15th September #DemocracyDay 🌏 Hey SEAblings, what does ‘democracy’ mean in your own language? ✊

Across Southeast Asia, our languages may differ, but we all recognise democracy's absence as our civil and political freedoms shrink day-by-day.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/a0db76_9059069c274d4ae4bb28edb05136b272/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

When fisherfolk and Indigenous communities are silenced for speaking out. When union leaders are criminalised. When protest is met with repression. When authoritarian states police dissent online and offline while protecting those already in power.

🧋 But repression has also taught our movements to find each other across borders. The rise of the #MilkTeaAlliance showed us what happens when movements across borders refuse to fight authoritarianism alone.

🌏 So this #InternationalDayOfDemocracy, we’re reclaiming democracy in our own words, languages, and struggles. ✊🏽

Democracy cannot be reduced to casting a ballot every few years. It means the most marginalised having real power over the decisions that shape our lives. And it means institutions serving the people, not shielding elites, corporations, nor authoritarian power from accountability.

What does democracy mean to you? Tell us below. 👇🏽

Grateful to our friends at Greenpeace Southeast Asia (@greenpeacesea) for lending their voice to the conversation. 🙌💚

#WeAreManushyan ♾️ Equal Human Beings

#HumanRights