Journalist and author Reese Erlich
has just returned from a stint in bahrain, Saudi Arabia - The Route. There is a lot of 'ground truth' out there to unearth. When you have a chance to hear the story written from the ruins on up, that is a rare opportunity. Reese will be in Portland tomorrow, Saturday February 16th at the First Unitarian the wave of popular uprisings in SW Asia and North Africa in the context of the 10 year anniversary of the US war on Iraq on Saturday, February 16 at 7 PM.. Erlich's talk, "Middle East and Arab Spring, 10 Years After the Invasion of Iraq" will be held in the Eliot Chapel at First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12th in downtown Portland.
Website? It is a superb source of information and insight. reeseerlich.com/
Here's a sample:
Last year, militant unions set up tents in the center of Bahrain’s capital. They were showing solidarity with peaceful demonstrations calling for an end to the country’s dictatorship.Within a week of the first protests on Feb. 14, the country’s labor union federation called a general strike. But the protests, including a second general strike, were short-lived.
With the help of Saudi Arabian troops, the Bahraini monarchy tried to crush the revolt with tanks, tear gas and live ammunition.
More than 4,500 workers were fired for their alleged participation in the general strikes, and their fate has now become a major rallying point for the opposition, which has been weakened but not defeated.
- KBOO