Common Ground News Service

The Muted Voice: Where Are Tunisia’s Young People?

The Muted Voice: Where Are Tunisia’s Young People?

NOUR AWAISS, CGNEWS: So prominent in the protests that swept over the country last year Tunisia’s young people seem to be absent from public discourse now

 Common Ground News Service

Distant, But No Need to Shout: The Virtual Dinner Guest

Distant, But No Need to Shout: The Virtual Dinner Guest

ALICE HACKMAN, CG NEWS: The aim of the project is to connect people in the US with the rest of the world through dinner-time Skype conversations.

 Common Ground News Service

Arab Israeli National Service Volunteers on the Rise

Arab Israeli National Service Volunteers on the Rise

RUTH EGLASH: The discussion over national civilian service provides an insight into the relationship between Arab citizens of Israel and the state.

 Common Ground News Service

The View from Over Here: Shifting Perceptions of the U.S. Post Arab Spring

The View from Over Here: Shifting Perceptions of the U.S. Post Arab Spring

SALIBA SARSAR: Surveying 3000 people in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and the UAE, the poll assessed attitudes toward US- MidEast relations.

 Common Ground News Service

Urgency for the Rule of Law Rises for Fledgling Post-Arab Spring Governments

Urgency for the Rule of Law Rises for Fledgling Post-Arab Spring Governments

NASSER AL SARAMI, CG NEWS: There is a relationship between the region’s new electoral experiments and the need to establish the rule of law.

 Common Ground News Service

Egyptian Women Continue the Fight

Egyptian Women Continue the Fight

CG NEWS, SALLY ZOHNEY: Radio host and activist Bothaina Kamel, is breaking new ground becoming the first woman in Egypt to run for president.

 Common Ground News Service

Israelis, Palestinians: Refusing to be Enemies

Israelis, Palestinians: Refusing to be Enemies

HAGGAI MATAR: Over the years I have learnt that refusal to serve in the army offers a very strong bridge between Israelis and Palestinians.

 Common Ground News Service

Palestine’s ‘Al Jazeera’ Launched: Timely Indeed

Palestine’s ‘Al Jazeera’ Launched: Timely Indeed

NIDA TUMA, CGNEWS: With the attention of all the major news organisations fixed on the ‘Arab Spring’ revolutions, Palestine has dropped down the news agenda. Ma’an TV is set to address this issue.

 Common Ground News Service

Time for Muslims to Re-Discover their Voices

Time for Muslims to Re-Discover their Voices

SYDNEY SMITH: Most Muslims, it appears, are relieved that bin Laden is gone but how do they deal with the prejudice and suspicion engendered by his deeds?

 Common Ground News Service

Saudi Arabia and Its Women: The Need for Change

Saudi Arabia and Its Women: The Need for Change

MAHA AKEEL: Until Saudi Arabia implements this grassroots renaissance, it will continue to live a dichotomy of modern facilities but mental stagnation.

 Common Ground News Service

Democracy Gets off to ‘a Flying Start’ in Egypt

Democracy Gets off to ‘a Flying Start’ in Egypt

JASON PETRUCCI: An impressive turnout, an engaged electorate, robust debate – the constitutional referendum in Egypt has given the people a taste of real democracy in action.

 Common Ground News Service

The Day My Vote Counted: A Trip Worth Making

The Day My Vote Counted: A Trip Worth Making

HODA OSMAN: How far will you go to exercise your new-found ability to vote? I’ll tell you how far – 5,621 miles which is the distance from New York to Cairo

 Common Ground News Service

Women With Men Directing Winds of Change

Women With Men Directing Winds of Change

CARLA KOPPELL: Women’s role must be honoured in the struggle and protect against the fundamentalist push. Most importantly, their involvement will be key to enabling thriving societies

 Common Ground News Service

Tawakkul Karman: The Woman Leading Yemen’s Protests

Tawakkul Karman: The Woman Leading Yemen’s Protests

ALICE HACKMAN: She has been profiled by leading international publications but long before the world discovered Tawakkul Karman she was battling fearlessly in support of human rights.

 Common Ground News Service

‘Women’s Rights’ Must Be Secured in ‘New Bahrain’

‘Women’s Rights’ Must Be Secured in ‘New Bahrain’

SANA’ MOHAMMAD BIN HAMOUD: Women’s rights campaigners have made impressive advances in Bahrain. However protesters should push further.

 Common Ground News Service

It’s the Youth Taking the Lead in Region’s ‘Renaissance’

It’s the Youth Taking the Lead in Region’s ‘Renaissance’

FARAH I. ABDEL SATER: One outstanding feature of the recent turmoil in Tunisia and now in Egypt is the prominent and active role of the region’s youth.

 Marium Sattar

1001 Inventions Challenge Western Sterotypes

1001 Inventions Challenge Western Sterotypes

MARIUM SATTAR: An exhibition showcasing the discoveries of Islam’s ‘Golden Age’ has attracted visitors in the hundreds of thousands, and helped overturn some pervasive prejudices.

 Sara Reef

…And Our Survey Says: It’s Good to Talk

…And Our Survey Says: It’s Good to Talk

SARA REEF: A major survey conducted across 55 countries to test the state of relations between the Muslim world and the West…

 Hasni Abidi

Why We Must Speak up for Arab Christians

Why We Must Speak up for Arab Christians

HASNI ABIDI: The spate of recent attacks on Christians throughout the Arab world has thrown into focus the urgent need to defend their contribution across all areas of life.

 Joseph Mayton

New, Independent Media Empowering Women

New, Independent Media Empowering Women

JOSEPH MAYTON: Our main supporters are women… The women who want to write – and read -about “real” news stories…