Looking back, 2019 might go down in the history books as the year of the “agitated citizen.” From the yellow-vested protesters in France to the near-daily demonstrations that occurred in Hong Kong, the year was marked by a flurry of protests, demonstrations and social justice activations.
And while the causes ranged from fighting against climate justice to fighting for political freedom, the underpinning social theme was one of a pushback against authority and the status quo. And in many instances, global citizens are increasingly “voting” with their spending to support social causes or to simply make a statement. That means supporting a brand they see as doing good (such as Patagonia) or to protest against an entire industry because it is viewed as harmful to the planet (meatless Mondays, anyone?).
Here’s a look at some of those movements, and their impact on spending, the economy or fashion:
Hong Kong
One of the ongoing and seemingly endless protests in recent years are the demonstrations in Hong Kong. The anti-government movement gained steam over the summer and has disrupted business and commerce. Even through the Christmas holiday, protesters were out en masse, marching and clashing with police.
The protests were initially against a law allowing extradition of
And while the causes ranged from fighting against climate justice to fighting for political freedom, the underpinning social theme was one of a pushback against authority and the status quo. And in many instances, global citizens are increasingly “voting” with their spending to support social causes or to simply make a statement. That means supporting a brand they see as doing good (such as Patagonia) or to protest against an entire industry because it is viewed as harmful to the planet (meatless Mondays, anyone?).
Here’s a look at some of those movements, and their impact on spending, the economy or fashion:
Hong Kong
One of the ongoing and seemingly endless protests in recent years are the demonstrations in Hong Kong. The anti-government movement gained steam over the summer and has disrupted business and commerce. Even through the Christmas holiday, protesters were out en masse, marching and clashing with police.
The protests were initially against a law allowing extradition of