By Elias Kifle
Many seem to give credit to the social media (Facebook, Twitter and blogs) for helping the Egyptian and Tunisian youths who brought down the entrenched dictatorships in their country, but there is not enough mention about the contributions made by Al Jazeera, except by the dictators themselves.
I used to dislike Al Jazeera for some of the anti-American vitriol that it some times broadcasts. It’s fine to criticize the U.S. for its often misguided foreign policy by some of its corrupt State Department officials who are propping up dictators such us Ethiopia’s Meles Zenawi. However, the U.S. is a force for good in this world and doesn’t deserve to be demonized.
Having said that, Al Jazeera is becoming a respected and powerful news organization that is transforming the Middle East for the better. For the past few weeks I have been streaming its live video broadcast on the front page of EthiopianReview.com. I myself was glued to one my my computer screens that streams Al Jazeera Live 24/7. Its coverage of the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt is by far the best and the most thorough. I also think that one of the reasons the revolutions in these countries were not as bloody as they could have been is that the live TV coverage of every incident may have made the military leaders aware that they will be held personally responsible for any bloodshed. The international community would be too sickened by televised massacre of civilians and would bring those responsible for the atrocities to the International Criminal Court, like the Liberian dictator Charles Taylor, Sudan’s Al Bashir, and Bosnia’s Radovan Karadzic.
A few years ago, Ethiopia’s vampire tyrant has kicked out Al Jazeera from Ethiopia, but it is still being watched by hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians.
We need to strengthen our own satellite TV, ESAT, if we want to minimize the bloodshed the Woyanne ruling junta is preparing to cause in the next Ethiopian revolution. ESAT, along with all the Ethiopian radio programs, web sites, and social media will play a critical role in not only facilitating and helping coordinate the struggle, but they also could help prevent massive atrocities in Ethiopia.
On behalf of Ethiopian Review, I extend my congratulations and well wishes to the people of Egypt.
23 thoughts on “I salute Al Jazeera”
That’s absolutely accurate. Jazeera has done more damage to all the Arab dictators than anyone particular development. Jazeera made it difficult for America’s misguided foreign policy and dictators relationship. Our region has been the victim of America’s foreign policy for over 50 years. But now those things are being corrected, slowly but surely.
The the critical role of the Internet and social media – the 21st century communication tools of young people around the world including the youthful Al Jazeera reporters – is beyond debate. Everybody deserves equal credit for success of the Nile revolution. Al Jazeera Facebook, Twitter and other blogs. Even Al Jazeera did a segment praising social media. It is a collective effort. Congratulations Egypt!!!
Sure Elias Aljazeera did the lions job regarding the media. To the level American medias accuse aljazeera of mobilizing the Arab world against america and isreal.
Great job aljazeera
thank you elias ,
I am so glad for the people of egypt and very proud by thier courage and we ethiopians espcially in diaspora should support ESAT if you are really a freedom lovers as we should stop non sense arguemnte each other and pointing out, rather lets walk the walk and support ESAT by any means as it is going to help ethiopians to bring down the next notorious east africa dictator meles zenawi and his criminal and corrupted group tplf from ethiopia.
Now time for ethiopians to get rid of tplf criminal and corrupted groups.
Definitely, independent media plays a big role to expose dictators, especially TV, radio, news paper & known web format news outlet. One can not forget how relatively free and independent media played vital role pre-2005 election to expose Ethiopian dictator. But now Meles made sure that no independent media exists any more in Ethiopia & the rest of dictators in Africa. That is why we don’t hear any thing about Africa particularly about Ethiopia.
I congratulate Egyptian people for their courage and determination to get into result they stood for, how ever Ethiopian people are suffering for the past 20 years no less that the Egyptian even in the worst way by deepening poverty and hunger while the elites in power celebrating their wedding anniversary in lavish overseas.
Africa has more dictators than all of the countries in the world combined but no one hear any thing about Africa form those who preach about democracy in the name of “the issue has to decide by the people in the country”. It is true; it is up to the nations who live in that country, but when the dictators supported by powerful governments it takes time and a lot of effort and determination to ousted them.
God bless Ethiopia.
Elias! The right word on the right time. Berta Wendime!
To add into my previous comment, as we salute courageous journalist (a lot of them sacrifice their life to enlighten the truth) they are fuel of the struggle for justice , but the fire has to be there it has to be created by youth, like Egyptians. It was a fire created by them (they were preparing for this for long time). They were well organized as documented by Al Jazeera. Younger generation are more determined , courageous and willing to take matter in their hand not like old generation who look easy way to solve the issue , one can watch Wael Ghonim interview on CNN to judge for him self how Egyptian youth were ready to fight for their freedom. I wish the interview watched by youth in Ethiopia.
God bless Ethiopia.
Congratulations Egyptians!!i
Ethiopians now we saw the importance of Satelite tv for freedom and democracy so let us stand with ESAT
ደሃ በህልሙ ቅቤ ባይጠጣ ኖሮ በድርቀት ይሞት ነበረ አለ የሃገሬ ሰው:: እስቲ እናንተም እንደ ወንዶቹ አምጹና የጌሾ ወይም የብቅል በመባል የሚጠራ አብዮት ለማካሄድ ሞክሩ:: ያን ግዜ ወንዱ እና ሴቱ ይለያል ሽንታም ሁሉ:: ትግል እንደ አሉባልተኛ የመንደር ሴት ወሬ ማመላለስ መስሎሃል :: ይህ የጥንብ አንሳ ፓለቲካችሁ የት እንደሚያደርሳችሁ እስቲ አብረን እናያለን::
Al Jazeera is the perfect counter to the monopolization of media by western news agencies who are the mouth pieces of western imperial interests and the state owned media in the middle east and beyond.
