How Do Vaccines Work & What are the Pros & Cons?

Posted on by Aaliyah Hughes

A vaccine is a type of medicine someone receives at different points in their life to prevent them from getting sick from a specific disease. Some vaccines are only done as a child such as chickenpox, polio, and the MMR which covers measles and mumps. Other vaccines such as the tetanus are given boosters every few years and some such as the flu shot are done every year. Diseases started around the 1600s so vaccines have been around for a long time. There are many pros and cons to vaccines but they also work in a way some people may not understand.

 

Diseases such as smallpox, polio, and measles have been around since the late 1600s and killed a record number of people. It wasn’t until the early 1800s though, until vaccines started to be studied and it took 1885 for real change to be made. After the rabies vaccine was created many more followed. The World Health Organization says that each virus contains a pathogen and your body makes antigens to defeat that specific pathogen. After the antigen is created, your body works with the immune system to destroy it completely. Vaccines contain a weakened version of an antigen so it prompts the immune system to fight the virus or disease. Some people are not able to be vaccinated so herd immunity helps those who can’t. Herd immunity is when such a large group of people are vaccinated, the pathogen struggles to infect anyone. This means that if five people can’t get vaccinated but fifty people can, those five people can be protected because of herd immunity.

 

Getting vaccinated has many benefits to not only people receiving them but the people around them as well. Research done by https://vaccines.procon.org/ shows ten pros to vaccines starting with how they save more than 2.5 million children each year. Since vaccines also come from organizations such as WHO, FDA, and the CDC, we can hope that they are reliable and all ingredients are safe. Herd immunity not only protects the people someone interacts with today but the vaccines people receive today also help future generations because they could eradicate any virus or disease completely. Vaccines are also beneficial to an individual and the overall economy. Getting vaccinated is cheaper than the potential cost of staying home sick, paying for medication, and doctor’s visits. The CDC also estimated that between 1994 and 2014 $1.38 trillion dollars were saved from providing benefits such as disability and early deaths because people got vaccinated.

 

Just like everything in the world, vaccinations also have some downsides. The CDC states that while it is a rare occurrence, vaccines can cause an allergic reaction, which can be life-threatening. According to research done by https://vaccines.procon.org/ some people, including doctors, also believe that certain ingredients can cause autism in children and that medical decisions such as getting vaccinated should be a personal choice. The same people also believe the organizations such as the CDC should not be trusted, and that vaccines are unnatural.

 

Vaccines have become a controversial topic over the past few years, especially with doctors supporting some claims that they should not be used. Vaccines have been around for centuries and new research is being done every day. They work by giving your body the ability by an advantage of having an antigen for the disease before someone contracts it. The best thing someone could do is do credible research and talk to their doctor about what options they have.

Biden’s $775 Billion Plan for US Caregiving

Posted on by Matt Di Sandro

Amidst the chaos of the pandemic, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden unveiled an extensive spending plan to address what he calls “a child care emergency.” With uncertainty about how to guard against infection and whether to even open up at all, caregiving facilities for both children and the elderly have certainly suffered as COVID rages on. Biden hopes to address this issue through a comprehensive but costly approach.

The Plan

As part of his broad economic recovery plan, Biden hopes to spend $775 billion in total to revitalize the caregiving economy over the course of ten years. In practice, the money would be used through state subsidies and tax credits for caregiving facilities. Although Biden’s plan certainly has relevance in bailing out a failing sector of the economy during the current COVID crisis, he hopes to aid the construction of new and upgraded facilities over the coming years.

Much of Biden’s plan is targeted at helping elderly and child care providers themselves. He hopes to enforce a higher federal minimum wage as well as higher state-level standards for those working at caregiving facilities. The plan mandates that caregivers and educators be provided up to 12 weeks of paid medical or family leave. Biden estimates the plan will create close to 3 million new education and caregiving jobs while simultaneously raising job standards.

