Protests in Chile - How am I experiencing the situation here?

Hello dear ones ❤

First of all: I'm fine, you don't need to worry about the situation in Chile concerning me. But most of you who know me already know that.

As you may have heard from the news or social media, there have been protests in Santiago every day since last Friday (October 18). On Saturday, these protests spread very quickly to most cities in Chile (including Valdivia, where I currently live and do my workaway). The protests were initially triggered by a 30-peso increase in ticket prices for the metro and other transportation. But that's not what the Chileans are really concerned about! That was just the last straw, because they have been dissatisfied with the overall situation for years.

> REASONS for the protests <

The protests can be justified by the incredibly expensive education, the poor healthcare system, the very low pensions, and the very low minimum wage. Many public areas are simply poorly organized, and people often struggle to afford things without incurring debt.

At the same time, people feel unfairly treated because taxes do not reduce inequality in the country, but on the contrary - they widen the gap between the rich and the poor, as they mostly benefit the higher earners (Chile has a very high Gini index of 46.6% in 2017 - just for comparison, Germany had 29.5% in 2017. A score of 0 means equal distribution of income and 100 means complete inequality). There are many more reasons for the numerous protests, but you can read about them yourself. Here is a picture for those who understand English.

How do I FEEL about the overall situation?

Hard to describe! I'm sad that it had to come to this point at all, because of course people have been protesting in the past years, but not to this extent - and almost nothing has changed. I'm sad that there was so much violence (on both sides) and vandalism, especially in the first days. Many supermarkets, banks, and pharmacies were destroyed, looted, and set on fire. However, this showed how angry the people really are and how much they want change! On Monday, people panic-bought food and filled up their tanks with gasoline because no one knew what the next few days would look like. I'm sad that there has to be a curfew (from 9 pm to 7 am) and that so many people have been arrested.

I stayed home these days, didn't go to the city, and even though I live in the quietest place in the world, I was filled with unrest inside! In addition, I heard the news everywhere and saw terrible videos, and I would have loved to join the protests on the streets. At the same time, I didn't want and shouldn't put myself in danger, but I was terribly worried about my friends in Santiago. The media influenced me a lot, and probably you too. (Btw. Thanks to those who asked how I'm doing! And sorry for sometimes answering so shortly - but that's why I'm making this post!) Furthermore, I'm sad that the military and the police use tear gas to disrupt the peaceful protests. What the hell is that?

I am proud of how strong the unity is among the Chileans. Around the world, they gather and protest, even in Berlin they gather at the Brandenburg Gate and in front of the consulate! The situation has calmed down somewhat. The protests continue, but they are truly mostly peaceful, so don't let the media fool you. I'm thrilled that some progress has already been made, as reforms are now planned (see here: https://bit.ly/2oiKbe5). I'm happy that my friends are doing well and are so brave to protest every day. #Chiledespertó (Chile woke up!)