The Enemies of Yemen

Funny photos and cartoons that have been circulating online

A Voice from Yemen

By ABC Sydney, Ben Millington

Yemen was once the home of the Queen of Sheba, the land of milk and honey, the place where the wise men collected frankincense and myrrh, and most simply, the place that makes God smile.
Sadly this image has taken a bit of a battering in recent times. Terrorism, Al Qaeda, kidnappings and tribal wars are what grab the headlines these days.

In 2009 I was lucky enough to visit Sana'a, the beautiful, world heritage listed capital of Yemen. Aside from the stunning architecture, I found warm friendly people and a hospitable culture unlike any other in the Gulf. I was welcomed into homes, attended a wedding party and was greeted by smiling faces in every street, shop and market.

The man who helped open this window was Kais Al Kalisi (pictured), a local tourism operator who I spent several nights with chewing qat leaves and talking about life and politics. At the time Kais talked about his dream for a democratic government and an end to corruption, now he is acting.

Inspired by recent revolutions in Egypt and Libya, Yemenis are protesting around the country in anti-government demonstrations. The last few days have seen bloody clashes and dozens killed as government forces reportedly opened fire on protesters.

Kais has been among the protesters and I spoke to him last night.

"It was a real blood bath," he says.

"We did not expect the government to be too tough to us, we were a peaceful demonstration showing we want the government to step down.

"We were faced suddenly by the republican army which was shooting us, like hunting birds. It was a massacre."

It was a sobering conversation, which ended with Kais saying he was inspired by the fact that countries like Australia were reporting on the situation. I was humbled, and hung up thinking about a unique country on the other side of the world, but with very complex problems and very real people living with them.

Listen to the full interview:

JR Changes the world with your face

TED Prize-Winning Artist JR: Why He's Putting Your Face All Over the World - Culture - GOOD

will we ever see an end to poverty?

The city of Durham put together this game called “Spent.” It’s a game, but not one you would enjoy.. as a matter of fact it's no fun at all..  It’s a reality check. This is real life for too many Americans. A lot of America’s poorest people live on the streets, and they all didn’t end up there from continued substance abuse and denial. it's eye opening 

hope, fear and digital culture.

Excited?... im to say the very least & that's bc if you havent been alive the 
past couple months you'll really notice how the digital world has taken over our lives
allowing us to wake the hell up... shaping, viewing, and living our lives so differently than b4.


 It has created endless opportunities but what i can't help and wonder  what does this all mean??.. 
could a more democratized culture mean better art, film, music and literature ? 
or has true talent drowned and  vanished during this "Fad
of digital and mass culture?


cultural democracy or mediocrity? This is what presspauseplay raises in this film

dickheads are "in"

love this it reminds me so much of rico and ahmad haha

“Sun on a Cloudy Day"

YEMEN'S YOUTH REVOLUTION 2011 from rooj on Vimeo.

The popular uprisings of Tunisia and Egypt sparked protests in many arab nations, sharing the same frustrations  as it's neighbors, they take to the streets. Yemen being one them.


Together all over the world, we demonstrate, stage sit-ins and call an end to the corruption.
Despite,  Yemen's LARGE  uneducated population, many of the youth will acknowledge that a  change in government is necessary for a better life and a democratic future. I am awe-struck by the  ability of egyptians to dance away  their tyranny while fighting heartache and tears. But it is that that gives me hope and reason to believe that the shadows of tyranny will be pushed away in Yemen too.

Unfortunately the political, social and economic conflicts in yemen are all tribal based so it is much more tricker and challenging for Yemeni's, but they have come this far so  change is inevitable.

First off, to all those in yemen, i hope you understand how powerful you are, continue to gain courage and inspiration because your voice and actions are what will bring the sun to forever  shine in Yemen on a cloudy day. an end to all things corrupt  is in your hands, you can do this!

the invisible : DRC, Uganda, and Sudan

 I introduce you.....Marcus Bleasdale an iconic photojournalist that lives to share the voices of the invisible.  This guy's  not only talented but inspirational.  I have actually attended an event, hosted by Resolve in GWU last month, where he was able to unravel his story and share with us his most recent works. Over the past ten years he has covered the ongoing humanitarian conflict in DRC, Uganda and Sudan ...check one of his beautiful stories out :


VII The Magazine - Player

A historic moment in the Arab world

Wadah Khanfar: A historic moment in the Arab world | Video on TED.com

Wadah Khanfar, the head of AlJazeera shares his powerful, profoundly optimistic opinion  on the youth revolution that has shaken the rest of the arab nations . :).  This guy deserves the "noble peace prize"!

live coverage of Yemen

Video clips at Ustream

what's it like to ride the metro in DC?

It's not everyday that you see people waling around so aimlessly without pants, let alone riding the metro!.. haha gotta love it.. DC'S pranksters are at it again. 
On jan 10 2011, they bear the cold,  ride the metro, and walk around the city, pant-less.

President eases on violence

Yemen's president, Ali abdullah Saleh has promised protestors that the army will guard them from violence.. hard to believe because in the south an activist was killed by a land mine


Yemen to 'protect protesters' - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

sending love to protestors

"I would like to kiss every martyr's mother on the head," she says before a huge poster of her late son. "And I pray that God may grant them the serenity and patience to bear the unbearable. May Libya become a free country."

On December 19 last year, 26-year-old Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in response to his anger of the corrupt regime. His revolt initated demonstrations that have now taken place worldwide. Not Ghonim of Egypt but rather Mohamed of Tunisia become the hero of the world and the symbol of freedom.


Bouazizi, set himself on fire to protest the police that wanted to confiscat his fruit cart bc it was "unlicensed".

After his revolt, a domino effect of of demonstrations followed, first in Tunisia, then in Egypt and Yemen and Bahrain and Libya. I am sure Bouazizi never would have imagined this happening but because of him, the people have awoken.

His mother talks to aljazeera and recorded a message to the protesters in the other Arab states, specifically Libya, reaching out to those who are losing their lives to dictatorial regimes the way her son did.

a taste of Qaddafi's 2nd speech

VIDEO: DC RESOLVE TO REMEMBER

On December 14, Resolve organization invited friends in the DC area to stand with them and remember the lives that have been taken during the Christmas Massacres of 2008 and 2009. Ofcourse i attended :)

DC: Resolved To Remember from Brian Pappalardo on Vimeo.

p.s. that's me with the stripped gloves and the light pinkish hat looking down on the floor ;)

video:go green hip hop style

A group of Kenyan teenagers in the slums of Nairobi created this hip hop video about bicycling and climate change:

Bon Jovi dedicating his song no apologies for the egyptian revolution..flv

Bahraini doctor pleads for help

The Egyptian Revolution on Twitter

this is really cool.. the video is composed of ppl that have tweeted and retweeted msgs during the first hr of mubaraks resignation..

The birth of a new EGYPT