The bolding of text is mine...
"Bahrain's king gifts $3,000 to every family
Bahrain News.Net
Friday 11th February, 2011 (Source: )
MANAMA, Bahrain - Bahrain's king has ordered that each family in the tiny Gulf monarchy be given $3,000 to mark the 10th anniversary of a national charter for reforms, state news agency BNA said on Friday.
"On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the National Action Charter and as a sign of appreciation for the people of Bahrain who have approved it, King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa has ordered 1,000 dinars (3,000 dollars) to be paid to every Bahraini family," BNA reported.
The decision came as cyber activists called for protests in Bahrain starting from Monday to demand political, social and economic reforms.
In a February 2001 referendum, Bahrainis approved a national charter for reform which restored a parliament dissolved in 1975, and in February 2002, Bahrain became a kingdom rule... ..."
More detail from another service here:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/2/12/worldupdates/2011-02-12T004220Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-548391-1&sec=Worldupdates
"Bahrain is one of the few Arab countries where the majority practices Shi'ite Islam. Tensions between the ruling family and the Shi'ite majority population are usually at a low boil, although there were some clashes ahead of election last October.
Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, is seen as a bulwark by its allies Saudi Arabia and the United States against the regional influence of Shi'ite Iran."
And this...from one of the myriad of political parties in Lebanon (there are so many...
) - again the bolding of text is mine...
"The Guardians of the Cedars Party - The Movement for Lebanese Nationalism issued the following message:
While the winds of change are blowing all around us in the region, and popular uprisings are moving at dizzying speed from one capital to another; while rulers are falling or tottering on the brink to the drumbeat of revolutionaries demanding freedom and dignity, and regimes long thought as made of steel are crumbling like paper tigers, while others are quickly enacting domestic reforms in an effort to pre-empt the flames from engulfing them...
While all of this is happening, our people in Lebanon remain idle and submissive, watching events as if they are of no concern to them, enduring but not rebelling, following their leaders like a herd of sheep, moved by their sectarian and religious – but not their national – impulse, eschewing the street except in support of one political side against another, or in solidarity with one boss against another, when all the leaders and bosses of the Lebanese political establishment joined together and conspired against the Lebanese people. Instead of demonstrating in protest against all the leaders and bosses who have oppressed them, humiliated them, and starved them for decades, the Lebanese people take to the street to protest the fall of one of those leaders. One wonders then, what would it take to move the Lebanese people to action??? The peoples of Tunisia and Egypt have earned their rights by fighting for them, and we know that the Lebanese people are no less capable of similar courage and determination.
Those who expect change to arrive from the outside are mistaken. Those who believe that friendly countries will sacrifice their interests for other people's interests are deluding themselves. And if Lebanon really wants to exit the infernal crisis in which it has been floundering for decades, it can only depend on itself and on the enormous potential and the many capabilities of its people.
We have previously called for revolution. We call for it today with a greater sense of urgency, and we will continue to call for it until all the objectives are met and until our people recover their spoiled rights to a free, secure and dignified life. If the 2005 revolution targeted the Syrian occupation and evicted the Syrian army, the revolution today ought to be against internal occupation by the thieves of the temple who must be evicted to save the country from their evil and corruption.
Let us remember that the world has no respect for servile people who do not demand their rights and remain silent over their grievances. The world loves people who are proud and active, and who seize every opportunity to rise against tyrants and despots. You can see it today in the world's overwhelming support to the people of Tunisia and Egypt.
Let the revolution of oppressed peoples everywhere be the marching order of our time. May the young men and women who are leading them be blessed and may their arms raised like spears in the face of the regimes of tyranny and oppression be also blessed. And, who knows? May Lebanon be next.
Lebanon, at your service
Abu Arz
February 04, 2011"