Why did "Ain't No Smoking 2nite" fail?

If you remember, there was going to be a "Non-smoking night" in Gemmayze in about 35 pubs yesterday October 28th. More here. Being a non-smoking advocate myself I asked several friends of mine about their encounters yesterday in several pubs in Gemmayze and their opinions. They said that most of them had people smoking inside although these pubs were supposed to be part of the "Ain't no smokin 2nite" campaign that was organized by Rotaract.

There were people smoking even in pub-restaurants such as Olio. You would think that they would be busy stuffing themselves instead of smoking.

A friend of mine even told me this: "There was also one pub that had a sign that said Smoking Friendly"

Another friend said only few of the pubs stuck to the campaign, one of them was Berlin. But the others allowed people to smoke.

There are several studies done around the world, in Europe and in the US, saying that banning smoking in public places has decreased the number of deaths caused by smoking! But why should we believe scientists right?

My favorite smoker's argument is this: "Why should I forbid myself from smoking, so what if I die 10 years earlier, at least I would've done something I enjoy!"

So basically, the 10 years prior to that when you have lung cancer is enjoyable?

There is a new article today suggesting that Lebanon must move to ban smoking, Syria did? Are they better than us?

What I don't understand is why do Lebanese people stick to rules abroad, but tend to be anarchists in Lebanon? And anarchist for what? For telling you not to smoke because it endangers your life and the life of the strange people that are beside you and you have no right to bother them?

Smoking bothers me as much as if someone was picking their nose or playing with their toes, so why should I be okay with them when they smoke? Bala 2arafkoun! I don't mind people smoking, I just do when it's a closed place and when I am eating, is it too much to ask for? some oxygen and to actually be able to taste the food?

Congratulations fellow Lebanese on one of your other lousy sense of humanity, logic and respect. Kudos! Ya3tikoun el 3afieh. I am glad I didn't go to Gemmayze because if I did and had found people smoking, I would've probably caused a scene.

Finally, why did those hypocrite pubs sign into this campaign if they were going to act like a cheating newly wed red-eyed husband?

Sign Petition to pass an electoral law to ban smoking in public places here.

This is HUGE! 24 October, It's Happening! 350

I am getting goosebumps when I keep seeing these photos, these people, every where around the world are showing the number 350. Keep checking www.350.org.

Here are some pics. And SOON we'll be getting a picture from Groupe Saint-Vincent Naccache of the Association of Scouts in Lebanon, who will be climbing the highest peak in Lebanon, Kornet el Sawda and taking a photo here. Info courtesy of Beirut/NTSC. More actions are taking place in Lebanon as well. I will try to get pictures about them too.

Now enjoy the positive energy!








And finally from Lebanon, Tony Dagher & Johnny Maroun hiked for a long time and reached the highest peak in Lebanon (3088 m) Kornet El Sawda.

24 October, International Day of Climate Action

On October 24, the International Day of Climate Action will cover almost every country on earth, the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet's history.

 

Big rallies in big cities and across the globe: mountain climbers on our highest peaks with banners, underwater demonstrations in island nations threatened by sea level rise, churches and mosques engaged in symbolic action, star athletes organizing mass bike rides—and much mroe

Every event will highlight the number 350—a big group photo will depict this important message, at end all photos will be assembled for a visual petition to change the negotiating environment as we head towards the crucial UN Climate Negotiations in Copenhagen in December of 2009

 

  Check here for an action near you, and maybe you can try and participate or take a picture and talk about it!

Maldives Cabinet held a meeting underwater

Why you wonder? Well the beautiful Maldives is being threatened to disappear underwater because the sea water level will rise from now till 40 years. Why might this happen you wonder? because of the recent negative effects of the "man made" climate change.

Can something be done about it? Yes, but we need the world leaders to take action.



Maldives along many other islands and ports and cities might be covered either all of it or parts of it by water (please check this post to know about these extraordinary regions).





So why did the President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed (who in my opinion is a hero) call for the cabinet to hold a meeting under water? Well they got our attention didn't they? People should become aware of climate change and its negative effects and learn what the number 350 means and why it is extremely important!



Enjoy more pictures here, wow the Maldives is a beautiful place, it would be a shame if it's gone in our time, and its people to become refugees.

What can you do to help with saving them and yourself? Contact IndyACT (Lebanese NGO), tcktcktck (take action), 350.org (international campaign) or simply me and I'll tell you where to go next.

Man in the cube in Ein El Mreisseh and the dead fish

Don't forget to check the Man the Cube (Rami Eid) in Ein El Mreisseh, facing Mc Donalds. This event is organized by IndyACT aiming to raise global urgency on the critical dangers of global warming and to urge world leaders to take fast and effective action against climate change in Copenhagen this December.

