Livestream, Nov. 23, Tahrir Square, "Many killed and injured"

[Fire Walk With Me]

http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution

[EFerrari]

1. There is an urgent request out of Tahrir tonight:

Urgent from Tahrir:
Join Our Struggle for the Survival of the Revolution
by Mosireen, Comrades from Cairo, and Defend the Revolution

We are in the midst of a decisive battle in the face of a potentially terminal crackdown. Over the past 72 hours the army has launched a ceaseless assault on revolutionaries in Tahrir Square and squares across Egypt. Over 2000 of us have been injured. More than 30 of us have been murdered. Just in Cairo alone. In the last 48 hours.

But the revolutionaries keep coming. Hundreds of thousands are in Tahrir and in other squares across the country. We are facing down their gas, cudgels, shotguns, and machine-gun fire. The army and police attack again and again, but we are holding the lines, holding them back. The dead and wounded are carried away on foot or motorbikes and others take their place.

The violence will escalate -- for WE WILL NOT MOVE. The junta does not want to give up its power. We want the junta gone.

The future of the revolution hangs in the balance; those of us in the square are ready to die for freedom and social justice. The butchers attacking us are willing to kill us to stay in control.

This is not about elections or a constitution, neither of which will change the authoritarianism and violence coming down around us. Neither is this is about a so-called "transition" to democracy that has seen the consolidation of a military junta and the betrayal of the revolution by political forces. This is about a revolution, a complete revolution. The people demand the fall of the regime, and will stop at nothing short of that to achieve their freedom.

Foreign governments are paying lip service to 'human rights' while they deal with the junta, shaking hands and legitimizing them with empty rhetoric. The US is still sending $1.2 billion in military aid to the Egyptian military. The army and police rely on tear gas, bullets, and weapons from abroad. No doubt their stock has been replenished by US and other governments over the last nine months. Stock will run low again.

We ask you to take action:

* Occupy/shut down Egyptian embassies worldwide. Now they represent the junta; reclaim them for the Egyptian people.

* Shut down the arms dealers. Do not let them make them or ship them.

* Shut down the part of your government dealing with the Egyptian junta.

The revolution continues, because we have no other choice.

From Tahrir Square / 22 November / 14:00
Mosireen, Comrades from Cairo, Defend the Revolution

http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/tahrir221111.html

[aquart]

3. God protect them.

And I don't care which god it is.

[EFerrari]

4. They are not going to stop.

[aquart]

5. I know. Nor should they.

But so many of the best, the ones we can't afford to lose, will be lost because the worst can't bear to lose power.

[EFerrari]

7. Sharif Kouddous explained today on DemocracyNow!

how the fighters go, with their rocks, to a street near Tahrir to battle the army. They know they're going to be hurt or worse if they go to the front line and they go anyway. Then he sees them come back, on motorcycles being held by two people. The motorcycles unload the wounded and go back. When the tear gas is very bad, he said he sees people walk back out of it, clear their heads and go right back as soon as they are steady enough.

[aquart]

31. I read once and repeat often

The prayer of a Southern Civil War family for a new baby: that whenever the Lord should choose that he should die, that his community be glad he had lived.

I don't know how long or how many will survive, but I am certain Egypt will be glad they lived.

[EFerrari]

32. Happy Thanksgiving, aquart.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

14. delete

wrong spot...

[SammyWinstonJack]

29. '..paying lip service to 'human rights' while they deal with the junta...

Gee, wonder who(m) that would be?

[inna]

34. Wow. Have been too busy and burnt out to follow lately -

but this is so incredibly important.

*Deep* solidarity, that's all I can say right now.

[EFerrari]

2. A doctor in tears after he fails to save a protester

https://twitter.com/#!/TheMiinz/status/138413419593342976/photo/1

[EFerrari]

6. "We are not pacifists, we defend ourselves." -- Alaa in February.

@TurtleWoman777 TurtleWoman
Another iconic #Tahrir image: One bare-chested young man vs. wall of security forces behind shields #Egypt lnkd.in/R5t-kp
1 hour ago via LinkedIn
https://twitter.com/#!/TurtleWoman777/status/139252614104743936

[Fire Walk With Me]

9. End the police/military state! Freedom for our Egyptian brothers and sisters!

[UnrepentantLiberal]

8. Those poor, brave people.

I regret that all I can give them is solidarity.

[EFerrari]

10. 245 Egyptian diplomats urge handover of power to civilian govt

Tue, 22/11/2011 - 13:33

Egyptian diplomats on Tuesday signed a statement urging the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to pledge to conduct presidential elections and hand over power to civilians by mid-2012 at the latest.

