Tweeting the Egyptian Revolution (2)

A selection of tweets related to the Egyptian Revolution, I have excluded most retweets as well as tweets in Arabic or tweets that simply link to articles and news reports. Most tweets reflect personal thoughts of information obtained from monitoring reports from the ground sent by in-country activists and journalists.

Some of the tweets below (4-6) reflect an early enthusiasm and hope that we might be able to tame not only the regime but the Islamists as well. In retrospect, that was naïve. But the early days were indeed dominated by more secular and pragmatic forces. The Islamist takeover of the Revolution in Egypt (and Tunisia) happened mostly on account of their relative cohesion and superior organization skills, not their larger numbers. Continue reading “Tweeting the Egyptian Revolution (2)” →

Tweeting the Egyptian Revolution (1)

Let’s help support the Egyptian Revolution and make it a reality by adopting this hashtag #jan25 #sidibouzid #optunisia #algeria #jo #syria 2011-01-25T01:07:58Z
@monaeltahawy @yslaise Counting the hours, minutes and seconds. Let’s kick the ass of that false pharaoh, and restore some dignity #jan25 2011-01-25T04:22:12Z
Egypt’s frustrated young dream of revolution | They’re doing more than dreaming, they’re putting lives on line http://goo.gl/7wKrw #jan25 2011-01-25T04:38:44Z
Lebanese Egyptians will demonstrate anger tomorrow Business as usual Manipulation of popular will No longer acceptable: change afoot #jan25 2011-01-25T05:09:13Z
Tunisia Did! Egypt Will! Yemen Will! Let’s make history #jan25 #sidibouzid 2011-01-25T06:55:46Z Continue reading “Tweeting the Egyptian Revolution (1)” →

Activists Join Senators in Call for State Department Action on Internet Freedom

Senator Brownback promises a hold on nominations until State Department acts on appropriations

Washington, D.C. — Surrounded by front-line activists from Iran, China, Cuba, Syria, Tibet, and the Uyghur Region of East Turkestan, Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) promised to put State Department nominations on hold until the Department follows Secretary Clinton’s January 21st Internet freedom speech with decisive action. “Those who have gathered here agree on one incredible fact: That we have it within our power to tear down the firewalls of oppression, right now, by supporting technology that shatters the censorship apparatus of regimes worldwide,” Senator Brownback said at a March 18 press conference in the Capitol Visitors Center. Continue reading “Activists Join Senators in Call for State Department Action on Internet Freedom” →

The Chicken Revolution!

Did I say a while ago that the best option for Syria will be to work out a Jasmine Revolution? Sorry, I actually meant a Chicken Revolution. To judge by the way things are going at this stage, it is really a mini revolution still, but it might just be the spark that can begin it all.

I am talking about the few hundreds Syrian workers affiliated with the poultry industry in Syria who have staged a protest demonstration against the Syrian government. Yes, you heard it, a protest demonstration, in Damascus, hundreds of people carrying banners in front of PM office, protesting against government neglect of their plight. Continue reading “The Chicken Revolution!” →