There’s a revolution happening in Lebanon right now, and we need to talk about it.
Over the past week, hundreds of thousands of protestors have taken to the streets of Beirut to fight against government corruption.
Lebanon has struggled with dishonest government officials, unfair policies and unreasonably high taxes for decades. It’s a country full of rich culture and a vibrant people, but also a nation that is falling apart.
The final nail in the coffin came recently, when the government introduced a tax on WhatsApp voice calls (roughly $6 a month) – the mode of communication most Lebanon locals use to communicate with each other and, more importantly, with overseas relatives.
The WhatsApp tax was the Lebanese government’s attempt to offset soaring national debt levels. Lebanon has been trying to implement economic reforms to secure a major aid package from international donors.
Despite the government appearing to be working for the people, citizens say they are suffering under the country’s economic policies and that government corruption runs deep.
Following public uproar at the WhatsApp tax, the Lebanese government quickly backtracked on the decision. But that did nothing to extinguish anger in the country, and protests have continued to swarm in Beirut and beyond.
From Lebanon to Sydney, to Paris to Washington DC, people are taking to the streets in huge crowds to fly the Lebanese flag and raise awareness of the corrupt government still in power in their motherland.
Despite some coverage showing scenes of violence, the protests have been mostly non-problematic. Just hoards of people coming together to take a stand.
The latest move by protestors has been to dress up as Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker.
Many protestors have been photographed with their faces painted like the clown, and city infrastructures have also been painted with Joker’s face.
The unnamed woman in the above photo told Wired that, “The reason we painted our faces is because we related to the character in the movie. Because before he painted his face he was just living that miserable life.
“Nobody cared about him, nobody would listen to him. He’s upset, he’s angry, and it just drove him to madness and that’s what’s happening [in Lebanon].”
In the film, Joker also inspires a revolution. The people of Gotham City see him as a representative of the neglected lower class. Joker is idolised throughout Gotham as a hero and a symbol of the people taking their power back from a self-serving government.
Not dissimilar to what is currently happening in Lebanon.
The Lebanese government on Monday approved a package of reforms, including slashing politicians’ salaries, in an effort to settle the unrest.
It hasn’t worked. Protests in Lebanon are reaching their sixth day.
Protester, Christian Manachi, told the BBC: “For the first time ever there is real unity in the country and not a fake one like we’ve seen before.”