The statistics I've heard reported for Cairo (a city of 18 million) is that 50% of male college grads have been unemployed for 2+ years and 90% of female college graduates have experienced unemployment for 2+ years.
The overall literacy rate for Egypt is around 70%. In Cairo, it's 52%.
@Cycloptichorn,
One of eight jobs in Egypt derives from tourism, before (I assume) the multiplier effect. Hit them in the pocketbook is an acceptable solution?
@realjohnboy,
realjohnboy wrote:
One of eight jobs in Egypt derives from tourism, before (I assume) the multiplier effect. Hit them in the pocketbook is an acceptable solution?
Yes, that's absolutely correct. I don't know what's hard to understand about this concept. You can't expect dramatic change to happen when all those who are currently fat and happy off of the current corrupt situation are sitting at home enjoying the benefits they typically do.
Cycloptichorn
@Cycloptichorn,
You have a fairly good point there. However, I believe the likely political winner in the case of Egypt won't do much to alter that situation. You have only to consider the situation In Iran.
@georgeob1,
At this point, I believe that the situation is fluid enough to prevent any real predictions.
Cycloptichorn
@Cycloptichorn,
That's very commendable Cyclo. We all admire your bravery.
Maybe the protesters thought Mr Mubarak was a push over and would desert his post for a luxurious retirement abroad as the Tunisian leader did.
@realjohnboy,
True; tourism is a huge part of Egypt's economy. The multiplier effect is tremendous!
@cicerone imposter,
Tourism accounts for 11% of the Egyptian economy.
@Cycloptichorn,
Cycloptichorn wrote:
At this point, I believe that the situation is fluid enough to prevent any real predictions.
Cycloptichorn
Probably so. However, I'm willing to bet that Mubarak won't leave office on the schedule of the current protesters - he'll do it on something closer to his own schedule.
@Ceili,
Seems more like 12.5% (1 out of 8), plus the multiplier effect which is unknown.
On top of their high unemployment, that makes them struggling to feed themselves and their families.
The anti-Mubarak demonstrations are understandable.
6:00pm GMT: Al-Jazeera's Sherine Tadros and Evan Hill say it appears that the army has fired warning shots into the air close to Tahrir Square.
The gunfire, widely reported on Twitter, appears to have come after an attempt by the army to block an entrance to the square was disrupted by protesters.
And from Al Jazeera
8:52pm GMT+2 Reports of human chains created to block the army tanks from entering the Tahrir Square.
@cicerone imposter,
you're looking at employment % and ceili is talking about the overall economy.
@georgeob1,
I agree.
6:19pm: AFP reports that Vice President Omar Suleiman has rejected calls to take on Mubarak's powers.
@realjohnboy,
realjohnboy wrote:The world media has been obsessed with Tahir Square for 2 weeks.
my friend and her family came back from Cairo yesterday. almost all of her comments in the last 12 - 24 hours have been in regard to the media and her feeling that this is primarily a media $ event. I definitely want to talk to her more about this tomorrow.
@georgeob1,
georgeob1 wrote:
Cycloptichorn wrote:
At this point, I believe that the situation is fluid enough to prevent any real predictions.
Cycloptichorn
Probably so. However, I'm willing to bet that Mubarak won't leave office on the schedule of the current protesters - he'll do it on something closer to his own schedule.
My guess is that his primary concern at this point is finding a safe haven for himeself, his money and his family. He's enriched himself and his family to the tune of 50 billion or more; he's not going to make a move without some sort of guarantees.
Cycloptichorn
9:26pm GMT+2: In a new travel advisory, the state department recommends that US citizens avoid travel to Egypt at this time.
On February 1, the Department of State ordered the departure of all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members from Egypt. US citizens should consider leaving Egypt as soon as they can safely do so, due to ongoing political and social unrest.
US citizens who wish to depart Egypt should proceed to the airport and secure commercial passage out of the country. Cairo airport is open and operating, and commercial airlines are reporting flight availability from Cairo. Commercial flights are also operating from Luxor, Alexandria, and Aswan airports...
From the Guardian
7:38pm GMT: Egyptian-American Nobel laureate Ahmed Zewail has added his weight to the calls for Mubarak to step down to help end the standoff with the protesters, AP reports.
