What's Lebanon's status on AIDS?

December 1st is World AIDS day, which happens to be today. I just want to shed some light on this issue, knowing that is a semi-taboo topic in the Middle East. The statistics on the subject are not accurate because the governments refuse to admit the number of patients who have AIDS. People still get ashamed to have AIDS, and they're scared to tell anyone about it, why? Because people judge.

Maybe this day will help us understand this illness more and will humble us enough not to judge anyone who has it, and instead, show support.

I don't want to re-invent the wheel, and especially because I cannot invent it as good as this excellent post which is written by Paola Salwan on her blog "Café Thawra", which tackles the AIDS and HIV issue especially its status in the Middle East.

STOP AIDS. KEEP THE PROMISE

Photo courtesy of the talented Lara Zankoul.


More posts on the subject by fellow Lebanese bloggers:
AIDS... in Lebanon? By Maya Zankoul
World Aids Day By Chantal

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

 

Fete de la musique - After glow

La Fête de la musique 2009 was everything I expected and more. I got there a little bit late, but there was nothing that could stop me from going. It is a one time a year event and I wouldn't miss it at all. I have been to previous Fête de la musique events, and they were always amazing and extremely fun.

First I stopped by Saint Nicholas stairs at Gemmayze, in addition to having a stage at the bottom of the stairs on the street, some chairs facing the stage, there was a sort of an art exhibition. All the way from down to the top, artwork was showcased on both sides of the strairs.

As you can see in the above photo, an artist "Charles Nassar" made some artistic arrangements with shrapnels that were collected from the July 2006 war of Israel and Hezbollah. A nice way of taking something ugly and making beautiful things of it.

Someone overheard me say that I needed a program to decide where to go next, and the nice gentleman gave me the flyer that had the program on it. So I looked at it and saw that there was Mashrou' Leila in the Thermes Romains. I couldn't recall who had told me to check them out, but nonetheless I grabbed my enthusiasm and went to the roman ruins in Downtown Beirut.

When I arrived, a band called "The New Government" was playing, and as I looked up at the what sort of appears as a Colosseum, it was filled with people, so were the sides of the stage, and all the way up there on the upper street.

After they were done, came the infamous band Mashrou' Leila. Everyone was cheering, more people came closer to the stage, I was able to see the obvious fan base. In my early twenties I used to keep up with the music scene, local emerging rock and metal bands, attend their concerts, etc... But this was a unique and a first time experience, seeing so much positive energy and enthousiasm from the fans. I still didn't know what the hype was all about. When the music started, everything came clear. This is definitely a promising band that will go international, or so I predict. Unfortunately by the time Mashrou' Leila came on, my camera's battery was dead, but I still insisted on a souvenir and took a photo with my modest cellphone. You can check Mashrou' Leila in their myspace page or check their facebook group. They will be playing in Sour (Tyr) on Sunday July 26th.

Looking forward till next year's.

Even diners are now in it!

Well, they might as well take advantage of the whole elections fiesta! So Bob's diner advices everyone, don't go vote on an empty stomach!

Billboards, some getting creative, some just plain ridiculous

As you have probably noticed my dear reader, I have a fascination with Billboards, but I think many other Lebanese residents do too. Why you wonder? It's because they are too many of them and just everywhere. You cannot but stare at 4 or 5 at the same time while driving. Billboards in Lebanon are a very effective way of advertising, due to the repetitive traffic we encounter on a daily and regionally basis!

Especially lately, politics has stumbled upon billboards as diamonds to... everyone! Billboards are not just there to advertise products or shops or events, they're there to advertise politicians. Since Hariri's assassination in February 2005 we have seen many of them move their propaganda war to billboards (more like copy, because no one really gives up on media propaganda), and now with the elections, billboards are just sitting there waiting for candidates to take a picture of themselves, with so many kinds of poses, frowning, smiling, laughing, reflective, you name it, and then throw in a little catchy slogan down below. (I promise, I will try to take pictures of them as much as I can), but for now, below are my evalution of these three different kinds of billboard promotions:


I love playing on words, it's my hobby! And this billboard, makes me laugh everytime I see it :) For those of you who don't know arabic, Chery can be associated with Buy! In Lebanon we have a saying "Shtiree Ra7tak", which is translated to "Buy your comfort" and means that sometimes you need to spend a bit more money on something but it's worth it as you will be getting something that will just relieve your mind from worries and lead you to comfort!


It's smart, MTC (one of the two mobile companies in Lebanon) is declaring that it now has 1 million voices, and well you need a voice to use a mobile phone, so yes it's smart, especially with the up-coming elections, a vote is a voice...


