Protest Rundown

Here are some links about protests occurring locally, nationally, and around the world.

Locally:

Union activists invaded the lobby of the Association of Washington Businesses to have “a sit-down talk with AWB over the closing of tax breaks to pay for health programs…”

Union members rallied in Olympia to show support for the protesters in Wisconsin

Nationally:

The public union protests have spread to Ohio. Here is a completely <sarc> unbiased </sarc> report on the Ohio protest from the World Socialist Web Site.

Wisconsin labor unrest spills across Lake Michigan.

Wisconsin Democrats filibuster

Students at the University of Wisconsin – Madison have walked out of classes.

Around the World:

Gadhafi plans on staying

While protests have not yet broke out in Saudi Arabia reformers are calling for change.

Bahrain Orders Military off Streets of Capital. The events in Bahrain are beyond tragic. This is one of the more affluent oil nations. The oil in and around Bahrain has slowed to a trickle in recent years, but government and business leaders saw it coming and switched to banking. A large portion of the Gulf oil money flows through Bahrain. I have spent time in Bahrain and found the country with a look towards to the West while maintaining its Middle East roots. The Bahrainis are wonderful people, warm and inviting. The Suk was magnificent. It was very surprising to me that people took to the streets, but it was even more surprising at how hard the government put down the protests.  I guess you never really know about a country when you only spend a few months there.

Here is a very brief synopsis of the various protests occurring in the Middle East.