Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians have been protesting, as Mubarak still clings to power despite unprecedented demonstrations, according to the news sources.

Evidently, this huge turmoil in Egypt is of an interest for Western countries as well as the countries in the region.

However, everyone seems to have a different perception about the intended transition of Egypt.

Western media clearly have doubts whether Egypt gets radicalised if Mubarak goes. This view includes the assumption of the possible leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood.

But, according to the Egyptians this unprecedented nationwide protests truly demand for an end to Mubarak’s autocratic 30-year rule.

Therefore, I couldn’t help but thinking of these questions;

How much does the Western fear make sense while Egyptians say they are fighting for freedom and democracy?

Is there another trick going on behind closed doors? Do western politicians have the monopoly on democracy for their own use? Or are they really concerned if Egypt becomes an Islamist country?

What is the reality behind all these rallies?

We may never know what is this all about in another decade. But at least we can keep questioning so I did talk to one of my Egyptian colleague who works in a nationwide newspaper in Cairo, near Al-Tahrir Square in down town where the main events are violently going on.

She has been a political analyst for the last 15 years and she also conducted an academic research about the relation between media and democracy during the first presidential elections in Egypt in 2005.

According to her, protests are not organized by the Muslim Brotherhood.

She told me that this is a youth action and all they want is to regain their human rights and live in a democratic society;

“Protests are organized by the public through the Facebook and Twitter. I mean they are groups of people from different categories, levels and ages. Most of them do not belong to any political party. Most of us are Muslims but the government has always been using the Muslim Brotherhood as the “boogeyman” for the Western countries which are terrified by Bin Laden and Muslim extremists. But in fact they know very well that the Muslim Brotherhood did not have and do not have any deep impacts on the Egyptian social and political life. In other words we are moderate Muslims who have always been accepting and living with any religions or beliefs. We were never racists and will never be.”

She claims that Mubarak Government is trying to deceive the world and trigger the islamophobia in the West. She has these crucial points below;

“The government always tells the western powers that if the current regime is to change, the Muslim Brotherhood will control our life which is not true at all. It is not the first time they try to deceive the world. Recently, they were pressing the West fears that there is a civil unrest between Muslims and Christians in the country. They have been masterminding attacks on mosques or churches to kill people. It turned out they are organized by the government servants to confirm the West fears, raise doubts and grudge among the public and gain the West trust in the current regime. Can you believe it?”

Egyptians are eager to keep the demonstrations going till Mubarak steps down. Though, Mubarak doesn’t seem to resign so easily before the polls. Only after his departure we will see the direction of this transition decisively.

The credit crunch has had a negative impact on the general economic conditions in Britain as well as the pockets of people. It has also affected the British Government’s funding for the Arts Council England.

Even the country’s longest running arts programme on television, the South Bank Show is bidding farewell, mainly due to the recession.

Its presenter and producer Melvyn Bragg told me ; “I am being optimistic, because in a recession time, arts in this country are comparatively standing up quite well”

For more see the video!

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The owners want to convert part of the pub into flats, while the landlords, a young couple, are fighting a corporation to keep the place, which is their life and also the centre of community life in the area.

The pub also have well-known regulars like Channel 4 News Presenter Jon Snow and some local musicians.

The next round of the trial is coming up on the 7th May 2009.

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An environmental activist who protests the G20 Summit

by Gizem Melek

A sunny April day in London… Place Bishopsgate. With music, drumming, dancing and face-painting, climate camp became another angle of the G20 Summit in London.

One of the busiest roads in the financial heart of the country, for a quarter of a mile along, tents had popped up.

The climate campers from the different parts of Britain set up a peaceful camp in the centre for the night.

Their target is the European Climate Exchange, where permits to emit carbon are traded, and a keystone of the world plan to fight global warming.

I talked to the campaigners. They were against both the carbon trade and the capitalism.

Painter Jayne Sparks from Wales said, “I come up here to have a good shout because I am really annoyed about what they are doing with our moneys. We want politicians to stop nuclear power and invest our money to green energies.”

Artists were sarcastically protesting the international summit.

“I am worried about the future but I am so caught up with standing up against the problems and making music about it. That helps me not have nightmares.” Musician Sam Chase said.

“No fossil fuels”

Climate campaigners want the G20 leaders to move away from fossil fuels.

Anders Lustgarten said, “We have to reduce carbon emissions by a massive amount %80. Instead politicians are creating a market in the right to pollute.”

Another protestor Mara Didzgalvyte said, “Couple of people here making decisions for us and clearly they’re not working. As younger generations we are worried about our future, and we are here to show how we are annoyed about what they are doing”.

