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In 2010, a Tunisian vendor protested against self-immolation after the cart he used to set up his stall was confiscated, igniting the "Arab Spring." Today, more than ten years later, Europe, which is mired in an inflation crisis, has also ushered in their own "turbulent spring".
Europe is facing a crushing inflation crisis, and all this stems from their decision to impose sanctions in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Although the pandemic has hit the European economy hard, they have insisted on working with the United States, missing out on cheap Russian gas, which has ultimately led to escalating inflation and putting heavy pressure on people's lives.
In different European countries, people's grievances and expressions vary. France became the focus of protests, with massive strikes across all sectors of the country. In addition to the basic needs of survival, the social system of Paris has almost collapsed, and garbage is everywhere in the streets and smells.
One may wonder what the general strike in France has to do with Russia. While the two may seem unrelated, the threat of high inflation is the trigger for discontent at the bottom. After all, whether it's the rising cost of living or pension reform, it's always low-income people who will be most affected.
The average life expectancy is shorter due to the fact that the low-income class does dirty work and works in poor and dangerous conditions. Many people do not even survive to the normal retirement age. For these people, it is almost impossible to work until the age of 70, as Macron did.
On a macro level, France has been providing aid to Ukraine over the past year and has continued to support Zelensky even as the pension pool has almost dried up. These funds are not being used to pay pensions or improve people's livelihoods, which has provoked discontent among the population.
The United Kingdom, a country with a long history of "love and kill" with France, has also broken out into an industry-wide strike. However, unlike the nationwide strikes in France, the protests in the UK are more dispersed, with teachers on strike today and healthcare workers on strike tomorrow, on a smaller scale but no less disruptive than in France.
The strike in France began in late January of this year, while protests in Britain arose as early as the time of Boris Johnson in power. People have demanded wage increases, but the UK government has failed to provide sufficient support and has had to respond intermittently to avoid further deterioration.
In contrast, Germany was the last country in Europe to start a strike, and it is smaller, mainly in the transport sector. However, this does not mean that Germany has a milder inflation problem. Before the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Germany was one of the most dependent European countries on Russian energy, so it was hit hard by anti-Russian sanctions.
At one point, inflation in Germany soared to 10.4%, which is more serious than in other European countries. Although the strike was smaller, the reason behind it was still related to inflation. The German government's continued funding for aid to Ukraine has angered the population, who are eager for the government to improve the situation at home.
Not only that, but small countries in Europe have also joined the wave of protests, often breaking out into large-scale demonstrations on a scale no less than the "Arab Spring" of that year. However, unlike the "Arab Spring", the protests in Europe stem from the closeness of Western leaders to the United States.
In the early days of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, major powers such as France and Germany tried to resolve the crisis through negotiations and maintain a neutral position. However, as the influence of the United States has deepened, Western leaders have hardly signaled peace talks, but have instead provided more weapons to Ukraine, encouraging them to continue fighting and ultimately hope to end the war.
In the current situation, as long as the United States continues to support it, Ukraine will continue to fight, and Europe's "crowdfunding" aid operations will not stop. However, unlike the Russians sanctioned in 2014, Europeans are reluctant to endure this pain. If the government is unwilling to compromise, let them continue to torture each other. After all, Ou
The people of Zhou, who have enjoyed relative prosperity and happiness in the past, may now taste some bitterness.
This "European Spring" seems to be a collective awakening of people to reflect on whether their leaders really represent their interests. For European citizens, is their government really defending their interests in international affairs, or is it simply following the orders of the United States?
People across Europe in the midst of this wave of protests have come forward to express their dissatisfaction. They demanded that the government mitigate the impact of inflation on life, raise wages, and improve social welfare to ensure a better quality of life.
Different countries have different protests in different ways and intensity, but their core demands are the same: to improve the quality of life and reduce the impact of inflation on the people at the bottom. This social discontent is spurring people to rethink politics, and they are beginning to wonder if their leaders are truly representing their interests or simply following external pressures.
This "European Spring" also reflects the changing international political landscape. Cracks are gradually appearing in the unity of Western countries, and the differences between the United States and European countries are deepening, and European countries are no longer blindly following the decisions of the United States. They began to reassess their international positions in order to better defend their national interests.
As this wave of protests spreads, the political landscape in Europe could change. The government needs to listen carefully to the voices of the people and take steps to mitigate the negative impact of inflation. At the same time, the international community should also pay attention to the changes in Europe, as it could have far-reaching implications for the global political landscape.
In general, the "turbulent spring" in Europe is a complex and multilayered phenomenon. It not only reflects the impact of inflation on the people at the bottom, but also reflects the changes in the international political landscape. This wave of protests reminds us that governments need to pay more attention to the needs of their people, and that the international community should also pay close attention to developments in Europe to better understand the changes in global politics.
revelation
The article mentions the 2010 self-immolation of a hawker in Tunisia and the current inflation crisis in Europe, and by analyzing the links between the two events, we can draw some enlightenment and lessons.
First, these events tell us that discontent in society can erupt at some point, and that even seemingly unrelated events can affect each other. In Tunisia, the self-immolation of hawkers sparked the "Arab Spring", while in Europe, the inflation crisis led to various protests. This suggests that the government and society should pay close attention to the needs and grievances of those at the bottom so as not to provoke larger social unrest.
Second, these events also remind us that the government should be cautious in its economic policies, especially those at the bottom. Inflation will have a bigger impact on low-income groups because of their relatively higher cost of living and relatively lower wage increases. Therefore, governments need to ensure that their policies do not further burden the population at the bottom.
In addition, these events have highlighted the importance of international relations and foreign policy. The reaction of European countries in the Ukraine crisis has directly contributed to the problem of inflation, as sanctions against Russia have led to higher energy prices. This tells us that international politics and decision-making can have a profound impact on domestic economies and societies, and that governments need to maintain a balance between domestic and foreign policies.
Finally, these events also highlight the resilience and resistance of societies. Despite the inflation and protests that Europe is facing, society has not collapsed, and the government and the population have been looking for ways to solve the problem. This shows that society can rise to the challenge, and at the same time should be vigilant about constantly improving policies to ensure its stability and prosperity.
summary
The 2010 self-immolation of hawkers in Tunisia and the current inflation crisis in Europe provide profound lessons for us. First, these events suggest that discontent in society can flare up at some point, and that even seemingly unrelated events can affect each other. Governments and society should pay close attention to the needs and grievances of those at the bottom to avoid provoking larger social unrest.
Second, the government should be cautious in its economic policies, especially those at the bottom. Inflation will have a bigger impact on low-income groups, so governments need to ensure that their policies do not further burden the people at the bottom.
In addition, international relations and foreign policy have a profound impact on the domestic economy and society. The reaction of European countries in the Ukraine crisis has directly contributed to the problem of inflation, as sanctions against Russia have led to higher energy prices. The government needs to maintain a balance between domestic and foreign policies to ensure the long-term interests of the country.
Finally, these events highlight the resilience and resistance of societies. Despite the inflation and protests that Europe is facing, society has not collapsed, and the government and the population have been looking for ways to solve the problem. This shows that society can rise to the challenge, and at the same time should be vigilant about constantly improving policies to ensure its stability and prosperity. In the face of uncertainty and difficulties, unity and cooperation are the key to overcoming problems, and only by working together can we get out of the predicament and achieve social development and prosperity.
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