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Twitter, History & Modern Revolutions
Today,
history is being made in the Middle East. The Arabian streets woke up
to the sound of sniper fire as a regime is defending itself, against the
people of its own nation. The flames of anger have been fanned by
decades of corrupt authoritative rule. The growth rate in populations
in the middle east have produced a generation of educated youth.
Revolutionaries in Tibet, Burma and Thailand used the internet and
YouTube as a way to spread the word of what was happening in their
countries during times of civil unrest. Twitter however, as a
revolutionary tool, came of age during the recent protests in Iran,
following the rigged election of 2009.
It was during this failed attempt by the oppressed people of Iran
that both sides learned the power of Twitter. The capacity of
twitter/SMS to allow civilians on the streets and at home to share
information between them was a new tool used by revolutionaries in a new
way. The ability to decentralize communications between demonstrators
electronically became the besieged Governments greatest fear.
Governments are always accused of fighting the last war. In this
case, the people are adapting to newer technology, without needing to
use the old forms of controlled communication. The decentralized nature
of the internet gives the people a new capacity to distribute the news
or changes in plans unlike anything in human history.
A few weeks ago in Tunisia we had an uprising that was so spontaneous
it completely caught everyone by surprise. It happened so quickly,
elements of the government were unable or unwilling to act fast enough
to stop it before the army switched sides and joined the movement.
In Egypt, people have set the current Governments party headquarters
on fire, as a sign of their anger after the government turned off the
internet and twitter. The police and the people are meeting in a surge
of civil war events. The genie of revolution has been released. The
power of what Twitter has unleashed has never been more visible.
When Egypt cut all internet and twitter communications, it was the
true sign of the desperation of the Government now. The autocrat
Governments around the world are trembling this weekend, as the reality
of the last few weeks hits home. Tunisia was not a single event and
Egypt will not be the last.
The people on the streets of Arabia are standing up and shaking off
the shackles of dictatorship. The Egyptian revolution is unfolding in
real time, in front of the world. The Twitter revolution is still
happening, 140 characters at a time, just not in Egypt at this time.
The
implications of this in the world markets are unwritten, but some
obvious thoughts are counter to the market trend of the last 6 months.
This will not be good for emerging markets. Revolutions are bad for
capital investment projects.
Fear is an interesting thing. Once experienced it changes everything,
values become relative. In such a world, the US dollar becomes king
again. The world reserve currency returns to its role as a medium
between all traders. The US Treasury market, all warts included,
becomes the most liquid place to park funds while fear rages in the
emerging markets.
Fear in the market has been on hold during one of the greatest market
bounces in history. That fear may have just returned to the markets.
One twit at a time. The world changes.
»
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Jack H. Barnes
"The flames of anger have been fanned by decades of corrupt authoritative rule."
authoritative: adjective
= reliable because true and accurate
the word you were probably, but unsuccessfully, looking for is
authoritarian: adjective
= favouring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom
Blaming these revolts on The Bernanke is foolish. The monetary policy (of which he is just the messenger boy) was just the last straw that pushed these countries over the edge, they were already teetering as a result of 100+ years of US & British foreign policy & it would have happened sooner or later. Hopefully what will happen in the middle east will be similar to what took place in Latin America, a rejection of US puppets and the establishment of real democracies.
"real democracies"?
not particularly likely to happen, is it? Why should the arabs suddenly change their 2000+ year old habits?
Military takeover? probably
Theocracy? possibly
SHTF? definitely
it was the absence of the internet this time why the street got hit so hard face to face is what counts not twitter people carry twitter not the other way around.
Obama fail.
Obama legitimized Mubarak's speech tonight in his brief press conference.
Even fear that becomes irrational usually has a rational basis. And the basis for fear this cycle is icompatible with the notion of the dollar as a safe haven. The dollar may last longer than some other flawed currencies, but the current fear goes to the heart of the system, and the heart of the system is the dollar.
I have been glued to my computer screen, simultaneously watching Al Jazerra live and visiting one of the top Facebook pages of the Egyptian Revolution. Right after Muby's speech, the comments came rolling in. They are even more pissed off than ever before. Things will intensify in Egypt and all across the Middle East. There a alot of posts from "The Green Movement" in Iran that new efforts will be made soon against the "Iranian Regime."