A significant provision makes pre-kindergarten education and childcare universal for children ages 3 and 4. With a free child care option for very young children, families would foreseeably save thousands on child care and early education. Biden hopes to expand the Child Care and Development Block Grant, a fund designed to help low-income families provide their children with caregiving services. He would like to both lower the eligibility requirements for aid and expand its terms to provide for weekend, summer, and after-school services. In addition to universal access to pre-kindergarten care and education, Biden’s plan addresses logistical concerns about care facilities. In order to mitigate the possibility of commutes that are too long for parents, Biden has argued that the plan would involve a substantial increase in facility construction in many geographic areas. In some cases, the plan would support on-site caregiving facilities for working parents so children can be brought to work.

Furthermore, Biden’s plan allocates $450 billion to enhance the elderly caregiving. With about 800,000 senior citizens on the waitlist for care under Medicaid, funds would be dedicated to diminishing wait times. Biden has also been vocal in his desire to empower the elderly to make their own choices about caregiving. This means funding community service options that allow seniors to live at home independently. Biden has indicated that elderly caregiving services provided under his plan would include meals, rides to appointments, daycare programs, and making their house safer. All this is possible, he claims, simply by expanding upon an existing provision of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

What do the Republicans think?

His plan certainly sounds good: increasing access to care, reducing prices, maintaining quality, and providing parents’ as well as seniors’ with more choices. However, critics of the plan point out that these benefits come at a substantial cost. In response to Biden’s unveiling of his plan, the Trump campaign quickly retorted that the “unaffordable left-wing agenda gets more expensive by the day.” Biden is relying on raising the $775 billion necessary for his plan by increasing tax compliance among high earners as well as eliminating tax breaks for real estate investors who have incomes over $400,000.

For fiscal conservatives, the massive increase in spending and taxes is unacceptable. Biden’s spending plan for caregivers was unveiled shortly after his $2 trillion climate action proposal. Taken together, his ambitions reflect a desire to drastically reshape the economy through spending. Liberals advocate for this approach, citing the New Deal as evidence that spending can create jobs and effectively uplift the economy out of a recession. Conservatives are not so sure.

If Biden is to successfully fend off criticism from the Republicans, he must demonstrate that the value of his spending plan truly outweighs the cost. As the election approaches, the caregiving plan gives more insight into the plans and priorities of a potential Biden administration. Time will tell if the American people agree.

COVID-19: 10 million cases worldwide

Posted on by Jules Provins

This number has doubled in just over a month, with more than a million new infections in the last week. In China, the United States and Portugal, partial lockdown is taking place.

Ten million cases of the new coronavirus were officially diagnosed worldwide on Sunday 28 June, according to a count carried out by Agence France-Presse. Among these cases, 498,779 deaths have been recorded, particularly in Europe, the continent most affected (2,637,546 cases and 195,975 deaths), as well as in the United States (2,510,323 cases, including 125,539 deaths), the country most affected.

 

The number of reported cases worldwide has doubled since mid-May and more than one million new cases have been recorded in the last six days alone.  This compares with 94 days between the first case in China and the 1 million infections worldwide. The pandemic is now progressing fastest in Latin America, with more than 400 000 cases in the last seven days on the continent.

However, these figures reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the number of infected Americans has increased tenfold, to more than 20 million people, or 5 to 8 percent of the population.

In the United States, contagion is increasing in 30 of the 50 states, particularly in the largest and most populous states in the south and west: California, Texas and Florida.

Asia appears to be experiencing a resurgence in the number of daily cases, now driven by the sustained spread of the disease in India (528,859 cases, including 118,398 in the last seven days), Pakistan (202,955, 26,338 new cases) and Bangladesh (137,787, 25,481 new cases).

For the “first time in months”, Europe is experiencing an increase in the number of weekly cases, notably in eleven countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned, alerting about the capacity of health systems to cope with this rebound.

Russia reported 6 791 new cases of coronavirus infection on Sunday. The total number of infections now stands at 634 437, the third-highest in the world, behind the United States and Brazil.

Partial lockdown

These figures are prompting more and more countries or regions to decide on local reconfinement measures, such as Florida and Texas in the United States, the northern suburbs of Lisbon in Portugal, or two German cantons (whose “rapid” reaction was welcomed by the Director of the WHO Europe Branch, Hans Kluge).