Rami, or the man in the cube, has been there since yesterday and will continue to be there until tomorrow October 18th. He represents “the last man on earth” enduring a fierce struggle for survival against climate change effects. He will be living in the a transparent cube where everyone can see what he's doing.

He has a chair, a laptop with internet access where he blogs and tweets his experience and what's happening with him.

From the things the Man in the Cube said:

I just drank some cold water, and it was so refreshing. Since we're on that topic. Limit your showers to 5 minutes, or less if you can.

I will be going to check him out tonight, I have some questions to the passers by, I will let you know what they say.

Updated: I got some photos posted below. The water level has risen yesterday enough to stop Rami from standing on the ground. So he remained on the chair, not being able to move freely anymore in his world, completely bothered and cornered if we may say. The man in the cube tweeted his last message today hoping that everyone learned a lesson like he did.





Many passers-by were interested, so several IndyACT volunteers explained to them about the message they were trying to convey, and many passers by, especially young children threw stuff at Rami, a kid even through a dead fish on him. Ironic but actually makes a lot of sense as the climate change will result in having many water species die.

Are you going to do something about Climate Change?

- Don't recycle (it's a waste of time)
- Don't carpool (who needs to restrain themselves with other people in the morning)
- Don't mind fossil fuel, keep it burning (better economy)
- Don't be bothered to end CO2 gas emissions, in fact encourage it (will give you power over other)
- Don't encourage alternative energy (costs too much, bad for economy, waste of energy and human resources)
- 350 parts per million is a joke
- Don't reduce your carbon footprint (the more the cooler you are)
- Don't maintain green trees, chop them off and use their wood (+ they're blocking the view)
- Don't plant new trees (view of industrial factories with gray skies are more efficient these days)
- Don't save water, waste it even when unnecessary (can't you drink oil?)
- Don't try and keep the sea water level from rising (just scuba dive to see the Maldives...)
- Don't miss having refugees, we'll have climate refugees, (now that Palestinians are living happily ever after, we want more to take care of)
- Don't worry about having coral reefs die (it's not like they are important for the eco-system)
- Don't get upset when watching glaciers melt (what good are they for anyway)
- Don't be surprised from "weather" change (1, 2, 3 degrees warmer? It's no biggy, the warmer the sexier)
- Don't keep diseases from spreading (it's fine, only those poor people in poor countries get it, we're safe)
- Don't hope for your country to become carbon neutral
- Don't be sad when you see more species become extinct (dinosaur style)

And most importantly don't have children.

Because if you do have children, in 40 years don't feel guilty when your children look at you with disappointment, with depiction, because they know that you and people like you are the reason why the earth and the world has deteriorated, and especially because you could have done something when the time was right, but instead you were just too lazy to try and help prevent one of the most dangerous and serious "MAN-MADE" crisis... You didn't keep from the negative effects of Climate Change from happening. You were an irresponsible (dare I say human?) being!

Age of Stupid in Lebanon

The Age of Stupid is a new cinema documentary about this enormously ambitious drama-documentary-animation hybrid stars Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite as an old man living in the devastated world of 2055, watching 'archive' footage from 2008 and asking: why didn't we stop climate change while we had the chance?

You can watch the trailer here.

And the great news is: this movie that has been an amazing hit all over the world will be playing in LEBANON

Venue: Empire Sofil
Date: 25 / 26 Oct
Time: 6pm

Tickets sold there.

Ain t no smokin 2nite at Gemmayze on 28 Oct

35 pubs and restaurants in Gemmayze street are participating so far in the Rotaract campaign "Ain't no smokin 2nite". The event will take place on October 28th.

The below poster was designed by a fellow blogger Maya Zankoul



You can check the facebook event page here.

Lebanon's Armenians reject accord with Turkey

Lebanese Armenians and Armenians who live outside Armenia weren't kicked out of their homeland, in fact they have escaped the massacres that the Ottoman empire led back then in order to terminate this people. They are here now, 95 years later demanding Turkey to admit this fact and they're not. On a recent note, Sarkissian the current president of Armenia is going to sign an accord with Turkey, and this event is being opposed by the Lebanese Armenians.
 

"Sarkisian was not received well," concurred Lebanon's Tashnag-party representative Alice Boghossian

[...]

"The massacres were an attempt to wipe out [our people]. My grandfather and grandmother were killed there. If they were still alive Armenia would still be my homeland," said Tashnag's Boghossian.

"The diaspora is a result of Turkey's policies and therefore [Sarkisian] has a commitment to the millions of Armenians living abroad."

Armenian political parties want the Ottoman mas­sacres to be officially referred to as genocide, a term Turkey refutes

[...]

