Archive | January, 2011

Hope is a powerful feeling, it is contagious, and it tends to increase geometrically.  And hope is exactly what Tunisia gave our Arab people everywhere.  Tunisia the land of the revolution where today three martyrs fell in the Kasbah, is still the inspiration of a whole Nation.  Our great dormant nation, from Rabat to Baghdad. […]

Mohammed Ezzeldin: We have two main scenarios now regarding the relation between the people and the army.  We have the Tunisian scenario.  There’s a division in the ruling elites, there is division in the regime, so the army will be neutral: the tanks and soldiers and officers in the streets, they are just maintaining the […]

Imports fell at a 13.6 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter, contributing 2.4 percentage points to the 3.2 percent growth rate for the quarter.  The replacement of foreign-produced goods by domestically produced goods was the largest factor propelling growth in the quarter.  Consumption of durable goods, led by a surge in new car purchases, […]

Ahmad Shokr: Well, the scenes right now are quite remarkable. Literally, tens of thousands are taking to the streets amidst a huge security presence. I’m standing in front of a demonstration of at least a few thousand people who have taken over one of the main bridges in Cairo, calling for the ouster of Hosni Mubarak’s regime. They have raised their hands, stating that they’re peaceful protesters, but have been met by a shower of rubber bullets and tear gas.

  Introduction by Analytical Monthly Review There have been moments when an event catches the public eye, and suddenly illuminates a process of decay and disintegration that has been proceeding in the background, slowly, step-by-step.  The outrage and national attention focused on the conviction of, and imposition of life sentence on, Dr. Binayak Sen for […]

  Carlos Latuff is a Brazilian cartoonist.   See, also, <twitter.com/3arabawy/status/30662957587234817> and <twitter.com/3arabawy/statuses/30747797716209664>. | Print  

  Carlos Latuff is a Brazilian cartoonist.   See, also, <twitter.com/3arabawy/status/30662957587234817> and <twitter.com/3arabawy/statuses/30747797716209664>. | Print  

1.  The change in the composition of the Tunisian government ousting RCD ministers seems to have satisfied the UGTT.  This is a sign that the protest now will be weakened.  The protest was gathering sympathy again with an ever recurring discussion on regionalism and regional identity.  The people are aware and they are pushing their […]

“The presidential armed guard units, through the streets, headed towards the national television station, the state-run television station.  A bit of a confusing picture there in Cairo, because we are seeing protesters cheering the presidential guard, happy that these troops are arriving.” This video was uploaded to YouTube on 28 January 2011.  The text above […]

After his January 12 address at the University of Tucson, Arizona, on the massacre that had took place four days earlier, people awaited with interest for the US president’s speech on the same topic. Six people died and fourteen were injured, including young Democratic congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was elected to the United States Congress […]

Dear Friends, As we celebrate 61 years of India becoming a Socialist Democratic Republic we are shocked to witness that the spirit of our Constitution stands violated every so often today, sacrificing people’s democratic rights and throttling the socialist dream of our Constitution makers. Speaking out against the conviction and incarceration of Dr. Binayak Sen’s […]

It is commonly said that “an investment in gold represents an investment in fear.”  Indeed, reports that recently deposed Tunisian leader Zine Ben Ali absconded with 1.5 tons of gold bars from that country’s central bank would seem to highlight the truth of this maxim.  Here in Egypt, it was reported two days ago in […]

Anger over unemployment and poverty continue driving people to protest.  So far six people have died, and many more injured.  Hundreds have been arrested, even journalists since Tuesday. . . .  All eyes are on Friday, when various organizations are calling for the largest demonstration yet. This video was released by Daily News Egypt on […]

Get lost, Mubarak!  Saudi Airlines is waiting for you! Carlos Latuff is a Brazilian cartoonist.  See, also, Carlos Latuff, “Egypt: Jan25” (MRZine, 24 January 2011); Carlos Latuff, “#Jan25: The Egyptian People Scores a Goal against Mubarak” (MRZine, 26 January 2011). | Print

J27: No to the Bonfire of Pensions! Let them pay for the crisis themselves! Juan Kalvellido is a Spanish cartoonist.  Translation by Yoshie Furuhashi (@yoshiefuruhashi | yoshie.furuhashi [at] gmail.com).  Cf. LibreRed, “Contra el ‘pensionazo’” (22 January 2011); “Spain’s cabinet is expected to approve a pension reforms bill on Friday in another step to show investors […]

Egypt’s revolution is still cooking, but not boiling yet.  Today the people took to the streets in a fragmented way, after the police heavy-handedly dispersed the crowd yesterday. In Cairo one demonstrator and one police officer died today in the clashes.  That gives an idea of the level of protest; the government is denying this, […]

كن مع الثورة Mohamed Gaber is a graphic designer and photographer in Cairo, Egypt.  Check out his blog at .  Gaber has created and published 13 other revolutionary posters for the ongoing mobilization in Egypt, under a Creative Commons license and downloadable at . | Print

On 26 January 2011, Fars News, a semi-official news agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran, reported that Antonio Cassese, the president of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (commonly called “Hariri Tribunal”), was a legal adviser to a powerful committee to de-list Mojahedin-e Khalq (“People’s Mojahedin of Iran,” aka MEK, MKO, and PMOI) from the […]

In his State of the Union address, President Obama insisted on the need to protect Social Security and ensure that future generations can depend on it.  Nevertheless, it appears that some in Congress are considering major changes to the program.  Unfortunately, many people do not understand the program’s solvency or the likely importance that it […]

Yasmine, 22, recently graduated from Cairo University.  She plans to work in law and currently interns at the Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance (CEWLA).  She deems herself an activist, but really, she says, she’s “just an Egyptian with a vision.” Imbaba, Cairo, Thursday, January 27 Yasmine: I love the idea of going to the […]