The uprising in Libya

        The 2011 Libyan protests began as a series of protests and confrontations occurring in the North African state of Libya against the Government of Libya and its de facto leader Muammar al-Gaddafi. The unrest began on 15 February 2011 and continues to the present. Media outlets have reported the unrest as being inspired by the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, connecting the protests with the wider 2010–2011 Middle East and North Africa protests. According to Richard Engel, NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent, who entered Libya and had reached the city of Turku on 22 February 2011, "the protest movement is no longer a protest movement, it's a war. It's open revolt." On 22 February, The Economist described the events as an "uprising that is trying to reclaim Libya from the world's longest-ruling autocrat."

         Protests have centered on Libya’s two largest cities, the capital of Tripoli in the west, and Benghazi in the east and tend to spread to other cities. On 18 February, demonstrators took control over most of Benghazi, the country's second-largest city, with some support from police and defecting military units. The government reacted by sending elite troops and mercenaries, which were resisted by Benghazi's inhabitants and insurrectionary members of the military. By 20 February, more than 200 people had been killed in Benghazi.[5] Protests in Tripoli have centered around Green Square. On 21 February, Libyan Air Force aircraft attacked civilian protesters in Tripoli, drawing international condemnation. The New York Times reported that "the crackdown in Libya has proven the bloodiest of the recent government actions."

Several Libyan officials have stepped down over the course of the protests while others have distanced themselves from Gaddafi and his government, declaring his current regime as illegitimate and accusing him of genocide and crimes against humanity in his attacks against the people of Libya.

As of 23 February 2011, most towns and cities in Libya are reported to be under the control of the Libyan opposition and not the government of Muammar al-Gaddafi.

          Muammar al-Gaddafi has ruled Libya as the Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution since overthrowing the monarchy in 1969. Following the retirement of Fidel Castro in 2008 and the death of Omar Bongo in 2009, Gaddafi is the world's longest ruling non-royal head of state. Traditionally, Libya is divided by clans, whom a strong leader like Gaddafi seeks to pacify. WikiLeaks' disclosure of confidential U.S. diplomatic cables has revealed U.S. diplomats there even speaking of Gaddafi's "mastery of tactical maneuvering". While placing relatives and loyal members of his tribes in central military and government positions, he skillfully marginalized supporters and rivals, thus maintaining a delicate balance of powers, stability and economic developments. This chess game extends even to his own power-hungry children, as he changes affections to avoid the rise of a clear successor and rival.

Petroleum revenues contribute up to 58% of Libya's GDP, leading to a resource curse. Governments with "resource curse" revenue have a lower need for taxes from other industries and consequently are less willing to develop their middle class. To calm down opposition, such governments can use the income from natural resources to offer services to the population, or to specific regime supporters. The government of Libya can utilize these techniques by using the national oil resources.

In "How Qaddafi Lost Libya", The New Yorker's Andrew Solomon reported that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was an "absolute failure" in achieving reforms. Libya's oil wealth was spread over a relatively small population of six million, Solomon explained, and Gaddafi did not fulfill "even the most basic government obligations" or address unemployment. Libya’s unemployment is the highest in the region at 21%, according to the latest census figures.

          However, Gaddafi's government has also had more economic progress than other Arab countries. Libya's purchasing power parity (PPP) GDP per capita in 2010 was US$14,878; its human development index in 2010 was 0.755; and its literacy rate in 2009 was 86.8%. These numbers were lower in Egypt and Tunisia. Indeed, Libyan citizens are considered well-educated and rich. Its corruption perception index in 2010 was 2.2, which was worse than that of Egypt and Tunisia, two neighboring countries who faced uprising before Libya. This specific situation creates a wider contrast between good education, high demand for democracy, and the government's practices (perceived corruption, political system, supply of democracy.

Film- Age of Innocence

        That is a good movie to see

       I cannot forget when the music plays, the beautiful flower is full of the whole screen, this flower is in full bloom and very brilliant as if all the beautiful things are come out at this time. I think that is the age of innocence. That is the life I pursued. It is an excellent movie I have even seen.

       The flowers represent all the flashy things, although they are beautiful, it has to fade someday, as if the good thing is not constant. The characters’ clothes are very amazing and shinning. They are in the top social status. So when I saw people in those clothes, I know their social status. But I can learn something behind this grace and decent life quickly, that is, people are hypocritical and affected. The theme in this movie is not light or happy but very heavy. I cannot see the sunny day in this film but I can see the cloudy day, just like people are under the limit of society. All the people are surrounded by the atmosphere of pressure.

        When the Ellen told Newland:” if you love me, you have nothing at all”, their love is not permitted in the society, Newland has wife, his wife, May, she is the kind woman, and she know her husband loves other woman.  She did not say anything until she died. People are restricted by the moral and ethic issue. When they want to go out of New York, Ellen said that:” no matter where we go, our love cannot be allowed to develop”.  Those conversations tell us people under this society, their love is limited, and their passion is limited. They must obey the rule of society, although they do not say it.

         Ellen loves Newland, and she can gain insight into Newland. Ellen likes freedom although she is under this society which is not allowed people to pursue their life. But she runs out of Europe to look for her life. She never covers her love to Newland but still keep her dignity in the society. Her clothes are dark red. She is filling with passion to Newland but her love cannot be accepted by the society.

