The Egypt uprising is rolling on with protesters crawling on tanks, hugging soldiers, and insisting that Mubarak must go.

Egypt protesters: Mubarak, you're not hearing us

By Dan Murphy posted January 29, 2011 at 9:29 am EST

After days of unprecedented Egypt street protests driven by demands that the 30-year reign of President Hosni Mubarak end, the aging Egyptian leader finally emerged from seclusion to address his people.

At midnight last night he told Egyptians he has "exhausted my life for the country," informed them that he has "always insisted that sovereignty lies with the people," and said his first duty was to "defend Egypt's security and stability." He labeled protesters arsonists and rioters, insisted Egypt is "a state of institutions governed by the rule of law" and appeared to warn Egyptians to heed uprisings in other countries "that drove people to chaos and mayhem that brought them no benefits."

His concrete concession? A cabinet reshuffle. Mr. Mubarak's demeanor and words made it clear that he had no intention of going anywhere.

If Mubarak was hoping his speech, which aside from its references to this week's extraordinary events could have been cribbed directly from his commentary in decades' past, would defuse the crowds, he would have been sorely disappointed today. The Egyptian people responded.to his comments by defying an overnight curfew and pouring out onto streets across the country today, redoubling their demands he be driven from power. The cabinet? It answers to Mubarak and carries out policies he sets. If they've failed, the ultimate responsibility lies with him.

"His address yesterday was very disappointing to everyone in Egypt... they don't want this regime, they want change," Abdallah al-Ashal, a former assistant to the Egyptian Foreign Minister, told Al Jazeera English. "President Mubarak doesn't understand the scope of the demonstrations and their demands. Either he should respond to them or he should leave."

BBC Arabic reported a crowd of 50,000 in Alexandria. Al Jazeera was carrying footage of tens of thousands streaming through the seats of Cairo. Al Jazeera English reported that the headquarters of the ruling National Democratic Party was torched in the ancient Egyptian city of Luxor (on Friday, the NDP building in Cairo was destroyed in a fire set by protesters). Clashes with police have claimed dozens of protesters' lives in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez in the past 24 hours, though it will be days before an accurate national death toll can be sorted out.

"Violence will not address the grievances of the Egyptian people, and suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away," Obama said. "All governments must maintain power through consent, not coercion," Obama said.

President Barack Obama finally spoke to Mubarak after his speech last night. The US is a key backer of the Egyptian regime, providing $1.3 billion in military aid last year, and a withdrawal of support would be catastrophic for Mubarak. President Obama stopped short of that in remarks after that call last night, but echoed previous warnings from the US against a harsh crackdown and urged Egypt to accelerate "reform."

Perhaps, but it has been coercion that has kept Mubarak in power since 1981. Egypt's last parliamentary election in November was the country's most fraudulent in decades (the ruling NDP won over 95 percent of the seats in parliament) and was preceded by the arrest of hundreds of activists from the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest and best organized opposition group.

The Brothers have not played a visible role in the current demonstrations, which have been characterized by shouts of "freedom" and denunciations of official corruption, not the organization's famous slogan that "Islam is the solution." But the Brotherhood's popularity in Egypt has left US policy-makers uneasy about the prospect of fundamental political change in Egypt.

Neither Obama nor any member of his cabinet has yet to call for "democracy" in Egypt during the unfolding crisis -- the formulation so far has been a demand for "political reform" -- though the US president did make a clarion call for democracy in his famous speech in Cairo in June 2009.

"I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. These are not just American ideas; they are human rights," he said then. "Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy."

In multiple instances the soldiers and their tanks have shielded protesters from the riot police seeking to defend the regime. Will the army turn its guns on the people, and squander its public reputation, to keep Mubarak in power? That's the big question on everyone's mind in Egypt right now and the answer will be given in the coming days -- perhaps as soon as tonight. Mubarak sought to tighten the overnight curfew today -- declaring all citizens must be off the streets after 4:00 PM. Reporters and activists in Cairo say the protesters have no intention of obeying that order.

The Egyptian military is emerging as a central actor in determining what comes next. Unlike the police and the security apparatus, which do everything from extracting bribes from street peddlers to running Egypt's torture centers, the army is widely respected in Egypt and viewed as protectors of the people. Mubarak called out the army to the streets yesterday and so far the protesters have embraced the soldiers.

Egypt's next chance to have a meaningful election is next September, when a presidential election has been scheduled. Until the events of the past week, it was expected to be as rigged as the others that have taken place in Egypt in the recent past, delivering either five more years to Mubarak or perhaps passing the reins to his son Gamal, who many in Egypt believe has been groomed to succeed his father.

A possible avenue of response to Obama could be opening up that contest, though it would require constitutional changes and a rewriting of electoral laws to hold a truly free and fair election. Read more at www.csmonitor.com

It’s easy to get upset

This morning I awaken to details about the 9 year-old girl who was killed yesterday. So promising. So full of life. There was no crosshair on her face. When events like this happen, it is easy for us to jump on to sites like Twitter and Facebook and say “never again.” Or something like it.

But really what we need to do is pay more attention.

We need to pay attention to each other. We need to pay attention to cries for help. We need to pay attention to loud voices that suddenly become quiet. And yes, we need to pay attention to our leaders. Who is guiding them through the dos and donts of Social Media? Who is reminding them that everyone can see what they are saying? Who is reminding them that some unstable person maybe clinging to every word?

