This blog post is a clip written by Austin Global Shaper, Christa Freeland, and was taken from the World Economic Forum's Agenda site, here.
What do Burning Man, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes, and entrepreneurship have in common?
They are a few examples of how millennials are pushing innovation and getting involved in government. Around 30% of the world's population is under the age of 30, yet young people don’t really have a voice in government leadership. Stereotypically, they aren’t supposed to care about government or even have a positive view of it at all, and therefore aren’t represented.
As someone born between the years of 1980-2000, I’m a millennial myself. I have begun to notice this exciting movement among my demographic; we are making changes, and forming new systems and expectations of government.
New forms of government
Burning Man is an event that only exists for two weeks each year. It occupies barren desert in Nevada where there are absolutely no structures or people, then grows to a population of over 75,000.
Burning Man is a great example of young people successfully participating in society and the government of a city. The “Burner” community has thrived, and the gathering has exploded in popularity.
While Burning Man began almost 20 years ago, most of the explosive growth has occurred within the last 10 years and among those aged 33-34 (Reno Gazette Journal). Attendees are strongly encouraged to become familiar with Burning Man’s 10 Principles, which include “radical self-reliance”, “communal effort”, and “leave no trace”. These principles are obviously important in a desert with no resources such as water and electricity, but Burners don’t just follow these recommendations for sheer survival. They also use them as a guide to create a more fulfilling experience of belonging, purpose and self-discovery at the event, as well as in what they call the “default”, or day-to-day, world.
Read the full article on the World Economic Forum's Agenda:
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/01/millennials-are-starting-to-become-involved-in-government-heres-how/
