Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



ElBaradei draws a crowd--and Obama comparisons--in Boston
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 28 - 04 - 2010

For a couple of days last week, a group of young immigrant students found themselves in possession of some of the hottest and most desired objects in Egyptian-America. The items in question: invitations to a special meeting in Boston on Monday between Mohamed ElBaradei and representatives of the Egyptian-American community.
“We were afraid a thousand people would show up,” said Waleed Ali, a student at Southern New Hampshire University, who helped organize the event.
What began as a simple evening arranged by Ali and Ayman Ismail, a Harvard student, quickly mushroomed into a massive--and largely unanticipated--logistical nightmare. Deluged with invitation requests from across the country, Ismail and Ali stopped responding to queries three days beforehand and moved the venue from a relatively small room on the Harvard campus to a much larger space at a nearby Marriott hotel.
Attendees--Ali put the number at about 300--included people who had literally crossed the country to catch a glimpse of the man who had roiled Egyptian politics in just a few short months.
“I saw people from Ohio and California there,” said Ahmed Sonbol, a 25-year-old software engineer from Alexandria.
Samer Atallah, a PhD student at Montreal's McGill University, drove six hours in a snowstorm to attend. He said that the mood in the room reminded him of another recent hope-and-change politician.
“I get a similar feeling to what happened with Obama,” said Atallah. “Now the ball's in our corner, whether or not we respond to [ElBaradei's] message.”
The former International Atomic Energy Agency chief began with a brief lecture, which attendees said closely mirrored his earlier statements in numerous interviews and television appearances. The rest of the evening was devoted to a two-hour question-and-answer session with the audience.
Attendees said the crowd was overwhelmingly positive, featuring no real criticisms of ElBaradei, although a few people expressed doubts that his reform campaign would succeed.
One of the most frequently asked questions was: Will ElBaradei actually run in Egypt's upcoming presidential elections?
“He was very clear that he wasn't going to run for president unless they change the constitution,” Sonbol said.
Other attendees asked about the use of non-peaceful means of political resistance, and about the possibility of recruiting the US government to help pressure President Hosni Mubarak's government to change the constitution. ElBaradei rejected both options.
“He said we didn't need to receive any push from outside. If we want to change things, we should do it ourselves,” Sonbol said.
Ali, one of the event's organizers, said he was struck by the way ElBaradei had embraced technology and social media.
“Several times, he mentioned his Twitter account. That shows it will be a big part of his campaign,” Ali said. “He plans to depend on it.”
Attallah, the McGill student, said ElBaradei had spent much of the evening calling for Egyptians living in America to actively embrace the cause. That means talking to the media, collecting signatures and operating openly in a way their counterparts in Egypt could not.
“It's very clear he wants us to mobilize and spread the word,” Atallah said. “We have a degree of political freedom that people don't have back home.”


Clic here to read the story from its source.