On Sunday, China announced the confinement of nearly half a million people near the capital, Beijing, affected since mid-June by a Covid-19 bounce that the authorities still describe as “serious and complex”. The Asian country has largely contained the epidemic, but the emergence of some three hundred new cases in the city in the space of just over two weeks is fuelling fears of a second wave. The outbreak was detected in Xinfadi, a wholesale market in the south of the city that supplies most of the capital’s supermarkets and restaurants with fresh produce.

 

 

How Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter will Affect the 2020 Presidential Election

Posted on by Claudia Morales

The country has experienced a rocky start to the year with the pandemic and is currently dealing with massive protests and riots regarding racial inequality. These two events are among several other factors that will influence the presidential election of 2020.

The COVID-19 Pandemic

When COVID-19 was officially confirmed to have reached the U.S in January, the virus gradually began taking a toll on the country. President Trump then implemented social restrictions in March and people’s daily routine became disrupted as the new norm of daily life emerged. Social distancing is being practiced nationwide. As a result businesses across the nation closed temporarily, while others permanently closed, and schools transferred to an online system. As the virus started spreading the economy began to dwindle. Many companies and businesses hit a financial crisis. Therefore, the loss of revenue has led to the furlough and reduced hours of employees. According to The Daily Wire, the employment rate in the U.S dropped 13.3% for the month of May. In addition, the stock market has fallen, oil prices have crashed, and traveling has significantly decreased since travel bans have been placed globally.

However, after several months of practicing social distancing many states are now reopening under the direction of President Trump. The CDC is also providing guidelines on how to safely do so. The race for a vaccine continues and there is pending hope that a vaccine might be developed and ready to be distributed to the public by the end of this year.

The Black Lives Matter Movement

On March 25th, the death of an unarmed black man named George Floyd sparked the nation in an outrage. A police officer was taking him into custody and eventually kneeled on his neck to detain him, but Floyd stopped breathing. Hundreds and thousands of individuals are now protesting for him, equality, and against police brutality. The Black Lives Matter movement has resurfaced since 2014. States like Minnesota, California, New York, and Pennsylvania are currently grasping the media’s attention as protests are becoming violent and resulting in riots. Many states are now implementing curfews to attempt to maintain civilians safe and prevent riots from reoccurring. Since March 25th, CNBC reported that there have been over 100 protests, rallies, and vigils, and hundreds of protesters have been arrested.

The Presidential Election of 2020

The presidential election will be proceeding in the fall, but how will these external factors play a role in voting? Currently, the presidential nominees are not able to campaign as before due to the risk of contracting the virus when meeting hundreds of people. There is also still uncertainty regarding how voting will be conducted. The effects of the virus are already being witnessed as the primaries are resulting in challenges for those overseas to vote or even cancelled party fund-raisers. Furthermore, how the president has responded to the pandemic is up for debate while some praise him and others critique him. Former President Obama publicly criticized Trump’s administration while participating in virtual graduation speeches for high school students. He expressed how Trump’s administration has been mishandling the pandemic. On the other hand, as Trump encourages governors and states to reopen during the pandemic, he received support from protesters demanding that the economy open again.

Moreover, the Black Lives Matter movement is influencing the presidential candidates and how they will respond to racial inequality. President Trump recently mentioned how he is an ally of peaceful protesters and explained how George Floyd’s death is tragic. Joe Biden visited a Black Lives Matter Protests site where he delivered a speech in support of the movement. According to the Politician Compare, the poll ranking of Trump and Biden display a gap. Biden is leading with a poll ranking of 47% compared to Trump who is at 44%. Only time will tell how the pandemic and the movement will affect the presidential election this year.

Who Needs The WHO (World Health Organization)?

Posted on by Ben Carron

In another instance of what has been a trend during his presidency, President Trump announced last week that the United States would be terminating its relationship, and therefore its funding, of another international organization, this time the World Health Organization. Trump announced on April 15 that  “the WHO failed in its basic duty and must be held accountable” for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and that the United States would be leaving the organization. On May 29, Trump officially announced the end of US ties with the organization. This announcement comes during the middle of a global pandemic as not just the United States, but the entire globe struggles to deal with the effects of COVID-19, the virus which has already killed more than 376 thousand people worldwide.

The president’s announcement came as a result of what he considered failing to do enough to stop the spread of the virus when it first appeared in China, and from Chinese pressure on the WHO to mislead the world regarding the COVID-19 virus and its spread.

