Day one of the Labor Dialogues and here is a summary.
The first two speakers were both body workers...one was from London and an x literary agent and the other was from Egypt and a homeopath. They were both wealthy by any standards and westernized. The revolution was galvanzing and both felt they had to fight for the future because they had young children.
The other speaker was from an institution in chicago called CAIR which has to do with Islamic tolerance in the USA. He is convinced the revolution was fuelled by the youth and didn't mention the unions in his talk...he was right down in Tahir Square, is well spoken and has lots of good stories.
Other people have said the revolution was backed by the CIA because Mubarack wouldn't join in a coalition against Iran.
People are angry the US supports Israel and assume it is a plot against the Muslims...what we are suppose to say is it's a humanitarian crisis.
Made a contact with a woman from Norway on the plane who has been their many times...and has adopted a family of Palestinians whio live in Cairo.
Many people here argue Egypt is poor becaue the people don't have a good work ethic and it has nothing to do with colonialism. If only we worked harder...
Though it is a well known fact the US backed Murbarak and continued to support him right to the bitter end.
The people here are friendly and warm and toursim is way down...which ain't good for a country that employs 10,000,000 in the tourist trade.
Walking by the Nile in the morning is nice...watching the Germans row their Olympic style boats at sunrise is surreal...the golf course in the middle of the embassy district is well taken care of...
The hotel is on an island in the middle of the Nile.
Rarely do you see poor people...
No comments:
Post a Comment