Egypt

وطيور بجنيه وريال

الاهرام اليومي (٩ فبراير ٢٠٢٠) بقلم عزة رضوان صدقي

عاتبت صباح فؤاد المهندس في أغنيتهما "الراجل ده حيجنني" لطلبه "طيورا", بالجمع, "بجنيه وريال" في وجبة رمضان. كان هذا في أوائل الستينيات من القرن الماضي، أي من ستة عقود. لا نبالغ إذا قُلنا إن "الجنيه وريال" لا يشتريان حتى جناح عصفور اليوم. هل الزيادة المهولة في أسعار المعيشة التي نحن بصددها هي شيء خاص بمصر أم هي "سلو" اقتصادات العالم ونهج موجود في كل مكان؟

الأحداث الاقتصادية الأخيره لها وضعها الخاص.  ارتفعت الأسعار بشدة بسبب تعويم الدولار وضريبة القيمة المضافة وإزالة الدعم عن الكهرباء والوقود. لكن قبل ذلك بكثير وعلى مر السنين كانت الأسعار ترتفع بمنسوب سنوي منتظم. عندما كانت صباح تغني عن غلاء أكلة الطيور، كان قرش الصاغ له وزنه ويشتري عشرة قطع حلوى، وكانت تذكرة المترو الدرجة الأولى بثلاثة تعريفة وأكلة شوربة الخضار بقرشين صاغ، وكان المنادي يتقبل الصاغ ويحمد ربه. مع بدأ تمليك الشقق في أواخر الستينيات كان العقار لا يتجاوز الخمسة آلاف جنيه، وكانت المدارس الخاصة لا تتجاوز المائة جنيه سنويا. اليوم لا وجود للمليم أو التعريفة أو القرش، وقريبا سوف يندثر الجنيه أيضا. أما العقارات فأصبحت بالملايين ومصاريف المدارس الخاصة بالآلاف. لكن يجب أن ننتبه إلى أن الأجور والرواتب ازدادت تناسبا مع ازدياد الأسعار، وهذه نقطة في غاية الأهمية. في الستينيات كان راتب خريج الجامعة هو ١٧ جنيها فقط لأغير. في يونيو ٢٠٢٠ سيصبح الحد الأدنى للأجور ٢٠٠٠ جنيه. كما تزداد المعاشات ١٠ في المائة سنويا مما يدل على ما قد وصلت له الأجور والمعاشات عامة

الأهم أن الحال هو الحال في جميع بلدان العالم، فدعنا نقارن أسعار الماضي واليوم في بعض الدول. في الأربعينيات من القرن الماضي بلغ قيمة المنزل المتوسط في الولايات المتحدة ٣ آلاف دولار. في سنة ٢٠٠٠ كان مائة ألف دولار، واليوم أصبح مائتي ألف دولار، وبالتالي ارتفع الإيجار قرابة ٥ أضعاف عما كان سابقا. التعليم أيضا أصبح باهظ الثمن. كانت الرسوم الجامعية لجامعة هارفارد في سنة ١٩٧١ ٢٦٠٠ دولار سنويا، وأصبحت في منتصف هذا العقد حوالي ٤٤ ألف دولار، وهو ما يوازي ١٧ مرة أكثر مما كان عليه في ٧١, وبسبب هذا الارتفاع وصل الدين الطلابي العام إلى ١,٦ تريليون دولار. في عام ١٩٦٠, بلغ متوسط ​ثمن السيارة الجديدة حوالي ٢٧٥٠ دولارًا، والآن أصبح سعر السيارة المتوسطة ٣٧ ألفا، وكان جالون البنزين بنحو ٣١ سنتًا، والبنزين الآن في المتوسط ٢ دولار و٦٠ سنتًا. بالطبع الأجور ارتفعت بالمثل فكان الحد الأدنى للأجور في ١٩٤٥ هو ٤٠ سنتًا في الساعة وأصبح ٣ دولارات في ١٩٨٠ و١٠ دولارات في ٢٠٢٠

