Egypt

Arab tourists in Egypt in June 2011 same as 2010: Ahram Online

The number of Arab tourists visiting Egypt during the first three weeks of June 2011 reached 124,000; approximately the same as June 2010, Egypt’s tourism minister, Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, told Ahram Online in an exclusive interview.

Abdel Nour noted that the June 2011 tourism figures are promising and surely better than expected, as the total number of tourists visiting Egypt declined by less than 30 per cent below 2010 figures.

via english.ahram.org.eg

Who pulled the first punch? Conflicting accounts of the Martyrs’ Day of Rage in Tahrir - Egypt - Ahram Online

Ahram Online recounts the conflicting stories of what transpired on 28 June, when the police violently clashed with protesters in Tahrir Square and the streets surrounding the ministry of interior

via english.ahram.org.eg

It’s a lose-lose situation—the battle of June 28

No one wins this round, I’m sorry. Everyone loses. The protestors lose; the army loses; the families of those murdered lose; the police force loses; but most of all, Egypt as a whole loses.

Did you think that one group was going to win over the other in this out-of-nowhere act of defiance from one side, and supreme act of control from the other? Never in a million years.

Besides, everyone erred, so how can anyone win? This time round no one is free of blame and everyone is at fault. And this is the biggest mistake that everyone is making: believing that one side can win, or only one side is at fault, when all of the parties are Egyptian. Today, the saying to “cut off your nose to spite your face,” applies.

Take the forces; yes, protect the Ministry of Interior; protect the Balon Theatre, but don’t go after the protestors with extensive tear gas in the Square. The fact that the Minister of Interior had called his men off and asked them to leave the square and simply protect the ministry is a sign that they shouldn’t have been there all along.

Now take the protestors; why are they attacking the Ministry of Interior exactly? Do they honestly think they can barge into the most secure establishment in Egypt and get away with it? In which civilized country would they be allowed to do so or do they think that democracy is free-for-all lawlessness? And why did they bring Molotov explosives to the Square if it is totally peaceful?

Now take the passersby; videos show thousands of watchers, roaming the streets at 2 a.m. They are neither participating nor caring very much. While the rock flinging, Molotov throwing, and body carrying are taking place, these were milling around using their phones to snap shots and videos. It is as though these people are aimless and have no jobs to go to the next morning.

Still with the passersby, I’m tempted to say that their being in Tahrir is related to the fact that schools and universities are out. What to do? Let’s join the Tahrir group. Oops! Sorry, I shouldn’t be so nonchalant about things. I must continue to praise everyone in Tahrir or else I’ll become blacklisted. However, I’m actually so dismayed that I’m willing to risk being labeled as such.

And finally take the tweeters; Buthaina Kamel, the presidential candidate, tweets in Arabic, I’m assuming from the Square, “Oh, my God! Poisonous gas?  You mean not only tear gas but poisonous gas too, or what?” My response was, “If it is not poisonous gas, then you are propagating lies. Don't entice. Instead ask them to calm down.” No one realizes that such a simple tweet can create a downpour of venom on the forces. She of all people should not spread rumours until she is absolutely sure of the source and its validity. And even if she was sure, she has to think of the consequence of every word. This is how a president thinks.

 And the reality is that Egyptians are becoming numb to events. This is the normal sequence to too much of the same. I asked a friend a few days back, before these commotions, if things were ok in Cairo, and she said that everything was fine. “So what about the protests in this area? or how about the incident in that area?” I say rather surprised, and to this she responded, “These incidences happen all the time, but we don’t care about them anymore. We’ve grown accustomed to all this.” Hence, to the real revolutionists not the passersby, Egyptians are getting tired. Choose your battles and prioritize.

Rights are so important; they are the essence of our lives and beings. And you can protest to your heart’s content. However, after the postponement of El Adly’s trial, when the families of those killed in Tahrir threw rocks at police vehicles, smashing windscreens, and injuring police officers and guards, they were no better than those who murdered their own children. Had a vehicle stalled, every single person in that car would have died an appalling death.

I wonder if the revolutionists or the system would have accused these families of mean spiritedness that deserves trials.  Those police drivers and guards don’t represent El Adly; when one is injured or maimed, a family is as saddened and as distraught as those who lost loved ones in El Tahrir. I understand their pain, but I don’t want any more suffering especially by those simply performing their duties. Everyone must think before reacting blindly.

It’s time that Egyptians understand what they are risking and the end result of all their actions. God save Egypt from the blind, the self-destructive, and the ignorant.

 

 

Ideas are a dime a dozen: it is what you do with them that counts

I write when I am alarmed or frustrated; I also write when I am enticed or enthused. Surprisingly, in the last two weeks, I haven’t been moved into expressing my thoughts, which made me wonder if Egypt is finally moving towards the right path.  

And it may be so; hence my not finding much to write about, but more importantly people are starting to redirect their attention from the protests and yesterdays, which was my original worry, to the beleaguering social issues, and high time, too. So, when I watched a TV program that boosted my belief in the goodness of Egyptians, I decided that this is definitely worth writing about.

The program had three leading spears directing the discussion: Amr Khalid of For a Better Tomorrow , Amr El Leithi of One of the Public, and the actors/activists Mohammed Sobhy and Hanan Turk. The purpose of this group is to improve the current situation in a few chosen informal settlements—a noble and not easily attainable cause. They are out to raise donations and awareness, and to mobilize many factions in the society to actually make a difference in informal (squatter) communities in Egypt.

Let’s first understand what informal settlements are. They are densely populated areas, mostly shacks and squalors, that were inhabited haphazardly and built with no infrastructure—no sewage, no clean water, no electricity, no schools, no garbage collection, and no planning whatsoever. About 22% of Egyptians live in these informal settlements. It goes without saying that residents make meager wages, if any, and fall under the poverty line.

