"Today, December 17th, is the anniversary of #Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi’s self-immolation in Sidi Bouzid. Perhaps one of the most powerful and ultimately catalyzing instances of individual protest, #Bouazizi (whose real first name is Tarek) self-immolated to protest his mistreatment at the hands of the government and the inability to make a living for himself - a pain and frustration that resonated with Tunisians, and then citizens of nations across North Africa and the Middle East. He later died on January 4th, but the protests and demonstrations that were set in motion across the region have continued to this day - so far leaving three dictators downed in their wake."
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![A general view for the first #Egyptian parliament session after the #revolution that ousted former President Hosni Mubarak in #Cairo, Jan. 23, 2012.
"Egypt’s parliament opened on Monday for the first time since a historic free election put #Islamists in the driving seat after years of repression under deposed President Hosni Mubarak. The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) was the biggest winner in the first free vote in decades. It has vowed to guide Egypt in the transition to civilian rule after generals took charge following the popular uprising that began on January 25 and ended with Mubarak’s ouster on February 11."
[Credit : Asmaa Waguih / Reuters]](http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/thumb/502071618.jpg?1327358648)
