Mideast turmoil

    EVER since the middle of January, newspaper headlines have been dominated by the turmoil coursing through the Middle East. Tunisia’s president of 23 years was ousted first, then Egypt’s, and now Iran, Bahrain, Libya, Yemen and Iraq are experiencing political protests of their own with citizens encouraged and emboldened by the success of their neighbors.

    With this international unrest unfolding, the question I’ve asked myself most is “why now?” Why, in the span of two months, have as many as eight countries (and counting) felt that now was the right time to vocalize their anger with political systems they’ve lived under for years and, in some cases, decades?

    My guess: everyone else is doing it. When a 26-year-old Tunisian graduate committed suicide by setting himself on fire, he epitomized the despair a beleaguered youth felt about their prospects in life. Citizens acted, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, president of Tunisia for 23 years, was ousted, and the story went viral. Hearing of Tunisia’s success, people began believing the successful overthrow of an unpopular government was possible. Egypt reinforced that thought.

    Tunisia’s success was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.

    I have the impression that many protesters had only one goal in mind: change. Whether or not they had a clear idea of how exactly to go about change or, more importantly, what to do after their desired change was accomplished, is another question entirely.

    On top of that, I’m not convinced that sheer change has accomplished or will accomplish what people hoped for. Egypt, now rid of President Muburak, is under the control of the country’s military and all signs point to a muddled consensus on what happens next. The more I hear of people in other countries protesting against their governments the more I feel the ones protesting are motivated more by the news of success in neighboring regions than their own ideas for what should happen next.

    Stephen Roper via e-mail

    China boosts the

    Swiss economy

    SWISS companies exported goods to the value of 12.4 billion Swiss francs (US$13.22 billion) to China, including Hong Kong, in 2010, according to recent figures from the Swiss Federal Customs Administration. “That is a growth of 35 percent year-on-year. The Swiss export industry has not achieved such success in any other market — China is the single largest contributor to Swiss export growth,” according to Nicolas Musy, managing director of Swiss Center Shanghai.

    With the Chinese economy on the fast track, Swiss companies can continue to profit from the China boom in 2011 and the years to come. Precision instruments, machinery and watch companies have the greatest opportunity to further expand their sales in China.

    Bernhard Hagen via e-mail