CAIRO - Social networking is doing an amazing job in rallying support for the Tahrir protests and catering for the needs of the protesters in the Square. Thousands of Facebook and Twitter users are connected to each other, allowing things like food and medicines to be provided for the protesters in Tahrir Square around the clock. The logistics in the Square are not being managed by the leaders, but by ‘cyber communication'. In the blink of an eye, this method of communication can summon an army of volunteers to raise money to buy medical supplies for the Tahrir field hospitals, in order to treat the many young people injured in clashes with the police in Mohamed Mahmoud Street off Tahrir. A few weeks ago, the Ministry of Health urged the public to donate blood because of an acute shortage. When the deadly clashes started, tweets and SMS messages prompted scores of undergraduates and other young people to flock to public hospitals to donate this precious, life-giving liquid. According to ministerial sources, the amount of blood donated in the course of a few days has exceeded expectations. We've got the cyber world to thank for this. This same world has unveiled malpractices and human rights violations during the violent confrontations in Tahrir. If only this virtual world could be used to steer the ruling circles in the right direction.
