Arab Revolution; Just the Start?



Egyptian soldiers and civilians celebrate freedom



Tunisia started it. High food prices, oppression and a dictator that has had 30 years of control, coupled with the high youth population able to mobilise and spread its message in seconds through social media - and a revolution is born. It looked so easy. And the anger spread, driven by people who no longer feared the man at the top because there were so many at the bottom - the people spoke. Egypt, against the odds, removed Mubarak, in other Arab nations, the authorities offered concession after concession; in Jordan, Syria, Algeria, Yemen, Bahrain and Morocco in fear of popular uprising.  Yet still the people are angry; realising a concession doesn't mean the removal of the oppressive dictator that was the cause of the situation in the first place and a concession won't remove American influence.  The people want their countries back, out of the hands of US supported dictators who have got rich through the areas natural resources while the poor got poorer.

What next?
Libya is now divided between the Ghaddafi supporting western half of the country and the pro democracy eastern half. There is mass bloodshed and Ghaddafi has been quick to shut down communications and the internet; Al Jazeera TV and the social networks have been a vital means of bypassing the propaganda of state TV. The momentum is increasing though and shows no sign of stopping, after all to stop now would simply mean arrest and execution later. They have no choice but to fight on.


Wisconsin Protest

Going Global?

These Arab popular revolutions have made the people of the world aware of their own voice and power. Activism, again fuelled by social media, has made people wake up. In the UK alone mass demonstrations at tuition fees, student sit-ins and the UK uncut movement are the visible signs of peoples anger towards those in charge. In Wisconsin, USA, cuts to the budget (whilst there are tax breaks for the rich) have made state workers and unions come out onto the streets in protest, and they have the publics backing. It seems even America is waking up. 

A New Era?

So the Arab protests have spread to China as well as America. It is no longer just an "Arab" uprising against dictatorship, it has become a global phenomenon. People now know that united, they are stronger than the state. Maybe from now on our politicians will start listening to the people, after all -

the government doesn't rule the people, the people rule the government.