· January, 2011

Stories about Lebanon from January, 2011

Lebanon: Protest in Support of Egypt

  29 January 2011

A solidarity protest in support of the demonstrators in Egypt is taking place next to the Egyptian Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. Similar protests are being reported around the world, as Egyptians continue to rally against the 30-year rule of president Hosni Mubarak.

Lebanon: ‘Day of Rage’ Shocks Bloggers

  27 January 2011

Thousands of supporters of disposed Sunni Prime Minister Saad Al Hariri took to the streets in a 'day of rage' on Tuesday to protest the fall of their leader. The worst of the scenes were in the predominantly Sunni city of Tripoli, where protestors burnt tyres, vehicles, offices, and attacked the media. Bloggers of all political persuasions expressed dismay at the violent behaviour and openly sectarian nature of the protests.

Lebanon: Fears of Instability

  23 January 2011

“I want the stress of my day to revolve around how much heart-clogging saturated fat was in my lunchtime sandwich, not around whether there are going to be a few armed thugs shooting at each other in the streets tonight. Or whether a car bomb is going to go off...

Lebanon: Fears of Escalation

  23 January 2011

“So again I tell you, I am not a political analyst nor a fortune teller; however, I am strongly pessimistic when it comes to our political situation. In the end, it makes me sad to say I am almost certain that the current “cold war”, which has been crippling the...

Lebanon: Twitter 101

  23 January 2011

Nadine Moawad posts a beginner's guide to Twitter in Lebanon starting from signing up for an account passing through building connections and ending with useful tips.

Lebanon: Kuntar Remembers Prison Days in Israel

  23 January 2011

 “Just wait another week and you will realize that the Lebanese Resistance is playing ATARI with Israel “defense forces”.”  Adonis quotes Samir Kuntar's response to the warden, at Hadarim prison, who was boasting that Hezbollah will be crushed in a couple of days during the 2006 war. Kuntar was released from Israeli...

Arab World: Racism and the Slave's Head Candy Controversy

  21 January 2011

Are we - Arabs - racist? It's really hard to tell. Some might argue that racism is against our religion, and that people are never discriminated against because of their skin colour. On the other hand, other tiny aspects of our lives might prove that we are. It seems to be normal, for instance, to make fun of black people [Ar] in the cinema, and even call a candy “The Slave's Head” because of its colour.

Lebanon: Eleven Cabinet Members Resign, Toppling Government

  12 January 2011

More big news from the Arab world this evening as Lebanon's government has reportedly collapsed, following the resignations of 11 cabinet members. The cabinet members, all members or allies of Hezbollah, resigned over arguments stemming from a UN probe into the assassination of Rafiq Hariri.

Lebanon: Let's Protest

  12 January 2011

After -what she considered- so many useless and power-oriented protests, Lebanese blogger Liliane suggested a list of things that she believes are really worth demonstrating for and protesting against. Check her list and her readers suggestions as well in this post.

Lebanon: Bloggers Support Tunisian Protests against “Arab Pinochet”

  11 January 2011

Lebanese bloggers have joined the chorus of concern over the Tunisian riots that have thus far claimed 24 lives. Sympathy and support is extended to the Tunisian youth protesting the authoritarianism, corruption, and poor economic management of President Zine el Abidine ben Ali, dubbed the "Arab Pinochet" by Lebanese blogger, the Angry Arab.

Lebanon: Negotiating the fate of STL

  9 January 2011

“He [PM Saad Hariri] has already brought his “price” down by exonerating Syria … He has also exonerated Hizbullah’s leadership from any connection with the crime … All that’s left is for him to join his opponents in claiming that the STL [Special Tribunal for Lebanon] was infiltrated by Israel and that...

Lebanon: Snow Finally

  9 January 2011

Sietske posts about the trip she took with her children to enjoy the snow that has finally covered the slopes of the Lebanese mountains.

Lebanon: Architecture and Environment

  9 January 2011

Tarek Chemaly posted, two years ago, of a house with its balcony designed to wrap around a pine tree. He now posts an update of this house as it is being transformed into a restaurant, and the first thing to go was the pine tree.

Lebanon: Fighting Drugs

  9 January 2011

Salmanonline posts an article (Ar) about drugs addiction among the Lebanese youth. He discusses the role played by some political parties and other specialized organizations to combat its widespread.

Lebanon: 11 Tweeps to Follow in 2011

  4 January 2011

“For this year make sure to follow 11 Lebanese Birds always here tweeting regularly making this place special and 100% Lebanese” writes Joe, who lists the Tweeters with a short description of each.

Lebanon: Banning land sale between religions

  2 January 2011

“This law is an insult to each and every one of us. It lays bare the state of bankruptcy that our sectarian democracy has reached,” states Mustapha in describing the draft law, authored by the Lebanese labor minister, that would prevent Christians and Muslims from selling property to each other...

Lebanon: Iraqi refugees and Lebanese sectarianism

  2 January 2011

“If I do not wear my cross, and I speak in the Iraqi dialect, automatically people think I am Shiite, and I get the very lousy treatment…”, said Joseph, an Iraqi refugee living in Lebanon, in an interview with Seif. The contact and interview for this post took place through Facebook.