Al Jazeera is banned in many nations including Ethiopia, it is not allowed to operate in Ethiopia, ESAT is not allowed to operate in Ethiopia either, so there is not much of a chance of broadcasting live any public disobedience inside Ethiopia, in 2005 none of the western “free” media broadcast live the agazi massacre of defenseless citizens in Addis Ababa.
The funny part is that Al Jezeera is owned by the Emir of Quatar, you won’t know that at first glance, it is also amazing that the Emir of Quatar is using part of the wealth of his country for the good of human beings around the globe and specially in the middle east.
Tarik,
I feel ashamed of u, what a vulgar pig are u?
the words and the phrases shows that u are copycat of zenawi the child killer,
u are the bi product of TPLF regime without any reference never call yourself an Ethiopian, never, never,
Elias!
Yes! I was in the same mood in the past two weeks. My ear phone was on Al Jazeera news. Al Jazeera did a great job! wow! I call it the “Al Jazeera revolution.”
I salute Al Jazeera too!!
Yes. You are absolutely right Elias. Al jazeera is dominating the attention of many people in Addis including my family and my colleagues. Bravo Al jazeera. Thank you we are freed from the prison of the western media who support African dictators including the self-servicing Meles. Change is coming to Africa
1. Tunis’s People demand > Ben’s regime supply
2. Egypt’s people demand > Mubarak’s regime supply
3. But Ethiopians demand < or = TPLF/EPRDF supply
So, we need to wait until our political, social, economical, moral and spritial expectations (demands)are greater than the level (supply) that is currently provided by the TPLF/EPRDF.
well said ato Elias and congras to our fellow Egyptian brothers and sisters. hope the glorious revolution wouldn’t hijacked by mele’s i mean this time by mubarak’s cronies without living upto its meaning which would just make it serving an old same wine only sticking different labels.
regarding the previous piece ‘calling tgreans to rise up against meles zenawi’, it’s usually doubtful whether they are telling out of conviction or figured out the highway robbery under clilism/aparthietsm wouldn’t be sustainable especially in this unfriendly climate of dictators. it is not surprise then when woyanes try to stell a bit attentions such as rewritting thier own history to upgrade thier starure; alleged Eritrean backed terrorism attempt; replaying repeatdly the trial of former derg criminal prisoners while they don’t even have clean human right hands themselves…etc. the buttomline is the heat is building up in that unfortunate Menelik Palace and somebody got to blame for everything but not the angel wonayes. like the back stage handlers who sadly seem applying double standars of democracy/justice, woyanes too, are allergetic when it comes to the integrity of truth. other than ‘show me the damn hard currency’ they still yet to prove any credible principles at all.
i personaly would trust a hooker more than the wicked woyanes. while asleep, at least the poor old proffesion server just cleans up your wallet, sparing your priceless life but MLLT whore does you both. that’s if she got an option to go away with it.
The moral message is cystal clear: when dealing with the elite tgreans and thier fortune-seeker supporters/puppets, make sure always to sleep with your both eyes wide open if you wish to walk out in the morning with your all fuculties intact.
Unity & Peace Everywhere!
Al Jazeera are more biased than any other major news media (excepts for FOXNews).
Why? Because they are the biggest hypocrites.
When was the last time you saw them broadcast negative news on Qatar? (their “homeland”).
It’s a rich country, but do they have democracy? Do they have civil rights for are the thousands of foreigner workers that goes through abuse and sometimes torture. American media at least critizies their own government. AL-JAZEERA only attacks countries the Qatari government dislikes.
Have you seen their reporting on ONLF? It was the most disgusting biased thing (Qatar is a strong ally of ERITREA – maybe that’s why Elias are so found of them?). They made the ONLF look like little angels, NO mentioning of the terrorist attacks they have committed on civilians or anything negative about them at all.
All I am saying is, don’t let Al Jazeera or Elias fool y’all.
Thank you Elias. Indeed, Aljazeera has contributed a lion’s portion to the revolution in the Arab world and I hope it will continue with its noble effort.
The Usa under Obama haas now a golden moment to cut its ties with dictators for the last 30 years. George W. Bush promised and miserably failed to cut ties with genocidal leaders like Meles.
I totally agree with you. Aljazeera did a great job. It is a reminder that an independent international media like Aljazeera is also important for Africa. The Arab world now got a reliable media to clear the stereotype which is usually portrayed by the Western media.
That is absolutely true!
Everyone admires the unbiased broadcasting of Al Jazeera.
The big question is how come Al Jazeera is not allowed in the so called democratic countries such as USA and Canada? Double standard as usual?
If Egypt goes to the poll and freely elect Muslim brothers, what would be the reaction of the so called western democracies?
a-Accept the will of the people or
B-Ban, boycott, sanction even invade Egypt just like Lebanon and the west bank?
At the end of the day we probably come to conclusion that, Democracy is nothing but a tool of defending once interest.
Elias wrote: “However, the U.S. is a force for good in this world and doesn’t deserve to be demonized.”
Do you believe, really believe, what you said, Elias?
AJE is a voice of the people!!
Thank you AL Jazeera for the great work you have done during the past few weeks.
If not with your support, Tunisia and Egypt would have not, probably, succeed
this historical performance. Your report was balanced, fact and very punctual.The world has witnessed your great work.
Put more pressure and speak the truth to liberate those African countries who are denied their voiceS to be heard.
GREAT JOB !!! THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS