Retirees Trade Relaxation for Rebellion, Demanding Accountability from Governments and โArmsโ Dealers
Sydney, Australia – A growing โฃwave of retiree activists is trading retirement plans for protest signs, driven โคby โขa โขsense โขof responsibility to address global issues โขthey believe their generation exacerbated. Among them is Jaimie, a โขbabyโ boomer who advocates for direct action, including demonstrations and pressuring governments andโ weapons โขcompanies.
“It’s so crucial that we undertake activism,โค that we get out onโ the streets, that we pressure our governments โฃand the โขweapons companies because if โขwe don’t we’reโข justโฃ allโ complicit,”โข Jaimie stated, reflecting a sentiment shared by a โcohort feeling compelled to rectify past oversights. This movement isn’t simplyโ about voicing concerns; it’sโ about taking risks and โaccepting potentialโ consequences, notably as financialโข pressures ease with retirement.
Jaimie and others express a strong belief that their โฃgeneration has a particular dutyโ to act, acknowledging they โข”stuffed up the whole world.” โค”I feel likeโ we are โขthe ones who should be โputting in the work and taking the risks that are involved in taking action against injustice,” she explained. โข The freedom โขfrom employment concerns allowsโ for engagement in moreโ impactful, โthoughโ possibly legally challenging, activism.
However, activistsโ emphasize โคtheโ importanceโ of informed decision-makingโ regarding participation in actions that carry the risk of arrest. “It’s critically important to make fully informed decisions about getting โขinvolved where โther’s a โคrisk of arrest. Think thru what that might mean for you,” Jaimie advised.
A โkey focus forโข the group is ensuring the longevity of the movement throughโข mentorship and the inclusion of youngerโฃ generations. โ”We need succession planning. โWe need to bringโ young peopelโ inโ all of the time,” Jaimie said, highlighting the value of shared experience.โ “There’s a lot to learn, a lotโ of โskillsโ to learnโข and a lot ofโค experience to be gained.And olderโ activists areโ very happy toโ share that โwith younger โขactivists.”
The story is featured alongsideโฃ the new โseason of Mother and โฃSon, available to stream free on ABC iview.
