Un peu partout, Byblos Fête Noel

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14e Festival du cinema européen - 29 Nov à 9 Dec

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Climate Change Walkathon on December 9 in Beirut

"Climate change is real, and it is happening now. Seawater level rise is only on of the many catastrophic impacts of climate change. It is time to draw the line. Join our climate walkathon on December 9” (www.arabclimate.org)

You can also sign a petition in the website mentioned above, join their campaign and their walkathon. December 8 and 9, are international days for Climate Change awareness.

Click here to see how one of the Climate Change's effects (seawater level rising) on earth act. (p.s. you need adobe flash to view both the website and the seawater rising)

Previous President Emile Lahoud leaves Baabda

Constitutional or not Constitutional, this is the question

Not because it's a historical day, but it's because it is one of the most contradictory days that Lebanon has ever witnessed.
1- 109 Parliament members including opposition arrive to the parliament at noon.
2- Session postponed till November 30th in order to elect a president agreed upon from all sides
3- Post the canceled session, deputies talk back to each other through the media
4- The Cabinet is in session since 6:30pm discussing the latest updates
5- The president (till 11:59pm on November 23, 2007) Emile Lahoud declares a state of emergency starting 24 November 2007
6- The Cabinet denies it, based on the constitution, explaining that only the cabinet after passing it to the parliament as well and the majority's signature can declare such state. (That was at 8:30 pm today)

Stay tuned for any updated, today is not finished yet.

Today and yesterday, a year ago

21 November 2006, Sheik Pierre Amine Gemayel was assassinated, after making an appearance in a funeral in Mar Mtanous Church in Jdeideh. He was shot, along with his bodyguards, by unmasked criminals. Last year I posted this, when I first heard of the assassination, and this a while later after the shock has faded. The assassination happened one day before Lebanon's independence day. On Independence day in 2006, things were not the same sort of speak.

I turned on the TV today and searched in all local channels for the tanks and army showcasing, and it was not there. Most probably, the reason behind this, is the messy unsuccessful presidential elections. Anyway, even if last year I critisized this showcasing and suggested they run the previous year's show, I still missed it. It's our tradition, it at least projected a minimum level of the situation status of the country. Now it's not even there.

Our Independence day is a sad pathetic day.

How are the presidential elections affecting the average Lebanese citizen?

Many people are delaying big purchases such as apartments or cars till after the elections. Others are postponing payments of monthly bills or installments till the end of the month. One case I've heard is postponing a wedding and buying furniture for their house. I personally postponed buying a ticket to a concert till next week. And of course, many have canceled going out this week, many rumors of staying home is safer, embassies sending message to their people to avoid going out all this week. Moreover many Lebanese are worried of a potential rage riot, roads blocking, area occupation and such. Every side is accusing the other of going to start a fight. A company is also waiting for all this to finish before they move to a new location. Thursday is a holiday, independence day, so many schools are going to close on Wednesday and Friday as well.

But in general, it isn't as worrisome as it sounds, we are more than used to this, for example all work places are not affected by this. (lucky us)

Fuel prices increase

The 20 liters price has risen by 500LL (equivalent to 0.33USD) today, it will continue to rise increasingly until it reach a total of 6,000LL (equivalent to 4USD), making the 20 liters final price of 32,000LL (equivalent to 21.6USD).

So, with this event I advice you to read the following article: Top 10 fuel-saving tips.

Question: Is the daily rate of transporation (which is 4USD) that the company pays the employee going to increase as well?

Beirut Int`l Marathon - Race Day 18 Nov 2007

Run for peace, run for hope, run for a charity, run for the personal achievement… whatever you do… Run!

Pollution in Lebanon? Stop the hallucination!

Click on the image to view it in larger size! And breath in the clean air.

Yes, this is Beirut Ladies and Gentlemen!

Khalass news: Concert on Friday 9 November

Number of Car accidents, the highest yet

It has been recorded that 2007 has witnessed the biggest number of car accidents yet. 830 casualties and more than 10000 injured according to YASA.

I bet that every Lebanese person knows at least one person who died in a car accident. Moreover I know for a fact that driving in Lebanese is getting worse, dangerously faster and without concentration or forseeing.

Hope more people will join me on this request:
1- Put the seatbelt on, and tell the riders with you to put it as well
2- Don't drive faster than what the sign requires
3- Don't do any "betweens", if necessary make sure there is a long distance between you and the one you want to pass
4- Make a full stop on cross-roads
5- Slow down when it rains
6- Leave a distance between you and the car in front of you
...