What’s Going on?

1. What’s Going on? Go-Back to Egypt Catch up on Libya Poor Japan

2. Egypt How did what happened in Egypt set the tone for what is happening in Libya?

3. Background • Egypt is important in the Middle East. • It is an American ally • It is an ally to Israel • It is one of the largest countries in the middle east. • Hosni Mubarak took power in 1981 when the President had been assassinated, he was Vice President.

4. In 1981… • After the assassination in 1981, Egypt established Emergency Law • This was designed to combat terrorism. • This allowed: • Police to arrest people without charge • Detain prisoners indefinitely • Limit freedom of expression and assembly • Maintain a special security court.

5. In 2010… • In 2010, the Egyptian Government stated that he will only use the law to protect against terrorism and drug trafficking. • But then they defined terrorism so broadly that this decision made no real difference. • Oh, and there are “elections” in Egypt, and for the last 30 years, Hosni happens to win landslides victory every time….

6. January 25 2011 • National Police Day Protests • The Uprising that started it all • Placed an emphasis on the peaceful nature of the struggle, mostly civil resistance. • Demonstrations, marches, labor strikes. • Millions of protesters from many different backgrounds joined together to demand the overthrow of Mubarak

7. The Grievances • The Egyptian protesters focused on: • Police Brutality • State of Emergency Laws • Lack of Free Elections • Freedom of Speech • Uncontrollable Corruption • High unemployment • Food Price Inflation • Low Minimum Wages

8. State of Affairs • Cairo became a War Zone • At least 384 deaths • Over 6,000 injured • Government imposed a curfew, but protesters and police defied it. • Looting by gangs

9. Change in Government • To try and appease the protesters, Mubarak dissolved his government and appointed new people to rule with him. • VP – Omar Suleiman • Military Figure • Former head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate • New Government Coordinator – Ahmed Shafik • Aviation Minister • Former chief of Egypt’s Air Force • Mubarak announce he would not be seeking re-election.

10. February 11 2011 • Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak would be steeping down as president and turning power over to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. • This Junta (military government) was headed by the effective head of state Mohamed Hussein Tantawi.

11. February 13 2011 • The Announcement by Mohamed Hussein Tantawi: • The Constitution will be suspended • Both Houses of Parliament will be dissolved. • Military will rule for 6 months until elections could be held. • The members of the old Cabinet, would continue to run the government until elections. With Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik in charge.

12. March 3 2011 • Ahmed Shafik resigned • The next day major protests to have him resigned were planned, good timing. • EssamSharaf is the new Prime Minister.

13. Evidence Comes Out • March 5, 2011 – Several State Security Intelligence building were raided across Egypt, including the headquarters. • The protesters claimed to be looking for evidence of crimes committed by the SSI against the people of Egypt during Mubarak’s rule. • March, 6, 2011 – Protesters acquired evidence of mass surveillance and vote rigging, found rooms of video tapes, piles of shredded and burned documents and cells where activists recounted their experiences of detention and torture.

15. Nero Burned Rome, Mubarak is Burning Egypt

26. Catch up with Libya What’s been happening since we looked at Libya last week?

27. “The world is sleeping. They (the West) drunk of Gaddafi’s oil, and now they won’t stand against him.” • Gaddafi warns the rebels. “There are only two possibilities, Surrender or Run Away.”

28. March 11th • The White House announced a five-point program of steps to isolate Colonel Gaddafi. • All of which stop well short of military action.

29. March 12th • Arab League ask the United Nations Security Council to help the rebels. …. Kinda big deal. • Gaddafi is still attacking his own people. • More pressure on Obama to do something about this, but it could be long and complex.

30. March 14th • After a brutal, weeklong battle, the Gaddafi forces have started taking back cities that had fallen to the rebels.

31. March 16th • The Rebels are getting worn down. Don’t know what else to do. • Gaddafi vows to level the city of Benghazi, the last rebel stronghold.

32. March 17th • UN approves any means necessary except foreign occupation to help out the rebels. This includes: • No fly zone • Redirecting of supply ships • Possible air or naval strike against Gaddafi • NO Ground Troops • UN also calls for a cease-fire in Libya

33. March 18th • UN approves military action to help enforce no-fly zone.

34. March 19th • Britain and France start a military campaign against Gaddafi • The US fires Tomahawk missiles to take out Libyan communication stations.

35. And since then… • Continued air strikes. • Gaddafi keeps saying there have been civilian deaths, but people don’t believe him. • Hopefully it shouldn’t last too much longer.

36. Isreal The middle east is just all sorts of exploding

37. March 22nd • Missiles are fired from the Gaza strip deep into Israeli territory. • As a retaliation to airstrikes from Israel on the Gaza strip.

38. Japan OMG, poor Japan. What has been going on since the initial shock of what happened last week?

39. Earthquake • On Thursday Night/Friday Morning, there was an earthquake off the North Eastern shore of Japan. • This earthquake was the 5th largest in recorded history. Measured at an 8.9

40. Tsunami/Flooding • Before and After

41. Nuclear • There was a fire at a power plant on Tuesday, because the earthquake had damaged the cooling system. • Fire broke out at the plant on Wednesday morning. Mostly because the • Because of the radiation risk to workers, it has become too dangerous for workers to continue working to prevent a meltdown. • Radiation is spreading. 140,000 people have been told to evacuate, or to stay inside, with windows shut, and AC off.

42. The People • The disaster has left more that half a million people homeless, and millions have little food, water, or heat. • People seam to be remaining civil. Testament to Japanese Culture.

43. Celebrity Aid • Lady Gaga is selling bracelets that say Pray for Japan. All proceeds go to Japan relief efforts. • Charlie Sheen will donate a dollar from every ticket sold on his upcoming stand-up tour to the Red Cross • Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda designed T-shirts • Many stars have blown up twitter encouraging fans to donate money. • But unlike the earthquake in Haiti, many celebrities are hesitating to make personal donations.

44. And Back at Home What’s going on in the US?

45. In DC • 6 -9 year olds are hospitalized for trying cocaine at school • One child brought it to school for his friends to try after finding it in the car of the man that dropped him off at school. • The man will be charged with cruelty towards children

46. Loss of Productivity • It is estimated that the US looses about 3.8 billion dollars worth of productivity during the NCAA tournament.

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