– I see similarities with the time before World War II. Populism and fascism are increasing in many countries, and I am worried, says Maria Ressa from the stage during the Literature Festival in Lillehammer. The journalist from the Philippines has seen cruel violence up close. Like when she saw men playing football with a severed human head in Indonesia. Through it all, however, she has retained her indomitable optimism. But now, months after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, she is struggling to look positively to the future. We have two years on us, she exhorts. – The world has gotten much worse since the last time I was in Norway, with Putin’s invasion of Ukraine as the most frightening event. She points out that the world is facing several important events in the future. – This year, there are elections in Colombia, India and Brazil, by-elections in the United States, and an election in Kenya that will be of great importance to the African continent. – Norwegians are lucky to have such a high degree of openness and trust in their community. But this is not the time to stick your head in the sand, advises Ressa. Here she is interviewed by Ole Torp during the literature festival. Photo: Siss Vik / news Maria Ressa met the audience in Norway for the first time. Last time there was a pandemic and social distance. Here she gives a hug to a female spectator who listened to the interview. Photo: Siss Vik / news – Hammering the good out of us The re-election of right-wing Viktor Orban in Hungary, and the dramatic election of the dictator’s son Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Philippines has scared Ressa. During her recent visit to the United States, she saw the fruits of Trump’s inauguration of judges in the Supreme Court, who want to dissolve a national right to abortion. – Re-election of leaders like Orban sets the tone. If citizens use democratic elections to appoint autocratic leaders with fascist tendencies, it will also paralyze the UN’s ability to bring the world forward. Resa’s struggle is to make people aware of the importance of social media for the rise of populism and fascism. In her Nobel speech, she called the spread of misinformation through social media an “invisible atomic bomb”. – Research shows that lies interspersed with anger and hate speech spread faster and wider than facts on social media. The good in people is hammered out of us, she says and is overwhelmed by tears. Resa’s pessimism is characterized by the recent election in the Philippines, she explains to news. The son of Ferdinand Marcos profiled himself on the resemblance to his father in the election campaign, and won it. The editor has been critical of the previous president, Duterte. She wants to give the new president a chance, but does not look forward to the future. – 36 years after we deposed a dictator, his son is elected. Imagine that Adolf Hitler had a son who won an election in Germany! Inspiring to act Maria Ressa has ten indictments from the Philippine government hanging over her. If convicted, it could result in a total of 103 years in prison. To get to Lillehammer, she had to apply to the judiciary for an exit permit. – She must be one of the most inspiring people I have ever interviewed, says longtime news journalist Ole Torp, who shared the stage with Ressa. He hopes the Peace Prize winner is wrong about the prognosis that we only have two years to stagnate fascism. – Russia managed to influence the election in the US in 2017. Ressa believes that this type of manipulation is still taking place. We must all be on guard against the evil misinformation, says Torp. 17-year-old Penelope Lea is a UNICEF ambassador and climate activist. She participated in a panel for young people on freedom of expression, and greatly appreciated the conversation between Maria Ressa and Ole Torp. – I experience that Ressa is optimistic even when she talks about a serious future. It gives us the opportunity to understand that we can help change something and make a difference, says Lea. Penelope Lea participated in a youth program on freedom of expression and is one who will take up the legacy of Maria Ressa. Photo: Siss Vik / news Read also:
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Peace Prize winner believes we have two years to save democracy – news Culture and entertainment