"Armenia used to cover 300,000 square kilometers, now it is only 30,000.

[...]

Click here to read full article on The Daily Star.

What to blog about on Blog Action Day, this October 15th

On the note of the negative effects of Climate change...

..these are 10 places to see before it's too late, take from http://opentravel.com/blogs/10-places-to-see-before-its-too-late/

The ice sheets melt fast, the sea levels are rising, and the increase in storms and flooding becomes a serious issue. As scientists expect the sea level to rise around one meter (3.3 ft) by 2100, the global warming warnings sound more and more catastrophic. With such an increase in water levels many coastal areas around the globe are said to disappear under the waves.

Whether you believe all these climate change talks or not, it is worth taking a few secs to check out the list of the most immediately threatened places in the world...just in case.

 

1. The Maldives

The Maldives, the beautiful island country considered by many the paradise on earth, is the lowest country in the world being only 1.5 m above sea level on average. Therefore, it can be submerged by 2050/2100 due to the significant rise in sea level.

The Maldives. By muha...

The Maldives. By Photo-SG

 

2. Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak of Africa, is rapidly losing its glaciers. Since 1912 the ice cap covering the top of the mountain has lost around 80% of its ice. The scientists predict that the ice on Kilimanjaro will be gone by 2015/2050.

Mt. Kilimanjaro. By Picture Taker 2.

Mt. Kilimanjaro. By Stig Nygaard

 

3. Alexandria. Egypt.

The city of Alexandria, an ancient Egyptian hub and the country's largest sea port, is said to be inundated by 2100. The Nile Delta is subsiding by around 5 mm (1/5 in) per year. Also, other towns located in the Nile Delta, such as Arish City, Matruh City and Port Said, are under the threat from rising sea level.

Alexandria. By Argenberg

Alexandria. By mighty stina

 

4. Tokyo

Tokyo is only one example of many coastal cities at risk due to rising sea levels, violent storms and flooding. The city's temperatures increase five times faster than an average global warming rate and the annual mean temperature has risen by about 3°C (37°F) over the past 100 year.

Tokyo. Odaiba. By Timo Nurmi

Tokyo, Kachidokibashi Bridge. By Ian Muttoo

 

 

5. Great Barrier Reef

The most catastrophic scenario envisages the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef system in the world, to collapse within twenty years due to the high concentration of carbon dioxide in the water. The scientists predict that as the water gets warmer and warmer, the coral ecosystems around the world will start disappearing by mid-century or earlier.

Great Barrier Reef. By The.Rohit

Great Barrier Reef. By Maedi

 

6. The Columbia Glacier

The Alaska's Columbia Glacier, similarly to all glaciers the world over, has been melting at an increasing rate and it has thinned by around 1,300 feet (390 m) in some places over the last 25 years. Moreover, it is among the fastest moving glaciers around the globe and it is expected to retreat around 9 miles (14 km) in the next 20 years.

The Columbia Glacier. Alaska. By WordRidden

Columbia Glacier. Alaska. By tay-ha

 

7. Galapagos Islands

Home to amazing wildlife, the unique, remote islands of Galapagos can be seriously affected by the climate change due to their location. As the equatorial waters in the eastern Pacific are getting warmer and the sea level is rising, such Galapagos animals as the giant tortoise, marine iguana and Galapagos penguin as well as flightless cormorant, whose nests are susceptible to flooding, are under serious threat.

Galapagos Islands. Sea lions. By noam fein

Galapagos Islands. Marine Iguana. By mtchm

 

8. The Netherlands

About 60% of the Netherlands' population and about 27% of the country area are located below sea level. Such low-lying and flat countries as Holland are at greatest risk from the rising waters. To protect the seaside the Netherlands set up huge storm surge barriers - so huge that they can be seen from space.

The Netherlands. By irommanixs

Amsterdam. By MorBCN

 

9. The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea surface and shores are 1,385 ft (422 m) below sea level - it is the world's lowest point and also one of the saltiest bodies of water with the salinity of 33.7%. In contrast to the low-lying places that suffer from rising waters, the Dead Sea is evaporating, gradually losing its water. The water level is estimated to have dropped by 3 ft (1 m) per year from 1970. 

Dead Sea. By Mr. Kris

Sunrise over Dead Sea. By ePublicist

 

10. New York

According to the recent report prepared by the scientists of various research centers such as, among others, University of Toronto, the National Center for Atmospheric Research or the University of Bristol, New York may face a much faster rise in sea level than other coastal cities due to the local ocean currents, effects of gravity and water density. Moreover the city, is at great risk of hurricanes and flooding that can occur as a result of melting ice.

New York. By morrissey

New York. By kiki99