In the face of government restrictions destroying small businesses worldwide, restauranteurs and hoteliers are fighting for their livelihoods.
Although many people are feeling discouraged after months of lockdowns, police intimidation and economic devastation, there are bright spots around the world - proving civil disobedience is a powerful force when people unite.
Poland
Restaurants, hotels, and ski-slopes in southern Poland reopened on Jan 18 in defiance of government lockdown restrictions.
A map of businesses in Poland opening up is now available.
"The entrepreneurs are this determined because they realise they won't survive another month -- so they have no choice," said the business owner and spokesman Sebastian Piton, who has called coronavirus a "minor, pleasant illness".
From a story produced by AFP.com.
Italy
On Jan 15, an estimated 50,000 restaurants opened in Italy in an act of mass civil disobedience against lockdown measures. Lockdown has been devastating for the restaurant business, many of which are family owned.
Spreading through social media under the hashtag #IoOpro (“I am opening”), the movement is largest country-wide act of civil disobedience since lockdowns began.
The “I am Open” protest is spreading across Europe as well, with variants already taking hold in German-speaking Switzerland (#Wirmachenauf) and Poland (#OtwieraMY).
Quote from off-guardian.org with the title "I Am Open”: 50,000 Italian Restaurant Owners Plan to Ignore Lockdown".
Mexico
Up to 500 restaurants in Mexico City re-opened on Jan 11 in defiance of government lockdown orders.
"We're so desperate that we're opening, because if not - the option they gave us is death," said Giulliano Lopresti, owner of the Quebracho restaurant in the Cuauhtemoc district.
Quote from thejakartapost.com with the title "Mexico City restaurants defy COVID-19 shutdown - World"