The Young Greens protest in Old Town Prague on September 30

By Shuan Sim

While the Occupy Wall Street movement grabs headlines in America, a grass-roots movement in the Czech Republic is taking its own stand against consumerism and globalism.

On September 30 approximately 20 young people met on Prague’s Old Town Square with signs, banners and shopping bags filled with rags. “How much happiness have you bought today?” read a banner which a woman wore like a cape.

Mladí zelení, or Young Greens, is a youth-led NGO that focuses on environmental protection and human rights. The Young Greens share some common values with the Green Party, but the youth organization is not an official branch of the political party.

By marching through the streets, the Young Greens aim to raise awareness of consumerism and the negative effects it sometimes has on developing nations. Among them are some who feel affinity with the Occupy Wall Street movement in America.

“We are the so-called developed world. We should be the leaders or change,” said Tomáš Křemen, a 25-year old student from Charles University. “Almost all developing countries are being exploited by our consumption.”

Unlike the protests in New York and other American cities – and unlike the “Day of Rage” protests October 15 which turned violent in Rome – the Prague demonstration was completely silent. The group marched from Old Town Square to the Palladium shopping center on Náměstí Republiky, occasionally encircling groups of people with their banners and placards.

At Palladium, a security guard immediately questioned members of the group as they entered the building but let them pass when they said they were merely passing through. But the protestors raised their signs again as soon as they were inside. Guards quickly told the group to leave.

Palladium shoppers were briefly confused, Křemen said, but soon realized the Young Greens had something to say about consumerism. Not everyone was receptive to the message.

“I think it’s kind of stupid,” said Martin Koběrsky, a teenager from Ostrava, as the protesters encircled him and his friends. “People should be allowed to do what they want.”

The Young Greens hosted a workshop September 23-October 2 called Made In, intended to spread awareness of environmental issues and the fair trade social movement. The group has plans to hold exhibitions in Brno and Tábor later this year.