And finally, one of the most ridiculous billboard ads ever, Mr Farid Al Khazen ad. Before this one, the billboard contained the same landscape picture with the same text on it, excluding the candidate's name and portrait. The dude believes... There are a series of billboards saying that he believes in youth and elderly, he believes in nation and women, etc.. In Arabic there is some closeness between the 2 words he chose to believe in, but nonetheless, it is a bit pointless. You want to believe? Believe! Just don't go about saying it to the world as your campaign to get elected... I wouldn't vote for you.

That's it for today. More coming soon

Gaza Aftermath in Pictures

Click on image to view more pictures.

Only in Lebanon

Signs you'll only see in Lebanon!

In Lebanon we tend to translate political beliefs, idiocricy and silly propaganda into our billboards, billboards that are supposed to ambush us by telling us that a car with the current year model is only 10'000$, which contains beneath it in a very very small font "Excluding VAT, Excluding Registration, Excluding Gear, Excluding Wheels..."

Anyway, I got three signs for you! I was at the Housing thingie applying to get a loan for a house, and I saw a sign that said: "Please don't turn off your cigarettes on the floor". I thought I was reading it wrong expecting something like "Please don't smoke". I am so retro.

Another funny one coupled with "Sex, Unisex":



No comment really, it is all thanks to Aoun that "partnership" is back to Lebanon.

And finally, something that REALLY reminds me of the time when Emile Lahoud, the most hated guy in Lebanon for the past 9 years. New billboards Thanking General Michel Suleiman, our upcoming president.



It is just amazing how Lebanese forget, get so excited, so happy over anything slightly positive, clinging to an atom of hope, thinking that everything in just 2 days can make the country better. It does give this vibes, it really does, but we're just repeating history if we keep doing the same mistakes, the same reactions and the same way of thinking. Silly us.

The Holidays, the gifts and the food

A lot of people visited malls during the holidays, to either get gifts to their loved ones and colleagues, to have dinner, to shop for the big dinner, watch movies, buy clothes... It was too crowded, I actually bumped into many persons while I was trying to reach the movie theater.

Large audience gathered around Christmas charols in Geant Casino mall.




Another great place for shopping is Arax Area, that is in Bourj Hammoud. You can find anything there, from clothes, shoes & bags, perfumes, home stuff, artisanat, sweets, anything you desire! But the best of it, is the food, armenian sweets and some dried fruits (picture below).



After shopping all day, a person is bound to feel hungry, and if you haven't heard of the Famous Falafel Arax, then you've missed a lot. It is highly recommended. A great finish for a great day.

Previous President Emile Lahoud leaves Baabda

Beirut still lives

While political clashes are flying backwards and forwards in the air and on TV between government members, political party leaders and opposition leaders, Beirut is living!

Lebanese people are devastatingly annoyed and bothered by those destructive discussions that never lead or improve the situation but rather ruin it. Therefore instead of waiting and hoping for life to get better in Lebanon, Lebanese people themselves have taken charge and are making Beirut life better.

There are several ways to start, spend and end your evening in Lebanon which depends on the group of people and their preferences. If you are into the traditional Lebanese dinner than you will need to go to a typical Lebanese restaurant or café, the dinner usually begins with a Mezza – a word that originates form a Lebanese slang verb which means enjoy – rich with its famous Tabbouli, Hommos, Baba Gannouj and many other appetizers, then followed by grilled chicken, meat and Shish-Kabab, certainly accompanied by a drink wash them all down, the traditional Lebanese Arak.

For others, having a drink with buddies and listening to fine music, is a thrill. As a matter of fact it is my kind of thing, going to a pub seems the logical thing to do after a hard working week, this way we get to talk and are capable of hear each other and catching up on what’s what.

However, there are some crazy dance lovers out there who prefer clubbing and dancing till dawn.

Not to forget Karaoke nights, the best nights ever, especially if you choose a song which you don’t know very well and forget its tune, happened to me last Thursday, but never to worry, no one judges you, after all it’s Karaoke and not American Idol with Simon Cowell sitting there!

You can do all that in only but definitely not limited to two locations that are only far of each other by a walking distance, the first is an old inhabited street known as Gemayze, and the second is a district called Monot full of a variety of night-clubs.

From Monday to Sunday, you can barely find a place to park, filled with fancy cars, well dressed women and man and a heart longing for a warm drink and a mood swing, or swinging a mood! This is Lebanon at night, much different than Lebanon in the news.

Note: click on images to view in larger size.

Passionately in Love with the Sea

This is a photo taken by a fellow flickr photographer in Ain El Mreisseh - Lebanon. I simply fell in love with it.

Passionately in Love with the Sea
Originally uploaded by Piax.

I Love Mom

The latest addition to the "I Love ..." collection that started with "I Love Life" sponsored by March 14, continued by the opposition, used by several companies with adjusted sentences to suit their product, such as "I Love Life in Diamonds", "I Love Carpets" and "I Love Samak" (Samak is Fish in Arabic), with finally a new player joining the team, "I Love Mom". (In Lebanon, Mother's day is celebrated on March 21st).

