Zcom_simple

Hello,

Blogs are a familiar feature on the internet - where users post content in an accumulating manner, with comments, and search options, etc. They facilitate expression and exploration, and via attached comments, also debate and synthesis.


Reading and
Navigating Blogs

Our blogs are quite powerful. Each writer can post, as is typically the case. Sustainers who have the option can also post, however. All Blogs appear in the blog system, and sometimes also in content boxes the top page of ZNet - and always via the left menu of the top page - and can be found via searches, etc.

Commenting on blogs follows the blogs, attached at the bottom, and blog comments, like all others, are also visible in many places that show comments including in the forum system. In addition, the entire blog system gathers content for everyone - but one can look at the accumulating content in many ways.

  • For example one can look at one writer's efforts - so one is seeing what is effectively a blog system for that one writer, or Sustainer.
  • One can also look at the content by topic, seeing blogs that are tagged as being about a certain topic - or place, as well. Thus, when doing that, it is a blog system about a topic, or a place, with many contributors.
  • One can look at only writer blogs, or only sustainer blogs, as well.
  • One can look at blogs for particular Groups, too.

All this is easily done using the left menu. Searches allow even more variables and refinements.


Creating Blog Posts

If you are a Sustainer with permission, and are logged in, you will see a link in the left menu for you to post a blog - and you can use that to post one, and then tag it various ways (such as with a topic or place, or a group tag), and once you do, it is in the system with you as the author.

You can also use the console button to the left to post a blog - anytime and from anywhere in the site, as long as you are logged in.

Meanwhile, enjoy the blogs - and, by the way, if you are a Free Member or a Sustainer with a ZSpace page, of course you can put one or more content boxes on it, pulling blog links of any sort you may want to filter for, for example, by you or by your friends or by others - and by topic, about places, for groups, etc.

Blogs

Ian Sinclair's Blog

Web Address: http://www.zcommunications.org/zspace/iansinclair
Bio: I am the author of the book 'The march that shook Blair: An oral history of 15 February 2003', published by Peace News Press: http://peacenews.info/node/7085/march-shook-blair-oral-h... (More)

All Sinclair Blogs

Email exchange with the BBC's Mark Mardell about US military aid to Egypt

By Ian Sinclair at Mar 19, 2011


Change Text Size a- | A+
Please see below an email exchange I had in January 2011 with Mark Mardell, the BBC’s North American Editor. Starts at the top.
 
 
Dear Mark
 
I read with interest your blog today on the Egyptian protests ('Egypt unrest a dilemma for Obama', 28 January 2011, http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2011/01/egypt_unrest_poses_a_dilemma_f.html).
 
I note you mention Egypt "gets $1.5bn (£942m) in aid from the US, just behind Israel, Pakistan and Afghanistan". Meanwhile Dan Murphy at the Christian Science Monitor notes "the US provides about $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt a year" (Joe Biden says Egypt's Mubarak no dictator, he shouldn't step down...', 27 January 2011, http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Backchannels/2011/0127/Joe-Biden-says-Egypt-s-Mubarak-no-dictator-he-shouldn-t-step-down). Are you and Murphy talking about the same thing? If so, why did you refer to "aid" while Murphy referred to "military aid"?
 
With the Egyptian Government sending the army onto the streets in attempt to stop the protests, this is a very important point, I think.
 
I look forward to your response.
 
Kind regards
 
Ian Sinclair

 
 
Dear Ian,
 
I agree it is an important point.  The figure is not only military aid because it includes civil society/promoting democracy stuff. But I confess I don';t know if it includes military aid. AP are saying that the US is reviewing aid. We are checking this out and I am trying to break down the figure. 
 
Mark Mardell

 
 
 
Dear Mark
 
Thank you for you response.
 
To be honest I am a little shocked that a professional, full-time BBC journalist writing about US "aid" to Eygpt, by his own admission, doesn't know if this includes military aid.
 
I would draw your attention to a Reuter's report from earlier today (''Factbox: Most U.S. aid to Egypt goes to military', http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/29/us-egypt-usa-aid-idUSTRE70S0IN20110129). The report notes "In 2010, $1.3 billion went to strengthen Egyptian forces versus $250 million in economic aid. Another $1.9 million went for training meant to bolster long-term U.S.-Egyptian military cooperation". The story goes on to note "Part of U.S. economic aid is spent on democracy promotion programs in Egypt". So to be clear the report suggests only part of the "$250 million in economic aid" is used for "democracy promotion programs in Egypt" compared to over $1.3 billion going to the Egyptian military - i.e. the vast majority of US "aid" to Egypt is military aid.
 
With the above information in mind I hope your future reporting will reflect the facts of the issue, rather than downplayign the US support for the military in Egypt.
 
Kind regards
 
Ian Sinclair

Loading_border