How can Gen-Zers and Millennials fight corruption?
It is exciting that many young people are fighting corruption and are making a big difference for the future. And we need to celebrate that.
For those who are interested in tackling corruption, but don t know where to start, here are some ideas:
1. FOLLOW THE MONEY - Governments have vast sums of public money to spend, and this can pose a serious corruption risk. By keeping tabs on government expenditure, you can help shed light on how Philippine taxes are being spent and expose any abuses. You can also join the Integrity Circles that have been set up by various LGUs throughout the country,
2. COUNT SUPPLIES - Schools receive lots of supplies from government, like textbooks, lab equipment or other classroom necessities. It s not rocket science to keep track of this. It just takes commitment and transparency. Ask to see how many Bunsen burners are supposed to be in the biology labs and if the numbers don t add up ask what s happened.
3. TECH SOLUTIONS - If you re tech-savvy - and many of you are - you can help communities document cases of corruption by developing reporting platforms on the web or through mobile apps. Social media, in particular, is an effective way to address corruption in real-time, but is a bit risky.
4. COMICS AND CARTOONS - Comics are a powerful way of raising awareness about anti-corruption. Through a combination of images and text, comics can also help spark debate and they are easy to produce. All you need is a pen and paper.
5. SPORTS - What s your favorite sport? From running against corruption to scoring a goal for transparency, you can raise your community s anti-corruption awareness through any sport you want. It s time that we create Integrity Runs again!
6. YOUTH GROUPS - Youth groups share their disapproval of corruption and are found at local and national levels. Different groups have different goals, but they have one thing in common: a willingness to talk openly about their opposition to corruption and raise awareness about its adverse effects on society. These groups can be formed to take part in a one-off event, around a single issue or for longer term campaigns.
7. PROTESTS - As we see almost daily, protest events are a way for citizens and groups to come together in public to show large scale support for or against a particular issue. Protests, marches, demonstrations and rallies are certainly a powerful tool for anti-corruption campaigners.
8. PETITIONS - A petition is a collection of signatures from people supporting your cause. That petition is then presented to decision makers like government or education officials that have the power to create the change you want.
9. ELECTION PLEDGES - Politicians may be running for office but they shouldn t be able to hide. During the lead-up to elections, candidates are in the spotlight and this is a good time to hold them accountable for their campaigning and election promises.
You can ask your local candidates to sign a pledge against corruption and agree to take specific steps to stop corruption. They can, for example, pledge not to buy or sell votes during the election, a very common form of corruption. And you young voters should definitely not sell your votes!!
10. CROWD SOURCING ELECTION MONITORING - Tweet. Text. E-mail. From accessing your mobile phone to surfing the web on your computer, it s never been easier or quicker to monitor elections in real-time. Through online crowdsourcing you can let the world know of voting irregularities in your country with just a few clicks. Some of the information can even be plotted onto an interactive map online, allowing you also to see what others in your community are reporting.
I hope you find these suggestions useful! If you have more suggestions that are not already on this list, I would love to hear from you!
Let me conclude with a note of caution. There is risk in exposing people involved in corruption. Work in a group rather than alone.
And remember: the youth deserve an end to corruption. Young people are not just our future, they are key to creating a just, peaceful and prosperous world right now!
You can contact me at [email protected]
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