LONDON (Trust.org) - In the space of 18 days in January and February, the people of Egypt overthrew the 30-year rule of President Hosni Mubarak in a peaceful uprising that transfixed the world, and whose consequences are still reverberating. Behind this revolution was a group of young activists with the courage, tactical skill and mastery of 21st century social media to mobilise a whole society in opposition to an authoritarian ruler.
Thomson Reuters Foundation organised a special event on the 8th of June to peer inside the engine room of the Egyptian Revolution with the help of some of those most closely involved. And with the Arab world in ferment, we ask where the road from Tahrir Square will lead.
Panellists:
- Dr Sally Moore - an Egyptian-British psychiatrist who was closely involved in the strategic planning, publicity and logistics of the protest movement.
- Srdja Popovic, executive director of the Centre for Applied NonViolent Action and Strategies (CANVAS), a Serbian-based group that grew out of the struggle to overthrow dictator Slobodan Milosevic and has worked with activists from 46 countries, including Georgia, Ukraine, Lebanon and Egypt, to advise on the tactics and strategy of peaceful protest.
- Wael Ghonim (by video link) - Google's marketing manager for the Middle East and Africa, who was arrested and interrogated for 12 days before emerging as one of the heroes and symbols of the Egyptian revolution.
This event was part of a three-day seminar on reporting international security issues that kicked off in London this week, bringing together journalists and security experts from around the world to explore themes such as "terrorism after Bin Laden", the security implications of climate change and cyber warfare and espionage.
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