Reply #82: Libyan capital takes Kadhafi out of the classroom [View All]

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Libyan capital takes Kadhafi out of the classroom
By Dominique Soguel | AFP – 4 hrs ago

Schools in the Libyan capital are gearing up for a very different kind of academic year: replacing repeated oaths of allegiance to the autocratic Guide, Moamer Kadhafi, with lessons in democracy.

"We feel so happy because we are free," said Rafa al-Sharif, 15, wrapped in the flag of Libya's former monarchy, which was adopted by anti-Kadhafi forces as their banner.

Sharif said she is eager to learn about King Idris, who ruled Libya from the time it was first united in 1951 until he was overthrown by Kadhafi in 1969, "because he was so kind. He wasn't like Kadhafi. Kadhafi is a criminal."

With classes due to resume on September 17, the interim minister of education and teachers in the capital are rushing to modify curriculums to reflect the new political reality of "Free Libya" after six months of war.

more... http://news.yahoo.com/libyan-capital-takes-kadhafi-classroom-111442775.html

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First labor action in free Libya?
Monday there was an anecdote on the AJE blog from a reliable Libyan poster about a labor action in Benghazi. Nurses at one of the hospitals were on strike, or threatening to strike, to force the dismissal of incompetent Gaddafi enforcers and to reintroduce high professional standards. I assumed it would be picked up and reported by a journalist, so I didn't copy it here. I haven't seen it reported though, so all I can do now is keep on the lookout -and ask for a heads-up -for what might be an interesting piece.