Ethiopian Maid Suicide Highlights the Middle East's Domestic Worker Problem

The Ethiopian maid, who was beaten in front of her embassy in Lebanon, has unearthed debates on domestic workers in the Middle East; WikiLeaks founder might be running for the Australian senate; The Kony 2012 Campaign- Naive? ; Interview with Palestinian hunger striker Hana Shalabi's sister; Is the Arab Spring good news for Palestine?

Frightening statistics, such as at least one domestic worker dying every week, raise questions about the domestic worker situation in the Middle East.

Kabobfest [3]

The Struggle to End Domestic Slavery in Lebanon

A work opportunity or modern-day slavery? This is the ongoing debate on foreign workers being shipped off to the Middle East for little pay and even worse living conditions. Kabobfest give an analysis and some statistics on how bad the situation really is for these foreign domestic workers. "Migrant domestic workers across the Middle East have almost no legal supervision and their abuse gets even less media coverage, meaning that the slavery that makes the region run is generally hidden from view."

A Separate State of Mind [4]

The Lebanese Help: New TV Hosts Ali Mahfouz – The Man Who Beat Up The Ethiopian Maid

The Ethiopian maid video has caused quite a stir in the Lebanese media, especially since that maid has reportedly committed suicide. Elie from Lebanon addresses Ali Mahfouz, the man in the video, who has come forward for an interview on the Al-Jadeed TV show "Lil Nashr". "Using the platform of the TV show, Mafhouz tried to come off as an affectionate man who deeply cared for the girl and was trying to sort out her affairs. He event went further than that and said he would never beat her up and that moment outside the embassy was unlike him."

The Next Web [5]

WikiLeaks announce that Julian Assange is running for the Australian Senate

So, here's a bit of random news. From making the news to being THE news, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange may be getting political in a novel way- for him, at least. He is rumored to be running for the Australian senate, of all things! Our eyes are peeled to see how this will pan out. "Last December, the official WikiLeaks Twitter account asked this question: is it possible for Julian Assange to run for the Australian Senate while under house arrest in another country? Apparently the answer is yes, because the latest update to the Twitter account announces his intention to run."

Open Democracy [6]

Don't elevate Kony

For every major campaign, there has to be backlash. And since not all that glitters is gold, Kony 2012 is finding its own. This blogger discusses how Kony is a naive, ill-thought out and a possibly ignorant campaign. Be weary where you spend your money, folks. "Millions of young Americans are being told about a bizarre and murderous African cult. They are also being told that for 25 years Africa has been waiting for America to solve this problem... The apologists for Invisible Children call this “raising awareness.” I call it peddling dangerous and patronizing falsehoods."

Occupied Palestine [7]

Hana Shalabi’s Sister Speaks – Video

There is much to say about the situation of Palestinian hunger striker Hana Shalabi, who is reaching the one month mark for her strike. In this video interview, her sister, Zahera Shalabi, speaks out about Shalabi's situation. "As Hana Shalabi could be dying in prison, her father appeals to the whole world to hear their call and to put pressure on the Israeli government to release his daughter. In his own words, 'Hana is not only my daughter, she is the daughter of every Palestinian.'"

Middle East Post [8]

The Arab Spring: good or bad for the Palestinian cause?

Most would say that the Arab Spring is in full swing. But what does that mean for the Palestinian cause? Can Palestinian youth learn from their revolutionary Arab counterparts? "The Palestinians don’t have time to wait for the Arab street to take a greater interest in their affairs, and must push forward and build the foundations of their future state. Self-reliance at this time is key for the future of an independent Palestinian state. One only needs to look at the steps the Zionists took to found the state of Israel. They did not wait for the world to wake up."