Common Ground News Service

The Fear Business: Listening & Speaking Break Cycle

ARIEL KATZ, CGNEWS: It’s much easier to attack ‘the other’ when you don’t hear their stories and don’t see their pain.

 Steve Royston

Wasted Potential: Let’s Revolutionise Education

Wasted Potential: Let’s Revolutionise Education

STEVE ROYSTON: The ‘Education Industry’ as I call it is failing to deliver and everywhere you look there is clear evidence of same. I have some ideas

 Editor, MEP

Mobile Phones: Who Controls What?

VIDEO: Al Jazeera’s Rob Reynolds reports from Los Angeles on what it is about clever phones that gets so many people, so excited.

 Mich Cafe

Dead Tweets: Citizen Journalists Pay the Price

Dead Tweets: Citizen Journalists Pay the Price

MICH CAFE: With traditional media officially locked out of Syria since the start of the revolution there in March 2011, citizen journalism has taken over the mantle, at a great cost.

 Mich Cafe

Time To Stand Up and Fight for Internet Liberty

Time To Stand Up and Fight for Internet Liberty

MICH CAFE: The democratic freedoms enabled by access to the internet are under threat from a variety of sources.

 Mich Cafe

Traffic Offenders: A Shortcut to Wipe Out Dubai Debt

Traffic Offenders: A Shortcut to Wipe Out Dubai Debt

MICH CAFE: While reading a recent article on traffic offences a brainwave hit me – the offenders could play a key role in wiping out Dubai debt

 Syria News Wire

365 Days That Changed Syria Forever

365 Days That Changed Syria Forever

SYRIA NEWS WIRE: It began with a small demonstration by young people in Deraa. The flames have spread and now engulf the nation.

 Steve Royston

The State is the Beast: An Angell on Economics

The State is the Beast: An Angell on Economics

STEVE ROYSTON: An Angell visited the other day. Not one with wings, but a Welshman with a biting tongue and the rhetorical skills of David Lloyd George.

 Syria News Wire

ISyria’s ‘e-Revolution’: It’s A Constant Game of ‘Cat and Mouse’

ISyria’s ‘e-Revolution’: It’s A Constant Game of ‘Cat and Mouse’

NEWS FROM SYRIA: At first the authorities in Syria were caught unawares at how ‘new technology’ was used against them. But they caught on quickly.

 Ramzy Baroud

Israel’s ‘Nice Little War’: Gaza, Egypt in Range of Fire

Israel’s ‘Nice Little War’: Gaza, Egypt in Range of Fire

RAMZY BAROUD: Why is Israel bent on discrediting Egypt, exploiting the most sensitive period of its modern history, and destabilizing the border area?

 Michael J. Totten

Ex Brotherhood Members Speak Out

Ex Brotherhood Members Speak Out

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: What exactly is the Muslim Brotherhood’s ‘game-plan’ for Egypt? One way of finding out is to talk to former loyalists…

 Lauren

Humiliation and Degradation: Easter at Qalandiya

Humiliation and Degradation: Easter at Qalandiya

LAUREN: “Tourists will see, firsthand, what Israel does not want internationals to see: the humiliation and degradation that takes place at checkpoints. They will be treated as animals as well…”

 Zeinobia

Syrians Protest in Front of the Ministry of Interior

Syrians Protest in Front of the Ministry of Interior

ZEINOBIA: Writer Belal Fadl was right when he said yesterday that no one can appreciate how brave those who participated in the protests are, save those who know Syria.

 Zeinobia

#Feb 3 : Al Tahrir Battle 2, Death Toll Reaches 4

#Feb 3 : Al Tahrir Battle 2, Death Toll Reaches 4

ZEINOBIA: Here are the latest updates in Al Tahrir Battle 2. It is the second battle our protesters have faced against the regime after Tuesday January 25.

 Rachel McArthur

Coming Together: Why I’m Proud to be Egyptian

Coming Together: Why I’m Proud to be Egyptian

RACHEL MCARTHUR: Now I must admit that phrase had somewhat lost its meaning over the years. The government made its people lose the will to care.

 Steve Royston

Arabic: Why it’s Failing, What Can be Done

Arabic: Why it’s Failing, What Can be Done

STEVE ROYSTON: What troubles Arab intellectuals is that the use of the Arabic language is declining. There’s an Arabic interface for Facebook, yet 75% of Arab users prefer the English.

 American Bedu

Saudis Will Resist Women Drivers, Legal or Not

Saudis Will Resist Women Drivers, Legal or Not

CAROL FLEMING: The movement to allow women to drive in Saudi appears irresistible. There’s lots to be done, however, to improve male attitudes.

 Ahmed-Al-Omran

The Wait is Over: New Saudi Online Law Unveiled

The Wait is Over: New Saudi Online Law Unveiled

AHMED AL OMRAN: The wording may be clunky but the intent is clear. The Ministry of Culture and Information is looking to extend its control.