Rav feeling at home and empowered by the people in Cape Town

And just like that, the first month of our trip is over! It went by so fast, and it makes me realize that I am not ready for the next two and a half months to go that fast. I'm continuously trying to live in the present, and taking in everything around me. I feel very comfortable and assimilated here in Cape Town. It feels like home.

I participated in my first protest with Right2Know. It was the day of the State of the Nation, where President Zuma goes to Town, and roads are closed and filled with traffic. What a perfect time to protest on a highway bridge! R2K and many other organizations that we are collaborating with, occupied about 7 different bridges on major highways that day. I was placed on a bridge over the highway crossing through District 6. We got a lot of support from incoming traffic, with many cars honking and hooting and yelling in unity with raised fists expressing solidarity. Our protest was on the Secret Trillion Rand Nuclear Deal that the government is trying to do under wraps. The government wants to bring nuclear power plants to South Africa, which is expensive and non-renewable energy. R2K is protesting for government transparency, popular education on this deal, and arguing for environmental rights. We are questioning how the government has a trillion rand to spend on nuclear energy, when they claim they have no money to build homes or give health care to the millions that are poor and hungry. It was a great day, to wake up early and be in unison, empowered with the people of Cape Town. The next protest will be in a couple of weeks, and I'm already learning so much about organizing, and mobilizing people, while also pushing new public policies. 

I've also already experienced different NGO conventions, that are filled with the most passionate "comrades" I've met. Their energy, spirit, and enthusiasm fills the room, and when they speak, their Xhosa songs of freedom and justice are so moving and beautiful. It's interesting to see the parallels in the activist life here in Cape Town and in the U.S. There is a lot more personal stories and the use of art (songs, music, dance, performance) to show solidarity and emotions. While in the U.S., I see more speak out type rallies, and I don't see the solidarity between different groups. Hopefully, I can see that solidarity between different racial, ethnic, class, etc, groups join stronger under "Trump's America".

The people united, can never be divided.