2011’s Amazing Women of the Year
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMMED: How could I possibly include all the women who filled our headlines over the past 12 months, for bravery and impact?
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.
Egypt: SCAF “Teargas” Claim An Insult to Victims
RANIA AL MALKY: No apology will suffice to reverse the insult that such a blatantly false claim has dealt to the memory of the victims…
Bassiouni: Let People Think for Themselves
STEVE ROYSTON: It seems to me the period of reflection should be accompanied by one of restraint by opinion formers – in the mosques and in print.
Syria: Young Goalkeeper Leads Homs Protest
JAMES M. DORSEY: A promising young footballer has emerged as the voice of protest in the Syrian city of Homs. He has become a key target for the regime’s security forces.
Syrian Regime Looks to Soccer for Support
JAMES M. DORSEY: ‘Bread and circuses’ are what the Roman emperors offered the people. ‘Bullets and soccer’ are what the Syrian regime appear to be offering today.
Internet: The Ramification Beyond Connections
ALEXANDER MCNABB: Mai and I were so busy examining the implications for the broadband market we missed the wider implications… This had the ability to bring down governments.
Saudi Women: The Power & Limitation of Social Media
MAHA AKEEL, CGNEWS: It’s clearly enabled women in the Middle East in particular to express their views more vocally but there are limits to what social media can achieve in effecting real change.
Women in Saudi: The Drive for Rights Continues
NATANA J.DeLONG-BAS, CGNEWS: The campaign to improve women’s rights in the Kingdom has focused on the issue of driving but progress is being quietly made in other areas of Saudi life.
So What Now for Saudi Arabia’s Female Drivers?
SUSIE OF ARABIA: The ‘DWF’ (‘Driving While Female’) campaign has gained some serious momentum in the Kingdom. Let’s remind ourselves of the reasons why we need to get behind it.
People Strike Back: Syrian Activists Take Up Arms
NEWS FROM SYRIA: Syrian forces are facing armed resistance for the first time. Will this provide the government with an opportunity to ‘divide and conquer’?
Interview: Arabs’ Got Talent’s Amr Qattamesh
RACHEL MCARTHUR: Being part Egyptian, I’m happy to say I was the first UAE-based writer to interview the performer. Here’s what Amr Qattamesh had to say.
Citizen Journalists Provide Main Reporting on Syria
SYRIA NEWS WIRE: With well-respected wire journalists expelled by the authorities in Damascus the only on-the-ground reports that are emerging are via mobile phones and YouTube. There’s much room for speculation and rumour.
Egypt Celebs Say No, Will they Convince Others?
RACHEL MCARTHUR: Public figures and celebrities are using their fame not only to encourage the public to vote, but to push for them to vote “no”.
A Billion Images is Worth a Trillion Words
STEVE ROYSTON: If it is possible to build a Wikipedia in ten years, is it not also possible to build a disciplined, structured resource that delivers images – both moving and static – in a similar manner?
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
Riyadh Book Fair Debacle is Nothing More Than Theater
ROB L. WAGNER: Religious conservatives’ disruptive behavior at the Riyadh Book Fair illustrates the Saudi government’s acceptance of intolerance as long as it doesn’t interfere with its push to modernize the country.
Bader Young Entrepreneurs: Good Initiative, But Why the ‘Young’?
MICH CAFE: Despite initial skepticism, Mich Cafe finds much to like in a program that promotes entrepreneurship through education, finance and networking.
Bahrain: Retaining Reason in a Battle of Emotions
STEVE ROYSTON: It’s 4am. Outside my window there’s a full moon , the harbinger of madness. Cocks are crowing and the thak-thak-thak of nearby helicopters has woken me.
Paper View: Arab Media at a Turning Point
CROSSROADS ARABIA: The passion for journalism remains, but today’s younger generation of aspiring journalists would be more picky as to where they would work…
