events in Egypt: background

As tens of thousands are on the streets of the cities of Egypt, it appears that members of the security forces are starting to refuse to follow their orders. If the uprising is to be successful, this must happen. Jack Shenker, who is on the ground in Cairo sending continual reports for The Guardian, has today written this short but accurate account of the background to the current unrest in Egypt, which puts it in its appropriate context. The media is portraying the uprising as being driven by young, tech-savvy educated and underemployed men and women. Shenker sets the record straight. I reproduce part of the account in full:

"It was a 2008 strike by textile workers in the Nile Delta town of Mahalla al-Kubra that fired the imagination of many of those on the streets today. The three people shot dead by security forces during the Mahalla unrest on 16 April inspired an online movement which took its name from the date.

The traditional working class from all corners of the country has continued to provoke and inspire dissident activity ever since, occupying pavements outside parliament for weeks on end to highlight the devastating impact of the neoliberal reforms pursued by the ruling NDP party. Some trade unions – most notably the real estate tax collectors – have gone on to break free from state control.

Away from the economic concerns, anger at police corruption and brutality has been at the heart of the new wave of protest."

To which, of course, one must add the authoritarian corruption and brutality of the Mubarak regime.

the fall of the West's little dictator

An excellent analysis of the circumstances surrounding the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia by Esam Al-Amin:

Esam Al-Amin: The Fall of the West's Little Dictator

I'm mad

Take the 10 seconds needed to sign this petition. One billion hungry in the world is unacceptable.

1billionhungry.org

Beverly Bell in Haiti

This blog from the ground in Haiti is excellent, as well as very positive about the power of Haitians to build a better future for themselves.

Beverly Bell in Haiti — YES! Magazine

Thanks to Liz, a former student, for pointing this out to me.

false economy: why the cuts are the wrong solution

An excellent illustration of how to challenge the perverse deflationary logic that now governs economic policy making in the developed capitalist countries.

Captain SKA's Liar Liar

The one good side of ConDemNation: the return of British political pop.



My thanks to my former colleague, Deborah Simpson, for showing me this.

Hans Rosling's 200 countries, 200 years, 4 minutes

Swedish statistician Hans Rosling's latest graphical presentation of how the countries of the world are, slowly, getting wealthier and healthier. The trick: how to move all to the upper right hand side.



Thanks to my former student, Azra Abdul Cader, for bringing this to my attention.