Examples of Political Participation

/ 1. Election of the European Parliament
From May 22 to May 25 2014 the 8th election of the European Parliament was held in all 28 member states of the European Union.
The average activity level of voters was 43%. High activity of voters was observed in Belgium and Luxemburg (90%), Malta (74.8%), Italy (60%), Greece (58.2%), Denmark (56.4%) and Ireland (51.6%). Low activity of voters was seen in Slovakia (13%), the Chez Republic (19.5%), Slovenia (21%), Poland (22.7%), Croatia (25.1%) and Hungary (29%).
The European People’s Party won the election. The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats also had good results.
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2. Aung San Suu Kyi.

Aung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and president of the National League for Democracy in Myanmar. She has spent 21 years in detention as she attempted to bring democracy to Mynamar. (Burma).
/ 3. Protests against War in Iraq
In February 2003 millions of people in various cities of the world went into streets to protest against the intention of the US and the UK governments to start military intervention in Iraq. London gathered the largest crowds of protesters – in total more than 1 million people, and this is considered to be the largest political rally in the history of the United Kingdom.
/ 4. Referendum on the Independence of Scotland
On 18 September 2014 a referendum was held in Scotland on seceding from the United Kingdom and declaring independence. 55% of voters (~ 1.9 million) voted against seceding, but 45% (~ 1.5 million) voted for independence outside the United Kingdom.
84.59% of voters participated in the referendum, which is considered to be one of the most vivid examples of active political participation.
/ 5. Artistic campaign, (political) performance
On 21 February 2012 five members of the Russian punk rock group “Pussy Riot”, with face masks in striking colours, arrived at the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, went to the altar and started performing a song against Vladimir Putin (at the time – the Prime Minister of Russia). In the so–called “punks’ prayer” Virgin Mary was asked to drive away Putin, it also criticized the authorities of the Russian Orthodox Church for supporting Putin as the candidate running for the upcoming presidential election. The performance by “Pussy Riot” at the Cathedral triggered indignation among the believers in Russia, as well as a large part of society, but the Western countries criticised the sentence that was given to them as being excessive.
/ 6. Boycott
In 2002 campaign “Boycott “Made in China”!” was launched with the aim to turn against the Chinese governance in Tibet. China has occupied Tibet since 1951 and has been accused of efforts to eradicate Tibetan culture, by implementing political and religious repressions. The spiritual leader of Tibetans Dalai Lama was forced to flee Tibet in 1959, following an unsuccessful uprising against the Chinese communist regime. After escaping he formed Tibetan government in exile in the North of India. The organizers of this boycott – human rights activists, students, Tibetan and Chinese organisations, etc. – believe that this treatment of Tibet by China can be stopped by exerting economic pressure. The organisers inform and educate people in Canada, the US, New Zealand, Europe and India that they can influence political processes with their purchasing choices.
/ 7. Bob and Roberta Smith The Arts Party
Bob and Roberta Smith is the name of the British artist whose best known works include: ~Make Art Not War, which belongs to the Tate collection; andLetter to Michael Gove.
In 2013, Bob and Roberta launched theArt Party with Crescent Arts, Scarborough. The Art Party seeks to better advocate the arts to Government. The Art Party is NOT a formal political party, but is a loose grouping of artists and organisations who are deeply concerned about the Government diminishing the role of all the arts and design in schools.