Wednesday, March 23, 2011

What's Happening? How can i join? إيه الممكن أعمله اليومين دول، ومين محتاج مساعدة؟

These are a few of the initiatives i've been involved with. Please circulate and add your own, so more of us are exposed to existing groups and initiatives, can pitch in, and don't re-invent wheels and carettas :)

رداً على أسئلة "أنا ممكن أساعد إزاي"، دي بعض المبادرات العامة والمفتوحة اللي إشتغلت معاها أو سمعت عنها. يا ريت الإضافة والنشر. اللينكس والويب سايتس والمدونات المرفقة كلها بالعربي

I think priorities now are that we (beyond our own interest groups and limited circles) work together to unify our visions as to what to work on next; how we want the parliamentary elections to happen and how we want the constitution to be written, and naturally, mobilize.

Most events and workshops are today, tomorrow and Friday, so please note event times in Bold and Italics.

Please also add initiatives you know of that are interesting or need assistance, and let's spread the love :)

يعيش أهل بلدي وبينهم مفيش تعارف يخللي التحالف يعيش....يعيش يعيش يعيش"أحمد فؤاد نجم"

والله الموفق والمستعان، عليا

1. Working Groups - Politics, Policy and Awareness

Al Rabeta; Shabab Al Thawra Al taqadumy -- الرابطة... شباب الثورة التقدمي

these are a number of academics and activists that have formed a group that is something between a think tank, and a 'working group', and they meet on Saturdays ta2riban. At the moment they are working on planning what hte next steps are adn developing a database of NGOs that will help raise awareness about parliamentary candidates when the time comes. THey had a meeting earlier this monday and was about developing anti-sectarianism working groups.

addition by Amr on political activities;

وبالإضافة للي مكتوب. شغلنا له جانب سياسي له علاقة بالضغط لتحقيق مطالب الثورة وبناء دولة مدنية ديمقراطية تسمح بالسقف الأعلى من الحريات والحقوق ...السياسية والاجتماعية

In 30 Haroun Street, El Dokki. Development Support Centre.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B7%D8%A9/114191081992821?sk=wall

THEY ARE CALLING FOR A MEETING TO COORDINATE VISIONS AND STRATEGIES, INVOLVING REPRESENTATIVES OF MOST MOVEMENTS AND INITIATIVES AND POPULAR COMMITTEES ON TUESDAY, THE 5TH OF APRIL AT 5:30

The Development Support Centre-- مركز دعم التنمية is an NGO that works with grassroots and is aiming to focus on develop a training manual and trianing youth from el legan el sha3beyya in different mu7afzat. If you have heard of Hala and Hani Shukrallah and Mona Abaza; they are the main people in this group. They are meeting this Thursday at 5:00 with legan sha3beyya to see what the youth in these areas need and what htey can offer.

Next meeting thursday at 5:00 pm -- 30 Haroun street, Dokki (near midan el mesa7a, behind seoudi)

he DSC also hosts a group called 'thawret el lotus - who are a very dynamic working group adn did amazing work in mobilizing people, and distributing fliers during the referedum.

their next meeting is on Friday the 25th at 5:00, and is going to be around watching a movie about how to change ideas and information into action.

"ten ways to change ideas into action"

http://www.facebook.com/login/setashome.php?ref=genlogin#!/event.php?eid=198367810183238

THIS EVENT HAS PASSED.

Campaign against Military arrests, torture and tribunals-- A group that is currently working on a campaign to stop the army from arresting and torturing peaceful protestors. They want to start with things like a website with testimonies, and a smart campaign that doesn't denounce the army directly, bas helps keep it accountable , so we don't have another ministry of interior on our hands. Also create an emergency response group once someone is arrested, so mumken nel7a2hum before they are accused of being baltageyya or tried through a military tribunal. And helping innocent people like Amr Abdallah that have already been tried and sentenced get out. Especially that the way the army is operating now, makes the streets an impossible place to protest which is really dangerous. We need to keep the streets as a space for pressure if need be. Let me know if you want to be added to the egroup, bas it's a very dense one, so i suggst you attend the mtng first then decide.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=100994423318027&index=1

contact: "منى" ,

Hisham Mubarak Law Centre, 1 souq el tawfeqeyya street off the 26th of July street, downtown.

