Jamel Bettaieb, who was born in the town of Sidi Bouzid, is an active member of the recent Tunisian protest movement. He participated in and witnessed the events that would make history in his country and reverberate around the world. Sidi Bouzid is considered by many to be the birthplace of the Arab Spring. It was here where Mohammed Bouazizi, an unemployed fruit vendor burned himself to death after being humiliated by the police. His desperate act sparked a popular uprising in the country, which led to the overthrow of Tunisian dictator Zine Ben Ali. The actions of Sidi Bouzid and Tunisian activists like Bettaieb and Bouazizi inspired and facilitated similar uprisings all across North Africa and the Arab world, which came to be known as the Arab Spring.