As Usual… A Media War Against Egypt
Dr. Bahaa Helmy Writes:
The media campaigns against Egypt intensified in conjunction with the events of the World Youth Forum held in Sharm El-Sheikh from 10 to 13 January this month in Sharm El-Sheikh, after its main themes (peace, development and creativity) were announced and the topics scheduled for discussion in the workshops starting from 8 March were put forward, in which young people listened to leading thinkers and decision-makers from around the world and got to know their peers, young people of the world of various nationalities, under the shade of dreams, ambitions and determination to bring about real change towards a new future and a new world.
Young people took part in the preparation and the discussions held in the workshops, which dealt with the repercussions of “corona” and its effects on the world, such as: the shape of health care “in the world after corona”, energy issues and entrepreneurship, the opportunities available to young people in the labour market after the pandemic, the changes that have affected the labour market, the issue of climate change and the environment, development initiatives including the (Decent Life) initiative and the grants offered, women’s empowerment, combating terrorism and promoting the importance of human rights.
This is besides topics such as the industrial revolution and artificial intelligence, the challenges of creativity, cinema, the arts and culture as part of development and a human right, and discussing the future of Africa, financial technology for emerging markets, digital transformation, education and the young generation’s perspective on the post-corona world.
The Egyptian experience of rebuilding the human being and protecting his basic rights was also presented through the (Decent Life) initiative and its goals of changing reality in Egypt’s governorates by expanding the network and scope of the social protection programme and reducing poverty in (375) of the poorest villages, to extend to about (4,584) other villages at a cost of about (800) billion pounds.
This was appreciated and was a source of inspiration for all participants at all levels and for international organizations, whether those who attended, those who followed, through the media, or through the young participants from 196 countries.
Everyone learned how Egypt applies the standards and concepts of a decent life for the people of Egypt on the ground, like its previous humanitarian experiences and initiatives to combat the C virus, which the World Health Organization considered a model to be followed.
Egypt succeeded by every measure in presenting its vision, its sustainable development plans and its efforts to confront the repercussions and effects of corona, and in presenting the achievements realized by sincere national hands to provide a decent life, health and good education to build the human being and safeguard his freedoms, far from false slogans, which had a positive effect on everyone, especially young people of various ages and countries.
Then came the documentary film at the opening of the conference, valuing humanitarian and medical efforts and cooperation among all peoples and societies in confronting corona, whether by obtaining vaccines, wearing masks or through precautionary measures to protect one another; the film then raised the issue of human selfishness.
The film reveals a truth, namely that after the corona stage is over, man will return to his former ways and repeat his mistakes and the decisions that make history, because we have not learned from our mistakes; ethnic conflicts, ideological disputes and economic, political and intellectual hegemony still exist in everything, even in human relations, and large entities that control the finest details of people’s lives have grown monstrous.
The conference succeeded in sending an honest and revealing message to the world, through the window of this conference, about Egypt’s vision and the truth of the global practices that seek hegemony and partition, the destruction of states and the displacement and expulsion of peoples, preventing them from crossing the borders of the states that helped them tear down institutions under human rights slogans and then left them in the open, compared with states that build and develop and seek to provide a decent life for their people; yet the developed states monopolize progress and refinement for themselves alone, and indeed fight anyone who tries to progress with various weapons.
What the World Youth Forum platform achieved is unprecedented. Egypt was able, with skill, to broadcast and announce its message to the world and to discuss the issues of youth, the future and human rights with full confidence, honesty and neutrality through the window of the Youth Forum.
Hence the electronic battalions launched a media war against Egypt on social media and traditional media, supported by the states that were embarrassed by the truth.
This campaign aims to frighten the people about the size of the debts and to cast doubt on the national policies, which the political leadership skilfully addressed with the remark (are you more worried about our people and our country than we are?).
To be continued