"Is this the start of an Arab renaissance?

In fact the Tunisian revolution, which led to the forced resignation of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, not only inspired hope in Middle Eastern youth living under tyrannies, but has also served as a warning to other governments in the region. Quite a number of recent economic regulations, such as Jordan’s decision to lower income taxes, have been passed in an attempt to avoid that most feared event – street protests. Alongside these political precautions, religious figures like Sheikh Salah Nassar, the Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque, have used public forums like television to discourage youth from acts of self-immolation. Of course, Nassar was referring to individuals like Mohammed Bouazizi, the young Tunisian fruit seller who lit himself on fire and launched a revolution. However, it seems that neither religion nor force are dissuading young people in Algeria, Yemen, Jordan and other countries from taking to the streets in support of democratic change. A powerful youth-lobby claims to be "cooking up" even bigger protests which are yet to come. But this week all eyes are on Egypt.While many hope for the same results that they saw in Tunisia, the situation in Egypt is different. Mubarak has a history of absorbing the anger of those protesting against him. As Yasser Khalil, a young Egyptian journalist and researcher, explains in a recent blog post, the President has often responded with small concessions and short-term fixes that shift the focus away from the roots of the problems facing youth, some of whom have been desperate enough to light themselves on fire to make a statement.Tunisians were the first to break the silence. And now Egyptians are taking up the torch. This young generation of Arabs is equipped not only with the Blackberries, iPhones, blogs, Twitter, Flickr and Facebook, but also with the conviction to follow Ghandi’s inspiration, to "be the change you want to see in the world". Is this the start of an Arab renaissance?

Likeminded individuals!!!

Likeminded individuals!!!

The revolution in Egypt has brought people together: Neighbours are figuring out how to provide services to neighbourhoods, people of different faiths are marching alongside one another and international activists are amplifying Egyptians’ voices. Even though the future of Egypt is unknown, these stories suggest that there is potential to build a stronger country from the ground up.
Despite the chaos in the streets, residents of Cairo and other cities have formed groups to protect electricity, water and gas supplies. Neighbourhood groups have also sprung up in the absence of the normal police presence to guard residences and businesses from looters. Khalid Toufik, a member of one such group in Alexandria, said in a recent New York Times article, “We want to show the world that we can take care of our country, and we are doing it without the government or police.” Women are protesting alongside men, youth alongside the elderly
Internationally, individuals, groups and companies have found ways to show solidarity and bring Egyptians’ voices to the world. Google and Twitter joined together during the Internet blackout to create Speak2Tweet. The application lets Egyptians call one of three phone numbers and record a message, which is then tweeted on the Speak2Tweet account and made available globally, as well as translated on another website, Alive in Egypt.
Many of us remain hopeful, but uncertain, of what its future will look like: small changes to the existing structure, a new regime in place or a unity government? But despite the darkness of the recent violence, the work of everyday Egyptians joining together across lines that might divide them and finding ways around day-to-day obstacles should still give us hope for the future.