         When it comes to Newland, I cannot know how he loves his wife. I am sure he loves Ellen. At this moment, he does not give up his wife and still treat her as his wife. Even he and Ellen plan to run out of the country, when he knows his wife get pregnancy, he stays with his wife. He often wear suit in the film,  suit give people a feeling that the person is very formal and square, but suit also present us that there is no way to reach the goal- staying with lover forever.

          It is a good movie to see. It has amazing dress and wonderful scene that we cannot forget. I never have seen the movie like this. It can help us to get a better understanding about life and love.

I have fantastic experience with it- Spring Festival, ENJOY IT!

Rise of Education lifts Arab Youths’ Expectations

          Youth unemployment is one of the serious reasons that cause the unrest in Middle East. This is the time when more people get higher education than before, but the number of unemployed people is still increasing. This phenomenon causes a revolution in this area.

          One of the youth, Jihad Abdulah Al Ammar, 27, said that he wants to get a job that he is interested in. He also has a real plan that he wants to build a company which help consumer make better decision. However, the government gives little help or support to the young entrepreneurs.

         The government would like to send talents to go abroad, but when they come back. They find that nothing has changed. There is still no job waiting for them. More students thought this is not good for them.

         They were in a dilemma where they want to create new jobs by themselves without any support by government and they want to get a job from the country with little chance, although they are well- educated.

         The top economist for the GCC, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg, said that it makes perfect sense for private business. Imported labor is routinely paid less, from one-third to one-half of the wages that Saudi university graduates expect and demand.

         Because they are cheap labor and well-educated, most businesses would hire these foreign workers. The problem in Saudi Arabia in not that you are not creating enough jobs, but they happen to go to foreigners. That is a big challenge. It is a national challenge.

Egyptian celebrate in Cairo

          The president of Egypt Mubarak and his family has been moved out of the capital in 11^th Feb. He has resigned the president and military has taken over the power from him. The vice president of Egypt said that the president decided to resign during the tough time of the country. The president gave the supreme committee of military power to take charge of internal affairs. Some witness said that more than two helicopter has taken off from the president palace.  Egyptian celebrated this news at anywhere. In Cairo, so many people get together to hug each other to present their happiness.

         The military claimed that they will support Mubarak policy about regime that should be in peaceful transition. They also ensured that they will carry out all the promises Mubarak made. They guaranteed that people can vote president according to the just principle after the emergency time. And judicial agency will decide who can win this election. But they asked protestor to come back work and make sure all of them have an ordinary life as usual.  

          Mubarak addressed that the constitution will give part power to the vice president. He required some parts of constitution on president election must be modified. He said:” I will not leave Egypt but die in Egypt”.

          European Union diplomatic representative claimed:” Egyptian’s need and wish must be met; they will give help to them when they needed. UN Secretary Ban Ki-Moon said that president election in Egypt must be carry out in the principle of transparency that includes free, trustful and just election.

          It has been 18days since 25^th Jan. The president palace and Television station has been surrounded by tanks and protection net in order to prevent protestors to rush in it.

In Arab Conflicts, The Young Are The Restless

In Arab Conflicts, The Young Are The Restless

          The uprising in Egypt has not been shut down, Arab youth were rebelling. They gave out their dissatisfication about their current situation, especially for the young people. They want jobs, but the unempolyment rate has been rising in recent years. Some young people who college-educated and ambitious and want to accomplish something with their lives. "But the jobs aren't out there, so we have to be taxi drivers." as they say so.

          Their complaints are sometimes greater than their elders. One effect of the recent downturn has been a spike in youth unemployment that is much greater than for the workforce as a whole. because of the economic shrink, they do not have chance to catch jobs. Besides, the youth is the most important part of society. Unempolyment is the global problem. And this problem is particularly acute in Arab countries, where unemployment rates remain among the world's highest — and there are lots of young people.

          Authority of job creation department said that country that has many young population can enjoy " youth advantage", by by investing in education and putting their young people to work. They are abundant human capital. But most of the countries now experiencing a youth bulge – places like sub-Saharan Africa, parts of Latin America and Pakistan and Afghanistan – are not creating enough jobs to keep up with population growth. That is the conflict between the rate of population and number of job. Those countries which enjoy the "youth advantage" now under siege have invested heavily in the education of their young people, but have not provided them with enough to do after graduation. But some young people want to get a job when they are graduation. The society push them into school to continue their degree. So, there is still a problem that has not solved by the government.

         Now, government fear that what steps they will move in and what consequence they may get. They would not like to make this conflict maximize. Like Geneive Abdo, an analyst with the National Security Network and the Century Foundation says, "It's almost become a cliche, that there's a youth bulge in the Arab world," "We never realized what the effect of that would be, until now."

Egypt clash-Storm has reached maximize scale

      

        It has been two weeks since Egypt erupting occured. The Egypt has drawn many attention from the world. People in Egypt came to the street and fight for their rights. People bent their knees to beg the president to leave the office. They were yelling that:" You have been President for a long time. Your son should take over your pisition. It is time to leave."

        Two or three days later, the government can not control this situateion, they want to launch military to help. However, the military expense is very expensive per day. Eventually, they launched military in this day, this clash resulted in 1 dead, 611 injured. That is too bad for the people to live in Egypt. This clash has reached the maximize scale.


        The clash has affected tourism in the Egypt. Many people fear to go to Egypt. So the economy has been affected. The country is in the dilemma where people do not know where to go and government do not know how to control this situation.