THEY HAVE DEVELOPED INTO COMMITTEES ADN WELCOME VOLUNTEERS. SOME INNOCENT DETAINEES SENTENCES HAVE BEEN RECONSIDERED OVER THE LAST WEEK THANKS TO THEIR CAMPAIGNS.

Al Gabha Al Qawmeyya lel 3adallah wal democrateyya -- A new group that is supposed to link different groups, parties and NGOs that work with communities together to try to mobilize bas also unify our vision. Here's a link that describes what they plan to do, and you can email them through this.

First Event: Thursday at 8:00 pm downtown.

http://www.facebook.com/login/setashome.php?ref=genlogin#!/note.php?note_id=10150214523133135

You can contact them here and ask more questions and even apply : info@djabha.org

THEIR FOUNDING MEETING TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY THE 29TH OF MARCH IN THE JOURNALISTS' SYNDICATE.

Civil Society to Monitor the Egyptian Parliament: A new group to monitor the Egyptian parliament when it's formed and hold it accountable. You can contact them at: monitor.Egyptian.parliament@groups.facebook.com or find them at the facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/Egysdp?ref=ts&sk=wall#!/home.php?sk=group_170158549697964

صوتي لبلدي -- Soty Lebalady : An organization that provides awareness sessions as well as materials for raising awareness on parliamentary elections, particularly against vote buying.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_164425766940848

Sa7wa -- صحوة: This seems to be another working group/movement/think tank-ish group whith lots of committees. And invites volunteers for ameeting from 6-9 this Friday fe gahmra , kuleyet Ramesis el banaat.

http://www.facebook.com/Egysdp?ref=ts&sk=wall#!/Al.Sahwa.Movement

Shadow Youth Cabinet: This is mainly a facebook group that brings forth all the different ministries for people to take apart, and encourages the devlopment of a shadow ministry, wehre policies are reconsidered, and structure is studied and researched etc. The idea behind it is that active shadow ministires are created so that ministires are always held accountable for their work and policies. I think this is really really important, bas the group needs to be mobilized and moderated. So far only a few of the ministries are very active.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_139856452744811&ref=ts

It was started up by the Shadow Minister of Housing, who had been active (followed by the government as well as international organizations) for hte last two years;

http://shadowministryofhousing.blogspot.com/

Madd -- مدّ : Specific interest group, looking at policies related to urban planning/urbanism and architecture as well as social issues related to public space and slums etc. http://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?sk=group_132012390202654

اللجان الشعبية للدفاع عن الثورة المصرية

Youth committees in different areas, working on security, awareness and political activity in those areas.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B9%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9/192042760814296?ref=ts&sk=wall

يد واحدة -- شباب من أجل التنمية

Eed Wa7da -- Youth for Development

Working group of many committees, meet on Friday's 3-6 in Saqiet el Sawi.

For more info , contact: eedwa7da@gmail.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eed-Wa7da/202822159734599#!/pages/Eed-Wa7da/202822159734599?sk=info

Waqfeyat al Maadi al Ahleya -- مؤسسة وقفية المعادي الأهلية

This community foundation is working with families of the martyrs on issues related to their legal rights as well as social and financial support. They need volunteers.

تعمل مؤسسة وقفية المعادي الأهلية مع أهلي شهداء ثورة ٢٥ يناير لتحقيق مطالبهم و مطالب الثورة المجيده في المحاكمة السريعة لقتلة شبابنا الأبرار و تميز أهالي الشهداء و إعطائهم حقوقهم المشروعة. و تتعاون الوقفية مع نيابة جنوب و التي تسهل أوراق الشهداء بتوصية من النائب العام بعد التظاهر السلمي أمام مكتبه و الاتفاق مع نائب رئيس نيابة جنوب على الإسراع في المحاكمات؛ كما تعمل وقفية المعادي مع أهالي الشهداء على فتح باب للرزق من خلال مشروعات صغيره لأسر الشهداء اللذين فقدوا عائلهم الوحيد و عمل وقفييات في شكل شهادات استثمار لأولادهم أو أسرهم و تتعاون مع المغربي للعيون لتحويل كل حالات الإصابة بالعيون لأبناء الثورة و إجراء كل العمليات مجانا.

