Presentation I gave at Plymouth State University on 11/15/11 in New Hampshire

1. Youth Movements changing the world from
the Arab Spring to Occupy Wall Street
by
Dr. Whitney Howarth
Plymouth State University
11/15/11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnFy1luxL0A

2.  Why are Arab and American youth taking to the street,
engaging in civil disobedience, and shaking up the
world?
 Something is happening now in the Middle East and
throughout the United States as citizens come
together to protest political corruption,
unemployment, corporate greed, and global recession.
 REJECT APATHY! BE INFORMED! GET READY!

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6S8iQ5KSkU

4. “Spring” is a political term used historically to refer to those
moments in history when a nation or region has experienced a
period of ‘liberalization’ or democratization, especially after a
period of harsh political repression.
The Springtime of the Peoples, 1848 Europe
The Prague Spring, 1968

5.  poverty
 corruption
 unemployment
 censorship
 state sponsored violence against civilians
 the lack of democratic institutions.

7. Demonstrations = rallies, marches, parades, millions take to
public squares to chant/pray/sing, sit-ins and sometimes mob
riots
Protest in the streets = sometimes peaceful, sometimes
violent/disorganized. People demand the end of oppression.
Civil disobedience = strikes, boycotts, wide-spread arrests
Social Media = use of Facebook, iphones, twitter, blogs,
internet videos/photos, chats organizing/communicating to
raise political consciousness about censorship, etc.
Violent reprisal from authorities = police violence, soldiers
shooting civilians in the streets, censorship, political
prisoners tortured, enemies of the state have ‘disappeared’

13. Tawakkol Karman
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Leymah Gbowee
Yemen
Liberia Liberia
"for their non-violent struggle for the safety of
women and for women’s rights to full participation
in peace-building work"
http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/10/07/world/middleeast/100000001099458/timesc
ast--yemeni-woman-wins-nobel.html

14. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/headlines/content/20111021STO30027/html/The-Arab-
Spring-wins-Sakharov-Prize-2011

15. Sakhorav Prize for Freedom of Thought: This award reaffirms parliament’s
solidarity and firm support for their struggle for freedom, democracy and the end of
authoritarian regimes,” he said, adding that their actions were “a symbol for all those
working for dignity, democracy and fundamental rights in the Arab world and beyond
Asmaa Mahfouz (Egyptian Youth Movement) She used Twitter, youtube and
Facebook to mobilize protestors to demand their rights in Tahrir Sq.
Ahmed al-Zubair Ahmed al-Sanusi (Libyan prisoner 31 years)
Razan Zaitouneh (Human rights lawyer in Syria) She revealed murders
committed by army soldiers and police. Now in hiding from authorities.

16. Ali Farzat (Syrian political satirist and cartoonist) In August 2011, the
Syrian security forces beat him badly, breaking both his hands as "a
warning", and confiscated his drawings.
Mohamed Bouazizi (Tunisian street vendor) He set himself on fire in
protest at incessant humiliation and badgering by the Tunisian
authorities. Public sympathy and anger inspired by this gesture led to
the ousting of the Tunisian President

17.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/ma
r/22/middle-east-protest-interactive-timeline
Overview of Arab Spring and US interests
& Cooperative security
http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/index.cfm/articles/The-Arab-
Spring-and-the-Future-of-US-Interests/2011/8/2

19. President Ben Ali
overthrown after a month
of protests against his rule
in January 2011.
 High inflation
 Unemployment
 Corruption

20.  Tens of thousands protests in streets for 18 days
 846 people killed, 6000 injured
 Protesting police brutality, limits on freedom of speech, lack of free
elections, govt. corruption, food prices, high unemployment, low min. wage.
 President Mubarak ousted and govt. overthrown February 2011

23. • Revolt began February 2011
• Rebel groups control parts of Libya
• Gaddafi uses troops against civilians.
• Civil War erupts (50,000 dead by August)
• UN condemns crackdown
• Sanctions put on Libya, No Fly Zone
• In March, UN votes to use ‘all means
necessary to protect civilians’
• Allied military forces strike from air
• Gaddafi overthrown and killed
October 20th, 2011

25.  Protests since January 2011
 Uprising in March 2011
 Citizens demanding:
*President al-Assad to step down.
*End to “Emergency Rule”
(ongoing since 1963)
*Freedom of press, speech, & assembly
 Brutal repression of protesters
 Media Censorship (FB, Youtube, Twitter)
 State sponsored terror (tanks, snipers)
 Wide spread arrests, torture,
executions.
 Nearly 4,000 civilians killed thus far…

27. “In general, the spread of less corrupt and more democratic
governments in the Middle East will be of tremendous benefit to
the United States…”
 Protect national security (counter terrorism)
 Secure economic interests (trade relations)
 Guard regional investments & resources (petroleum)
 Maintain strategic geo-political alliances (Israel/Saudi Arabia)
 Defend client states and less powerful stakeholders
 Support human rights
 Promote democracy and regional stability
 Provide meditation or peace keeping assistance
 Offer military aid or intervention (NATO/UN)

30. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWoWZO3nqOY
Occupy Wall Street Protest turns violent – September 25th
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=m7K_PHuFzFM

33. According to Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel-prize winning economist, the
richest 1 % control 40% of wealth in the United States.
Professor Stiglitz teaches at Columbia University. He is the former
Chief Economist and Vice President of the WORLD BANK.
He is the author of:
“Globalization and its Discontents” (2002) and
“Freefall: America, Free Market and the Sinking of the World
Economy” (2010)

36.  http://vimeo.com/30224538

37.  The reduction of corporate influence in media and politics.
 The top 1% of elites in this country to pay their taxes
 The creation of more jobs and better jobs (and job training)
 Affordable college education and reduction of student loan debt
 Banking , Credit and Mortgage reform (reduce power of mega banks)
 Financial reform not inhibited by Congressional (partisan) Gridlock
 A better healthcare system for every American.
 An end to bailouts and amnesty for the rich who have lied, cheated, or
mismanaged their businesses.

38. This morning hundreds of NY City police in riot gear moved in
to evacuate Zuccotti Park where the ‘Occupy Wall Street’
protestors had been encamped since September 17th.
Mayor Bloomberg says “the park had begun to pose a health
and safety risk to protesters and the public.” About 220 people
were in the park. 142 were arrested inside the park, 50 outside.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/wall-street-protest-continues-for-
third-day/2011/09/19/gIQAKqbffK_gallery.html#photo=1

39. How are the Arab Spring and the Occupy Wall Street
Movements similar?
http://findwhatworks.wordpress.com/tag/arab-spring/
How are they different?
http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2011/10/what_occupy_wall_str
eet_the_arab_spring_the_chilean_students_and.html
What is the lesson?
http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/27
5-42/8130-occupy-wall-street-on-the-move