CAIRO: The newspaper vendor is no longer the ultimate hero in Tahrir Square, but instead it is the Revolution's News Tree. The tree exists in the middle of the square's garden and it holds all the January 25 Revolution news. Egyptian people now can read all the revolution's news for free, without buying any newspaper, and they can also hear news from a public radio next to the metro station. Radios were used during the January 25 Revolution to update Egyptian protesters about news of thet then Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The Revolution's News Tree is decorated every Friday by Egyptians' opinions and the revolutionary news; whoever wants to express his voice can write on a piece of paper and hang it on the tree to be read by all demonstrators in the square. The tree holds many slogans written by Egyptians such as, "Egyptian people won't bargain away the martyrs' rights," "Christian and Muslim equals Egypt," "Beware of Obama, who wants to order us around in return for a billion U.S. dollars," and "Now is the time for a revolutionary court." “I won't give you my full name and won't allow you to take any photos of me, I'm sorry,” said Karam, the founder of the idea of the Revolution News Tree. He said state security investigations are still in power and they can have him locked up again. He also said the branches of this tree represent the years he lived and what he's seen during his years. He spent most of his life in the former regime's prisons until his hair turned grey and he no longer could be imprisoned again. He also said Egyptians are still imprisoned in their own country even after the January 25 Revolution; the incidents on June 28 are proof. “The Revolution News Tree is a symbol of the January 25 Revolution and its revolts,” said a member of April 6 Movement, Hassan al-Dahan. He also said the tree is a slogan the Egyptians used to chant during the January 25 Revolution. Arabic here
