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I want to take a moment to explain why this issue in Albania matters to me personally, and why Australians have become involved in a movement taking place thousands of kilometres from our shores.
Not long ago, I found myself as the public face of the campaign against the proposed Trump Tower project on the Gold Coast. What started as a simple petition grew into something much bigger. Hundreds of thousands of Australians from all walks of life came together because they believed the project didn’t reflect our community values or serve the long-term interests of the people who call the Gold Coast home.
What struck me throughout that campaign was that ordinary people aren’t powerless. When communities organise, ask difficult questions and refuse to be ignored, they can make a difference.
As I’ve watched the protests unfold in Albania, I’ve recognised many of those same themes. I see communities demanding a genuine voice in decisions that affect their future. I see people asking questions about accountability and transparency. And I see ordinary citizens standing up to powerful interests, despite being told that their efforts won’t change anything.
The details may be different, but the principles are remarkably similar.
Solidarity doesn’t stop at national borders. When people peacefully defend their communities, their environment and their democratic right to be heard, others have a responsibility to listen and, where appropriate, to stand beside them. That’s why Australians are paying attention to Albania’s struggle: because the belief that ordinary people deserve a say in their own future is universal.
Craig Hill is a Brisbane-based author, journalist, teacher, business consultant and social justice campaigner. He is the General Manager of the Australian Book and Language Studio.
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