SPIRIT OF CHANGE

"only a child dances in the rain long enough to catch a cold"


The truth as to how the color of a man's skin goes hand in hand with his environment to produce results far fetched from the understanding given to it by science only comes to light as the recent wave of change swept across the North African region


In Tunisia, it took protesters less than a month to gather themselves and speak with one voice. Clear enough for the world to hear, clear enough to  get President Ben Ali out of office and into exile. Unconfirmed reports put the death toll at about  78people as at the time the protests were over, this not including  Mohammed Bouazizi who set himself ablaze sparking the whole drama.Tunisia is a country of roughly 10.4million people, the mainstay of the economy is agriculture, tourism and manufacturing and yet 14% of the populace remain unemployed and live in poverty. This lifestyle pushed the Tunisians over the edge to the point of enough is enough. 


A ripple effect of the protests in Tunisia flowed through the Mediterranean sea and washed the mud from the eyes of the Egyptians who have been living in  as worse conditions under the ruler-ship of Hosni Mubarak. In less than another thirty days the Egyptians were able to perform the same trick, only that this time around it was more costly and resulted in more casualties. During the period of the protests, unconfirmed reports fix the death toll at about 346 and the number of injured running into thousands. With a population of over 80.4million people and an unemployment rate of 9.4% the Egyptians have been able to free themselves even if temporarily from the living conditions below their expectations, though it took them 30 years to see it.


Although the case is a little different in Cote D'ivore, (as the reason for the unrest differs) the citizenry have not been able to present themselves in an acceptable non-violent manner so as to resolve the crisis which has engulfed their cocoa producing country. Clearly still a solution is yet forthcoming as Laurent Gbagbo, the man behind the music still intends playing more tunes. To spare the mention of a few unsuccessful protests is in a bid to bring to limelight the success of the most recent and the strategy being used. From the days of Martin Luther King, this form of public demonstration by the people for the need of the people has always proved a most a formidable force indeed.


As the winds of change continue to blow, we will be humbled as humans no matter how highly placed