We need to pay attention. Let’s have that as our cry this time. And then let’s do something about it. Let’s monitor our leaders’ websites and Twitter accounts. Let’s help stave off backlash after backlash.

Let’s pay attention. Read more at www.margieclayman.com

Earlier this week, a video of a homeless man in Columbus, Ohio named Ted Williams hit the internet. Upon first glance, he looks like your average dude holding up a sign at the side of the road -- but anyone who takes a minute to talk to him will realize that he has an out-of-control amazing voice. Like, he could do every radio spot ever. He should be running the voiceover game, not performing for YouTube and a couple of bucks. After seeing the video, Redditors in the Columbus area got to work trying to find ways to help Ted get back on his feet using his amazing talents. The result: less than 8 hours after the call to action was posted on Reddit, Ted has been scheduled to appear on Columbus' The Morning Zoo radio show. What's even better, other Redditors have offered their services to help jumpstart his career, including money donations (over $1,000 so far), a cell phone, a business suit, and a website. How awesome is that? Read more at www.urlesque.com

On avait cru que l'effondrement du système financier en 2008 ouvrirait une fenêtre d'opportunité pour réformer la finance mondiale, l'une des responsables, et même des coupables, de la crise. Mais la fenêtre s'est vite refermée. Paradoxalement, ayant absorbé des concurrents pendant la tourmente, les acteurs financiers survivants sont devenus encore plus gros et plus puissants qu'auparavant. Le résultat est obscène pour le grand public : profits record et bonus exorbitants. A contrario, la crise des dettes souveraines consécutive à l'implication des Etats pour sauver leurs banques nationales a ouvert la voie à des réformes dites "structurelles". Il ne s'agit pas d'un complot caché. Bien au contraire, cette fenêtre d'opportunité est affichée dans des documents publics, par exemple ceux de l'Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques (OCDE)... Documents, il est vrai, peu ou pas consultés par les citoyens et les journalistes. Au nom de la crise de la dette, on peut imposer aux peuples des "réformes structurelles", même si elles n'ont aucun lien direct avec la nécessité de rétablir les comptes publics. Ces réformes répondent à un agenda clairement néolibéral : moins d'Etat social, plus de dérégulation du marché du travail. Le détail des dispositifs est révélateur.

Les bienfaits des "réformes structurelles" imposées relèvent désormais bien plus de la croyance idéologique que d'une vérité économique, la science économique étant elle-même démunie face à des phénomènes que ses théories actuelles sont incapables d'expliquer. Une certaine conscience des limites de ladite science imposerait même l'inverse : un principe de précaution sociale qui reposerait sur la préservation de l'avenir et la protection naïve des plus fragiles au détriment des plus puissants. Cette démarche serait rendue possible par une restructuration de la dette des pays européens "périphériques". Une telle solution nécessiterait l'aval de l'Allemagne ou de la France, pays-clés dans les plans de sauvetage européens. Les perdants seraient les détenteurs de dettes souveraines, c'est-à-dire, de façon massive, les banques françaises et allemandes. On en revient donc à l'équation de départ : comment les dirigeants de nos démocraties pourront-ils s'affranchir du poids de ces acteurs? Read more at www.lemonde.fr

On this influencer quest, I fear that organizations are starting lose sight of the most important outcome of outreach and engagement – impact. For the nonprofit community, impact translates into results on: Donations – The money that keeps nonprofit organizations alive so that they can continue working on the world’s toughest issues every day. Advocacy - People taking action both online and offline. Are they lobbying their local and national representatives for you by writing letters, making phone calls, meeting with their Reps, etc? Are you advocacy goals being met? Volunteers - Is your nonprofit generating volunteers? Mobilizing volunteers are a critical part of building movements. Web Traffic - When you make an impact online, you will see an increase in sign ups to your list and, over the long-term, increased donations and advocacy if you take the time to cultivate these people properly and arm them with the information and tools they need. It’s also important to review your bounce rates monthly. If your bounce rates are incredibly high - meaning people are coming to your website and quickly leaving, your content is not resonating with your audiences. That’s a negative impact that you need to address. Earned Media – Are you generating news articles, TV and radio coverage, blog posts, and letters to the editor about your organization. Are these articles reaching your target audiences such as decision-makers, your base of supporters, and the opposition? Read more at www.frogloop.com

In announcing the proposed rules earlier this month, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said they would require high-speed internet providers to treat all types of Web content equally.

The rules would, in effect, keep the companies that own the internet's real-world infrastructure from slowing down some types of websites or apps -- say, those belonging to a competitor -- or speeding up others from high-paying clients.

The commission's agenda says the vote will address "basic rules of the road to preserve the open internet as a platform for innovation, investment, competition and free expression."

If it passes, as it is expected to do, the plan will go before Congress for final approval. That isn't expected to happen until the new Congress, elected in November, takes office next year.

Internet-freedom advocates have called the rules a step in the right direction but say they don't go far enough.

For example, the proposal doesn't set the same set of rules for mobile communications as it does for Web-based ones. And it wouldn't let the government strictly regulate internet providers in the way some advocates would like.

In fact, the proposal is similar to one put forward earlier this year by Google and Verizon, two of the internet's biggest stakeholders. Read more at www.cnn.com