It started last week when the government wanted to make over a main square, taking away trees and building a shopping mall.

It also planned to rebuild a historical building, a former Ottoman army barracks.

The Ottoman Empire was very strong in Turkey in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Unlike Arab Spring, when many Middle East countries erupted with protests against the government, Turkey’s government has always been seen around the world as more tolerant than many of those countries.

So when cause of the protests seemed to be a local problem, people thought is must be a very different kind of protest.

The post Riots In Turkey Getting Worse appeared first on Teaching Kids News.

Spence has not eaten any solid food for about 30 days. This type of protest is called a “hunger strike.”

During a hunger strike, people stop eating in order to make a peaceful protest about something they believe in. Spence is consuming only liquids, like water and broth.

Spence said she will not end her hunger strike until Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets with her to discuss First Nations rights.

Last week, Harper said he will meet with First Nations leaders on Jan. 11.

The post “Idle No More” A Growing Movement appeared first on Teaching Kids News.

One of the largest countries in which people opposed their leader was Egypt. 

The protests ended when President Hosni Mubarak was driven out of office and put on trial.

Last June, Egypt’s first freely elected president took office.

But instead of trying to get everyone to agree on how to run the country, President Mohammed Morsi decided to give himself complete power over all laws and all the people.

He said this was the only way to get things done.

Again the protests started as people streamed into the streets because their rights had been removed.

Their message got to Morsi and he cancelled his plans for complete power.

The post New Egyptian Leader Backs Off On Strict Controls appeared first on Teaching Kids News.

For instance, Canada has ambassadors in many countries around the world. They are high ranking diplomats who represent their country. They typically work from offices called embassies.

The U.S. has many ambassadors stationed around the world, representing the United States.

The U.S. has an embassy in Libya, in Northern Africa.

Libya has been in the news this year because it was part of the Arab Spring, in which some countries’ people protested against corrupt governments.

On Wednesday, the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three embassy staff were killed.

Facts are still emerging about the incident—about why it happened and what the U.S. reaction to it will be.

The post U.S. Embassy In Libya Attacked appeared first on Teaching Kids News.

Last year, as part of the Arab Spring protests* Mubarak was forced from government. He had been in power for nearly 30 years.

During the anti-Mubarak protests, Mubarak’s security forces fired on the protesters, killing more than 850 people.

Recently, a judge found Mubarak guilty of participating in those killings and sentenced him to life in prison.

The post Mubarak Sent To Prison For Life appeared first on Teaching Kids News.

Today and tomorrow TKN takes a look at some of the most significant news stories from the past year.

Protests and dissent

The year 2011 may be known as the year of "dissent" - the year people protested. In a number of Arab countries -- including Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Syria and Libya -- people took to the streets to protest against their governments and many leaders were ousted.

It was known as the Arab Spring.

There were other protests closer to home. In North America and many other places around the world, young people rose up to protest the growing difference between the rich (the one per cent) and the rest (the 99 per cent).

The post G’bye 2011, Hello 2012 (Year In Review, Part I) appeared first on Teaching Kids News.

Last December, the people of North Africa started what is being called "Arab Spring."

Arab Spring refers to a series of uprisings by the people in a number of Arab countries.

The citizens rebelled when they could no longer put up with dictators and their cruelty.

They forced the President of Tunisia to flee to Saudi Arabia and the President of Egypt to quit his job and move away.

The post Arab Spring – What’s Happening Now? An Update appeared first on Teaching Kids News.