In these mega slums the residents took it upon themselves to erect dwellings on land which they don’t own, without the consent of the government and with no inspection or approval. They had to live somewhere though and since the government did not provide the necessary shelter, they went ahead and chaotically sheltered themselves.  And no one cared enough to intervene or consider their issues. Still, it is with shame that most Egyptians look upon this huge thus-far unsolvable disaster.

Since social injustice breeds violence, these slums had become the epitome of degradation and the factory that corrodes society as a whole. Having lived in humiliation and deprivation, with no education, no training, and no values to boost morals, many slum residents end on the street pillaging, begging, and swindling. It is a totally unjust vicious cycle.

Prior to this project none of the previous efforts gained the same momentum. Many NGO’s and charities had tried working in these areas but were not truly successful, or at least they couldn’t create the following.  But if this campaign succeeds, the benefits will be monumental. The first benefit is obvious: to provide relief, assistance, and a level of self respect to a portion of 22% of Egyptians—an astounding feat. The second benefit is to close the gap between those living in formal (serviced) communities and those who live in informal ones. The third is to create empathy towards a huge segment of the population, which has been marginalized for years. Fourth, by improving the living standards of these people, the whole society will gain: less crime, fewer thugs, and a safer environment in urban societies.

So far, this united force is gaining momentum. The armed forces has promised assistance and will have its engineers and architects build the planned homes; thousands of youths are dedicating their time and energy not only to educate the younger generation and the residents in general but also to make them aware of their rights and how they can play a part in society. And donations are flooding in.  

We all have ideas but never act upon them, or never see them to fruition; however, to continue to work on an idea until it blossoms into a reality is a true accomplishment. Again this is the work of the revolution—it has given people like Mohammed Sobhy and Amr Khalid the purpose to establish such a project and the stamina to see it to fulfillment.

I can see that the project is indeed moving in the right path and will definitely play a role in the livelihoods of thousands of poverty stricken and helpless Egyptians.

Once such a program succeeds, dozens more will follow. And if at one point these informal settlements become livable, only livable mind you not more, Egypt will definitely become a better place.   

I applaud such initiatives and await the day when similar programs are implemented in all Egypt. Once more kudos to the revolution.

 

Egypt activists threaten 'million-strong' protest to stop Islamists winning power The Guardian

Egyptian activists have threatened to bring mass pro-democracy protests back to Cairo, with a "million-strong" occupation of Tahrir Square planned for 8 July unless the ruling army generals abandon their current "roadmap" to democracy.

In an increasingly rancorous debate, which has developed into a proxy war between the nation's fledgling Islamist and secular political forces, 40 different liberal and leftist movements have joined forces to demand that plans to hold elections in September are dropped.

via www.guardian.co.uk

Martyrs' families and activists join homeless families at their sit-in outside Maspero today - Ahram Online

Ok, martyrs' families, activists, and homeless families--all accepted, but those demanding the sale of live chickens, too. Heavens!

Hundreds of activists have started pouring into the Maspero area as the security forces, both the army and the police, have started to cordon off streets in the vicinity.

The activists plan to camp-out today in solidarity with residents of El-Salam, El-Nahda and  El-Dowiqah outside the state TV building demanding housing.

Families of the revolution martyrs also joined the sit-in.  Interestingly, trucks of chicken farmers parked in front of maspero, and dozens of vendoes are protesting laws banning sale of live chicken.

via english.ahram.org.eg

Five months after Egypt's revolution, investors remain 'cautiously optimistic' - Ahram Online

Quoted the vital part, but read the whole article. Quite interesting.

Helal agrees. "The air needs to be clear regarding the private sector. Those being tried for misconduct should be treated on a case-by-case basis, not as a national sport." He also believes that supporting the private sector is aligned with what the masses want. "Jobs cannot be created with a shrinking economy. And you cannot appease the masses and address their needs by half solutions such as promising money when you do not have it. The answer to a better future is job creation and a better distribution of wealth," he said.

via english.ahram.org.eg

 

Manufacturing xenophobia - Ahram Online

Two seemingly disparate incidents set me wondering about the dividing lines between academic research, espionage and xenophobia: the arrest in Cairo of a suspected Israeli spy; and the revelation that the Damascus lesbian blogger was in fact an American straight man living in Scotland. While the story of the alleged spy might become clearer once the investigation is over, the Damascus story is a stark example of the way westerners “sought deliberately to influence Arab concepts of sexual desire and practice”, to quote Joseph Massad in his book Desiring Arabs.

via english.ahram.org.eg

White House honours Khaled Said's sister - Ahram Online

President Obama met Zahraa Said, Khaled Said’s sister, and Tunisian blogger and activist Jamel Bettaieb of Sidi Bou Zaid at the White House last Wednesday.

According to a press release issued by the White House president Obama commemorated the sacrifices of citizens through the region and reaffirmed US support of the transition to democracy currently taking place in Egypt and Tunisia. Obama said the US welcomed the leadership of emerging voices within civil society, reaffirming its commitment to support universal rights.

via english.ahram.org.eg

Mohammed el-Erian: A Vibrant Post-Revolutionary Egypt Needs World Support

CAIRO -- In my first trip to Egypt since the fall of the Mubarak regime four months ago, I found a vibrant society dealing with the realities of deep national transformations and facing challenging headwinds. Based on interactions with a cross-section of society involved in building a "new Egypt," I came away with the hope that proper coordination and determination can deliver the revolution's central objective of a "better Egypt" for future generations; but the country also needs better and stronger support from outside.


via www.huffingtonpost.com

A great piece.