What is the WHO?

The World Health Organization is an agency of the United Nations responsible for public health. The organization was designed to allow coordination between member states on issues related to international health policy. Individual members of the United Nations make voluntary contributions to fund the organization with the majority of funding coming from the United States, who contributed over $800 million to the organization during the 2018-2019 cycle, more than twice that of the next largest contributor, the United Kingdom.

Trump’s Issues with the WHO

Not the first time the president has spoken out regarding an international organization and what he sees  as the United States being taken advantage of, Trump has expressed several issues with the WHO including:

  • Not holding China accountable for what seems to be inaccurate COVID-19 case counts, deaths, and the extent of the spread of the disease within China
  • Refusing to share accurate and timely data, viral samples and isolates, withholding vital information about the virus and its origins
  • Increased influence from China on the world stage and their increased ability to influence the WHO
  • Concerns about WHO officials’ praise of Chinese “transparency”
  • WHO ignoring warnings about the virus from Taiwan
  • WHO repeating claims by Chinese officials that COVID-19 can not be spread from person-to-person
  • Opposition from WHO officials on Trump’s travel ban on China

Critics of the organization have noted that more powerful countries with larger contributions are able to hold sway over the organization in ways that other countries may not be able to. Trump’s call to remove the US from the WHO as a result of China’s increased influence over the organization is reminiscent of the Soviet Union’s own decision to leave the organization during a period of the Cold War as a result of what it saw as too much influence by the United States. Still, the president’s announcement to leave during the time of a global pandemic has drawn criticism from many who see the move as endangering the WHO’s ability to support global efforts to work towards developing a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus.

Trump alleges that “Chinese officials ignored their reporting obligations to the World Health Organization and pressured the World Health Organization to mislead the world when the virus was first discovered by Chinese authorities.” Among Trump’s complaints is the slow response of the organization in the early days and their reliance on the Chinese government’s figures regarding the virus, figures that many authorities have questioned, not just Trump.

A WHO Without the USA

Trump’s call to end the United States’ involvement with the WHO has received both support and criticism from many inside the US and out. Among those supporting his decision are North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. Cramer stated that he is “glad our taxpayer dollars will now be used for other global health efforts,” and Graham called cutting off funding at this time “the right move.”

Among those who have expressed issues with the president’s decision are West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin III and Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander. Manchin has expressed his opposition to the president’s decision by calling the move “reckless”, but barring any opposition, Trump is committed to carrying out his plan. The US is the only member state that can legally withdraw from the WHO, and their exit prompts many questions as to how the WHO and its remaining member countries will respond and react. The US contribution to the WHO makes up approximately 14% of its total contributions, a significant chunk, and one that allows great influence over the organization. At this time, it is unsure whether the other member countries will increase the amount of their contributions to make up for the loss, or if the organization will continue on underfunded compared to what it is used to.

How This Could Affects The US

The US risks a huge loss in global influence with regards to health research and policy by leaving. As the largest contributor, the US holds great ability to influence and lead the organization, and leaving would forfeit much of that influence on the world stage. The loss of that influence undercuts the WHO’s ability to combat the virus and work towards developing a vaccine as quickly as possible.

Pulling out of the WHO due to criticism of Chinese influence may prove to be counterproductive for the US as the loss of the US in the organization will only create a vacuum that will be filled by even greater Chinese influence over the organization and global health policy. Rather than be at the forefront of global health policy, the US will see itself become a spectator to China’s rise.

Supporters of the move see this as an opportunity for the US to have greater control over where taxpayer money goes when it is applied to global health organizations. It can do this while eschewing the bureaucracy and red tape that comes from dealing with a large international organization such as the WHO and its increasing Chinese influence. The US can directly provide funding to hospitals, NGOs and other organizations dedicated to global health such as Doctors Without Borders or the Red Cross. Time will tell in what ways this decision by the president will affect the US, but the world will continue on in whatever way possible to develop a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus.

 

 

Utah is Opening as COVID Cases Rise

Posted on by Connor Haugen

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert announced that Utah is ready to move on to the next phases of reopening. With a new color coded system that many states are taking into practice, every county except Grand is in the yellow or low risk phase. This means many small businesses will be reopening, but that still doesn’t take away the tension of social distancing.

