Talents in Lebanon – Banadoura: Various Artists

After I posted this video clip for the song "Qamlo el 7arb" for the Lebanese band "Meen", one of the band members Tony Yammine was kind enough to send me the Banadoura Compilation CD. So Thank you, it's a great addition to my collection.

What is Banadoura?

It's a CD that has a compilation of songs for several Lebanese Artists plus bonus features (videos) for those artists. Munir Khauli, The Quiminboos, Zeina Daccache, Nadim Bou Khalil, and Meen (mentioned earlier).

11 tracks, 11 moods, 11 themes, various artists, various music styles, all Lebanese.

Make sure you check the CD out. Demo here.

Check out:
Talents in Lebanon – Composer/Musician: Jalal Haddad
Talents in Lebanon – Photographer: Karen K

Rock Fest 2007 in Lebanon

Click on below to enlarge picture. For more info, please visit www.lebanesebands.com

Aoun vs Geagea. Who`s going back where?

X is returning (in arabic X raje3) has originally started being written on walls after Aoun left Lebanon in 1990 and lived in exile in france for over a decade. His supporters wrote this graffity on walls saying that Aoun is returning (to Lebanon from France).

A joke spread among the Lebanese after Aoun returned in 2005, saying that in France people started writing the same graffiti "Aoun is returning" (to france). If you're Lebanese, you will probably won't find it funny.

Anyway lately, the below photo (photoshopped of course) was shared and forwaded in emails as a joke. The place in the photo is Deir El Salib hospital, an asylum for emotionally and mentally troubled individuals, located in Zalka. On the whiteboard, it is written "Aoun is returning" (to the asylum) as rumors say that Aoun spent two years in it. So people are basically making fun of him.


Counter to this, another photoshopped picture has been spreading, which is the below, a prison room, with a graffiti written on the wall saying that "Geagea is returning" (to prison). As Geagea spent 11 years in jail and was set free in 2005 after the many events including Hariri's assassination in February, and Aoun's return in May.



So yes, this is what us Lebanese spend our time doing. Photoshopping pictures, opposition against pro-gov and pro-gov against opposition.

Egyptian blogger sentenced to jail. Seriously?

What is this, 1920? I had already posted once about Kareem Amer asking more people to sign the petition to protect freedom of speech in Egypt on November 15. Apparently it didn't really work out for the best.

As I understood, Abdel Kareem Suleiman has been sentenced to four years in prison. He's only 22, a law student, he used his blog to write his thoughts and opinions and say the "unsayable" apparently in Egypt.

Calling his president a dictator led him to being jailed, I can only assume that he was not so wrong. We don't have to fully agree with Kareem Amer, but expressing his opinions on a blog is not really misleading information and disruptive one, he's not obliging anyone to read him, and people have the sanity and maturity to decide whether to believe him or not.

Describing his distaste for his Al Azhar University experience he wrote last October about the religiously-run instution?s "infiltration of public life and its control of people's behavior and its dictation of how to lead their everyday life..."

I wish there will be another court and he will be freed soon.

In November Kareem was detained, interrogated and held in an Alexandria jail without trial for two months before he was charged with spreading information disruptive of public order, incitement to hate Islam and defaming the president of the republic. The arrest had inspired rallies in support of Kareem around in Washington, Rome, Paris, London and Stockholm.

Read more about what happened with Kareem Amer here.

Traffic due to whaaat?

Well, occasionally in countries like the U.S., U.A.E., France, you know, not the third world countries, traffic occurs due to an accident in the middle of the road, some public works, etc... but in Lebanon, in addition to the previously mentioned reasons, there is a very exclusive reason that results in traffic, and it is: "BOMBS".

Oops, did I just say the B word? Well yes, there was a bomb near MTV station in Ashrafieh, close to Roadster's Diner, and they had to deviate the cars to use another road.

Wouldn`t you want to say this to our politicians?

British troops to withdraw from Iraq

While Blair is going to announce today a plan for the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq, Bush is making a plan to increase the number of US soldiers in Iraq by thousands. Until now other coalition partners have either pulled out or are going to, such as the Italians, the Danes and the South Korean respectively.