Zewail, who has been living in the United States, returned to Egypt on Sunday and met with government officials and young protesters to help mediate a resolution as protests continued for a 13th day.
"I call on President Hosni Mubarak, leader of the largest country in the Middle East, to give up power to another leader and make history in the Middle East," he said at a news conference ...
"We are at a crossroads in Egypt and we need a clear vision," said Zewail, who has called for political and educational reforms in Egypt in the past.
He said he was optimistic after meeting with young protesters for seven hours to understand their demands.
Zewail said he believed a solution would involve amending the constitution, setting a timeline for free elections, canceling emergency laws, freeing political prisoners and respecting press freedom.
7:50pm GMTJack Shenker reports on the statements demanding change coming from youth groups within Tahrir Square:
Jack Shenker
A number of statements are now emerging from youth groups within Tahrir - as the Guardian's story on decision-making in the square explained yesterday, it's hard to measure the extent to which each one represents a consensus viewpoint from within the crowds, though most have very similar demands and all call for the immediate removal of Hosni Mubarak. The latest is from the 'coalition of youths of the wrath revolution', from a press conference they gave at the offices of independent Egyptian daily newspaper Al Shorouk. It appeals for the immediate release of all political prisoners and argues that 'someone who has killed more than 300 youths [and] kidnapped and injured thousands more' is not really entitled to a 'dignified exit'.
Here's the statement itself:
Press Conference in El-Shorook Newspaper Headquarters
Fellow great Egyptian citizens ... We are your your daughters, your brothers and sisters who are protesting in Tahrir square and other squares of Egypt, promise you not to go back to our homes until the demands of your great revolution are realized.
Millions have gone out to overthrow the regime, and so the matter goes beyond figures in particular to the whole administration of the Egyptian State, which was transformed from a servant of the people to a master of the them.
We have heard the president's disappointing speech. And really someone who has killed more than 300 youths, kidnapped and injured thousands more is not entitled to brag about past glories. Nor are his followers entitled to talk about the President's dignity, because the dignity life and security of the Egyptian people is far more valuable than any single person's dignity no matter how high a position he holds.
Our people live though tragedy for a week now, since Mubarak's regime practiced a siege against us, releasing criminals and outlaws to terrorize us, imposing a curfew, stopping public transportation, closing banks, cutting off communications and shutting down the internet .. But if it was not for the courage of Egyptian youths who stayed up nights in the People's Committees it would have been a terrible tragedy.
We want this crisis to end as soon as possible and for our lives and our families' lives to get back to normal, but we do not trust Hosni Mubarak in leading the transitional period. He is the same person, who refused over the past 30 years any real political and economic reforms, and he hired criminals to attack Tahrir square and the peaceful demonstrators there, killing dozens and enjuring thousands – including women, elderly, and children.
Also, we will not allow the corrupt to remain in charge of the state institutions; therefore, we will continue our sit-in until the following demands are realized:
1- The resignation of the President and by the way this does not contradict the peaceful transition of power nor the current constitution which allows and organizes this process.
2- the immediate lifting of the state of emergency and releasing all freedoms and putting an immediate stop to the humiliation and torture that takes place in police stations
3- the immediate dissolve of both the Parliament and Shura Council
4- forming a national unity government that political forces agree upon which manages the processes of constitutional and political reform
5- forming a judicial committee with the participation of some figures from local human rights organizations to investigate the perpetrators of the collapse of state of security this past week and the murder and injury of thousands of our people.
6- Military in charge of protecting peaceful protestors from thugs and criminal affiliated with the corrupt regime and ensuring the safety of medical and nutritional convoys to civilians
7- the immediate release of all political detainees and in their forefront our colleague Wael Ghoneim
@Cycloptichorn,
Quote:My guess is that his primary concern at this point is finding a safe haven for himeself, his money and his family. He's enriched himself and his family to the tune of 50 billion or more; he's not going to make a move without some sort of guarantees.
that goes to show how poorly educated you are on this subject...Mubarak thinks that he is a national hero, he has no intention of leaving the office of dictator on any other terms but his own, and no intention of leaving the Egypt that he loves. He will stay, and demand that he be accorded the reverence that he deserves...according to him.
Which is why he needs to be rousted from his bed and put on a plane by the military...who so far show no inclination towards doing that.
