Youth Movements changing the world from the Arab Spring to Occupy Wall Street

by

Dr. Whitney Howarth

Plymouth State University

11/15/11

WHAT’S GOING ON ?! REVOLUTION IN THE

STREETS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnFy1luxL0A

Why are Arab and American youth taking to the street, engaging in civil disobedience, and shaking up the world? 

Something is happening now in the Middle East and throughout the United States as citizens come together to protest political corruption, unemployment, corporate greed, and global recession.

  REJECT APATHY!  BE INFORMED!  GET READY!

Revolution? Reform? Resistance?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6S8iQ5KSkU

What is the “ARAB SPRING?”

“Spring” is a political term used historically to refer to those moments in history when a nation or region has experienced a period of ‘liberalization’ or democratization, especially after a period of harsh political repression.

The Springtime of the Peoples, 1848 Europe

The Prague Spring, 1968

Why the term “SPRING” ?

povertycorruptionunemploymentcensorshipstate sponsored violence against civiliansthe lack of democratic institutions.

What is the unrest about?

Where is this happening?

Demonstrations = rallies, marches, parades, millions take to public squares to chant/pray/sing, sit-ins and sometimes mob riots

Protest in the streets = sometimes peaceful, sometimes violent/disorganized. People demand the end of oppression.

Civil disobedience = strikes, boycotts, wide-spread arrests

Social Media = use of Facebook, iphones, twitter, blogs, internet videos/photos, chats organizing/communicating to raise political consciousness about censorship, etc.

Violent reprisal from authorities = police violence, soldiers shooting civilians in the streets, censorship, political prisoners tortured, enemies of the state have ‘disappeared’

What does SPRING look like?

Women and the Arab Spring…

"for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work"

Nobel Prize Winners 2011

Ellen Johnson SirleafLiberia

Leymah GboweeLiberia

Tawakkol KarmanYemen

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/10/07/world/middleeast/100000001099458/timescast--yemeni-woman-wins-nobel.html

The European Parliament awards the Arab Spring the Sakharov Prize, 2011 ~Egypt, Libya, Syria & Tunisia.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/headlines/content/20111021STO30027/html/The-Arab-Spring-wins-Sakharov-Prize-2011

Asmaa Mahfouz (Egyptian Youth Movement) She used Twitter, youtube and Facebook to mobilize protestors to demand their rights in Tahrir Sq.

Ahmed al-Zubair Ahmed al-Sanusi (Libyan prisoner 31 years)

Razan Zaitouneh (Human rights lawyer in Syria) She revealed murders committed by army soldiers and police. Now in hiding from authorities.

Sakhorav Prize for Freedom of Thought: This award reaffirms parliament’s solidarity and firm support for their struggle for freedom, democracy and the end of authoritarian regimes,” he said, adding that their actions were “a symbol for all those working for dignity, democracy and fundamental rights in the Arab world and beyond

Ali Farzat (Syrian political satirist and cartoonist) In August 2011, the Syrian security forces beat him badly, breaking both his hands as "a warning", and confiscated his drawings.

Mohamed Bouazizi (Tunisian street vendor) He set himself on fire in protest at incessant humiliation and badgering by the Tunisian authorities. Public sympathy and anger inspired by this gesture led to the ousting of the Tunisian President

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/middle-east-protest-interactive-timeline

Time line of protest

http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/index.cfm/articles/The-Arab-Spring-and-the-Future-of-US-Interests/2011/8/2

Overview of Arab Spring and US interests & Cooperative security

Outcomes…

President Ben Ali overthrown after a month of protests against his rule in January 2011.

High inflationUnemploymentCorruption

Tunisia

Tens of thousands protests in streets for 18 days 846 people killed, 6000 injured Protesting police brutality, limits on freedom of speech, lack of

free elections, govt. corruption, food prices, high unemployment, low min. wage.

President Mubarak ousted and govt. overthrown February 2011

Egypt

• Revolt began February 2011• Rebel groups control parts of

Libya

• Gaddafi uses troops against civilians.• Civil War erupts (50,000 dead by

August)

• UN condemns crackdown• Sanctions put on Libya, No Fly Zone• In March, UN votes to use ‘all means

necessary to protect civilians’

• Allied military forces strike from air

• Gaddafi overthrown and killedOctober 20th, 2011

Libya

Protests since January 2011Uprising in March 2011

Citizens demanding:*President al-Assad to step down. *End to “Emergency Rule”

(ongoing since 1963)

*Freedom of press, speech, & assembly

Brutal repression of protestersMedia Censorship (FB, Youtube, Twitter)

State sponsored terror (tanks, snipers)

Wide spread arrests, torture, executions.

Nearly 4,000 civilians killed thus far…

Syria

“In general, the spread of less corrupt and more democratic governments in the Middle East will be of tremendous benefit to the United States…”

Protect national security (counter terrorism)Secure economic interests (trade relations)Guard regional investments & resources (petroleum)Maintain strategic geo-political alliances (Israel/Saudi Arabia)Defend client states and less powerful stakeholders

Support human rights Promote democracy and regional stability

Provide meditation or peace keeping assistance Offer military aid or intervention (NATO/UN)

The USA’s response…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWoWZO3nqOY

Occupy Wall Street – our own Arab Spring?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=m7K_PHuFzFM

Occupy Wall Street Protest turns violent – September 25th

According to Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel-prize winning economist, the richest 1 % control 40% of wealth in the United States.

Professor Stiglitz teaches at Columbia University. He is the former Chief Economist and Vice President of the WORLD BANK.

He is the author of:

“Globalization and its Discontents” (2002) and

“Freefall: America, Free Market and the Sinking of the World Economy” (2010)

The 1%

http://vimeo.com/30224538

www.occupywallst.orgWhat do we want?

The reduction of corporate influence in media and politics.

The top 1% of elites in this country to pay their taxes

The creation of more jobs and better jobs (and job training)

Affordable college education and reduction of student loan debt

Banking , Credit and Mortgage reform (reduce power of mega banks)

Financial reform not inhibited by Congressional (partisan) Gridlock

A better healthcare system for every American.

An end to bailouts and amnesty for the rich who have lied, cheated, or mismanaged their businesses.

What do they want?

This morning hundreds of NY City police in riot gear moved in to evacuate Zuccotti Park where the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protestors had been encamped since September 17th.

Mayor Bloomberg says “the park had begun to pose a health and safety risk to protesters and the public.” About 220 people were in the park. 142 were arrested inside the park, 50 outside.

November 15, 2011 1 a.m.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/wall-street-protest-continues-for-third-day/2011/09/19/gIQAKqbffK_gallery.html#photo=1

How are the Arab Spring and the Occupy Wall Street Movements similar?

http://findwhatworks.wordpress.com/tag/arab-spring/

How are they different?http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2011/10/what_occupy_wall_street_the_arab_spring_the_chilean_students_and.html

What is the lesson?

Connections?

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/275-42/8130-occupy-wall-street-on-the-move