Read full article here.

Parliament out of reach, please try again later

The parliament has been "out of service" for more than 2 months now, no session has been held. And this is the decision of Nabih Berri, the head of parliament. Irregardless of his reasons and his goals, if he is suceeding or not, if it is right for the head of cabinet to belong to a side or not, Nabih Berri got away with it. He got away with being criticized of paralyzing the country.

The country needs parliamentary sessions, why? Because we want our official representatives in the parliament to speak. They have been elected by the people. If they don't have the opportunity to transmit the needs and demands of the people, then at this point, it has become dictatorship and not democracy.

Nevertheless, the government is to be blamed for not doing anything about it. But the biggest blame is to be directed towards Berri too. He is the least criticized politicians in Lebanon, and the least liked...

Can politicians fast?

With this season of fasting, in Lebanon (I think abroad it is exercised differently), people fast not just 12 hours per day by not eating, or from dairy products and meat, moreover they actually choose something they really love (i.e. Chocolate, Smoking, Pepsi...) and they refrain from eating/drinking/smoking it for the whole 50 days.

Now I was wondering, as our politicians love being unprofessional, unforgiving, full of hatred, arguing with no basis for anything useful, ruining the country, etc... So you get the idea! Can't they fast and stop doing what they love for 50 days? Please! Pretty Please!

Ain Alak `martyrs`?!?!?

The persons who died last Tuesday were considered as martyrs. Now please do not misunderstand me, I think highly of every human being's soul, and I wish the souls of these innocent people to rest in peace. I offer my condolences to their parents and wish them strength and patience in these horrible times.

I just want to ask, martyrs? Martyrs of what? Is this what we do now? We call everyone who dies in an explosion, assassination, a fist fight and stone throwing a martyr?

For the sake of the argument, we'll call them martyr, nevertheless a martyr of what?

Is this what the politicians do these days? Call innocent VICTIMS martyrs?

"Inno 3am bi rab7ouwoun jmileh la 3iyaloun la ysaktouwoun?"

To the politicians: Cut your ..., cut your childish "He started it", and "You did it too", etc... Instead of calling people martyrs, people who died in consequence for your irresponsible actions, ridiculous speeches and talking backs, just be MEN for once and take responsibility for your actions, and stop whatever you're doing because we can see now that they're not working.

The people who died, the young mother and the student... These people had lives, had dreams, had families, had responsibilities, had A LIFE TO LIVE! And because of you they lost it!

Don't sit there and call them martyrs, do something about it!

Lahoud Tla3 Barra Video

Photos from February 14, 2007

Click here to view album.

Despite it all, Valentine has its role

Okay I was just trying to rhyme in the title, not successful I know, not very good at poems, never understood them or liked them.



Anyway, while cruising around in certain commercial residences like Dekwaneh, Sin El Fil and Ashrafieh, many of the clothing shops were open, but definitely all Gadgets and Flower shops were open. After all, Valentine is known to be a commercial holiday, just to sell flowers, candy, hearts, pantoufles, and cute little red gadgets. People's gotta eat!

I Heart Carpets

The I Love Life campaign has received a lot of attention, criticism, and public awareness to its purposes, it is now famous, the publicity has succeeded 100%. So companies such as Voyageur (Jewellery), picture courtesy of Rampurple's blog. The below billboard says: I Love Life in Diamonds.



Now, Iran Maktabi has also made use of this famous campaign to attract the eyes to his products, picture below, courtesy moi. The billboard says: "I Love Carpets"



In my opinion, they intelligently used the success of the previous campaign for mere publicity purposes, might sound naughty and not nice, but after all, this is what publicity is all about.

14 February 2007, an anniversary and more

To view more pictures of today's events please visit this album. Pictures courtesy of moi.

After yesterday's explosion at Ain Alak, our speculations were if another explosion of a different kind will blast in today's event commemorating the 2nd anniversary of Hariri's assassination. A lot of questions have been asked, and today we have the answers.



