Strikes and revolutions

Is the Mahalla strike an isolated industrial dispute, fuelled and given greater significance due to rising food prices and a brittle regime; or is it emblematic of a great social change happening in Egypt spurned on by the crushing social conditions, rapidly rising food prices, and an autocratic "Pharoah"?

Revolution has been predicted in Egypt frequently. Everybody appears to think that it is inevitable that at somepoint Hosni Mubarak, or maybe his son Gamal will be overthrown. However, as this was predicted to happen in 1979, when Islambouli shouted "death to Pharoah", when Mubarak supported the Gulf War, in 95 with the attempted assassinations, and almost constantly inbetween, people don't really take notice. They should. A revolution in the Arab world's most populous and important country would have huge and dramatic effects on the world. We should know about this stuff.

As such, I am going to attempt to find out more about the current strikes, food shortages, riots, protests, and underground activity against the Regime and report back to you.

As a precursor, check out Al Jazeera's short report below of the Mahalla strike.