0:00 Intro

0:25 What is Kulluna Irada?

10:55 'Email your ambassador'

17:10 The same page

26:12 Port blast investigation

35:45 Opposition parties

46:06 Reflective

50:48 Splintering

We're with Diana Menhem for Episode 279 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/BUId-YOV0iM

We discuss civic engagement, political reform and the wider role of Kulluna Irada.

Our conversation includes position papers and policy statements delivered by Kulluna Irada, lobbying efforts regarding lawsuits and the port blast, and why political clarity is essential for opposition parties to win seats in next year's parliamentary elections.

We also talk about whether the splintering of advocacy groups hurts efforts done and Diana's own reflections on her career in civil society stemming from the You Stink crisis and Beirut Madinati through to her current position in Kulluna Irada.

Diana Menhem is the managing director of Kulluna Irada.

The position papers and policy statements mentioned in the episode are linked below in order of appearance:

'Email your ambassador':

https://kulluna-irada.org/diaspora

'Diaspora Participation in Lebanon’s 2022 Elections: Cancelling the Six Expats Seats'

https://kulluna-irada.org/article-122

'Call for an International Investigative Mission into the Beirut Blast'

https://kulluna-irada.org/article-123

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Music by Marc Codsi. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.