The statement, which was signed by 245 diplomats, called on the governing military council to "stop systematic assaults by security on protesters."

Among those who signed the statement were ambassadors and advisers at the Foreign Ministry, including Ambassor to Russia Alaa al-Hadidy and ministry spokesperson Amr Roshdy.

Al-Masry Al-Youm obtained a copy of the statement, which emphasizes the SCAF’s responsibility to preserve security and safeguard the right of peaceful protest, as is outlined in international charters and agreements.

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/517344

[EFerrari]

11. Improvised barracades being taken to the front line @ Mohamed Mahmoud

[EFerrari]

12. This isn't tear gas, this is chemical warfare.

RT@aelahwal: "This isn't tear gas, this is chemical warfare. Gas masks sold in #tahrir tahrir don't work. Find professional ones."
34 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®

https://twitter.com/#!/Hanoushie/status/139264332100943872

[AntiFascist]

13. And we thought we had it bad getting pepper-sprayed...

the fact that the US government is obviously supporting this oppression should energize the US movement in solidarity. Remember, this is ultimately a unified GLOBAL movement and we have been receiving tremendous moral support from foreign movements. We need to acknowledge the Egyptian struggle in solidarity!

[pinboy3niner]

16. Occupy had its roots in the Arab Spring

One man inspired a movement in Tunisia that inspired independent movements across North Africa and the Middle East--and, eventually, here.

There have been expressions of universal solidarity, as when Syrian activists displayed the placard, "The germs of Syria salute the rats of Libya," and 'Occupy' signs and messages appeared in Egypt and elsewhere. There truly is a feeling of common cause, and solidarity.

[AntiFascist]

17. The US can do much more...

the Occupy movement has finally engaged Obama to some extent, at long last. The situation in Tahir Square should be considered an emergency, and a reminder that masses of people will fight back when they know that they are not alone.

[EFerrari]

19. Yes, there isn't nearly enough coming out of of #OWS.

We can do better than this.

[woo me with science]

28. Thank you. nt

[ProdigalJunkMail]

15. it is the law of unintended consequences

that always crops up when you trade the devil you know for the devil you don't. i am not saying they should not have fought for change, but maybe for more specific change.

very sorry for Egypt...

sP
Damn the ellip

[riverwalker]

18. the gas is still a mystery

From Twitter:

Human rights officials tell BBC that "military grade" CS gas (not routine crowd control stuff) being used in #Tahrir. Sent off for analysis.


Dr in #Tahrir claims had tear gas analysed -it's mixture 2.5% of bromide cyanide & arsenic in it - causing convulsions & unconsciousness.

Drs at makeshift triage centre at #tahrir say 4 people died here this AM. 'it was not like this in jan. The numbers are much higher'. #egypt

What we know: gas used in #Tahrir seems stronger & concentrated. What we don't know: if it's just a nasty CS or something worse.

[FarCenter]

23. There were reports that it was CR gas

CR gas is a lachrymatory agent (LA) exerting its effects through activation of the TRPA1 channel.<2> Its effects are approximately 6 to 10 times more powerful than those of CS gas. CR causes intense skin irritation, particularly around moist areas, blepharospasm causing temporary blindness, coughing and gasping for breath, and panic. It is capable of causing immediate incapacitation. It is a suspected carcinogen. It is toxic, but less so than CS gas, by ingestion and exposure. However, it can be lethal in large quantities. In a poorly ventilated space, an individual may inhale a lethal dose within minutes. Death is caused by asphyxiation and pulmonary edema.

The effect of CR is long-term and persistent. CR can persist on surfaces, especially porous ones, for up to 60 days.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CR_gas

---

Invented by the British MOD back in '62, probably for use in Northern Ireland.

[Huey P. Long]

20. recommend.

[deaniac21]

21. Thank God they are'nt having to face those UC Davis campus

police.

[EFerrari]

26. With 1.2 billion in yearly US miitary aid, they can hire their own. nt

[marmar]

22. K&R....with sadness and anger.

nt

[FarCenter]

24. Political power grows from the barrel of a gun.

— Mao Zedong

[Fire Walk With Me]

25. kick

[Luminous Animal]

27. Finally. A post about Egypt that is getting a bit of respect.

[EFerrari]

33. Kick.

This is the revolution that is the game changer in the region and these brave people in Egypt need every bit of support we can give them.

[Wilms]

30. ^

[Kaleko]

35. (((( curses))) I can't post without ruining Thanksgiving for

more complacent souls.

[inna]

36. late kick for visibility

[inna]

37. another late kick, for Saturday night..