أما في كندا ففي بعض الولايات زاد العقار أضعاف وأضعاف ما كان عليه في السبعينيات مما أدي إلى ارتفاع الإيجار أيضا أضعافا. كان سعر المنزل في السبعينيات حوالي ٣٠ ألف دولار وأصبح في منتصف هذا العقد قرابة الـ ٦٠٠ ألف دولار. أما التعليم الجامعي فكان في حدود الـ ٥٠٠ دولار للفصل الدراسي الواحد واليوم أصبح ستة آلاف دولار لنفس الفترة. هلم جرا في انجلترا، فقد كان متوسط سعر المنزل في لندن حوالي أربعة آلاف جنيه إسترليني في السبعينيات وأصبح قرابة الـ٣٠٠ ألف إسترليني اليوم

كما هو واضح ارتفاع الأسعار المنتظم والمستمر شيء طبيعي ويحدث في جميع بلدان العالم. لكن لماذا ترتفع الأسعار بهذا المنسوب الهلامي حتى ولو تدريجيا؟ إنه التضخم. مثل الشيخوخة أو السمنه، آثار التضخم عميقة حتى ولو زحفت ببطء، وبينما نواصل الإنفاق والاستهلاك، لا تبدو الزيادة محسوسة في أول الأمر، ولكن سرعان ما يصدمنا فرق الأسعار. الصغار سننا لا يبالون كثيرا بهذا التغيير لأنهم لم يعهدوا القديم، أما كبار السن فيحبطون لأنهم يقارنون الأسعار اليوم بالبارحة.كلما زاد الطلب والاستهلاك والإنفاق ثم تلتها زيادة في الرواتب والأجور زادت الأسعار منعكسة على نمو الاقتصاد بإيجابية. كذلك عندما يكون الطلب أكثر من المعروض أو عندما تزداد أسعار النفط مثلا ترتفع التكاليف، أو عندما تنخفض قيمة العملة تزداد تكلفة السلع ترتفع الأسعار أيضا، ومع ذلك طالما ترتفع الأجور بنفس النسبة فهذا الارتفاع إيجابي. أما إذا لم ترتفع الأجور فيكون انعكاس التضخم سلبيا وتتقلص القوة الشرائية للجميع مما يؤدي بدوره إلى تباطؤ أو ركود الاقتصاد. أسباب أخرى تزيد الأسعار وتنعكس آثارها على معدل الشراء، فمثلا إذا واجهت الشركات زيادة في التكاليف من أجور أو الخامات فإنها تحافظ على ربحها من خلال نقل هذه التكلفة المتزايدة للإنتاج إلى المستهلك في شكل أسعار أعلى 

إن ارتفاع الأسعار لظاهرة اقتصادية عالمية ومع مرور الوقت سوف يصدم شباب اليوم هم أيضا كما صدمنا نحن لأن ازدياد الأسعار سيستمر دون أدنى شك

تقرير عن وصول المصريين القادمين من وهان الصينيه

 

 

Egypt achieving the unachievable

Ahram Weekly (Feb 6) and Ahram Online

The Egyptian people have accomplished more than what some considered possible since the 25 January Revolution, solving many of the problems of the previous period, writes Azza Radwan Sedky

Azza Radwan Sedky , Tuesday 4 Feb 2020

 

The picture I’m about to draw is not very appealing, as it depicts something of the gloom and doom that must be bared prior to focusing on today’s achievements.

Egypt had reached a peak of stagnation even prior to the 25 January 2011 Revolution. Very little if anything was being done about healthcare, education, informal settlements and other challenges that hungered for attention. Most of the revenue coming in went towards serving the debt that paid for subsidies and keeping the country afloat. Progress and development had reached a grinding halt and had been curtailed by bureaucracy, corruption and indifference. The status quo seemed set to outlive us all.

Egypt was slowly drifting towards an abyss. Then came the 25 January Revolution that resulted in further chaos. The repercussions involved a lack of tourism revenue and foreign investment, insecurity across the board and overall economic disaster. The country’s foreign reserves fell from $36 billion to $14 billion. By 2013, according to the UK newspaper The Guardian, Egypt was suffering its worst-ever economic crisis.

