On 19 June some 7,000 high school students marched through Prague in protest of the cabinet’s intention to test out the new unified leaving exams on them this year. However, they ended up throwing tomatoes at the Lichtenstein palace instead of the Education Ministry and only realised their mistake after being notified by a policeman who got hit.
Somehow, though they eventually managed to meet with the education minister. The whole demonstration gives an impression of taking place just for the sake of it. Students mobilised through Facebook and launched what they call a Green Revolution. The half green half red stickers of oval shape can still be seen on lampposts around Prague.
Facebook has recently become the medium of choice whatever your cause or aim. With almost 1 million Czechs registered on this social networking site, organising a large group of people in a short amount of time has become rather easy thanks to Facebook and its six degrees of separation. Thousands of people threw eggs at Paroubek, other (or the same) thousands fought against closing down the Rock Café music club, many supported breast-feeding in public, politicians, dissidents and artists.
The support of a cause or an organisation is just one click away on Facebook. It goes without saying that many of the causes deserve support. However, one is left wondering whether the simplicity of gaining a following might result in paying less attention to understanding, explaining and approaching the cause itself.
• Do you support a cause or an organisation on Facebook?
• Have you ever joined a group just because it was there?
• Do you think Facebook causes serve their purpose?
