0:00 Intro

3:28 Reflections from Afar

18:00 Symbolic Shock

42:48 'Chernobyl Moment'

1:02:53 Thirty Years Ago

1:11:58 Lebanon's Curse

1:40:11 Forget Resiliency

1:51:06 Principled Views

We're with Joey Ayoub for Episode 204 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/5A3rUTcG3nE

We share reflections on the Beirut blasts from afar, and the complicated emotions of shared suffering at a distance from the tragedy. We discuss the symbolic shock of the mushroom-cloud effect and expand on whether this is Lebanon's 'Chernobyl Moment'. We also talk about civil war legacy that persists until today, and whether Lebanon is cursed to failed state status despite the persistent push by protestors for the better.

This is Joey's third appearance on The Beirut Banyan. We also reflect on friendship born over the moment despite never having met in person, and how long-form conversations can bring strangers together searching for shared understanding over the difficult moment we're going through.

Joey Ayoub is a PhD researcher and fellow podcaster, and currently hosts 'The Fire These Times' podcast.

Click below to donation links for NGOs involved in the aftermath of Tuesday's Beirut blasts.

Lebanese Red Cross:

https://www.supportlrc.app/donate/

Impact Lebanon / Just Giving:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lebanon-relief?utm_term=re7R78DA2/

Ahla Fawda:

https://www.just-help.org/c/AhlaFawda/

Beit El Baraka:

https://beitelbaraka.net/donation/pay/

Lebanese Food Bank

https://lebanesefoodbank.org/donate/

Live Love Lebanon:

https://www.givingloop.org/livelove/

Caritas Lebanon:

http://www.caritas.org.lb/get_involved/donate/

Lebanon Needs:

https://www.lebanonneeds.org/donate/

Embrace Lebanon:

https://embracelebanon.org/donors-and-partners/

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https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

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www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyan

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Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.