By Gizem Melek

A report which was made by a private commission according to the order of the US government has revealed. In the report, it is said that, private security company which allegedly has controversial activities, Blackwater, shouldn’t work with Iraqi Government.

Blackwater firm is securing the US Diplomats who are living in Iraq.

The agreement between The US Foreign Ministry and Blackwater has been considering for more than one year.

The affair which triggered this process had happened last year. Blackwater employees killed 17 Iraqis people by shooting in Baghdad last September.

Five of the private security guards were accused of numerous crimes including voluntary manslaughter.

Blackwater executives claimed that security guards had started firing to protect themselves.

However, eye witnesses said guards had opened fire without facing any provocations.

“Abolish the agreement”

After this event, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri El-Maliki called for abolishing the agreement with Blackwater.

However, there weren’t any accusations impelled to the Blackwater.

A report which was made by the demand of the US Foreign Minister, Condoleezza Rice, says that the agreement with Blackwater has not to be renewed after it expires next year.

President-elect Barrack Obama will make the last decision about the issue. 

Source: BBC Turkish

By Gizem Melek 

Baby P was born in 2006, 1^st March. From this date he was born to the day he died, Baby P suffered horrific abuse for 17 months.

He was on the child protection register and was seen by professionals 60 times, the BBC’s Panorama reported.  

Prosecution lawyers prepared a document for an Old Bailey trial of P’s mother, her boyfriend and their lodger who found guilty of causing his death. This dossier released last month and published on the media. 

According to the dossier, health visitor Yvonne Douglas made first home visit when P was 22 days old. He had oral thrush.

After that, he was seen by GP’s a couple of times till 11 December. That day, P admitted to Whittington Hospital in north London with bruising to forehead and nose, sternum and right shoulder/breast. 

The day after he was referred to child abuse investigation team, seen by DC Angela Slade. Following days, P examined on ward by consultant paediatrician Heather Mackinnon.

Investigation began

Finally, a police investigation began on 15th December. After the begining of the investigation, social workers started visiting mother at home. 

A couple of days later, P’s mother and grandmother are arrested and interviewed at Hornsey police station in north London. P’s leg x-rayed at hospital.

In 2007, Baby P, again was taken to hospital several times for bruising and swelling to his head. Also, mother seen by mental health worker Karolina Jamry.

Social workers visited them and they attended case conference at Haringey numerous times.

On 9 July, mother took P to North Middlesex Hospital with an ear infection.  

When date shows 1st August 2007, P was seen at St Ann’s Hospital in north London by locum paediatrician. The day after, mother told police to take no further action over assault allegations.

The following day, P was found dead and mother arrested.

Resignations and suspensions

There have been a couple of resignations and suspensions amongst the workers of the Council recently.

As a result, the council’s head of children’s services, Sharon Shoesmith, was sacked according to the reports on the media.

By Gizem Melek

Baby P’s short life of pain and misery has provoked hundreds into taking action. According to the BBC’s report, campaigners have marched to Downing Street demanding no more children should suffer the fate of Baby P.

Baby P died of abuse on August 2007 when he was 17 months old, even though he was on the child protection register and was seen by professionals 60 times in his last year, according to the reports on the media.

The boy’s mother, her boyfriend and their lodger are facing sentence for causing or allowing his death.

Approximately 300 people took part in the march, police told the media. 

They also handed in a petition which contains 20,000 signatures calling for urgent far-reaching changes in child protection laws and social services.

Organizers told the BBC that they demand for urgent changes.

Stacey Crisp, 21, from Harlow, Essex, said: “We have asked for all professionals involved to be sacked without pay and urgent far reaching changes to the child protection system. We want justice for this baby and for all the children out there that are being let down by these professionals.”

“Unanswered questions”

Antonia Price, 34, another organizer from Basildon, Essex, said she thought there were lots of unanswered questions about the case.

“I think there is a lot more to this case than we have been allowed to know and there are still a lot more people that need to answer for what happened to Baby P,” she said.

Government inspectors described Haringey Council’s child protection services as “inadequate” and identified a series of serious concerns about services. 

There have been a couple of resignations and suspensions amongst the workers of the Council recently. 

On Monday, the council’s head of children’s services, Sharon Shoesmith, was sacked according to the reports on the media.

The new director of the service was announced yesterday. Peter Lewis, a senior council manager in the neighbouring borough of Enfield, is to take the post. 

By Gizem Melek

Baby P’s short life again has come to the headlines, this time, stories about apologies from the Haringey Council and suspension of their employees.

