“Jasmine Revolution”
Symbol of peace: Flowers placed on the barrel of a tank
in very much calmer protests than in recent days in Tunisia

'The Protester' - Time Person of the Year 2011

'The Protester' - Time Person of the Year 2011
Mannoubia Bouazizi, the mother of Tunisian street vendor Mohammed Bouazizi. "Mohammed suffered a lot. He worked hard. but when he set fire to himself, it wasn’t about his scales being confiscated. It was about his dignity." (Peter Hapak for TIME)

1 - TUNISIA Democratic Change / Freedom of Speech (In Transition)


How eyepatches became a symbol of Egypt's revolution - Graffiti depicting a high ranking army officer with an eye patch Photograph: Nasser Nasser/ASSOCIATED PRESS

2 - EGYPT Democratic Change / Freedom of Speech (In Transition)


''17 February Revolution"

3 - LIBYA Democratic Change / Freedom of Speech (In Transition)

5 - SYRIA Democratic Change / Freedom of Speech (In Transition)

"25 January Youth Revolution"
Muslim and Christian shoulder-to-shoulder in Tahrir Square
"A Summary" – Apr 2, 2011 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Religion, Shift of Human Consciousness, 2012, Intelligent/Benevolent Design, EU, South America, 5 Currencies, Water Cycle (Heat up, Mini Ice Ace, Oceans, Fish, Earthquakes ..), Middle East, Internet, Israel, Dictators, Palestine, US, Japan (Quake/Tsunami Disasters , People, Society ...), Nuclear Power Revealed, Hydro Power, Geothermal Power, Moon, Financial Institutes (Recession, Realign integrity values ..) , China, North Korea, Global Unity,..... etc.) -
(Text version)
(Subjects: Egypt Uprising, Iran/Persia Uprising, Peace in Middle East without Israel actively involved, Muhammad, "Conceptual" Youth Revolution, "Conceptual" (without a manager hierarchy) managed Businesses, Internet, Social Media, News Media, Google, Bankers, Global Unity,..... etc.)
"The End of History" – Nov 20, 2010 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll)
(Subjects:Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Muhammad, Jesus, God, Jews, Arabs, EU, US, Israel, Iran, Russia, Africa, South America, Global Unity,..... etc.) (Text version)

"If an Arab and a Jew can look at one another and see the Akashic lineage and see the one family, there is hope. If they can see that their differences no longer require that they kill one another, then there is a beginning of a change in history. And that's what is happening now. All of humanity, no matter what the spiritual belief, has been guilty of falling into the historic trap of separating instead of unifying. Now it's starting to change. There's a shift happening."


"The Timing of the Great Shift" – Mar 21, 2009 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll)(Text version)

“ … Here is another one. A change in what Human nature will allow for government. "Careful, Kryon, don't talk about politics. You'll get in trouble." I won't get in trouble. I'm going to tell you to watch for leadership that cares about you. "You mean politics is going to change?" It already has. It's beginning. Watch for it. You're going to see a total phase-out of old energy dictatorships eventually. The potential is that you're going to see that before 2013.

They're going to fall over, you know, because the energy of the population will not sustain an old energy leader ..."



African Union (AU)

African Union (AU)
African Heads of State pose for a group photo ahead of the start of the 28th African Union summit in Addis Ababa on January 30, 2017 (AFP Photo/ Zacharias ABUBEKER)

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela
Few words can describe Nelson Mandela, so we let him speak for himself. Happy birthday, Madiba.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Arab Idol favourite Mohammed Assaf carries hopes of Palestinians into final

Gaza refugee becomes symbol of national pride as millions across Arab world prepare to watch last leg of TV talent show

guardian.co.uk, Harriet Sherwood in Jerusalem,  Friday 21 June 2013


Thousands of Palestinians are expected to crowd into cafes, hotels and open-air venues on Friday evening to watch three finalists compete for the title of Arab Idol, in the fervent hope that a 23-year-old from a Gaza refugee camp is declared the winner on Saturday.

Mohammed Assaf, who is thought to be the favourite to win the TV talent show, has enthralled viewers from Gaza, the West Bank and the entire Palestinian diaspora with his rendition of traditional songs – some lamenting the loss of his homeland – and his self-effacing charm. For many in Palestine, enduring a grinding existence under occupation, Assaf has come to symbolise hope and national aspiration.

The series has attracted millions across the Arab world. In Gaza and the West Bank, posters of Assaf are plastered across walls and billboards, and T-shirts bearing his face and the number three – assigned to him in the SMS voting system – are a common sight.

Public figures, including President Mahmoud Abbas, have urged Palestinians to vote enmasse by text message for the local boy. According to Reuters, Abbas has instructed Palestinian embassies to urge expatriates to vote for Assaf, calling the singer "the pride of the Palestinian and Arab nation". Two mobile phone companies have offered cut-price texts for viewers.

Palestinians smoke nargila under a poster depicting singer Mohammed Assaf \
on a wall of a house in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip Photograph:
Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/REUTERS

The acclaim is not quite universal, however. Some conservative Islamic groups, including Hamas, disapprove of the western-style Arab Idol. "There has been no direct criticism, but we hear that some sheikhs at Friday prayers don't like this," his older brother, Shadi, a taxi driver, told the Guardian last month. "There are always some enemies of success."

Assaf, who has six siblings, was born in Libya, but his parents returned to Khan Younis refugee camp in Gaza when he was four. He performed at weddings and family parties as a child. In some of his television appearances for Arab Idol he has sung wearing the traditional Palestinian scarf –the keffiyeh.

Friday night's show, broadcast live from Beirut, will see the three finalists perform for the last time, with results announced on Saturday night. Competing against Assaf are Ahmed Jamal from Egypt, and Farah Youssef, a female singer from Syria.

Last year's winner was given a lucrative recording contract and a car.

Posted by Cempaka at 1:49 AM
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