Most of us live in countries with
a democratic government.
We rely on it to run the country,
and make the right decisions.
But what if the government changed?
And the next thing you know,
you're living under the rule
of a dictatorship.
Your life could change dramatically.
What would be different?
First, let's make sure we know
the difference between a dictatorship
and a democracy.
In a democracy, citizens vote
for the people they want to lead.
This happens in countries like
the United States and the United Kingdom.
A dictatorship is very different.
One person, or a small group of people,
has absolute power over a nation.
Two infamous names come to mind
from the last century,
Hitler and Mussolini.
They both used ideology and terror
to control their people.
If this were to happen to you
and your country, it begs the questions.
If you think your country
could be falling into a dictatorship,
make sure you speak up.
You'll be running out of time.
History shows that dictatorships
can take over in a snap.
Dictatorships use propaganda.
In recent years, we know it as fake news.
What it is, it's called fake news.
Don't believe everything you see
or hear in the media.
Newspapers, TV, and the internet
can all be controlled by dictatorships.
So think critically and logically.
Being skeptical can help you
assess the information you hear.
And being self-aware is crucial to
keeping a balanced view
of what is going on.
If a dictatorship rules your country,
you don't know who you can trust.
Your neighbor, your best friend,
or even your family could be against you.
Anyone could be a spy,
so be careful what you say to everyone.
If you disagree with the dictatorship,
you'll never know who might be
listening in on your conversations.
People who stand out from the crowd
by expressing their views
will be the first to disappear.
To survive, let people know you
do not oppose the dictatorship.
Fall into line and follow the rules.
Take extra care if you are
part of a minority group,
and we're not just talking about race.
Any minority group could be targeted.
Your religious views, sexual orientation,
and other factors could be a
target of persecution.
This is a big step to take.
You would be leaving your home,
maybe your family,
and everything you know.
But this could be your only option
to escape from a dictatorship.
If you're lucky, neighboring countries
will accept refugees.
If they don't, escaping could be
just as risky as staying in your country.
In recent times, there have been
stories of people fleeing North Korea.
Every year 1,000 people escape
from the country in search of a better life.
Maybe the most important thing
you can do under a dictatorship
is to hold on to hope.
If you lose hope, the other steps
you took to survive could be for nothing.
Losing hope could be devastating.
If you have a family,
they will rely on you to stay strong.
Even if you cannot fight
or oppose the dictatorship, be hopeful,
knowing that someone is fighting
and you are not alone.
Celebrate little things
to keep your spirits up.
Your culture and traditions are important,
so don't forget who you are.
You never know what will happen.
The dictatorship could be toppled
as quickly as it took power.
We need to make it clear
that the likelihood of a dictatorship
happening in most places in the world
is unlikely.
In recent times, countries like
the U.S. and India have shown signs
and ideology associated with dictatorships,
but in reality it would be very
unlikely to happen.
The one thing we do know from history
is that dictatorships always
bring about persecution
and deaths of millions of people.
But even through all the terror,
hope and love always seem to prevail.
If you found this episode intriguing,
humanity and Earth are at stake
on How to Survive an Alien Invasion.
Check it out, and more,