Social Security and Pensions in Lebanon: A Non-Contributory Proposal

Social Security and Pensions in Lebanon: A Non-Contributory Proposal

Back in 2005, Beirut Blast Kills Foe of Syria (washingtonpost.com)

All the way in 2005, the UN indicted Syria for assassinating several Lebanese public figures, who opposed the Syrian occupation: Beirut Blast Kills Foe of Syria (washingtonpost.com)

The assassinations (and attempts) claimed the lives of Gebran Tueni, Samir Kassir, prime minister Rafik Hariri, George Hawi and Defense Minister Elias Murr and injured Marwan Hamadeh and journalist May Chidiac.  There were also a series of bombings that diplomats believe were intended to sabotage Lebanon's belief that it can be stable on its own.

The Washington Post article mentions that "Detlev Mehlis, a German prosecutor who is leading the probe, said he had uncovered new evidence substantiating charges of Syrian involvement in Hariri's death". 

Years later, in December 11, 2020 the Special Tribunal convicted a Hezbollah militant of Hariri's murder committed on Feb 14, 2005.  The way evolved human beings see this, all murdered dignitaries, the reporters, the authors, the activists deserved a tribunal, and if the Syrian occupation force seemed murderous to the UN before they left Lebanon by April 30, 2005, why were they left out of the 15 years long investigation that ended in 2020? It seems the death of the brave individuals who resisted the Syrian occupation was used as a tool to pressure Hezbollah, even if that meant absolving a murderous Syrian regime. 

Egyptians cast ballots in post-Mubarak polls - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

One more step forward in Egypt, as Egyptians cast ballots but the west has yet to acknowledge that Lebanon is ahead regarding diversity, and as a result, Islamists do not have a significant block in the Lebanese parliament. Lebanon is ahead democracy-wise, because its largest 2 parliamentary blocks sgned an agreement to separate religion from state. This secures equality in politics, and differentiates Lebanon from neighboring countries where the word "minority" is taboo. This also clashes with corrupt political profiteers that fed on sectarian fears, and lately fake religious divides in Lebanon.
These 2 blocks include the patriotic party, the advocate of the first civil law to be proposed in the middle east. It secures equal rights fro citizens of all backgrounds, and both genders. The other inculded block is Hezbollah. This is one of the alienated Lebanese groups that the patriotic party brought back into the Lebanese democracy, by acknowledging their reasons to dissent. They emerged from a rural south treated like a second class area since the 40's, by a series of regressive post-colonial Lebanese governments. The south was also subjected to racism form Israel. This finally provoked the emergence of Hezbollah in 1980's. Not accepting the cownboy idea of "you're with us of I shoot you", the patriotic party created memorandum of understandings with several Lebanese factions, where they acknowledge the social inequities that provoked them, and agree that a civil law would solve these inequities.

From 1989 to 2004 it was also the only opposition to the past Syrian occupation, to be joined in 2005, at the 11th hour by the so-called pro-west block in Lebanon, made of leaders that openly pledge allegiance to the Saudi monarchy. This pro-Saudi block, along with the US administration, that seems more eager to switch colonizers, than end the colonization of Lebanon by foreign countries. The US administration has definitely approved of that, switching overlords instead of become sovereign, and has vilified the nationalist party in Lebanon, the one that made Lebanon unavailable for a civil war by finding common ground among Lebanese factions.

Rest in Peace, Myriam Achkar

Nadine Mouawad makes an excellent case against rape-related taboos in Lebanon. This after the horrific rape of Myriam Achkar. Let's speak up against rapists, and end sexism.

Lebanese citizenship not an option - PLO chief

to anyone who thinks that Lebanese nationalists harm the Palestinian cause, and that the Saudi proteges (Hariri and co) support it:

Lebanese citizenship not an option - PLO chief

Saudi proteges in Lebanon, March 14, want to use the same Palestinians they infuriated for years as a "stuffing", something to add to Lebanon so they can manipulate the demographics according to their regressive sectarian agenda.

Once Lebanese rabbits and other animals are safe, something to look forward to...

I know Lebanon loves to take on the impossible, so here you go: something impossible, that's been done, and is perfectly sweet. A bunny rabbits jumping course, and the associated world competitions! I just hope that when these competitions become international, there will be a humane way to fly the bunnies across the world. Not in the hauls of planes, and without holding them at customs, in quarantines. This is the ordeal many countries put animals through, at their border.

the more unequal a society, the more unhappy its members

in this TED talk by Richard Wilkinson, statistical proof that among rich countries, income inequality lead to greater mental health issues, violence, and other social problems. The solution? Reduce income difference between classes. Will Lebanon make good news of this information?

brutal bird hunting in Cyprus, Lebanon

1 million song birds killed in Cyprus. In Lebanon reports on LBC and MTV chanels encouraged this activity, revolting Lebanese environmentalists. I am waiting to find copies of these reports.