للتطوع و المساعدة نرجو الاتصال بوقفية المعادي من خلال كتابة إيميل إلى مروة الدالي على

marwad@hotmail.com أو الاتصال بمحمود إبراهيم على ٠١٧٥٨٣٣٤٣٥ و ٢٥٢٧٢٤٤٥

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=501362690#!/group.php?gid=13309356718

2. Events

Gosour -- Is an interesting looking NGO, and they are working on developing the "Cairo Debates" regular debates that discuss important issues. There is one today on "What Next" and includes someone from el ikhwan, el wasat, el 2e2telaf (mainly zyad el eleimy) and Amr El Shobaky whose a political analyst; see here.

Next Event Today (Wednesday) , On Pharoahs boat infront of four seasons at 6:30 - 9:30

http://www.facebook.com/Egysdp?ref=ts&sk=wall#!/event.php?eid=206156892744566

E7tegag/Thawret el lotus

group described above: Movie ; Ten ways to change ideas into action ;

Friday at 5:00 at the Development support centre (above)

http://www.facebook.com/login/setashome.php?ref=genlogin#!/event.php?eid=198367810183238

Lagna sha3beyya in Boula2 : Group of youth from Boulaq Are being trained by Jan 25 actvists on aspects of the revolution and discussing 'what next'.

Friday at 2:00 pm, Share3 el sa7afah, infrong of super jet stop, midan el sheikh farag.

Lagna sha3beyya in 7adaye2 el qubba: Group of youth from 7adaye2 el qubba, Are being trained by proffessors on 'what is liberalism , what is secularism' etc.

Friday at 6:00 pm (i'm going let me know if you're interested)

THEY ARE HOLDING A CULTURAL DAY IN THE MAIN GARDEN/SQUARE IN 7ADAYE2 EL QUBBA ON FRIDAY THE 1ST OF APRIL. IT'S AN OPEN EVENT.

3. Websites to connect people and events،can help keep you up to date

i was in a meeting for all websites, bas only took contacts and info of a few, once someone sends the minutes and full contact list i'll share.

مصر دولة مدتية --خريطة المبادرات المختلفة واجان الشعبية الفعالة حسب المنطقة

Map of initiatives by area

http://tiba.crowdmap.com/reports/

El-Midan -- Supposed to link activists together ; Elmidan.com

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

Mobadarat Thawreyya - a website group i'm part of despserately trying to put together a portal that keeps up to date initiatives like the ones above, bas acrss mu7afzat so we all have an idea what's happening where at any given time. If you would like to volunteer to putting an arabic portal together let me know.

Misrena.com -- A website that is being developed to keep people up to date with the events that are going on. They are sitll working on it i think. They are under Volunteersforegypt.com and they can be contacted at Info@misrena.com

Kherna.com -- Am not sure how it is spelt exactly bas they are trying to network between people who want to volunteer for charity and development, and initiatives and NGOs and organizations taht are trying to help people.

Or you can contact korayem83@gmail.com ; i think her name is Myriam.

Masryaom.com: Zyad Ali who is trying to link Egyptians abroad with certain skills to initiatives here in Cairo and help them be useful; this is his email ; zyad@alzwad.com

He may also be working on a TV Channel

4. Media .(There is a DIRE need for forms of media until we can purge mainstream media ; el ahram and channel one and two of lies)

Radio Tahrir; http://www.facebook.com/Egysdp#!/group.php?gid=4689155815

Ibrahim Eissa is preparing to launch a tv channel bas i don't know much about that yet.

I could get you contacts if you think you can contribute with ideas or content, or funding.

