And yet! Have you taken an evening stroll along the banks of the Nile in Cairo? A haven of peace and kindness. The Omayade mosque in Damascus and the date market adjacent to it exude serenity. In Monastir, the Tunisia of today and of yore maintains its rhythm as ever. In the Hoggar at the heart of the Sahara, the Touaregs full of nobility offer their hospitality to travelers. The same goes for the souks of Teheran and Isfahan. And in the Libyan and Malian deserts, beauty, peace and tolerance reign. 
 
Sorry, I must be mistaken. The Arab spring, crowds, shouts of revolution and freedom. Formidable. Following the assassination of the head of the Tunisian opposition, army and police fight against the protestors in Cairo. In port Saïd, arson and killings. Khadafi's artillery is used by all forms of terrorism. If you decide to venture into the desert you risk being kidnapped, ransomed and executed. In Syria, it's mortal combat between the Sunnis, the Shiite and the Alawites. The vanquished risk extermination. Fire, blood and death.
 
Some spring. 
 
And of course, the economy is suffering, putting inhabitants in dire straits. Everywhere one turns, the economy is doing badly. 
 
Tourists are afraid. A 20% to 40% decrease in tourism despite falling prices. In Tunisia, the phosphate mines are at minus 40%. In Egypt, the currency has lost its value. European and American investments have been halved and unemployment is shooting up. Particularly amongst young people who are fleeing. Exports are crumbling. The states are heavily in debt and unable to pay back what they owe. 
 
All in all, a catastrophe! 
 
The FMI has suspended its aid to Egypt. The new governments attempt to limit the damages as best they can by applying traditional formulas; a rise in civil servant salaries, subventions and aids, but at the same time creating currency by the bucket and runaway inflation. A classic downward spiral. Foreign consulates are full of emigrating candidates, especially young ones. 
 
One single gleam on the horizon, the arrival of the BRICS, China, India, Russia and Brazil. They come with their money and their products. Brazilian cars for example, are all the rage.
 
Lo and behold, the stock exchange in Cairo has seen extraordinary speculation, up by 50% in a year. So there must be some money left. 
 
But can any of this last without serious foundations?
 
Let's wait and see.
 
There is definite potential for the rapid development of some beautiful societies and booming economies.


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