A R A B I C A ارابيكا

PERSUASIVE BY DESIGN
*The Syrian Revolution Facebook group has a new logo, with a face split down the middle; half civilian and half clad in military gear. "We will not serve in an army that is killing us," the banner reads at the top. The design reflects the group's priority for the moment to encourage Syrian soldiers to desert. "We are the Hama of Syria, not the Hama of Assad," it reads below, a message reproduced in this piece of calligraphy art. The word "Assad" is printed on a drawing of a shoe, showing disrespect for the Syrian leader. The group's home page banner concludes with the message: "During the month of Ramadan, every day is a Friday."

HOMS TO DARAA
Despite massive military offensives in Hama and Deir a-Zor, protests appear to be continuing around the country. Though impossible to verify the dates and locations, this clip purports to be of a Sunday protest in Homs, this one from the largely Kurdish town of Qamshilu and this from Daraa, where the uprising began.

SYRIA V. SAUDI
The pro-government Syrian daily Al-Watn slammed Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah for criticizing state-sanctioned violence against civilians. The king's statements late Sunday appeared more like the transmission of American threats than a "brotherly message," the paper wrote. "There is evidence that proves Syrians are the victims of a conspiracy." Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have recalled their ambassadors to Syria, with both countries condemning the bloodshed.

TRIPOLI STRANGLED
The Iqtisadiya newspaper reports that "the siege of Tripoli is starting to strangle the city; power cuts are plaguing residents." Already facing a fuel crisis, power outages and limited water supplies are taking a toll on Tripoli's residents. The U.A.E. paper reports that citizens blame Gaddafi, the rebels and NATO for the stranglehold, calling the cuts a provocation to force them to rise up. Despite the blazing heat of the desert summer, Ahmad, interviewed by the paper at a vegetable market in Tripoli, said he could live without air conditioning, but not refrigeration. "Power outages sometimes last 24 hours," he said, rotting food reserves stored in freezers.

August 8, 2011

photo credit: illustir