Monday 16 June 2014

C+

CC ~ The obvious CC for Sisi aside, here's what these two initials may stand for in Egypt today:



CC for Cycling Campaign. It might be of significance to note that this campaign began in Alexandria in 2012 and although it was then both very well-considered and structured a layout, it met with nothing other than closed doors. 


 Now it has been renamed the Sisi Cycling Project after a profile promoting cycling expedition or two.


Although as media will have it, some minister lauded for appearing on his bike dressed in sporty attire was simultaneously criticised since photo showed piles of rubbish strewn all around him of which he appeared oblivious.
This takes us neatly to the

CC Clean-up Campaign. For some unexplained reason residents suddenly appear to have noticed Malaysian students (or perhaps hired help) 



picking up the rubbish and putting it in bins. As shameful and embarrassing as this may appear to be for Egyptians themselves it might well wake up the posher section of society since their contribution to waste in general would appear significantly higher than those who cannot afford much. 

Be it spontaneously brought about or otherwise (jury being out on that score) perhaps everyone will nevertheless feel encouraged and feel they too may have a role to play. Not before time? Perhaps. However, most crucially, the real rubbish problem facing Egypt for decades now is due to councils not picking up the rubbish in the first place so hence we now have a cliff hanger ~ Will they or won't they.


Another C+ stands for City Crime Confrontation, presently targetted at Sexual harassment with its varying degrees; once again as age-old a phenomenon as anyone can remember however one that has become progressively more audacious as well as more highlighted ... and opportunely so in today's climate. Youths are being branded with stencilled 'asbo' (anti-social behaviour order) slogans on their clothes and thus shamed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lF50lGY-Bk



So C+ would appear to be of Considerable Comfort to all Citizens or have we left any out? ~ Perhaps many who may well have taken part or who were affiliated with a Cycling and a general Clean-up Campaign 'of sorts' since 2011?


Chomsky keeps it real with his timeless quote and the great C+s are kept well confined within perimeters that may well  have parameters of their own.
May there be a hope and a chance, yes, CHANCE with more than one capital C for all those mentioned who still remain in Ccells to Ccycle around, reCcycle and take part in Ccorrecting Ccountry and Cconstitution without Ccombat ~ to do so openly and freely and not from behind Cclosed doors. 
Please forgive the involuntary stuttering effect.

Thursday 12 June 2014

Where Light and Shadow meet



"IF you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint', then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." Van Gogh
amiT
All the 'quashing' and stifling of breath going on today that so many appear to find necessary in order to instil national security may well be to the detriment of all 'voice' in the very near future and therefore there are those who plod on as it is just about all that anyone may have left: By voice I mean 'peaceful talk'; 'unarmed banter' be it light or heavy; simply 'empathic solidarity voiced and felt' ~~~  if for no other reason than to endure. 


cropped from #Grenoble
Perhaps we have little to hold onto but our voice is a human right as basic a need as air, water and food. Let's call it our rainbow and let's allow it to light up the heavy skies and keep ourselves hopeful in spite of whatever storm may or may not come our way.
amiT


Or on a lighter note, Edvard Munch may have had his 'The Scream' inspired by nothing more than a pebble on the beach as indeed found the other day

As for the imprisonment of journalists: Officials have recently declared their release  would 'drown' Egypt:

Yet the following is in lieu of charges that cannot be made since there can be no evidence exhibited other than: 
"Pieces of equipment commonly used by broadcast journalists, such as cameras and tripods, have been paraded in front of the court as if they were bloodied murder weapons"
"The case has drawn international condemnation. Human rights groups have called it a political show trial that demonstrates just how far the Egyptian authorities will go to crack down on dissent."
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jailed-al-jazeera-reporters-plead-for-release-in-egypt/

A journalist who I wish not to name here, referred to Egypt as the 'Bermuda Triangle for human rights.' And furthermore added: 'This is one of Egypt's worst years for human rights on record. Let's look at the facts: Thousands of dissidents & government critics have been locked up & are serving time in prison. Courts have handed down mass death sentences after unfair trials and we're receiving new reports of enforced disappearances, torture & other ill treatments."
With all the above resonating in our very consciousness, we carry on and continue to view images aggrandising police officers rescuing a rape victim. 'Indeed they are honourable men no doubt.' 


But why is it that such opportune propaganda has a way of shining on shadows?