The politicians might haven't openly escalated the situation but they sure have spoken with a rough tone, especially Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Abou Taymour, the Progressive Socialt Party leader. Jumblat called Lahoud a whale that the sea has rejected, and that is probably the nicest thing he said about him, as later on he continued that Lahoud will make the history of garbage. Of course, there is always an interesting piece for Syria, its regime and its leader Bashar Al-Assad, whom got a real bashing by Jumblat. Geagea remembered all the martyrs naming them one by one, and called them the resistence of the nation.



Hariri thanked everyone for coming, thanked the martyrs, the people, the patriotic... In general, the politicians asked for the issue to be solved outside the streets, for it to be discussed in a civilized manner around the discussion table.



Hundreds of thousands of people have come from all over Lebanon, even by sea, and in a large number. Convoys made of hundreds of vehicles moved towards the capital, when the traffic starts, they park and continue by walking. Today's mass of people might not have been as large as March 14, 2005, but it certainly was the second biggest.



Lebanese Army divided the square into two between the opposition campers - who have been camping in downtown Beirut since December 1, 2006 in order to topple Siniora's government - and today's marchers who want to pay respect for Rafic Hariri and condemn the criminals who assassinated him 2 years ago, asking the international community for the truth of who those criminals might be.



The distance was wide, and not a single fight arised. The opposition security forces asked the for people to be present in the tents, in order to avoid any clash.

To view more pictures of today's events please visit this album. Pictures courtesy of moi.

Resolve it: Solve it, Human Chain

In a previous post, we mentioned the new movement called "Resolve it: Solve it", to read again, please click here.

On Saturday, February 10, 2007, they had planned to form a humain chain as a peaceful protest in order to urge the politicians into talking again and solving the issue.

This weekend, more than 100 Lebanese took to a former flashpoint in Beirut in a peaceful demonstration to demand an immediate solution to the current political impasse. The rally was part of a growing grassroots movement that is trying to lend a hand - or several hands - to ensuring civil peace and stability and prevent civil war.

Several organizers of the event expressed their opinion and frustration, they are just young people who saw that things are going downhill and want to do something about and make themselves heard. Reem, who is 24, said:

"We want to send a message to all politicians - from every party - and have them sit down and figure out a peaceful solution."

Another continued:

"Compromise is not failure," Mobassaleh said. "It's time that politicians start acting like public servants again."

To read full article, please click here. Source: The Daily Star

Lebanon on 14 February 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007

2004 and before



2005



2006





2007

?

Breaking News: Explosion in Ain Alak

News: Sources said that a bomb has been placed on the street in Ain Alak (near Bekfaya in Northern Metn) and exploded when 2 buses were near by, both busses have been severely burned, 1 torn apart, and the other heavily damaged (ANB channel news), resulting with 3 casualties and 7 wounded, according to the Lebanese Red Cross. (Naharnet.com)

Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh said the targeted buses were rented for use in Wednesday’s commemoration ceremony of Hariri’s 2005 assassination. (Naharnet.com)

For pictures, please view Tayyar.com's album 1, album 2.

Amal to participate in anniversary of Hariri murder

It's nice to see some sort of nationalism in certain actions and objectivity.

اكد النائب علي حسن خليل ان “حركة “امل” ستشارك في ذكرى الرئيس رفيق الحريري عبر تنظيم مهرجان لها في الجنوب”. وقال: “ان هذه الذكرى لا تخص فئة من اللبنانيين، ومن الخطأ ان يحصر شخص الرئيس الحريري. وشدد في حديث اذاعي امس على “وجود قرار واضح للمعارضة، بتسهيل الامور الى اقصى الحدود لتمر هذه الذكرى بالطريقة المناسبة”.

Rough Translation: Parliament member Ali Hassan Khalil assured that "Amal movement will participate in the 2 year anniversary of PM Rafic Hariri's murder by organizing a festival in South Lebanon", he added: "this aniversary does not belong to one part of the Lebanese, but all, as it is wrong to limit Hariri for on section. He insisted in a speech on the radio that "there is an obvious decision for the opposition to facilitate issues in order for this memorial to pass by with the least problems".