Photos from February 14, 2007

Click here to view album.

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.

Lebanon on 14 February 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007

2004 and before



2005



2006





2007

?

Breaking News: Arab University (Photo)

الجيش اللبناني يحيط بمبنى الجامعة العربية في بيروت والمنطقة المحيطة بها بعد إشكال طلابي بين أنصار "المستقبل" و "أمل" و "حزب الله"

Translation: The Lebanese army is surrounding the Arab University in Beirut and the near area after a clash occuring between students supporters of "Future", "Amal" and "Hezbollah".

Source: LBC

Edited: Also heard from colleagues who made phone calls to near by residents that there are several injured (5 so far), and gun-fire by the Lebanese Army in order to warn watchers on the roofs of the neighboring building to stay far.

Photo below taken from work, sources said that they are burning cars and tires, and the smoke seen is caused by the fire.

The conflicts keep expanding to more areas, they have now reached the Sports Stadium. Now that the weapons have been confiscated, they are throwing stones on each other.

The road to the International Beirut Airport has been closed, and parties leaders call for the people to calm down and get out of the streets.

The Lebanese University declares that all courses will be stopped until next Monday.
16:01 Reuters: 1 dead and many injured.
16:08 According to NewTV, gun shooting at the Lebanese Army.
16:18 One of the public busses has been set on fire.
16:28 Shooting again between the Lebanese Army and anonymous individuals
16:31 Reuters: The person who died is from the opposition forces and has been shot in the head
16:32 Beirut Fire department is working on putting the fire down, and the conflict moves to the neighborhood of the Arab University
16:41 The President of Lebanese Cabinet is urging both the opposition and pro-government supporters to step out of the streets immediately
16:42 Stores closing in Mar Elias area and the near by streets
16:51 Reuters: 4 dead until now
16:56 The Lebanese Army has things under control in the surrounding area of the university
17:00 Fleeing the students from the campus by cars
17:16 Renewal of fires and clashes near the Arab University

Updated:
Between 6 p.m and 7:30 p.m., things calmed down after the Lebanese Army took control and declared a curfew to start at 8:30 p.m. to end the next day at 6 a.m. Sheik Nasrallah spoke and asked everyone to clear the streets, he also called for the Lebanese Army and persecution to arrest all who possessed weapons, and also expressed his concern that "snipers are back". The SSNP (Syrian Social Nationalist Party) was burned in Tarik al Jadidah.

Moreover, Walid Jumblat holds Syria responsible for what happened today in Lebanon. All the public and private schools and universities will close their doors on Friday and Saturday based on a request by the Minister of Education.

Source: Tayyar.

p.s. This post will keep being updated, keep checking for any news.
Note that people are panicking




Burned car due to the clash earlier this afternoon between students in the Arab University


Reinforcements for the Lebanese Army

Update: Smog near Airport and throwing stones

- Around 11am, I received this picture from my cousin in Kfaraaka in North Lebanon.


- 11:25am Near the Airport perimeter, tires burning and smog rising in the sky prohibiting travellers from arriving to the airport.




- 11:30am Near Al Mazraa region, opposition supporters were throwing stones at the army, and the habitants of the region are answering back with throwing stones as well.




P.S. Again with a phone call to LBC, Franjieh repeated that today's protest is civil and peaceful. (No comment, watch the pictures).

Photos & Updates of today`s Escalation and Smog

Dear Reader,

This album of today's photos will keep being updated as soon as I see anything new.

L

p.s. Newest photos taken in the Horizon of Dekwaneh, I am pretty sure near Dallas Gas Station.



This one is in the Industrial City in Sid El Bouchrieh (or in the area)



And the rounded building is The Lebanese University, Faculty of Sciences II.


Edited: To view pictures from inside the protests and tire burning, click here.

Update:

• - 10:00am People who are travelling today, are going walking to the airport according to Al-Arabiyyah


• - 10:20am Most Schools and Universities have closed their doors today


• - ~10:30am Military Police is now on the ground, as re-enforcements to the Lebanese Army


• - ~10:30The army has opened the road going to Beirut, but not the one going from Beirut, and people are stuck in their cars immobile.


• - 11:03am In Al Koura, Miryata and Zgharta, some gun fire occured against some protestors of Al Marada and FPM (after some provocations) resulting some injured persons who have been moved to a near hospital


• - 11:05am Some arab airlines have reschedule flights going from and to Lebanon, to another day because of the General Strike called upon by the Opposition


• - 11:08am Franjieh described today's protests civilized (isn't he watching the TV?)


• - 11:50am One casualty so far


• - 11:50am Armed Lebanese Forces and Phalange supporters went to the gathering in Nahr el Mot near Jdeideh, resulting with 1 injured from the opposition

Regular day or Pollution day?