Change came in the leadership in 2013. But we weren’t out of the woods yet; in fact, the course was fraught with dangers, and it had become clear that major reforms would have to be implemented. We were also facing far-reaching perils. Terrorism came from across the country’s borders as well as from within, with premeditated efforts to wreak havoc and instill fear amongst all Egyptians. Vicious ambushes took place at military barracks, security points, mosques, churches and government buildings, and hundreds of people died.

We were, and we remain, surrounded by countries that are forced to side with other powers and comply with their wishes, including Libya, Sudan, Syria and the Gaza Strip. We remain neutral and seldom get involved in other countries’ affairs unless our own security is at risk. But this entails costly safeguarding measures.

We were, and are, also facing the kind of population growth that would choke any country and devour any achievements. Every year, one million students graduate from Egyptian universities and start looking for jobs. Every year, 23 million school students call for better schooling and a decent upbringing, not to mention better healthcare and a safer environment.  

More importantly, a blasé stance seemed to have appropriated the Egyptian mentality before the 25 January Revolution. Many people seemed to be indifferent to others and to their country. It was a case of my way or the highway for many as far as anger control, beliefs, personal judgements, awareness and behaviour in terms of driving or not throwing litter about were concerned. And the list went on. Complacency had become the name of the game. It wasn’t a pretty picture.

It seemed that nothing – no leadership, no innovative thinking, no arduous efforts, no real feeling for the nation – was capable of holding us together and moving us forward. And yet we were moving forward with speedy steps, and the spirit and exuberance involved in the changes that were taking place were quite phenomenal.

In order to counter the disheartening picture described above, colossal efforts had to be made in every corner of Egypt. The economy, infrastructure, education, healthcare, the army and intelligence, border security, culture and dozens of other areas would have to be involved. The speed with which these efforts have since been made has stood as proof that Egyptian people can work hard and accomplish enormous amounts. We are no longer the smug and lazy folk we might have been in yesteryear.

So where are we today? We have moved forward and realised our potential for growth and development. In terms of the economy, despite the floatation of the pound, the reduction of the subsidies, and the various economic burdens that many have had to suffer, the country’s foreign reserves now stand at $45 billion, unemployment is down to 7.6 per cent, and the inflation rate is down to three per cent, the lowest it has been in decades.

In December 2016, the dollar reached an all-time high of LE19.90; today, it stands at LE15.74 having lost over 15 per cent of its value against the pound. The unachievable is being achieved.

Despite worries about threats from across our borders and the conspiracies of other powers, our security apparatus has seen outstanding modernisation and is now powerfully combating terrorism, securing the country’s borders, and protecting the public, infrastructure and Egypt’s historical and religious sites. Foreign tourists have come back in force, and hotel occupancy rates are very healthy, proving that Egypt is safe and well protected.

Though many may still grumble and hope for more, most appreciate what has been done and see that Egypt is definitely on the rise. Today, many more people treasure the glorious land they live in, realising how lucky they are to do so and appreciating the security that has been attained and the efforts that have been made in attaining it. Some may continue to focus on the negative, but in Egypt by far the majority see the positive.

We are still adding 2.5 million people to the population every year. This population growth has been very difficult to curb, and it will remain a thorn in Egypt’s side. People must realise that every individual counts, and everyone must do his or her part. We must all cooperate and work hand-in-hand to bring about change for the better.

Dozens of new cities are being established across Egypt that will create new communities in the less-congested areas. Sinai will be welcoming millions of people in the near future, with its new projects, easy access and intense focus on improving the lives of those living there bringing new hope for many. Yet, unless further measures are made to help everyone understand the dangers of the country’s ballooning population, many of these efforts may evaporate into thin air.

It has been 68 years since the 23 July 1952 Revolution and nine since 25 January 2011. Six years have passed since the 30 June Revolution. The Egyptian people have accomplished in the last six years far more than what was accomplished in the earlier 62, and they have rendered many of the deficiencies of the previous era obsolete.

These are accomplishments that many people had earlier imagined to be barely possible.

The writer is the author of Cairo Rewind on the First Two Years of Egypt’s Revolution, 2011-2013.

via english.ahram.org.eg

POSTCARDS: WITH A KNOCK ON THE DOOR, EGYPT AIMS TO TURN FAMILIES GREENER

Sight Magazine, by Menaa a Farouk (excerpt: read on Postcards: With a knock on the door, Egypt aims to turn families greener)

Giza, Egypt

Thomson Reuters Foundation

Suzan Mohamed recently opened her door to a surprise: a group of women volunteers intent on giving her tips on everything from proper trash disposal to how to cut water and energy consumption, plus a brief introduction to climate change.