Absolutly amazing to watch, a GLOBAL revolution over the Internet. Maybe he does deserve the the title "Man of the Year," afterall.
I have been glued to my computer screen
That must be extremely painful.
It would seem to dictate in a country as large as USA that this kind of interaction would have to be regional to be effective--say kike the 12 regional banks of the fed.( oops, typing or Freudian slip?) In the west because of the open spaces a movement like this would be a hop scotch affair concentrated in the larger cities. Perhaps more in the nature of a forest fire than a block by block street fight in the east and south. Just an opinion. Milestones.
Afraid I'm gonna be watching what goes on in the cities in the USA with mixed emotions (from a small town in MN).
What about when the Euro has its day of reckoning, then finally the dollar.. what will they flee to then?
the euro does not have the same problems. the euro is there to stay. when dollar crashes value will flee to gold, usage will be the euro. the euro debt is being bought by china with dollars ! Why would they do that ? What do they gain ?
China wants German technology. and Germany is willing to do business. they have no other choice. expect new surprising partnerships comming out of this.
sure, that must be why miss ben ali took the yellow shiny metal while fleeing instead of the dollar reserves. The dollar causes this shit. these people are poor but educated in the world. this is the youth. they know ...
What justification are the talkin' heads gonna come up with when the DXY (dollar index?) AND the prices of PM's both take a rocket ride?
What justification are the talkin' heads gonna come up with when the DXY (dollar index?) AND the prices of PM's both take a rocket ride?
a) strong fundamentals
b) safe havens
c) richie havens
d) global warming
take your pick.
I'll go with Richie Havens. Much more mellow.
Actually, first instance [of tech assisting live in the street action] was the Phillipines, though admittedly that was not through twitter.
Shit up please.
When revolution happens it happens in one central point, a church - mosque -temple. The Main reason the entire piece of egypt set on fire wasn't a preacher asking for people to kill themselves. It's the same reason my family threw themselves on british fire fights. We talked after church because thing were pure shit.
This isn't the end of this. I'm pretty sure old enemies of 6 hundred years are quite willing to help each other. Ireland was asked alot...ALOT for the empire. Which wasn't given so England should enjoy the last days of sunset unless its germanic friends decide to offer prima noncta again to the rest of its empire...otherwise they should shut the fuck up and let people that fight rule instead of the cock swallowing suburban asses running it all.
It's 11 o'clock and set your watch. Monday is going to be a different day.
Monday is going to be a different day.
Really? Name change or is this part of a general reshuffle?
What's today?
BREAKING NEWS: Saudi demonstration planned for Saturday (today) to protest the corruption and lack of infrastructure in Jeddah after massive floods devastate the city this week!
http://fedupmontrealer.blogspot.com/2011/01/saudi-hiccup.html
The protest is being organized via Blackberry Messenger...
Fuck that. I'll be up there in two hours. One more broadcast and the west of Laval is done and is isn't going to be friendly. This is annoyance bordering on war....
I'm not sure what the problem is with blogging about information that is available via news media and social media...
Isn't that why we're all here?
Screw it. Getting some goons and giving them bus tickets. Would you like your discussion in french, english or barely english. Your choice.
The funny thing is that there are a select few that believe they haven't done enough to contain the situation. As an engineer I believe that is exactly true. I haven't invent something nasty enough yet to make sure the thought pattern is explained to 20 year old boys and 60 year old men. Althought if given the option to.
I have something I have been working on for around twenty years, however mine doesn't hurt anyone. The scottish threat, my bar buddy (smile), has a wicked awful threat. Involves some regular stuff that people use everyday. And with his divorce and lose of practically everything, getting him drunk and keeping him stupid is pretty much all that stand in the way of 360 million people and 36 million people.
Very simple, everyone uses it every day. The odds are based on the 1 in 10 chance of someone doesn't get "X".
Please guess away before my fellow engineer blow his head off an hero's, the correct answer in 12 minutes gets the prize.
Monsanto corn