Friday, July 15, 2005


“I want to work, big man” says the sign. Kifaya did well to tether its protest to an issue every Egyptian instinctively understands. The right to work is codified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 23), but tell that to the millions who lack a decent job and a dignified life. The National Democratic Party’s “New Thought” is full of all sorts of prescriptions, but I’ve never once heard their recipe for ameliorating Egypt’s 15-20% unemployment. Is unemployment also a part of “international best practices”?