Personally, I woke up at probably 6 a.m., staying in bed and listening to the road's noise. Usually, I hear a lot of honking, School bus engines, and normal engines. Unlike today, I heard one engine every once in a while, maybe one school bus, and barely any honking (something very strange for Lebanon). I decided to finally get out of bed at 8 a.m. So I went straight to the balcony, and I saw this:



I put on the TV, LBC of course, as Future TV is always in denial, and New TV too biased, and no need to say what Al Manar is. They were reporting live from Nahr El Kalb, basically everyone coming from Jounieh, Zouk, Jbeil, Keserwan, any place from the north to the Capital Beirut, cannot make it. This is the main entrance!

Drove to work, everything was smooth, there is a college beside us, so there were 5 or 6 groups of 5 to 10 people standing in corners. I arrived to work, and my first joy was finding a place to park my car so near. The bank that is in the center where my job's office is, is empty, only 8 people or so were there, gathering together and laughing, probably about how awkward for a bank to be empty.



I arrived the work and took some pictures where you can see in the horizon the smoke of the fire caused by burning wheels in order to block roads. It's a 360 degree view.

Click here to view more horizons filled with smoke.

Opposition`s first played card

I found this paper on the car front window tonight. Nothing surprising there, but I really wanted to point out the importance of one sentence mentioned in it. As lately I have been really intrigued with the "propaganda maquinista" and how it works. The rough translation of the expression is: "The Lebanese opposition calls the citizens to stay home and avoid transportation unless crucial" and of course this to be done on Tuesday January 23rd, 2007!

Let the games begin.

P.S. Doesn't this type of behaviour remind us of something Israel used to do during the wartime when they threw flyers from the sky to warn towns from being in a certain place?

Talents in Lebanon - Photographer: Karen K

This is the second entry of Talents in Lebanon. The first was about the composer and musician Jalal Haddad.

This entry comes in a bit late nevertheless it is only because I want to make sure that I only bring you the best.



I have been introduced to the work of the Lebanese photographer Karen K on Flickr.com consequently I have immediately been drawn to them. After browsing the work of so many photographers, I only experienced the feeling of closeness when I stumbled upon the photos Karen have taken. I couldn't take my eyes off her photostream, one after another. Each time I thought I had found the best one, I was wrong.

The interesting thing about Karen's work, is her work can feed different tastes. Everyone can find his own favorites while skimming through her library of photos.

To know more about Karen, where she lives, her interests, etc... You can view her profile here.



Furthermore, ladies and gentlement, Karen's photographs. Karen has many albums, if you are lost and don't know where to start, I recommend Karen's dearest photos.

Karen even had her share in reporting about the war in her own way.

Tonight we celebrate our version of Halloween

It is actually on December 4th where it's been said that Saint Barbara was killed by her father (decapitated). The reason behind this act is that her father (pagan) did not approve of her conversion to Christianity. After killing her by a while, he died by a sudden lightning.
I remember being told that Saint Barbara had disguised in order to escape her father and his desire of killing her. (I didn't research a lot, but there is mention of her escaping, but no mention of disguise. Nonetheless, in Lebanon, Saint Barbara is celebrated on the night of December 3 by kids actually disguising and going from door to door to get a treat.
Also, and this is dedicated to AM and COCO and to all Lebanese who are living abroad and used to celebrate this holiday, a lot of sweets are made and distributed for this occasion.
Like Atayef, either with Ashta or walnuts (which I prefer):



Of course, the best sweets (and they are VERY sweet) are the Ouwaymet (no clue what is their name in English)



And Wheat Grains, which are boiled and then mixed with sugar when presented. Very delicious.



Below you can see here, a Patisserie, making the Atayef, it has become a kind of tradition to this outdoors.





And finally, my disguise, socks with an evil witch on them!

Fresh Pictures from today's gathering

I received those pictures by email from a friend. His friend shot these pictures near his work today at noon. I enhanced the colors of some, they were a bit dark.

Pierre Gemayel`s funeral, pictures included

There was definitely a lot of people attending Sheik Pierre Gemayel's funeral, but I have to be objective on this one and say it was not near 14th of March 2005 at all. Proof is I was able to actually drive my car to Ashrafieh in 10 minutes, thus in 14 March 2005, it tooks us almost an hour and a half to get there. But nevertheless, it was huge, a lot of crowd, from all ages and religions and backgrounds. A martyr such as Pierre Gemayel derserves it.

Okay below are only a couple of photos of many more, if you want to see more, please click here to view the whole album.











You can view the whole album here.

From pictures of this week in MSN

Lebanese citizens watch Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah speak on television as smoke rises from Israeli attacks on the Hezbollah stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, on July 16.

Taken from Picture of the week 13 - 20 July from MSNBC.