When citizens are unhappy with a government policy, voting isn't their only option. From signing a petition to organizing a large-scale protest, there are many ways to make your voice heard. In early 2024, farmers across Europe did just that, driving their tractors into major cities like Brussels and Paris to protest new environmental rules and low prices for their products. Their actions got a lot of attention and led to some policy changes.
This lesson explores the different methods people use to influence decision-makers. We'll compare the risks and potential rewards of various tactics and practice using polite, persuasive language to make effective requests.
European Farmers' Protests
A news report on the 2024 farmer protests in Brussels. (Reuters)
Video Transcript
00:00 Agricultural ministers from across the European Union are meeting in Brussels today to discuss their response to protests by farmers across the EU. There have been demonstrations by farming groups in France, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Spain and in other countries. The protests
00:15 have been triggered by what the farmers say are cheap imports from outside the EU, excessively restrictive environmental rules, and falling incomes. This morning, farmers are gathering in Brussels ahead of that meeting of EU ministers. They use their tractors to
00:30 block the roads. They also appear to have piled up tires near the building which are now on fire. So let's just show you those live shots of those tires. You can see very thick black smoke there, blocking those streets with those fires
00:45 still smoldering. Well, more protests by farmers are planned today across Spain. Let's cross live now to our correspondent Guy Hedgecoe, who is in Madrid and following developments. Guy, welcome to you. So tell us what's planned for there in Spain
01:00 today and what the feeling is amongst those farmers there. Well, there are hundreds of farmers who are converging on Madrid today, many of them driving tractors into the center of the city. At the moment,
01:15 they're still on the outskirts of Madrid, but later in the morning they're going to be driving into the center of Madrid. They're going to stop off first of all at the Agriculture Ministry. Of course, the Agriculture Minister, Luis Planas, is in Brussels meeting with other ministers today and
01:30 then they will move on to the Spanish offices of the European Commission, because many of the grievances of these farmers are aimed at the European Union. And this, of course, is the second such protest in Madrid that we've seen in the
01:45 space of a week by farmers, but there have been protests as well, ongoing protests across the country as well. Yeah, Guy, we're just looking at those pictures from Brussels with those tires on fire.
02:00 With that meeting today of Agriculture ministers, riot police were seen facing off with protesters, very angry. And they've also used water cannon, which is quite unusual, isn't it? The strength of feeling across Europe is really
02:15 strong over this, isn't it? And they do appear to be quite united, these farmers. Yes, they are. And you know, many of these European farmers, they share the same grievances.
02:30 You know, there's a lot of talk about European Union farming regulations being too strict. So what they're pushing for is more flexibility from the European Union, for example, with regard to the
02:45 environmental regulations that are imposed on farmers and that the farmers say they push up costs. Those regulations increase red tape and that makes it very difficult for them just to do their job day-to-day because they're drowning in red tape. The costs are
03:00 pushed up and it makes it difficult for them to make a profit and have time to do their actual job. At the same time, they want tougher controls on products from outside the European Union, which they say are undercutting them because
03:15 they're not subject to the same kinds of controls. And is there a sense that there will be movement from ministers over these issues, do you think? Well, I mean, here in Spain, for example, the Agriculture
03:30 Minister Luis Planas has presented a series of measures to the farmers which he says he's taking to the European Commission today, and he's going to try and push for these changes, for example, with regard to simplifying some of the
03:45 bureaucracy. But those measures don't seem to have impressed Spanish farmers, at least. Now, we have seen a couple of weeks back, we saw some concessions already from Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, when she announced the withdrawal of a plan to
04:00 slash the use of pesticides in the European Union. So there have been some concessions already, but the protests have continued. So I think it's going to take some really strident, concrete measures from the ministers today or
04:15 pushing ahead from today to impress the farmers and diffuse this situation and get them off the streets. Okay, Guy in Madrid, thank you very much. Well, those really dramatic pictures in Brussels showing the scene there with a line of
04:30 riot police. They did deploy water cannon certainly earlier with those, you know, scenes of thick black smoke on the streets there and those lines of tractors that we can just see with farmers there
04:45 in a standoff. So we'll keep an eye on the situation in Brussels as those protests continue, as agriculture ministers from across Europe meet to discuss those grievances by farmers right across the continent. Stay with us
05:00 here on BBC News.
Warm-up
With a partner, take two minutes to brainstorm answers to the following question. Be prepared to share your ideas with the class.
"Name one non-voting way that citizens can influence government policy."
Tactics Matrix
When a group wants to achieve a political goal, they must choose their tactics carefully. Let's compare three common methods: protests, petitions, and official meetings. Read the table below. Which tactic do you think is most effective for making a big change? Which is the safest?
| Tactic | Description | Potential Outcomes | Risks & Challenges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Protest | A large group of people gather in a public place to show they disagree with something. This requires organizing people and sometimes getting a permit (official permission). |
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| Petition | A written document signed by many people that asks an authority to do something specific. It can be on paper or online. |
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| Official Meeting | A formal discussion between a group's representatives (a spokesperson) and a decision-maker (like a mayor or minister). |
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Role-Play Clinic: Making a Polite Request
Imagine you are meeting with an official. If you are too direct or demanding, they might not listen. If you are too weak, they might not take you seriously. The key is to be polite but firm. We can do this by using polite frames and "hedging" language.
Hedging is a way of softening your language to sound less direct, more polite, and open to discussion. It's very common in formal and professional English.
Language Focus: Polite Frames & Hedging
Instead of making a direct demand, we can frame our requests using polite questions and modal verbs. Compare these examples:
| Direct / Demanding | Polite & Hedged |
|---|---|
| We want a new bus stop here. | We were wondering if it would be possible to install a new bus stop here. |
| You need to lower the tuition fee. | We would like to discuss whether you might consider lowering the tuition fee. |
| Your plan is bad. A better idea is to... | We understand your position, but perhaps a better approach might be to... |
Here are some useful phrases for making polite requests and suggestions:
- Could we possibly discuss...?
- Would it be possible to...?
- We were wondering if you would consider...
- Perhaps we could look at an alternative solution.
- It seems like a good idea, but it might be better to...
- I understand the concern, and I was thinking that maybe we could...
Speaking Practice
Now, let's practice. Get into groups of three for a role-play.
Scenario: The university has announced plans to close the library on weekends to save money. Students are very unhappy.
Roles:
- 2 Student Representatives: Your goal is to convince the Dean to change the plan.
- 1 University Dean: Your goal is to reduce costs, but you are willing to listen.
Instructions:
The student representatives must make two polite requests and offer one compromise. Use the hedging phrases we just learned. The Dean should listen and respond to their points. Take about 5-7 minutes for your discussion.
Example opening:
Student Rep: Thank you for meeting with us, Dean. We wanted to talk about the recent announcement regarding library hours.
Dean: Of course. I understand there are some concerns.
Student Rep: Yes. We were wondering if it would be possible to reconsider closing the library completely on weekends. Many students rely on it for their studies.
After this lesson, you will use what you've learned to write a short proposal to an official, making a specific request using polite and hedging language.