Egypt

A Victory Of The People Hundreds of thousands of cheering people. Waving flags. Huge celebrations in the streets of Egyp...

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A Victory Of The People Hundreds of thousands of cheering people. Waving flags. Huge celebrations in the streets of Egypt! Was it a national holiday? A soccer win? No, the joy was prompted by something else – a victory of the people. On February 11, 82-year-old Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak finally agreed to give up power. The Uprising Unfolds The drama began on January 25. That was when Egyptians took to the streets to demand that Mr. Mubarak step down. In Cairo, the capital, and in Alexandria, the country’s second-largest city - all across the nation, protesters called for immediate change. “Leave! Leave!” they roared, pumping their fists in the air. “We are not leaving. You are leaving,” they yelled. They had had enough of Mr. Mubarak’s 29-year grip on power. Life In Egypt In theory, Egypt is a democracy. Regular elections have been held over the years and there are several political parties. However, Mr. Mubarak held all the power. He made it impossible for anyone to be elected but himself. The people had no real say. There were other sources of frustration, too. Egypt has a strong economy, based on manufacturing and tourism. Yet one in five Egyptians lives in poverty and one in 10 is jobless. Meanwhile, the cost of food and other goods is soaring. As well, Egyptian police and other officials have been accused of harassing and even torturing people. “You have to bribe people just to get a driver’s licence,” said one Egyptian-born Canadian. The Tunisia Effect But Egyptians had been living with these conditions for three decades. What caused them to come together in January? The protests were sparked by events in Tunisia, another North African country. That’s where, in December, 26-year-old Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire. Mr. Bouazizi was a fruit and vegetable vendor. He worked to support his family. But he felt humiliated. Although he had a good education, he couldn’t find a better job. He had to put up with officials who made him pay bribes for the smallest things and treated him poorly. He saw no way out of his troubles. A video of Mr. Bouazizi’s death was broadcast over the Internet. It hit a nerve with many Tunisians. Their futures were just as bleak as Mr. Bouazizi’s. So, they took to the streets to demand change. The demonstrations continued for four weeks. Then, on January 14, their president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, fled to Saudi Arabia. He had been in power for 23 years. An interim government took charge. The people had won. Time For Change Tunisia’s revolution inspired Egyptians to take action, too. “We have been a cowardly nation. We have to finally say no,” said one 24-year-old Egyptian hotel worker. Activists used cell phones and social media such as Facebook to quickly get their messages out about rallies and meetings. For 18 days, people crowded the streets. A New Future When Mr. Mubarak resigned, the military took charge. Army leaders will rule the country until a new government can be elected. Leaders in Europe and North America were relieved. Egypt faces difficult days ahead. Yet many feel the country will now find a peaceful way forward. “Egyptians have made it clear that nothing less than genuine democracy will carry the day,” stated U.S. President Barack Obama. Questions:

Answer the following in complete sentences: 1. How many young people are there in the Middle East? 2. What is the jobless rate for young Arabs in this region? 3. What did Mohamed Bouazizi do in mid-December to protest conditions in Tunisia? 4. Why did he do this? 5. What did the Tunisian president do on January 14? 6. How did events in Tunisia affect Egypt? 7. List two reasons why Egyptian protesters were unhappy with their government. 8. What did the Egyptian president announce on February 11?

Before or After ? Mark the statements B (Before) or A (After): _________ 1. Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire before or after the protests in Tunisia? _________ 2. Egyptians protested before or after Tunisian President Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia? _________ 3. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down before or after 18 days of protests in Egypt?

Just talk about it 1. a) As you see it, what role did technology play in the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt? b) Do you suppose these revolutions would have taken place without the aid of technology? Why or why not? Give reasons to support your response. 2. What evidence is there in the article that Egypt is an important country for the West to have as an ally? Explain. 3. If you were living in Egypt, for what reasons would you have taken part in protests? For what reasons would you have stayed home? Explain. 4. As you see it, what is the importance of this story? Explain.