Continue reading article here. Source: Al Balad

14 February a day off and Martyrs` square divided

14 February is an official day off (this year?), while I am happy to add one more day off from work, nevertheless I am 100% sure they will make us go to work anyway. Moreover, the real question that I asked is: "Why?" Why is it a day off? It should just be a memorial day and that's it.

"Public institutions will take a day off work on Wednesday, February 14 on the second anniversary of the martyrdom of Rafiq Hariri and his companions," according to a government decree carried on Saturday by state news agency ANI.

Needless to remind here that the Opposition campers are still camping in both El Solh and Martyrs' square, and now we have a new function for the Lebanese Army, which is to play the referee, thus dividing the squares among opposition and Hariri's tribute payers on February 14. Will this day add to its description beside being Valentine's day and the day Rafic Hariri was assassinated, a day like Tuesday 23 or Thursday 25 January? Nah... no way!

The pro-government coalition has called for a huge gathering on Wednesday in central Beirut, where Hariri is buried, next to where the pro-Syrian opposition has been staging an ongoing sit-in since December 1.

Click here to read full article. Source: AFP

Hezbollah weapons did not go in vain

A couple of days ago and after the truck that has entered from Syria through the borders into Lebanon, which was not searched obviously, full of weapons, which Hezbollah later on claimed that it belonged to them, the army confiscated those weapons and did not accept to deliver them to the resistence. The point is not this, however it is the fact that the Lebanese army is quite a maximizer, and will not let go of these weapons or just keep them confiscated, but will actually use them themselves in case of any offense with Israel.

"The truck and its content are now with the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon," Murr said in reference to a truck carrying Hezbollah arms -- including Grad rockets -- seized east of Beirut on Thursday.

"If Israel carries out another violation, we will use these weapons to confront it," he told reporters on Friday after a meeting with the commander of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, Major General Claudio Graziano.

Moreover, the role of the Lebanese Army which is deployed in the south, is starting to become inclusive of more responsibilities and expanding.

Murr said he told Graziano that "the Lebanese army deployed in southern Lebanon has orders to confront Israeli forces in case of any new violation" of Lebanese sovereignty.

This is definitely the first time in decades which the Lebanese Army is actually useful and functional as an army and not just security forces.
Click here to read full article. Source: AFP

Climate Change Urgent Wake Up Call

Sign petition here so we can reach 100'000!

Bi-polarism opposed with new movements, the third party

Until now, two movements have reacted to the recent events that occured during late December 2006 - opposition's camp out in Beirut downtown in order to topple the Siniora government - and the black days of January 2007 (Tuesday 23 and Thursday 25), when riots and turmoil erupted to almost cause a war, between Sunnis and shiites, christians against christians, stone throwing, tires burning, cars burning, gun-fire and fist-fights.

The first group basically got sick of March 14 and March 8, so they created something in the middle, March 11, they don't want to be neither, they say they are the Lebanese people, who want no color, no slogan, no political side, they just want a better Lebanon for all. For more info, you can visit their website here.

The second group, have decided to act. At first their goals are almost the same as the above group, they're slogan is "Solve it, resolve it", because "Our Parents couldn’t stop it in 1975, are we going to relive it in 2007?". A very catchy and smart sentence, which I loved is: "There are ALWAYS alternative and peaceful channels to turn to." They ask the Lebanese to join them to create a human chain, hand in hand, in Beirut on Saturday, February 10th at 2 pm to take a stand and publicly demand a dialogue to end the political deadlock immediately. For more info, check their webpage.

One more point in common, is the color black, while March 11 completed it with gray, 7ellouha contrasted it with white.

Good Luck for both, although I have to say, this is enough, we don't need more movements, they all have the same goals, so better to unite on this matter.