"How do you get rid of your waste?" asked Saeeda Mahmoud, a government representative and rural leader trained by the Ministry of Environment.

A rural woman leader knocks on a door in Meet Shammas village, Giza governorate, 17 kilometers from Cairo, January 21, 2020. Thomson Reuters Foundation/Menna Farouk

The resident of Meet Shammas, a neighbourhood in the city of Giza, said she usually puts trash in the landfill near her home, or hands it to a garbage collector, without separating or sorting the items.

"I do what all people here have been doing for years," the 38-year-old said.

"I do what all people here have been doing for years...Now there is a better way to get rid of the waste."

- Suzan Mohamed, one of the recipients of the door-kockong initiative

"Now there is a better way to get rid of the waste," Mahmoud replied, explaining about the need to sort recyclable waste into paper, plastic and cans, which could then be sold to dealers, earning the household cash while helping the environment.

Egypt has been stepping up efforts to preserve its environment and address climate change, through measures as diverse as introducing electric buses, boosting renewable energy and trying to ban plastic bags.

But it is also intensifying environmental awareness campaigns, and women, who make many household decisions, are a particular target.

The door-to-door visit to Mohamed's house in Giza is part of a one-year effort, launched this month by the Egyptian Ministry of Environment and the state-run National Council for Women, to raise awareness about environmental issues in Egyptian families.

With a million Egyptian pounds ($US63,000) in funding, the programme aims to reach a million women in three cities - greater Cairo, Giza and Fayoum - and could be expanded to other cities in coming years, officials say.

Carried out by 400 women leaders chosen from the three project areas, it relies on women who are visited at home sharing what they've learned with others in their communities, and with younger generations.

 

 

A government representative from the state-run National Council for Women speaks to resident Dalia Kamal, 39, about a new initiative to improve the environment and cut plastic waste in Meet Shammas, Giza governorate, 17 kilometres from Cairo, on 21st January. PICTURE: Thomson Reuters Foundation/Menna Farouk

Read on here.

Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan reach agreement on filling, operating new Nile dam

News Ghana, by xinhuanet.com

Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia reached an agreement on Friday over the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile River, according to the Egyptian foreign ministry.

 

In a statement, the ministry said the foreign ministers and water resources ministers of the three countries have issued a joint communique of reaching a deal on the controversial dam that Ethiopia is building on the Nile River.

According to the statement, the three countries reached a consensus on a timetable and a plan for filling the dam, adding that they have also agreed on procedures related to dealing with droughts, protracted droughts and scarce years during filling the dam.

The ministers, the statement said, agreed to complete negotiations and reach an agreement on the mechanism of operating the GERD during normal hydrological conditions, the coordination mechanism to monitor and follow up the implementation of the agreement, the exchange of data and information, and the dispute settlement mechanism.

They also agreed on complete studies on safety, environmental and social impacts of the GERD.

The tripartite ministerial meetings, which are hosted and sponsored by the United States, kicked on Jan. 28.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian foreign ministry revealed that the ministers of the three countries assigned the technical and legal committees to continue meetings in Washington to finalize the agreement.

The ministry noted that the ministers of foreign affairs and water resources of the three countries will meet again in Washington on Feb. 12, to approve the final version of the agreement in preparation for signing it at the end of February.

Upstream Nile Basin country Ethiopia started building its grand hydropower dam in 2011 on the Blue Nile, while Egypt, a downstream country, is concerned that the dam might affect its 55.5-billion-cubic-meter annual share of Nile water.

Egypt’s fellow downstream country Sudan eyes future benefits from the GERD construction despite Egypt’s concerns. The GERD is expected to produce over 6,000 megawatts of electricity and become Africa’s largest hydropower dam upon completion.

Filling the reservoir, with a total capacity of 74 billion cubic meters, may take several years. While Ethiopia wants to fill it in five to six years, Egypt seeks to prolong the period to avoid the possibility of a water shortage.