Human Disorder

Thousands of Egyptians are protesting the overthrow of Tunisian dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in the streets if Cairo and other smaller areas in the Egyptian region. President Honsi Mubarak was greeted with protests for more rights and less violence. Since his election, Egyptians have seen the same problems Tunisians have faced: minimal economic growth, shady security enforcement and a corrupt government.

The Internet

Egyptians are using the internet the same way as Tunisians are: as a power tool. Think Twitter during the recent Iranian lockdown. Egyptians used Facebook as a way to rally and meet on the government’s “Police Day.” The page has over 90,000 fans as is a great example of how modern protesters utilize cyberactivism. The attending protesters didn’t expect a big turnout only to by surprised early morning to find thousands of activists flooding the streets of Cairo. Most protesters were tired of the poor conditions and minimal support from their own government. Tunisia’s overthrown government has sparked many smaller protests in recent weeks.

Problems

Jobless activists protested the conditions and the government as a whole, but used “Police Day” as a sounding board. Police used tear gas and batons to quiet the protest in hopes to suppress larger civil unrest throughout the region. Countries including Tunisia, Yemen and Algeria all face high unemployment and living costs. The Obama administration supports protests, but Secretary of State Hillary Clinton cautioned both sides to refrain from violence.

Egyptians have erupted ever since the change of power in Tunisia and have seen this move as a revolution in some respects. Over 10,000 people walked Cairo’s streets in support of the Egyptian frustration and many have used Tunisia change in power as a catalyst for their own governments. Rising prices, little food and lack of jobs have mixed with a volatile regional recipe.