Utah COVID-19 Reopening Guidelines,

A more detailed list can be found at the bottom of this article.

Still Trying to Iron the Wrinkles

The most recent counts still reach the hundreds in terms of confirmed COVID cases. The number of people being tested has also declined, but the number of testing positive has not. Lifting restrictions also means dissipating caution on the public’s part. From raiding all the toilet paper to no longer following social distancing guidelines, the public is the largest risk factor.

“I would like to express my gratitude to all who are taking these recommendations seriously, and stress that following these guidelines is crucial to ensuring the safety and health of us all,” Said Gov. Gary Herbert.

We are still flattening the curve, and during these times there will be spikes in cases just like the Spanish Flu. Businesses can’t stay closed forever though, and with the virus still out there a middle ground needs to be made. Businesses can operate, but only under strict guidelines.

“All of our employees are checking their temps before shifts, wearing gloves and masks. We provide sanitizer to guests and ask they use it before visiting. Surfaces and handles etc. are sanitized often,” Said Lisa Boone, the owner of Tinkers Cat Cafe. This business not only deals with people but live animals as well. People can spend time in a cat lounge playing and petting cats.

Many business like Tinker encourage those not eating or drinking wear a mask. With the 6 foot restriction as well this can limit how many can enter the business. Asa Ramen, a local Orem hotspot, used to fit 40 in its dining room. They can now have only 20 at a time according to Savannah, a server at the restaurant. 

Some are still holding pick-up and deliver like J-Dawgs, Zupas, or Tsunami Sushi. Other dine in chains like Chilis or Applebees opened their dining rooms right on May 5th.

The New Normal

Though we are moving down a color, many of the guidelines are similar to orange status with a few exceptions. Gathers allowed up to 50 instead of the 20 and home restrictions are being lifted as well according to Phased Health Guidelines. These plans are all a part of the Utah Leads together III plan. The final colored Phase, green, called the “New Normal” lifts all restrictions, including most hygiene regulations except for sanitizing high touch areas or precautions for high risk individuals.

At the point of the “New Normal” hygiene and precautions will be left to the individual. The papers do state that hygiene restrictions will be tightened for business and that monitoring of employees and customers be a regular procedure. But at this point masks will no longer be required by the general public and at risk individuals look like regular people.

Detailed List of Restrictions

High Risk Restrictions

  • General public and employers take extreme precautions
  • Face coverings worn in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain
  • Follow strict hygiene standards, including:
  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Use hand sanitizer frequently
  • Avoid touching your face
  • Cover the mouth when coughing or sneezing
  • Regularly clean high-touch surfaces
  • Follow any other standards promulgated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Utah Department of Health, and local health department
  • Do not shake hands
  • In-person interactions limited to individual households; Interactions in groups of 10 or fewer
  • Increase virtual interactions
  • stay 6 feet away from others when outside the home
  • Regularly disinfect high-touch areas
  • Give sick family members their own room if possible and keep the door closed
  • Have only one family member care for the sick individual
  • Schools closed
  • Employees and volunteers of businesses operate remotely, unless not possible

Moderate Risk Restrictions

General public and employers take extreme precautions

  • Face coverings worn in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain
  • Follow strict hygiene standards, including:
  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Use hand sanitizer frequently
  • Avoid touching your face
  • Cover the mouth when coughing or sneezing
  • Regularly clean high-touch surfaces
  • Follow any other standards promulgated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Utah Department of Health, and local health department
  • Do not shake hands
  • In-person interactions in decreased group sizes that enable all social distancing guidelines to be maintained; social interactions in groups of 20 or fewer
  • Increase virtual interactions
  • Leave home infrequently, stay 6 feet away from others when outside the home
  • Regularly disinfect high-touch areas
  • Give sick family members their own room if possible and keep the door closed
  • Have only one family member care for the sick individual
  • Schools closed
  • Employees and volunteers of businesses operate remotely, unless not possible

