September 30, 2011
Sectarianism, money wasting, no electricity, no water, no jobs, bad internet, expensive living, taxes, wasta? The list goes on and on…
Lebanon does not only have a beautiful landscape, it’s not only a touristic destination, it’s not only a clubbing hub, but it is also rich in resources that can help the Lebanese stand on their own feet. Lebanese are proud of that and are ready to fight for Lebanon, that’s the only thing they all agree on.
But are we fighting for the right reasons? Do we participate in protests and political gatherings to improve our current state of living or just because our leaders tell us to?
A couple of years back, Israel tried to claim the traditional Lebanese Hommos (Chickpeas) dish with tahini as their own. The whole Lebanese community from different sects and religions stood together and defended the Lebanese-born dish by breaking the Guinness Book of records for the largest Hommos plate ever made.
If you think about it, the Lebanese were united over something as silly as an appetizer dish and it made them forget their religious and sectarian divisions. They united over something that’s so silly, it’s nothing!
Yet it’s everything.
Now Israel is claiming something more important: our natural gas wells, our biggest resource that can take Lebanon back to the days of flourishing economic-stability.
“Israeli companies have announced two important natural gas finds in the past 18 months that may hold 24 trillion cubic feet of gas, but the offshore discoveries are a potential source of friction between Israel, Lebanon and Greek Cyprus. Lebanese officials say the gas may extend into their waters, urging their own prospecting” claims an Israeli online newspaper (source). And if Israel confessed that the gas “may” extend to Lebanese waters, then it is more like a fact.
This discovery was made in 2003. Eight years later, we are still gas-less while Israel plans to suck all that gas out from the sea. Geological expert Dr. Ali Haidar claims that "Lebanon is losing half of the natural gas taken by Israel" (source).
I am not trying to blame Israel for utilizing their shared resources. On the contrary, they would be foolish if they wait for us to sort our political conflicts and agree on a plan for gas extraction. Instead, I am urging you to learn from them and take advantage of what's rightfully ours.
We are not protesting for our resources. We are not burning tires and blocking roads for the government to take on this project. We just complain that gas prices have gone up. We burn tires to feud political or religious conflicts. But when it comes to what really matters, we do nothing!
Why?
Because we are worried that it will be privatized by a Muslim or a Christian.
Because we know that the government will need 10 times more money than the project really needs because of politicians who are sucking the budget dry.
Because we are worried an American (Western/Pro-14) company or an Iranian (Pro-8) company will benefit from it.
Because politicians are blocking the project since they cannot gain personal profit from it.
Because we are not united, we do not live in one Lebanon.
We live in 18 Lebanons. One for each sect that we proudly belong to.
When are we going to burn tires for our benefit and not for our political leaders? When are we going to block the roads to benefit all of the Lebanese community instead of just one sect or one political party? When are we going to get out of the mentality of “either my sect takes on this project or no one does”?
Why don’t we all take on this project?
Yes, it is possible. Regular citizens like you and me can invest in such a project. Engineers and scientists from all sects and political affiliations can join forces to work on this project. This project can mutually benefit everyone. Why doesn’t this project get privatized to the public? The Lebanese population, the “service” drivers and hair-dressers who know how this country should be run, the brilliant minds that are travelling abroad for jobs, the university graduates who are sitting at home or peeling potatoes at their local McDonald’s?
When are we going to actually learn to love and trust each other rather than just teaching it in theory to our children? Can we just agree on a way to split the wealth and take it before letting the neighbors take it all?
What are we waiting for? Do we deserve this country? This sun? This air? This gas? This earth? This sea? This water?
I have made my move. Now it’s time for you to do the same!
UPDATE: While researching for this post, I came across this book by on facebook Farid Chehab that I found to be a good resource for the Lebanese situation and proposed solutions.