As 14 February is getting closer

As 14 February is approaching, 14 March, and especially Future Movement with Saad Hariri as their leader, are calling for a public presence in Martyr's square, for the memorial of the late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri's assassination that took place on 14 February 2005. With this coming along,

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations signed an agreement on Tuesday as a first step in creating a tribunal that would try suspects in the 2005 murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri and other anti-Syrian figures. (Full article)

What has been happening to Lebanon for the past two years, with assassinations, explosions, war, potential war, shiites ministers resignation, vote for an International Tribunal in Hariri's assassination, etc... is a long story, with many factors, local, regional, and international.

The tribunal has become one of several contentious issues for the anti-Syrian government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, which backs the court. Opposing the tribunal are pro-Syrian factions that include President Emile Lahoud, parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri and the Shi'ite Hezbollah movement.

We all know, that if the Internatinal Tribunal is stopped, things will be better. Bachar Al Assad had warned in one of his speeches that Lebanon will reminisce to the days Syria occupied Lebanon as better days. Are we reminiscing already?

Gun sales triple, Economy boosted

According to Guardian Limited, gun sales have tripled since the opposition's protest & Thursday's 25 January riots.

Gun sales in Lebanon have tripled since the current standoff between the government and the Hizbullah-led opposition began, prompting concern that political factions are rearming.

Why? Well, it was always unfair that only one political party was armed, the solution back then was to disarm them, and as this didn't work and as things got complicated, trust majoraly decreased among most Lebanese and the political parties they support, now more political parties are "forming" armed militias.

"There is a reappearance of arms in the hands of almost every political group; we are sitting on a powder keg, tension is increasing every day," said a prominent security analyst. "They don't know what they are doing, they are going to destroy this country."

So yes, economy boosted as Gun sales triple, but unfortunately, not our economy. The only thing that is getting boosted in Lebanon, is tension and a potential civil war, because no one learned their lesson apparently, and they still fall prey for the "warlords", the so called political leaders.

Last night, I saw on the breaking news marquee of LBC, a quote from Aoun specifing that things should be peaceful and not to fall for the possibility of creating more riots, a war. (Roughly speaking, I do not remember his exact words). My reaction was of course, the surprise, as I recall Aoun had a lot of different things in mind in an interview on Al-Manar on Friday 26 January. I don't mean that Aoun changes his mind so much, this is not the point, as long as he comes around, past doesn't matter, what matters is how emotional and spontaneous he gets (not a compliment), which is not a trait of a leader.

Students return to Lebanese university

By ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press Writer

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Classes resumed Monday at a university in the heart of Beirut where a cafeteria political spat mushroomed into street riots that killed four people in the worst sectarian violence since Lebanon's civil war.

[...] Campus security guards searched all students at the entrance and denied access to those without student IDs.

At the Lebanese University, [...] "We stressed the importance of saving the academic year," Shukur told The Associated Press, adding that he had urged students to leave their political feelings outside the university.

Click here to read full article.

It was a good decision called by the Lebanese University to close for 10 days until things calm down, things did calm down, the atmosphere is tense but calm (in and out of the university).

Of course, we would like to thank all the political leaders in advance for ruining this atmosphere pretty soon, call me optimistic.

Almost 7 years ago, I addressed almost a hundred students, the student body and students who are leaders of their in-house faculty political party, telling them that politics (the Lebanese politics) should not be present in universities. The thing is, the elections that take place is based on the political preference and not academic, services and logistics performance on the runners.

Political preference elections in all Lebanese University faculties end up in fights and problems, but really, for what? It's majorly ridiculous and useless.

They say that the university is nothing but a representation of what is going on in the country. I tend to disagree, the university is supposed to shape a person's mind into becoming a better person and not a lousy one like most of our politicians.

Anyway, I just wanted to say now: "I told you so!"

"You reap what you sowed."

Nasrallah`s speech for Ashoura in February 2006

I received the below sound clip by email, it is an extract of Skheik Nasrallah's speehc for Achoura in 23 February 2006. In this speech he specifies that dealing with problems is not done by "going to the streets" but by discussion and conversation.