Low Risk Restrictions

General public and employers take reasonable precautions

  • Face coverings worn in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain
  • Follow strict hygiene standards, including:
  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Use hand sanitizer frequently
  • Avoid touching your face
  • Cover coughs or sneezes
  • Regularly clean high-touch surfaces
  • Follow any other standards promulgated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Utah Department of Health, and local health department
  • Do not shake hands • In-person interactions in decreased group sizes that enable all social distancing guidelines to be maintained; social interactions in groups 50 or fewer
  • Maintain social distancing when in public settings
  • Regularly disinfect high-touch areas
  • Give sick family members their own room if possible and keep the door closed
  • Have only one family member care for the sick individual
  • All businesses operational if they can meet and adhere to all related guidelines

New Normal

  • General public and employers take reasonable precautions
  • All businesses operating
  • Schools are open
  • Traveling restrictions mostly lifted, self-monitor symptoms 14 days upon return; avoid areas of high transmission
  • Regularly disinfect high-touch areas

 

 

 

The Effects of Protests in the Modern Era

Posted on by Claudia Morales

For centuries around the globe individuals have become united in vocalizing the need for a change from the government. These individuals proceed in this manner throughout history with the hope that the protests will change their government, law, society, or culture.

Protests in the Modern Era

The First Amendment grants Americans the right to assemble and petition the government for a redress of issues. From the Boston Tea Party in the 1700s to the protests against the involvement of the U.S. in the Iraq War in 2003, protests play a critical role in the eyes of citizens as a means to increase awareness of an issue and conduct change. In 2012 George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin while he was on the clock as a neighborhood watch volunteer.  As Martin walked out of a 7/11 store Zimmerman followed him due to his suspicious behaviors. Although the rest remains unclear as to what actually happened that night, Zimmerman claims to have shot Martin in self-defense and was acquitted of all charges. This particular case, along with many others that involved the fatal shooting of unarmed black men, ushered a movement called Black Lives Matter.

Furthermore, when President Trump entered office millions gathered to march for female empowerment in the Women’s March. This “Was said to be the largest single day demonstration in the history of the U.S,” according to The New Yorker. There were many reasons for the historical march which included concerns about abortion, health care, diversity, and climate change.

Another protest that grasps the country’s attention is the March for Life, annually held in Washington, D.C. usually in January, around the same time that the Supreme Court case of Roe v. Wade was held. Thousands gather to rally against the practice of abortion in support of the Pro-Life movement which claims that the fetus is alive and human life begins at conception. Supporters contend that the life of unborn children should be protected.Overall there are many reasons for the historical marches which included concerns about abortion, health care, diversity, and climate change.

Recently, since the pandemic severely struck the U.S. in 2020, social distancing was implemented. These restrictions sparked protests from individuals concerned with the economy and personal financial situations. On the other hand, nurses and other health care workers participated in silent protests against the anti-restrictions protesters to remind everyone the seriousness of the situation and the importance of practicing those restrictions.

The Effect of Protests on the Government

The ability for protesters to gather around due to a political, sociological or cultural problem shines light on their concerns and seriousness for that issue. There is a certain effectiveness in an organized protest. When  protests directly affect the government it can raise alarms for them and sometimes even cause damage, but despite the consequences it is still not enough sometimes. Take the case of what occurred in Hong Kong when protesters, demanding the elimination of a new bill that allows extradition to mainland China, disrupted one of the busiest airports in the world. The Hong Kong airport had to reschedule and cancel many flights. This caused a domino effect and led to further actions like protests at universities regarding the bill. Even though “The bill was finally withdrawn . . .  protesters said this was ‘too little, too late,’’ according to the BBC. They continue to protest for five specific demands and the clash between them and the police has only escalated.

The Effect of Protests on Citizens

The action of protesting can influence individuals across the nation and globe. When analyzing the collapse of the East bloc during the 80s and the revolutions that began in the 2000s to the Arab Springs protests, it can be inferred that they had an effect on one another. These countries had a “Contagion effect” which led to citizens imitating the actions of other protesters, according to The World. Several economists from Harvard University and Stockholm University evaluated and concluded that protesters do have a salient influence on politics. They found that the answer lies within the effect that the protests have on the protesters themselves. Protesters become politically activated and motivated to bring about change, according to Quartz. This can be attributed to how there can be an effect on voting, political contributions, ideology, and participation in the movement.