CURRENT AFFAIRS OF THE INTERNET AND THE ARAB SPRING UPRISING

By Matt Hewson

More than a year has passed since the advent of the Arab Spring, an overwhelming movement of dissent and popular protest that unseated leaders across North Africa. The uprisings continue even now; Syria is on the brink of a civil war as opposition protestors clash with government troops on a daily basis.

The internet, and specifically social media, has been credited with supporting, sustaining and even accelerating the uprisings, which began in Tunisia and quickly spread to other nations. Platforms such as Twitter and Facebook were harnessed by activists to coordinate efforts, generate sympathy and most importantly, provide news when news organisations could not.

Twitter hashtag #egypt was the most popular in 2011, a figure that isn’t lightly ignored; the micro-blogging site has nearly 200 million users, only a small number of whom actually live in the North African state.

Yet for all the fuss, many have suggested that the part that the internet played has been exaggerated. Back in March, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange argued that while it had been of some use, Arab news network Al Jazeera had been more important.

Even Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, downplayed the role that his site may have had, pointing to previous revolutions where neither the internet nor mobile phones have been necessary; “social media’s role is maybe a bit overblown” he stated during an interview in November, adding “if people want change, then they will find a way to get that change”.

The internet and the ever-evolving social media which it supports was an important factor in the Arab Spring. To claim it alone is responsible for the movement’s successes is however, a step too far. It has been, in every way, a popular movement, whose success lies not with trending topics or ‘likes’ but with people.

THE SNOW IS FALLING LIKE TEARS By

Siobhan O’Sullivan

‘The snow is falling like tears’, this is how one North Korean general described the start of the two day funeral of Kim Jong-il on Sky News. State television showed thousands of people over come with grief, having to be held back by police.

Though how much of this is staged? North Korea, the most closed country in the world has sent images of the funeral to the international press before expected. And the message is clear; we have the biggest standing army in the world and we’re here to stay. The precession was lead by the suspected successor and son of the late leader, Kim Jong-un. Murals of dictator who died of a heart attack in mid December were paraded through the snow covered streets of Pyongyang for the country, and the world, to see. The streets and area in front of Memorial Palace were filled with citizens in mourning, their distressed cries filling the air. Kim Jong-il is almost perceived to be a deity and in Pyongyang, the capital made up of the political elite, this is taken as fact.

However, there is wide spread speculation in the Western media that some of the public grieving is forced due to fear. Anyone seen to be speaking out against the communist dictatorship could find themselves in forced labour camps, or gulags. The West fears for the stability of North Korea and its new, young, inexperienced leader Kim Jong-un. The young are rash and little is known about the perspective leader of a country rooted in the wars of the 20th century and how he will impact the international community of the 21st century.

But, for the time being, Korea stands in mourning. What the future will bring leaves the rest of us guessing.

Chloe Osbourne Editor TRAVEL

THE GERMAN WEINSTRASSE AND ITS WURSTMARKT By Jonathan

Harding

This festival is a hidden gem within the southern German countryside and although well known to wine tasters, it remains relatively unknown to the greater part of Europe. On arriving in southern Germany for my year abroad I was unaware that this historical festival, which is 570 years old, and is the world’s biggest, was to take place in the nearby town of Bad Dürkheim. The festival centres on entertainment, food and wine and offers over 150 different types of wine to try from small “wine towns” around the region.

The locally made Riesling, a symbols of the Rheinland-Palitante county, is the most popular choice and after my first glass, I was knew why. The so-called “schorle” is in fact a large glass of wine, a quarter of which is sparkling water and is also incredibly popular for those pacing themselves through the day. The event’s good nature emanates through the wine stands, food courts and music stages, and local transport runs throughout the festival period, make it easier for everyone to join in the celebration. The festivals’ tradition has been preserved with local music and of course local produce and despite the rather Americanised fairground the festival manages to retain its unique atmosphere.