Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Technology: Vive La Resistance!!

In December 2010, an intense campaign of civil resistance began in the North African country of Tunisia (Geek reference: Tunisia was the place that once was the setting for Tattooine in the Star Wars saga) forcing President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who first assumed power in 1987, to step down and flee to Saudi Arabia. The protests were sparked by high unemployment, inflation, lack of freedom and poor living conditions.

These protests and civil unrest involved with the Tusisian Revolution lead to the Egyptian Revolution a mere 11 days after Ben Ali fled Tunisia. The uprising, in which the participants placed emphasis on the peaceful nature of the struggle, mainly comprised a campaign of civil resistance, which featured a series of demonstrations, marches, acts of civil disobedience, and labor strikes. Egyptian protesters focused on legal and political issues not entirely unlike those of Tunisia. Ultimately, this led to the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, ending his 30 years in power.

Next came Libya, a country nestled between Tunisia and Egypt, whose dictator, Muammar Gaddafi has stated that he will die in power. Unlike the previous protests in Tunisia and Egypt, the Libyan uprising - which is still ongoing - has been a bloody one, with many violent encounters between Gaddafi's supporters and those who seek to remove him from power. In response, Gaddafi has shut down all internet communications, and arrested Libyans who have given phone interviews to the media. The turmoil in Libya has escalated to the point that the UN has declared a no-fly zone in the skies above Libya, and numerous US and British forces have been reported to have dropped bombs on Libyan airfields, and fired missiles at several defense systems.

In each of these uprisings, social networking and media outlets have been shut down, either briefly, or for a prolonged period. Has social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter given that much of a voice to the people that the leaders who are trying so desperately to cling onto power are in fear of them? Has the people seen for themselves what the West really is all about, and not the Infidels that their leaders have led them to believe for all these years? Even China is blocked Google's Gmail, in addition to Facebook and Twitter. Some say this block is targeted at political activists trying to start a "Jasmine Revolution" in the country. The question is, will it?

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