Two main ones on the scene that i know of;

5. Political Parties

The Egyptian Social Democratic Pary

Made of prominent figures such as Mohammed Abolghar (leftist activist and academic at cairo u), Samer Soliman (leftist activist, academic at AUC), Ehaab El Kharaat (Psychologist, activist and one of the few people who spoke openly pro the revolution in churches during the events), Dawood abdelsayed, Director, and Sally Thoma and Ziad El Eleimy of 2e2telaaf.

The party's founding meeting was last thursday and they are now developing working groups. They are middle left with a mix of Leftist and liberal values.

http://www.facebook.com/Egysdp?ref=ts&sk=wall

MEETING CALLED FOR THIS SATURDAY AT 11 AM, THE 2ND OF APRIL AT AL NAHDA NGO, RAMESIS. CHECK THE LINK FOR DETAILS.

There is a liberal Party with leftist values that is being found by Amr Hamzawy and helped by Shahir Ishaq. You can keep in touch with Noha Bashir for any info. nohabashir@gmail.com

THEY HAVE JOINED FORCES WITH THE ABOVE PARTY! http://dostor.org/politics/egypt/11/march/29/39111

There is a Green/Envirnomental party ; ta7t al ta2sis. Aims to work as lobby for green/envirnomental issues. Meeting Next Wednesday 30th of March. For more details , contact; enviro-egypt@googlegroups.com

Naguib Sawiris just established a 'liberal/secular' party today (31st of March) called Masr el Haditha. Values seem to be more Liberal, ideology more Capitalist, but it's still forming.

حزب التحالف الشعبي -- Popular Alliance Party : More details here. للمزيد: http://www.facebook.com/popular.alliance.party?sk=wall

6. Art and peformance Groups - performers and performances related to the revolution, also trying to mobilize emotions and wills

Iskenderella of Cairo --They have been singing Imam and Negm and Dawrish songs for years, and most of them are activists. They have a performance fel

Opera, on thursday at 7:00 - THIS EVENT IS OVER.

http://www.facebook.com/Egysdp?ref=ts&sk=wall#!/event.php?eid=197054360327812

Eskenderella of Alexandria -- They hold a series of events on an annual basis under the name 'Zorouny kul sanna mara' this year they will be talking about personal experiences of the revolution as well as poetry adn song.

It will be in Alex, from THursday teh 25th of March, till wednesday the 30th of March

http://www.facebook.com/Egysdp?ref=ts&sk=wall#!/event.php?eid=190246307677398

El Warsha -- A theatre troupe, performing songs, skits, and narratives of experiences of the revolution by activists, and families or martyrs etc.

. 17 Sherif street, downtown THURSDAY THE 31ST OF MARCH , from 8-10 http://www.facebook.com/Egysdp?ref=ts&sk=wall#!/event.php?eid=162731880447598

New Street theatre troupe. A new theatre troupe (that is an off-shoot of rabetat shabab we shabat al thawra); idea is to perform skits related bardo to political issues in public spaces. They had their first workshop/meeting this last Sunday (the 2oth of March) bas if you're interested to join, help or attend workshops, please contact; mai.khalil1212@gmail.com

Al Mastaba - A group of performers from Port Said and Suez and Ismaeleyya, who perform music and songs, particularly resistance once men ayaam '56 and '67, now they've also added, reovlutionary songs that were made up during this period to them.a, Abdin.

El Tanboura Hall: 30 A El Balaqsa Str. Abidin- Downtown - Cairo, for more information, please call 010 3171 76

www.elmastaba.org

THE WHOLE OF CAIRO WILL CELEBRATE THE REVOLUTION AND CALL FOR ITS CONTINUATION ON FRIDAY, THE 1ST OF APRIL. SOME GOVERNORATES (ASSIUT, PORT SAID, MENYA AND OTHER) WILL DO THE SAME. CHECK AL MAWRED'S SITE FOR DETAILS.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5468924317&ref=ts

7. Documenting the Revolution

18 Days In Egypt: A 'crowd-sourcing, crowd-curation' project, and you can contact Ahmed El Laithy (in the comments below) for more details. ahmed.ellaithy@gmail.com