For the love of our country
When you hear “Lebanon” and “government” in the same sentence, what comes to mind first? Sectarianism, money wasting, no electricity, no water, no jobs, bad internet, expensive li…
When you hear “Lebanon” and “government” in the same sentence, what comes to mind first?Sectarianism, money wasting, no electricity, no water, no jobs, bad internet, expensive living, taxes, wasta? The list goes on and on…
Lebanon does not only have a beautiful landscape, it’s not only a touristic destination, it’s not only a clubbing hub, but it is also rich in resources that can help the Lebanese stand on their own feet. Lebanese are proud of that and are ready to fight for Lebanon, that’s the only thing they all agree on.
But are we fighting for the right reasons? Do we participate in protests and political gatherings to improve our current state of living or just because our leaders tell us to?
A couple of years back, Israel tried to claim the traditional Lebanese Hommos (Chickpeas) dish with tahini as their own. The whole Lebanese community from different sects and religions stood together and defended the Lebanese-born dish by breaking the Guinness Book of records for the largest Hommos plate ever made.
If you think about it, the Lebanese were united over something as silly as an appetizer dish and it made them forget their religious and sectarian divisions. They united over something that’s so silly, it’s nothing!
Yet it’s everything.
Now Israel is claiming something more important: our natural gas wells, our biggest resource that can take Lebanon back to the days of flourishing economic-stability.
“Israeli companies have announced two important natural gas finds in the past 18 months that may hold 24 trillion cubic feet of gas, but the offshore discoveries are a potential source of friction between Israel, Lebanon and Greek Cyprus. Lebanese officials say the gas may extend into their waters, urging their own prospecting” claims an Israeli online newspaper (source). And if Israel confessed that the gas “may” extend to Lebanese waters, then it is more like a fact.
This discovery was made in 2003. Eight years later, we are still gas-less while Israel plans to suck all that gas out from the sea. Geological expert Dr. Ali Haidar claims that "Lebanon is losing half of the natural gas taken by Israel" (source).
 |
| "The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the area, which includes the coastal areas near Israel, Lebanon and Syria, harbors resources that can be recovered using currently available technology." Source: Ya Libnan |
I am not trying to blame Israel for utilizing their shared resources. On the contrary, they would be foolish if they wait for us to sort our political conflicts and agree on a plan for gas extraction. Instead, I am urging you to learn from them and take advantage of what's rightfully ours.
We are not protesting for our resources. We are not burning tires and blocking roads for the government to take on this project. We just complain that gas prices have gone up. We burn tires to feud political or religious conflicts. But when it comes to what really matters, we do nothing!
Why?
Because we are worried that it will be privatized by a Muslim or a Christian.
Because we know that the government will need 10 times more money than the project really needs because of politicians who are sucking the budget dry.
Because we are worried an American (Western/Pro-14) company or an Iranian (Pro-8) company will benefit from it.
Because politicians are blocking the project since they cannot gain personal profit from it.
Because we are not united, we do not live in one Lebanon.
We live in 18 Lebanons. One for each sect that we proudly belong to.
When are we going to burn tires for our benefit and not for our political leaders? When are we going to block the roads to benefit all of the Lebanese community instead of just one sect or one political party? When are we going to get out of the mentality of “either my sect takes on this project or no one does”?
Why don’t we all take on this project?
Yes, it is possible. Regular citizens like you and me can invest in such a project. Engineers and scientists from all sects and political affiliations can join forces to work on this project. This project can mutually benefit everyone. Why doesn’t this project get privatized to the public? The Lebanese population, the “service” drivers and hair-dressers who know how this country should be run, the brilliant minds that are travelling abroad for jobs, the university graduates who are sitting at home or peeling potatoes at their local McDonald’s?
When are we going to actually learn to love and trust each other rather than just teaching it in theory to our children? Can we just agree on a way to split the wealth and take it before letting the neighbors take it all?
What are we waiting for? Do we deserve this country? This sun? This air? This gas? This earth? This sea? This water?
I have made my move. Now it’s time for you to do the same!
UPDATE: While researching for this post, I came across this book by on facebook Farid Chehab that I found to be a good resource for the Lebanese situation and proposed solutions.
Beirut
business
Cyprus