World News Insights
1-3 Minute Gist
Search, personalize, or simply browse. Follow the world around you from gist and context to insights.
Who we are | Our Credo | Ways of using Lyrarc | FAQ | Send Feedback | First Letter From the Editor
Sign up. It's free and easy to use
Create an account
to personalize your feed of articles and topics.
All Topics Article
A Symbol for the New Egypt
Keywords:
The Biblioteca Alexandrina, as a symbol of the new Egypt. This library dates back to classical antiquity. Youths formed a human cordon to protect the new library during the weeks of protests in Alexandria. The library's director, Ismail Serageldin, says the people love the library and protect it. He says the library is revising its work program to operate from now on as the focal point for the promotion of reform and civil liberties. In 2002, the library opened with a soaring structure designed by the Norwegian architectural firm Snohetta. It was funded by Unesco, the Egyptian government and other Arab countries, Mr Serageldin says the library is spreading the values of democracy, pluralism, freedom of expression, tolerance, diversity, which he is hoping is taking root in the younger generation. The library had 1.5 million visitors and 700 events in 2010. It has 4 museums, a planetarium, a children's science center, a library for the blind and 8 research institutes. It holds 1.6 million books, including a gift of 500,000 books from the Bibliotheque Nationale de France. The library has access to 50,000 electronic journals, and houses an archive of every page on the internet. We taught a lot of the kids who are demonstrating and protesting how to use the internet and how to use social media, and he is glad it has been put to good use, says the chief librarian, Sohair Wastawy. Wastawy is now dean of libraries at Illinois State University. Debate at the library has been open and and annual confernece is held by its Arab Reform Forum to promote human rights and civil society. A website is run to facilitate communication between Arab NGO's. Vartan Gregorian, a trustee of the library, who formerly headed the New York Public Library, says Serageldin has been a marvelous defendor of freedom and scientific thought.
Biblioteca Alexandrina as a symbol of the new Egypt
02/08/2011
American values of freedom and scientific thought, says the former head of the New York Public Library, are being marvelously defended on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt by library director Ismail Serageldin. Egyptian youth who are demonstrating got their first experience with the internet, social media and discussion in free wheeling debate at the library facilities and the forum events organized at the Biblioteca. No wonder they formed a human cordon around the library. It stands as a ray of hope and a place for a new beginning for the true American ideas in a free Arab world.
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 02/08/2011
Celebrated Activist Presses Egypt's Military on Reforms
Wall Street Journal 09/15/2011
Tunisia Islamists Test Ideas Decades in the Making
New York Times 02/17/2012
The Framework for Egypt's Transition to Democracy.
02/28/2010
The drafting of a new constitution to be put to a referendum. Free and fair parliamentary elections within one year. An interim government and three member presidential council with one member from the military, suggests Mohamed ElBaradei.
Grouped Articles
Morsi Faces Ultimatum as Allies Speak of Military âCoupâ
New York Times 07/01/2013
Fouad Ajami: Egypt on the Brink—With No Clear Way Back
Wall Street Journal 07/02/2013
Prominent Egyptian Liberal Says He Sought Westâs Support for Uprising
New York Times 07/04/2013
New York Times 07/04/2013
Signs of Disarray Emerge in Egyptian Generalsâ Plan for Governance
New York Times 07/06/2013
Washington Post 07/21/2013
The Democratic Options in Tunisia and Egypt
01/27/2011
Roger Cohen of the New York Times calls the street protestors in Tunisia and Egypt "revolutionary Geeks." They are young, pragmatic, looking mainly to be free of the shackles of despotic regimes and the lack of economic opportunity. The one party rule of the Tunisian ruler, of Mubarak and Quadaffi add up to one hundred years of despotism says Cohen. The failure of President Obama and Hillary Clinton to take a clear stand in support of change and in favor of democracy in the Arab world.
Grouped Articles
Tunisian Islamist Finds Hope in Challenging Time
New York Times 08/03/2013
Second Opposition Leader Assassinated in Tunisia
New York Times 07/25/2013
Tunisian Constitution, Praised for Balance, Nears Passage
New York Times 01/14/2014
Assassination in Tunisia Draws Spouse Into Politics
New York Times 10/25/2014
New York Times 01/27/2011
Egyptian troops let protests proceed as Mubarak names vice president
Washington Post 01/29/2011
Egyptian educational institutions and the transition to democracy and modern open society in Egypt
02/08/2011
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 02/08/2011
The Next Step for Egypt's Opposition
New York Times 02/10/2011
In Egypt, Town Built on Patronage Is Test of New Order
New York Times 02/20/2011
Turkey and Indonesia as models for the Middle East transition to Democracy
02/01/2011
Turkey and Indonesia as models for the transition ro free democratic process in Egypt and the Arab world.
Grouped Articles
Development Won’t Ensure Democracy in Turkey
New York Times 06/05/2013
Turkey’s Middle Class Strikes Back
New York Times 06/05/2013
In a Nation of Muslims, Political Islam Is Struggling to Win Votes
New York Times 04/07/2014
Indonesia Tally Shows Widodo With 53% of Vote
Wall Street Journal 07/22/2014
Indonesia's Political Leap Forward
Wall Street Journal 08/23/2014
New York Times 11/19/2014
Turkey and Egypt
02/01/2011
The Turkish role in the economic development of Egypt after years of underinvestment in the economy. Turkey's wider role in the development of political institutions for democracy in the Middle East.
Grouped Articles
Turkey Predicts Partnership With Egypt as Regional Anchors
New York Times 09/18/2011
Obama lagging on the Arab Spring - The Washington Post
Washington Post 12/12/2011
Muslim Brotherhood Looks West in Bid to Revive Egyptian Economy
Wall Street Journal 02/17/2012
Muslim Brotherhood Leader Rises as Egypt's Decisive Voice
New York Times 03/12/2012
Egypt’s president is U.S. critic, but could be an ally - The Washington Post
Washington Post 06/26/2012
Turkey Steps Up to the Assad Challenge
Wall Street Journal 06/28/2012
We took a different way to help millions around the world build educated informed mindsets that affects and shapes their lives. For a future that is open, global and digital, with everyone having access to high quality information. We believe in the renewal of America, renewal of Europe, the renewal of India, the rest of Asia, Latin America and Africa. The renewal of our supply chains, health, education, infrastructure, as we rebuild our countries after the pandemic. Literacy and knowledge we believe cannot thrive and grow in a world of web bots, web crawlers, or AI. This requires human curiosity, human learning, and human imagination. We take as inspiration the saying- “One has to be free, and as broad as sky. One has to have a mind that is crystal clear, only then can truth shine in it.” Every contribution whether big or small is precious- in this crisis and ahead.
Support Lyrarc from as small as $1
Terms and Conditions | Copyright Policy | Privacy Policy | Contact Us