Episode 37 - The Egyptian Revolution and US

West Philadelphia's community radio station, WPEB 88.1 FM, presents Radio Against Apartheid - amplifying voices for justice and equality in the Middle East.

Featuring music by M.I.A., Elaine Brown, and Arabian Knightz with MC Gaza and MC Amir.
 

On this week's podcast, DJ Ev Daddy and Matt Graber have an exclusive interview with Alshima Helmy, an Egyptian activist and blogger who was in Tahrir Square of Cairo from the very beginning of the Egyptian revolution.
 

Shimaa gives analysis of the political situation in Egypt, first-hand account of her participation of the Egyptian uprising, and reports on the over 12,000 military trials of Egyptian civilians since SCAF took power in February of 2011.
 

Excerpts:

'on the economic level and the political level, the situation is getting worse [since the uprising], I'm afraid. In terms of social services, for example, and the market, things haven't changed for the better. But actually, it's getting worse. But overall, I think people are much more critical of the military council and the president and people in charge in general, compared to how it was before the revolution, or at the very beginning of the uprising.'

 

'the problems that we are facing right now didn't just start with Hosni [Mubarak] becoming president, but [originate from] the establishment of the military dictatorship in Egypt the [1950's], so you're talking about 60 years and not just three decades.
 

Having visited Occupy encampments across the United States and lectured on college campuses, Shimaa has advice for the people in the United States:

'It's not about the [courage] of the Egyptian people or their will to change. You are involved in this. Your government is involved in this. Your tax money is getting sent overseas to Egypt to the Egyptian military to support all of these violations. I think this money could be... invested in a better way, whether in Egypt or the United States.'
 

Shimaa is active on Facebook, Twitter, and on her blog. She is also featured in the forthcoming documentary, 'If', by Four Corners Media. Check out her work!
 

Also on the program:
 

- "Deeming him 'threat to state security', Israel bans Addameer founder from travel abroad", by Ali Abunimah at the Electronic Intifada.

- The government of Israel is calling loudly for a military attack on Iran, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding the Obama Administration to commit to a military strike by the end of September.

Yet the military operations are far from a foregone conclusion, with 46% of Israelis opposed to an attack on Iran without a US commitment. Additionally, there is division on the topic even within the Israeli government, and the people of Israel are also showing that they will not quietly allow their government to attack Iran and murder more innocent Iranians.

A document leaked by blogger Richard Silverstein details the Israeli war plans.

- Islamophobia is becoming more prominent throughout the United States, with Uzma Kolby at Salon.com reporting on Tuesday of eight attacks on Muslim and Arab places of worship over the course of the past 11 days. This comes after the massacre of 6 Sikh worshipers in Oak Creek, Wisconsin last week.

Kolby links the recent attacks to hate speech being promoted by politicians such as Rep. Joe Walsh (R., Ill.), Michelle Bachmann, and Peter King. Many of these same hateful and bigoted ideas are promoted in major media, and are featured in prominent billboard ads in San Francisco and New York (both cases in which are sponsored by the organization of Pamela Gellar and Robert Spencer, the American Freedom Defense Initiative).