The Beirut Banyan

0:00 Intro

3:16 Personal story

10:09 Not so negative

16:15 Accessible for the youth

26:07 Idea of the project

32:23 National healing process

41:28 Planting seeds

51:10 'Allo, Beirut?' exhibition

We're with Tala Khlat & Delphine Darmency for Episode 328 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/e-emNUkREZ0

We discuss citizenship building, civic engagement and the wider role of youth empowerment and education.

Our conversation includes the power of collective memory in reclaiming history and addressing national wounds within venues like Beit Beirut, ranging from the civil war to all forms of political violence.

We also talk about the 'Allo, Beirut?' exhibition currently underway in Beit Beirut.

Tala Khlat is the founder and president of Min ila, and Delphine Darmency is an independent journalist and visual storyteller.

Please visit min ila's website:

www.minila.org

Or contact Tala Khlat via her social media platforms for more info on how to support her youth empowerment work in Min ila and the 'Allo, Beirut?' exhibition:

Facebook: Tala Khlat

Instagram: talakhlat

The AUB Neighborhood Initiative implemented the production phase of the 'Allo, Beirut?' exhibition currently underway in Beit Beirut.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

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

Apologies for the mismatched audio levels.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/5lUD1VEgxFg

I share disagreements with the wider framing of core problems explored within the opinion piece 'The Time to Act is Now' authored by the EU various European ambassadors and the need to create leverage and diplomatically engage Iran over Lebanon.

Link to L'Orient Today article authored by EU and various European ambassadors:

https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1312839/the-time-to-act-is-now.html

0:00 Intro

1:18 The death of the country

9:12 A process that's denied

22:40 Line 29

36:55 Baabda

48:02 Reclaim what was stolen

52:44 'Madrase' moment

1:03:02 Political violence

1:14:38 Environmental degradation

We're with Najat Aoun Saliba for Episode 326 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/JniZaGvq5wM

We discuss her first four months as a member of parliament, the debate surrounding Line 23 vs Line 29, the Baabda presidency-selection process moving forward, her 'madrase' moment, the ongoing struggle against impunity and tackling widespread environmental degradation.

Najat Aoun Saliba is a member of parliament and Taqaddom.

Since we cannot upload bank details directly in this information box, please contact Najat Aoun Saliba's team via her social media platforms and they will forward necessary info on how to support her environmental protection office:

Facebook page: Najat Aoun Saliba

Instagram: najat.aoun.saliba

Twitter: najat_saliba

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

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

I discuss the strength, warmth and inspiration that keeps me in this country - and despite the immense pressure and suffering we are witnessing - defines by defying Lebanon's tragedy.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/mIanFfYOznI

With mentions of Chaden El Daif, Joe Farchakh, Charbel Salameh and Charles al-Hayek.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

0:00 Intro

0:46 AUB

12:41 Mikhael Gorbachev

19:21 Cause & consequence

39:27 Baabda

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/LVKuyzwxZlg

I discuss changes at AUB, Mikhail Gorbachev’s legacy, the cause & consequence for state failure along with independent MPs navigating paralysis, & structural limitations inherent to Baabda.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Recorded from an Instagram Live session

We're with Gino Raidy for Episode 322 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/gw0T0eCEkvo

We discuss heightened social media attacks and physical threats hurled against photojournalist Hasan Shaaban and MTV host Dima Sadek.

Our conversation includes merging local aspirations with international diplomacy, and the process needed for 'Change' bloc MPs to pursue and yield reform.

Gino Raidy in an activist, blogger, and podcaster. He current hosts the BUKRA podcast and writes opinion pieces for NOWLebanon.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Recorded on 17 July (International Justice Day) at Station Beirut

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/zwkryW4QJOk

Introductory speeches: Monika Borgmann-Slim, director of UMAM Documentation & Research; Rasha Al Ameer, director of Dar Al Jadeed; and Anna Fleischer, director of Heinrich Böll Stiftung Beirut - Middle East

Participants: Ronnie Chatah, host of The Beirut Banyan podcast; Andreas Kindl, German Ambassador to Lebanon; Moussa Khoury, lawyer of Ms. Borgmann for the Lokman Slim case; Aya Majzoub, researcher at Human Rights Watch; Nizar Saghieh, Executive Director of Legal Agenda; and Reina Sfeir, Human Rights professor at La Sagesse University, former liaison officer with families of victims for the STL

Moderator: Najat Rochdi, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon and appointed UN Special Envoy for Syria

Closing Remarks: Dr. Hana Jaber, director of Lokman Slim Foundation

In partnership with Heinrich Böll Stiftung Beirut - Middle East; Dar Al Jadeed; UMAM Documentation & Research; Lokman Slim Foundation; and IUSTICOM

0:00 Intro

5:39 Instagram page

15:12 Measurements

36:06 Done it better

46:26 Without Solidère

52:28 People

1:03:01 The story

1:11:38 A whole chapter of history

We're with Mohamad Tohmé for Episode 322 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/XI_9NZuvZl0

We discuss his Instagram page (lebanon_then_now) and the measurements needed to accurately layer before and after photos throughout Beirut.

Our conversation includes the Municipality and Solidère's varying roles in post-civil war urban development, and a consideration of what downtown would have looked like without a private company managing public space.

We also talk about the emotions associated with reflection and nostalgia, and the value of Gabriele Basilico's photography in the immediate aftermath of post-civil war downtown.

Mohamad Tohmé is an architect and designer.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.ronniechatah.com

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

0:00 Intro

9:50 Hamra

25:21 Camera choice

29:14 Manara

51:12 Achrafieh

1:01:15 October 17, 2019

1:18:37 Blast

1:21:17 Graduation

We're with Nabeel Yakzan for Episode 321 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/d8a4GG5hLOc

We discuss the passion that is storytelling, a journey into photography, and capturing the personal and political on Beirut's streets one neighborhood at a time.

Our conversation includes camera preference and technique, October 17's natural impact on an earlier hobby, and why certain subjects are at times too sensitive to cover.

We also talk about balancing career choices, and a determination to carry on with photography despite potential departure from Lebanon.

Nabeel Yakzan is a recent chemical engineering graduate from AUB and a talented street photographer.

0:00 Intro

2:30 Into astronomy

8:09 Healing

23:50 Place in the universe

38:05 Commitment

49:23 Telescope & astrophotography

1:00:48 Ritchey-Chrétien Telescope

We're with Maroun Habib for Episode 320 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/ics5xrZD9P8

We discuss deep curiosity and passion when it comes to astronomy and astrophotography, a 'healing' hobby that allows for exploration beyond familiar Lebanese political terrain, and a commitment to science research despite the difficulties of deteriorating and limited infrastructure.

Our conversation includes looking at a self-assembled Ritchey-Chrétien Telescope, preferred environment for delicate imagery processing and the pure joy that comes from star gazing at night.

Maroun Habib is a cybersecurity specialist (by day) and astrophotographer (by night).

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.ronniechatah.com

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