see I’m not the first one

quite terrible see I’m not the first one

quite terrible see I’m not the first one to think of this many philosophers have

to think of this many philosophers have

to think of this many philosophers have been talking about civil disobedience

been talking about civil disobedience

been talking about civil disobedience for a long time in fact that the term

for a long time in fact that the term

for a long time in fact that the term civil disobedience was coined by henry

civil disobedience was coined by henry

civil disobedience was coined by henry david thoreau to explain why he wouldn’t

david thoreau to explain why he wouldn’t

david thoreau to explain why he wouldn’t pay taxes to wage a war against mexico

pay taxes to wage a war against mexico

pay taxes to wage a war against mexico to pursue fugitive slaves many

to pursue fugitive slaves many

to pursue fugitive slaves many philosophers talk about the first

philosophers talk about the first

philosophers talk about the first question the why the justification of

question the why the justification of

question the why the justification of the civil disobedience John Locke for

the civil disobedience John Locke for

the civil disobedience John Locke for example says that it should only happen

example says that it should only happen

example says that it should only happen when the will of the Commonwealth the

when the will of the Commonwealth the

when the will of the Commonwealth the people is not being accurately

people is not being accurately

people is not being accurately represented in the actions taken by the

represented in the actions taken by the

represented in the actions taken by the governments or the ruling power some

governments or the ruling power some

governments or the ruling power some even go on to say how it should be done

even go on to say how it should be done

even go on to say how it should be done some people say that it shouldn’t seek

some people say that it shouldn’t seek

some people say that it shouldn’t seek to topple the government but to persuade

to topple the government but to persuade

to topple the government but to persuade him to take action John Locke also said

him to take action John Locke also said

him to take action John Locke also said that in order to gain legitimacy civil

that in order to gain legitimacy civil

that in order to gain legitimacy civil disobedience must be completely

disobedience must be completely

disobedience must be completely nonviolent while on the other hand Karl

nonviolent while on the other hand Karl

nonviolent while on the other hand Karl Marx says that the only way to achieve

Marx says that the only way to achieve

Marx says that the only way to achieve real true change is through armed and

real true change is through armed and

real true change is through armed and belligerent revolution but the fact is

belligerent revolution but the fact is

belligerent revolution but the fact is that very few philosophers tak about the

that very few philosophers tak about the

that very few philosophers tak about the need for a unified angle for the third

need for a unified angle for the third

need for a unified angle for the third question for what why are you for what

question for what why are you for what

question for what why are you for what purpose are you doing all this and sadly

purpose are you doing all this and sadly

purpose are you doing all this and sadly what I believe happened in the vela

what I believe happened in the vela

what I believe happened in the vela student uprising is that while we all

student uprising is that while we all

student uprising is that while we all had very good reasons to go out and

had very good reasons to go out and

had very good reasons to go out and protest into the streets we didn’t

protest into the streets we didn’t

protest into the streets we didn’t really know how we wanted all this to

really know how we wanted all this to

really know how we wanted all this to end then again i’m here to talk on my

end then again i’m here to talk on my

end then again i’m here to talk on my own experiences please do not take my

own experiences please do not take my

own experiences please do not take my word as infallible I’m not comparing

word as infallible I’m not comparing

word as infallible I’m not comparing myself to this philosophers and you know

myself to this philosophers and you know

myself to this philosophers and you know just take it with a little grain of salt

