As the world moves from one crisis to another and our politicians ignore the immense injustices that are happening in their nation and in the world, what do ordinary non-violent citizens do to let their politicians know they aren’t happy with their lack of moral and ethical fortitude?

Some of us like me write to our politicians stating our concerns, some take direct action and protest non-violently. Some of our bravest citizens, when they see an imminent humanitarian crisis, mount a flotilla to confront non- violently an illegal blockade of humanitarian aid to prevent a genocide.

Greta Thunberg, a petite 22-year-old Swedish woman, has shown exceptional courage and moral rectitude in standing up and telling the world since she was a teenager that our leaders are presiding over ecological devastation if they don’t act to deal quickly and effectively with climate change. Her personal commitment to stopping an ecocide has been inspiring, as we move closer and closer to destroying our planet.

More recently Thunberg has seen the incredible brutality of the rogue, terrorist state Israel that has murdered thousands of innocent Palestinians, mostly defenceless women and children and decided that the world must act to stop a genocide. So, like other concerned peace and justice activists, she joins a global flotilla to send humanitarian aid to starving, injured and dying Palestinians.

Sending medical supplies, food and baby food via flotilla to Gaza isn’t a crime. These activists were attempting to break a blockade that is recognised internationally as illegal. No passengers on the flotilla had any weapons or were remotely connected to Hamas. They were all trained in non-violent techniques and knives were thrown overboard before IDF military boarded their ships and detained them illegally. Recorded accounts by the detainees tell us they were meted out harsh brutal treatment by Israeli military and officials. In particular, it seems Greta was singled out for “special treatment” being especially humiliated and treated roughly.

Why hasn’t the European Union complained about the illegal treatment of the Sumud Global Flotilla detainees? Has the rogue, terrorist state of Israel bullied them into silence, with the help of its fascist friend the US? Why aren’t any Australian politicians condemning the treatment of the detainees by Israeli military and government officials?

Politicians of the so-called free world are conspicuously silent on this international incident and that is why ordinary citizens in Europe are launching massive protests. When politicians lose their moral compass, ordinary citizens are required to stand up like Thunberg and protest non-violently for action against genocide, ecocide and the removal of free speech within nations.

Australians need to write to their politicians and wake them up from their moral and ethical slumber of inaction. The days of “she‘ll be right, mate” are over, and all thinking Australians need to take action against ecocide and genocide and not let one 22-year-old woman take the burden of the crises of the world on her shoulders.

The views expressed in this article may or may not reflect those of Pearls and Irritations.