"Pope Shenouda III, the Coptic Orthodox Pope has issued orders to bishops to inform priests in churches to ban participation in the strike scheduled for the Coptic New Year, September 11, that Coptic youth have called for, and which is supported by expatriate Coptic organizations.

A source at the Papal office said Pope Shenouda emphasized the need to reject such calls, which could mar public peace and stir up sectarian tendencies." Arab-West Report

The calls for this strike (organized for September 11) have centered around the Copts demands for the Egyptian government to adopt uniform policies on the construction and restoration of houses of worship. They have further raised calls for fair trials throughout the country.

While social networking sites are increasingly being used to mobilize the political agenda throughout Egypt, is calling for a strike going to achieve anything effectively? With the Coptic Orthodox Church having distanced itself from this call, can one still say that the strike will have an effect, or will it be seen as a small group looking to stir up trouble?

What are your thoughts and opinion on this issue, do you think public strikes can effect real political change?

Another interesting point worth considering, is how this will impact the Egyptian government's policies toward facebook - having already attempted to block the social networking site for the impact that it can have on the political youth. Is this going to strengthen their belief in the need to censor facebook and similar blogging sites?

How effective do you really think that online political activism can truly be? Does the fact that it is placed on the internet make it a more global phenomenon?

Strikes in the political environment normally only have an impact if
a.) there is something effectively hampered by the strike (e.g. if the public transport workers or any other group would strike there woule be an impact on society
b.) there is enough public attention

But who really cares in this case if a few hundred people take to the street and if the general body of the Coptice Church separates itself from this issue.

People will only shake their heads in disbelief.

There is no doubt however, that the ability for the public to raise their voice in this fashion is admirable.