Baby P died on August 2007 when he was 17 months old, even though he was on the child protection register and was seen by professionals 60 times in his last year, according to the reports of the BBC.

Consequently, why couldn’t they save the baby’s life?

Or, when should a baby be sent into care?

We know Britain has strict laws to protect children. However, the law couldn’t save Baby P.

This means, nobody was able to apply the law completely, because of some reasons.

The first reason might be there are a lot of officers in the social services. Thus, each of them has power, but none of them has the authority to give the last decision.

Negligence

The second reason might be negligence.

That means, they never thought this could end with baby’s death.

The third reason might be that social services are afraid of being criticized by the media if they take the baby from his parents. 

There have been a couple of resignations and suspensions amongst the workers of Haringey Council lately according to the reports on the media.

We know apologies or resignations will not bring Baby P back.

However, the important message is do the authorities learn a lesson from this issue?

Baby P case was not the first one and probably will not be the last one.

Click here to go to background.

By Gizem Melek

Some Indians who live abroad want the government to join forces with Pakistan in the war on terrorism. Others believe negotiation is the only path.

Mumbai has turned back to normal… Markets and schools are open and heavy traffic is again on the streets according to the report of the BBC.

However, repercussions of the latest attacks in India, Mumbai, are not likely to finish easily in the near future.

I’ve been talking to Indian people who are away from their country to ask their perceptions about the events, which have been happening recently in India.

Manpreet Pasricha, 22, believes the source of the issue is directly coming from Pakistan.

According to her, the Indian government still isn’t doing anything even though they already know the source of the terrorists.

Cross-border operation

She said, “Government should do cross-border operations to Pakistan in order to end this terrorism. This is not an issue between Indians and Muslims or Pakistani people. They are just killing everybody”

She also claims that the militants were trained in Pakistan.

India should declare a war on terror

Rahul Joglekar, 25, is still in shock because, ATS (Anti-Terrorist Squad) Police Chief Hemant Karkare, whom he used to know, has was killed in the recent attacks.

He believes that Pakistani government can’t do anything to solve the problem, because, this happens beyond them.

He says, “India should declare a war on terror, with a consistent, well thought policy of terrorism”.

Negotiations are a must

Sofiya Azad, 24, from Kashmir, knows the horrific face of the terror, since in 1991 her uncle was kidnapped.

Also, in 1993 terrorists blew up her grandfather’s home.

That’s why, she thinks the Indian and Pakistani governments have to negotiate.

She says, “They (Pakistan) have terrorists’ headquarters. Thus, if Pakistan wants to improve relationships, they have to start negotiations and throw those headquarters out from Pakistan or give them to India.” 

Indian politicians have failed

Parishmita Gogoi, 24, thinks the solution is not on declaring war or cross-border operation. She believes that the Indian politicians have failed.

“Every time terrorist attacks happen they blame Pakistan. This is our (Indian) politicians’ failure. They have to think of carefully and deeply about this issue.”

By Gizem Melek

“Once in a generation a player comes along to whom nothing seems impossible. Luckily, that man wears the number eight shirt at Anfield.”

This is what was written about to describe Liverpool’s inspirational captain, Steven Gerrard, in the official website of the club.

In Turkey, people remember him as “Reds” hero, who skippered them to 2005 Champions League glory in Istanbul against AC Milan.

He is making a difference on the green field with his passion and desire for glory, together with his football abilities.

Thus, Liverpool fans accept him as a warrior and a hero leader.

In both Liverpool FC and the England National Team he is combining the quality and never-give-up attitudes in his style.

Power, pace and “never-give-up until the last minute” mentality carried him to one of the world’s top footballers position.

However, he still remains modest by saying on the club’s website,

“If someone had said 10 years ago that I would go on to be captain and lift the European Cup then I wouldn’t have believed them. But I’ve had to work very hard to get to where I am and to win trophies both on a personal level and as part of the team. I’m very proud to be able to say I have played for the first team for 10 years.”

Will Gerrard be considered the greatest ever Liverpool player?

Gerrard already has awards for being a role model.

He has recently become only the fifth person to be honoured with the freedom of his home borough.

He was given the award in Knowsley in recognition of his contribution to football and for being a role model.

“He has a great passion for the club and hopefully he will take over from me.” This comment belongs to Liverpool’s manager Rafael Benitez in the BBC’s report.

Gerrard has still two to the -and-a-half years to run on his deal but is tend to commit his future Reds.

He thinks he will sign another one year for the reminder of his career wants to end his career at Anfield;

“I don’t know what’s going to happen over the next 10 years, but certainly for the next five or six I hope I’m playing in Liverpool’s first team.”