The Whole World Is Protesting

Overview

The video argues that protests around the world reflect a shared crisis involving rising living costs, wealth inequality, cuts to public services, and corruption. Presenter Vanessa Wingårdh cites a UBS estimate that the richest 1.5% of the world’s population held 48% of global wealth in 2025. She argues that corporate and wealthy interests have too much influence over governments and the media.

Examples discussed

• Southern Italy: Farmers and truck drivers protested rising fuel costs, which they said made it harder to produce and transport food. The video shows reports of empty grocery shelves and argues that the disruption received little national coverage. Wingårdh cautions, based on social-media accounts, that the protests may have ended.
• Media and political influence: The video points to the Berlusconi family’s media holdings and Silvio Berlusconi’s time as prime minister as an example of concentrated wealth and political power. It also cites the Bilderberg meetings as evidence, in Wingårdh’s view, of unelected business leaders’ influence.
• Education and public services: Student protests in France, Belgium, and Austria are presented as responses to deteriorating schools and funding cuts. The video links these pressures to public debt and argues that governments are cutting services while leaving wealthy people’s tax advantages largely untouched.
• Housing and living costs: Protests in Albania, Portugal, and Spain are connected to high rents, unaffordable housing, and corruption. In Albania, the video describes opposition to a proposed resort project linked to Jared Kushner, including residents’ claims that land is being taken through forged documents.
• Wider economic pressures: Wingårdh says people in Sweden also face financial strain. She argues that global companies can raise prices across countries while benefiting from crises and supply-chain disruptions.

Media coverage and political change

The video distinguishes the small number of people shown looting or damaging storefronts from much larger demonstrations. It argues that media coverage can focus on property damage rather than protesters’ demands.

It concludes with Serbia as an example of protest leading to political change. Students mobilized after a deadly train-station canopy collapse, and the video says a student-led party later won a majority in parliament.

Presenter

Vanessa Wingårdh is the presenter and contributor. No other named contributors are identified.