Paid to Protest | Ep. 70

Overview:

In this revealing episode of The Sustainable Voice®, host Ashish Sanghrajka welcomes back Cris Vera for his third appearance to explore the uncomfortable reality of manufactured protests and paid dissent across the globe. This conversation breaks the myth that organized protests only happen in developing nations—from Peru’s countryside to documented cases in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.

Cris shares firsthand experiences from Peru while Ashish reflects on cases from Kenya to North America, exposing how communities are pressured through penalties, threats, or incentives to participate in movements they may not understand or believe in.

Topics:

  • Manufactured protests happen in first-world nations, not just developing countries
  • Most protesters are forced through penalties—loss of water rights, business threats, academic consequences
  • Tourism-dependent regions face particular vulnerability to organized pressure
  • Ask who's organizing, who benefits, and who's funding any protest you see
  • Countries with strong responsible tourism (10%+ of GDP) resolve unrest faster

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