just take it with a little grain of salt

just take it with a little grain of salt my purpose here is to tell you about my

my purpose here is to tell you about my

my purpose here is to tell you about my experiences and what I have learned from

experiences and what I have learned from

experiences and what I have learned from them and hope that in turn you too can

them and hope that in turn you too can

them and hope that in turn you too can learn something from this too so I’m

learn something from this too so I’m

learn something from this too so I’m going to tell you exactly what i did in

going to tell you exactly what i did in

going to tell you exactly what i did in the Venezuelan uprising you see I was a

the Venezuelan uprising you see I was a

the Venezuelan uprising you see I was a safe house runner and as a safe house

safe house runner and as a safe house

safe house runner and as a safe house run and I did many things for example

run and I did many things for example

run and I did many things for example take people in and Vince there I sort of

take people in and Vince there I sort of

take people in and Vince there I sort of expired tear gas in my home I hauled

expired tear gas in my home I hauled

expired tear gas in my home I hauled boxes of medical supplies up to my

boxes of medical supplies up to my

boxes of medical supplies up to my apartment

apartment

apartment I even became friends with some of the

I even became friends with some of the

I even became friends with some of the medics that weren’t standby in my house

medics that weren’t standby in my house

medics that weren’t standby in my house I even had a bag of clothes so that

I even had a bag of clothes so that

I even had a bag of clothes so that people could come in change and then go

people could come in change and then go

people could come in change and then go back home without being followed by the

back home without being followed by the

back home without being followed by the police but one of the things that I

police but one of the things that I

police but one of the things that I truly think were the most important is

truly think were the most important is

truly think were the most important is that I try to have a conversation

that I try to have a conversation

that I try to have a conversation absolutely everyone that came through my

absolutely everyone that came through my

absolutely everyone that came through my doors from the uprising in fact most of

doors from the uprising in fact most of

doors from the uprising in fact most of the conversations if not all happened on

the conversations if not all happened on

the conversations if not all happened on that very same couch that’s my couch

that very same couch that’s my couch

that very same couch that’s my couch back home I really miss that counts but

back home I really miss that counts but

back home I really miss that counts but yeah I started having conversations and

yeah I started having conversations and

yeah I started having conversations and at the beginning it was just the way to

at the beginning it was just the way to

at the beginning it was just the way to pass the time you know something to

pass the time you know something to

pass the time you know something to distract us from the horrors that were

distract us from the horrors that were

distract us from the horrors that were going on in the streets from the chaos

going on in the streets from the chaos

going on in the streets from the chaos but the motors are talking to people in

but the motors are talking to people in

but the motors are talking to people in that same couch the motor started

that same couch the motor started

that same couch the motor started realizing that something was not quite

realizing that something was not quite

realizing that something was not quite adding up I realized that while many

adding up I realized that while many

adding up I realized that while many people had been protesting and fighting

people had been protesting and fighting

people had been protesting and fighting for the same reason many of us could not

for the same reason many of us could not

for the same reason many of us could not agree on what is it exactly that we

agree on what is it exactly that we

agree on what is it exactly that we wanted to do and worst of all we very

wanted to do and worst of all we very

wanted to do and worst of all we very rarely were fighting for the same end

rarely were fighting for the same end

rarely were fighting for the same end goals in fact I would even go as far to

goals in fact I would even go as far to

goals in fact I would even go as far to say that many of us me included did not

say that many of us me included did not

say that many of us me included did not really have an end goal which you saw

really have an end goal which you saw

really have an end goal which you saw that the country was developing into

that the country was developing into

that the country was developing into chaos and we had to do something

chaos and we had to do something

chaos and we had to do something anything to stop it and so we took to

anything to stop it and so we took to

anything to stop it and so we took to the streets and we protested but a

the streets and we protested but a

the streets and we protested but a reality we offers little else apart from

reality we offers little else apart from

reality we offers little else apart from protests I remember people telling me

protests I remember people telling me

protests I remember people telling me that there were ex government supporters

that there were ex government supporters

that there were ex government supporters and they wanted to highlight the need

and they wanted to highlight the need

and they wanted to highlight the need for change people would come into my

for change people would come into my

for change people would come into my house and tell me that they wouldn’t

house and tell me that they wouldn’t

house and tell me that they wouldn’t stop protesting until a president died

stop protesting until a president died

stop protesting until a president died or stepped down some people would tell

or stepped down some people would tell

or stepped down some people would tell me that they were actually protesting

me that they were actually protesting

me that they were actually protesting they were fighting against the police

they were fighting against the police

they were fighting against the police because the police was fighting against

because the police was fighting against

because the police was fighting against them and not the real criminals that

them and not the real criminals that

them and not the real criminals that drug cartels that were plagued in the

drug cartels that were plagued in the

drug cartels that were plagued in the country you see in reality we needed a

country you see in reality we needed a

country you see in reality we needed a unity we needed a flag to rally under we

unity we needed a flag to rally under we

unity we needed a flag to rally under we needed to fight for and not just against

needed to fight for and not just against

needed to fight for and not just against and in the end when things started

and in the end when things started

and in the end when things started getting really really tough the people

getting really really tough the people

getting really really tough the people just couldn’t risk couldn’t afford

just couldn’t risk couldn’t afford

just couldn’t risk couldn’t afford going out into the streets against the

going out into the streets against the

going out into the streets against the military police increasingly brutal

military police increasingly brutal

military police increasingly brutal tactics people couldn’t afford to ignore

tactics people couldn’t afford to ignore

tactics people couldn’t afford to ignore their jobs in an economy that demanded

their jobs in an economy that demanded

their jobs in an economy that demanded all hands on deck to be able to survive

so it pains me to say this it really

so it pains me to say this it really does I supported an uprising for all the

does I supported an uprising for all the

does I supported an uprising for all the right reasons but in the end that was

right reasons but in the end that was

right reasons but in the end that was not enough in the end the uprisings

not enough in the end the uprisings

not enough in the end the uprisings dissipated and while I’m not saying that

dissipated and while I’m not saying that

dissipated and while I’m not saying that this was the ultimate reason that the

this was the ultimate reason that the

this was the ultimate reason that the protest died down with a clear

protest died down with a clear

protest died down with a clear organization and unified angle and a

organization and unified angle and a

organization and unified angle and a specific plan of action this uprising

specific plan of action this uprising

specific plan of action this uprising could have become something so much more

could have become something so much more

could have become something so much more than just protest that died out under

than just protest that died out under

than just protest that died out under military police boots if kutta brought

military police boots if kutta brought

military police boots if kutta brought about real solid change that may have

about real solid change that may have

about real solid change that may have saved us from the horrors that venezuela

saved us from the horrors that venezuela

saved us from the horrors that venezuela faced it today thank you

faced it today thank you

faced it today thank you [Applause]