18daysinegypt.com

Archiving the Revolution: A board developed by Khaled Fahmy of AUC to document and archive videos, pictures and stories of the Revolution and eventually make them accessible in the National Archives. Could contact @أحمد غربية for more details: ahmad@gharbeia.org

The University in the Square: AUC project to document the revolution.

http://www.aucegypt.edu/onthesquare

Cultnat initiative to document the revolution, Contact Jan25@cultnat.org

مركز توثيق التراث يوثق البيانات الرقمية المتعلقة بالثورة

http://www.shorouknews.com/ContentData.aspx?id=414026

I am #Jan25 Archive of pictures and videos of January 25 revoluion

أرشيف صور وفيديوهات ثورة يناير

http://iamjan25.com/

مصر تتذكر -- Egypt Remembers

أرشيف شهداء ثورة يناير

Remembering 25th of January Martyrs

Friday, March 18, 2011

A note on Tarek Abdellatif's death - after missing for 6 weeks. By Ahmed Ameen, his cousin

The hardest part of a story to write is always the end. The writer sits and wonders how best to phrase their final words and touch the audience that is to read their story. The hardest ending to a story of all is when you’re talking about the end of someone’s story: their life. Harder still is to write about the violent end to a life. Words cease to become adequate. These words are about the end of one man’s life. A man who gave the ultimate sacrifice for expressing his desire of change like any human has the right to.

This man was Tarek Abdelatif Mohamed AlAktash.

Tarek was 36-years-old. He was happily married with kids and had a wonderful job and a loving family. He lived his life according to his faith and values and always lent a helping hand when needed. He was a man you could lean on in difficult times and a man you could rely on to make you feel better when you were sad. He had no political leanings to the left or right and was not affiliated with any political party, much like countless others living in Egypt prior to the events that began on January 25th 2011. On January 28th, Tarek, along with millions of others in Egypt, took to the streets to express his want of a new governmental system and for change from the 30-year rule of one man and his cronies. Late in the morning he marched towards Tahrir Square to shout out his longing and yearning. He was full of life and vibrantly participating in a revolution, but devastatingly, by eleven p.m. that night, Tarek was dead. Later, it was to be revealed that he was shot in the neck by a 4mm bullet that severed his arteries, killing him instantly. However, Tarek’s story was not over.

By the morning of January 29th, Tarek’s wife had alerted his brothers and family members that Tarek had not come home the night before. Worry hadn’t fully set in for them all yet because during that time, cell phone service had been shut off inside Egypt so it was assumed Tarek had spent the night in Tahrir Square. By the morning of January30th, with no sign of Tarek and no contact from him, his family and friends began to mount a search for him by looking for him in the local hospitals, expecting that he had been injured. Their search led them to the French Qasr Al-Ainy hospital where they were told that all the injured and deceased they had treated and received had been identified and that Tarek was not one of them. Needless to say, relief was the prevalent emotion, but its close companions were worry and the beginnings of fear. If Tarek wasn’t there, where was he?

The next chapter in the story spans almost a month and a half. From January 28th to March 9th, Tarek became one of the most searched for people in Egypt. His story was on local and international news stations. Prominent journalists in Egypt spoke of him on their TV programs. They even had contacts within the military and state security that they exhausted day and night asking about him and his whereabouts. The answers they were given by these governmental entities were conflicting and vague at best. Some claimed Tarek was being held as a prisoner and others said they did not where he was. As the days went by, the hopes of finding Tarek dwindled. Tarek’s wife and family left no stone unturned in the search for him. They became frantic, almost obsessive when looking for him. They knew that every day that passed with no Tarek meant that the likelihood of his wellbeing was jeopardized. The trips to the morgues and hospitals became more frequent and the calls to the military slowly ceased. Tarek’s family could do no more in their search for him. All they could do was pray and hope for a miracle.

On March 9th, Tarek’s brothers received a phone call from a stranger telling them that they knew of Tarek’s whereabouts. When asked where, the man on the phone told them his body was at a morgue. The jarring news hit hard. No one had fully expected that Tarek had died but rather, that he was being held prisoner in an undisclosed location. Tarek’s brothers rushed to the morgue and it was there that the ending to his story was written.