Forget oil, food crisis more likely in the GCC

Cash alone won't save these Gulf necks for much longer, whether oil wells dry up or not, is the ominous message issued by Muftah's writer Yazan Al-Saadi.

"In the lead up to the protests that have recently swept across the Arab world, those in the region, particularly in the Gulf, were in the grip of a major source of instability: food insecurity. Between 2009 and 2010, food security was a major concern for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States.[1] Although the GCC countries have enjoyed large reserves of oil and natural gas, water and food have become increasingly scarce resources. These circumstances were brought to the fore during the dramatic rise of food prices in 2007, which sparked food riots around the world in 2007 and 2008."

"Should these [food] problems not be taken seriously, however, one can expect the citizens of the Gulf to exhibit an even greater degree of discontent with their governments than has been seen thus far," warns Mr.Al-Saadi, himself a Kuwait resident.

"what do you need:

iPhone - USB - itunes - song- " and to follow this user friendly flash screen manual put together for your ease,
and you're on your way to enjoying your own select ringtone. Now you just need people to ring you to test out and sing-to-the- tune of your next caller.

"First of all this post is a late apology to all our dear Tunisian and Algerian brothers for what happened last Saturday in Cairo Stadium. I will not be claiming anything if I say that I apology on behalf of millions of Egyptians because in many Egyptians share my anger. If we should say anything to Tunisia , it should be Thank you for inspiration and giving huge confidence to the Egyptians that they can do it as well."

"With the underground trains you have the problem of rush hour in the morning, afternoon and evening. The underground does not sleep!"

Notes aired from stuffy minds on that routine commute. We can all relate to these thoughts, and this Susu has shared them with us.

"Random fact aside: In the mornings people smell nice, look nice and in general are in a fairly good state. But by the evening the same people you thought smelt nice and looked good in the morning become, how do I put it hmmmmm, trampy."

Event reminders courtesy of Liliane

"Dates announced
In case you missed it, and because I am a nice person, I want to inform / remind you, that we have two great bands coming to Lebanon (so far) this summer as part of Byblos Festivals (*winks, my favorite festivals). "

"It now increasingly reminds me of Al-Arabiyyah TV", says scathingly wry (what's new?) As'ad AbuKhalil of Aljazeera.

Well that would be a little redundant to say the least- having two identical major regional news mouth-pieces in a region saturated with state TV news channel options. (-Ed)