Social movements for politics and welfare: Egypt and Haiti - 4 views

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  #1 Arabica Robusta on 05 Feb 11

   

  Egypt and Haiti have provided important lessons regarding roles of social movements, popular committees, neighborhood watches and direct democracy in situations of crisis when (especially neoliberal) governments do not have the capacity or the will to provide for their people; or when governments such as Mubarak's regime are actively seeking to suppress opposition voices.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">Egypt and Haiti have provided important lessons regarding roles of social movements, popular committees, neighborhood watches and direct democracy in situations of crisis when (especially neoliberal) governments do not have the capacity or the will to provide for their people; or when governments such as Mubarak's regime are actively seeking to suppress opposition voices.</div>

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  #2 Arabica Robusta on 05 Feb 11

   

  The example of Haitian local empowerment offers an important lesson for studies of direct and local democracy in the face of not only political crisis but also natural disaster. Haiti has a long history of self-reliance and independence, from the time that they threw off their French enslavers. As with many populations, Haitians have therefore been punished until today with sanctions, debt and dictators that have left the people impoverished and often isolated. Not surprisingly, the Western media trotted out familiar themes of poverty and chaos after the January earthquake. In contrast, Democracy Now! broadcasts and Twitter tweets told a different story of the Haitian people organizing themselves again to rebuild even as the army of international NGOs largely ignored them or retreated in fear.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">The example of Haitian local empowerment offers an important lesson for studies of direct and local democracy in the face of not only political crisis but also natural disaster. Haiti has a long history of self-reliance and independence, from the time that they threw off their French enslavers. As with many populations, Haitians have therefore been punished until today with sanctions, debt and dictators that have left the people impoverished and often isolated. Not surprisingly, the Western media trotted out familiar themes of poverty and chaos after the January earthquake. In contrast, Democracy Now! broadcasts and Twitter tweets told a different story of the Haitian people organizing themselves again to rebuild even as the army of international NGOs largely ignored them or retreated in fear.</div>

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  #3 Arabica Robusta on 05 Feb 11

   

  Egyptian history of local empowerment is much less known (or at least I do not know as much about it) than the Haitian experience. However, it is clear that the anti-regime demonstrators have organized themselves heroically into popular committees in the face of a quite sophisticated, long-lived and brutal police state. They set up medical stations, manage food and water distribution, keep lines of communication open (even as Vodafone -- "following orders" -- attempts to close them down), and even strive to keep their space clean in the face of relentless barrages from police thugs disguised as pro-Mubarak "demonstrators." Like Haitian demonstrators, those in Egypt face continual pressure from Western media attempts to portray the situation as "violent" and "chaotic."

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">Egyptian history of local empowerment is much less known (or at least I do not know as much about it) than the Haitian experience. However, it is clear that the anti-regime demonstrators have organized themselves heroically into popular committees in the face of a quite sophisticated, long-lived and brutal police state. They set up medical stations, manage food and water distribution, keep lines of communication open (even as Vodafone -- "following orders" -- attempts to close them down), and even strive to keep their space clean in the face of relentless barrages from police thugs disguised as pro-Mubarak "demonstrators." Like Haitian demonstrators, those in Egypt face continual pressure from Western media attempts to portray the situation as "violent" and "chaotic."</div>

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