The Beirut Banyan

I read one of my father's previous blog posts, "The Baabda Declaration Revisited" for Episode 178 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/_sdqC4TXiG8

And I reflect on the power of overcoming fear, championing free expression against all forms of intimidation, and looking back at a Declaration signed eight years ago yet never implemented, and perhaps the one attempted post-civil war national policy worth championing.

My father's blogspot page is:

http://mohamadchatah.blogspot.com

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/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. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

0:00 Intro

4:04 Longevity of the Problem

18:26 The Usual Suspects & IMF Negotiations

29:04 Parallel Ideas & Parallel Institutions

40:41 State Sovereignty & Authority

We're back with Mike Azar for Episode 177 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/PC03MMDJMj0

We discuss accountability and lack of transparency across the board in Lebanon and the economic consequences of political decisions made years before the recent protests began. We also talk about 'shadow governance' and what an alternative social pact could look like.

Mike Azar is a finance advisor and a regular contributor to the 'Finance 4 Lebanon' / NERDS blog. He is a former Johns Hopkins SAIS lecturer of International Economics.

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/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. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

Part 15 of "On the Move" with Elia Haber wraps up her latest mini-series with thoughts on anniversaries and markers worth sharing. Wishing her the best on her blossoming career in science journalism, and hoping to have her voice return to this podcast down the road.

Each episode of "On the Move" tackled a different subject impacting Lebanon that also played a role in her life abroad.

Elia is a recent Master's degree graduate in science journalism from Concordia University. She is the founder of Café Scientifique - Beirut and previously co-hosted this podcast for her "Voices from the Square' series, covering the initial months of the October 2019 uprising in Lebanon.

Follow Elia on her Twitter handle: @EliaHaber

and on Instagram: @elia.haber

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/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. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

0:00 Intro

2:09 Rioting

14:28 Rapid Inflation

26:32 Splintering Protests

We're back with Mohamad Faour and Waël Atallah for Episode 175 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/v_s-CaTFlWw

We discuss the past week's events including the recent rioting in downtown Beirut, the rapid decline in the Lira's value within a two-day period that set off renewed demonstrations, and ways to avoid the splintering of the protest movement like we saw on 6 June - particularly when it comes to addressing sub-state weaponry.

Mohamad Faour is a postdoc fellow at University College Dublin, and Waël Atallah is an economist and engineer. They both contribute to the 'Finance 4 Lebanon' blog.

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/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. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/GEj9PuA3VYs

Part 14 of "On the Move" with Elia Haber discusses relationship changes with confinement gradually ending, and online connections that 'accelerate' and circle back to Lebanon.

Each episode of "On the Move" tackles a different subject impacting Lebanon that also plays a role in her life abroad.

Elia is a recent Master's degree graduate in science journalism from Concordia University. She is the founder of Café Scientifique - Beirut and previously co-hosted this podcast for her "Voices from the Square' series, covering the initial months of the October 2019 uprising in Lebanon.

Follow Elia on her Twitter handle: @EliaHaber

and on Instagram: @elia.haber

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/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. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

I read one of my father's previous blog posts, "False (and Sometimes Dangerous) Ideas" for Episode 173 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/k5OZ_n-URCs

And I reflect on the importance of confronting all issues facing Lebanon, and the mistake of avoiding certain topics out of fear, sensitivity or worry that it would diminish the protest movement.

My father's blogspot page is:

http://mohamadchatah.blogspot.com

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/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. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/6-sVgfrl8sU

Part 13 of "On the Move" with Elia Haber discusses the disadvantages of the gig economy, and how freelance work and other ways of supplementing additional income is a challenge regardless of economic crisis and Covid-19.

Each episode of "On the Move" tackles a different subject impacting Lebanon that also plays a role in her life abroad.

Elia is a recent Master's degree graduate in science journalism from Concordia University. She is the founder of Café Scientifique - Beirut and previously co-hosted this podcast for her "Voices from the Square' series, covering the initial months of the October 2019 uprising in Lebanon.

Follow Elia on her Twitter handle: @EliaHaber

and on Instagram: @elia.haber

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/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. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

Part 12 of "On the Move" with Elia Haber explores the disadvantages of continuous balancing acts in Lebanon, and other ways of looking at social cohesion and prejudice.

Each episode of "On the Move" tackles a different subject impacting Lebanon that also plays a role in her life abroad.

Elia is a recent Master's degree graduate in science journalism from Concordia University. She is the founder of Café Scientifique - Beirut and previously co-hosted this podcast for her "Voices from the Square' series, covering the initial months of the October 2019 uprising in Lebanon.

Follow Elia on her Twitter handle: @EliaHaber

and on Instagram: @elia.haber

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/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. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/MHnUHdz1OQ4

‘Al Wadi’ refers to the Wadi Abu Jmeel neighborhood of downtown Beirut, the city’s old Jewish quarter. This episode brings three Lebanese Jewish voices from different generations together, each sharing their own memory and complex relationship to Lebanon.

‘Al Wadi’ is designed for both the audio and video enthusiast in mind. No need to watch if you prefer to simply listen to the story. And photos / graphics are included on the YouTube version for anyone that prefers to follow visually.

I started working on this episode a few days before Covid-19 became a global pandemic. And I had to make a quick decision whether to postpone altogether or carry on with a new storyline and structure (using Skype audio). I went with the latter, and decided to release this story as Part 1 of a mini-series related to the Lebanese Jewish community. Followup episodes with additional voices will emerge once travel restrictions ease.

I’ve been curious about Wadi Abu Jmeel’s history since I was 12, going across the ‘Green Line’ before Solidere removed large swathes of what was left of downtown Beirut’s war-torn yet majestic architecture. By the time I began my Masters degree at AUB I started writing research assignments on the Lebanese Jewish community, and fortunately got to speak with members abroad and several still in Lebanon. I also befriended the last Lebanese Jew that remained in Wadi Abu Jmeel, Liza Nahmoud, and met her regularly before her passing in 2012. I deliberately included Beirut’s former Jewish quarter in my WalkBeirut tour, and made sure we’d reach the gates of Magen Avraham synagogue every time.

Please watch or listen to the entire episode. I know it’s 90 minutes long, but I guarantee it’s worth your time.

And kindly share on social media with your friends, family and fans, or anyone you think would be interested in the story. The podcast audience keeps growing, and it’s all thanks to you spreading the word. The more listeners and viewers, the better.

Regional wars forced identities on all of us. But it tore Lebanese Jews from their homes, and guaranteed they’d never return. Even if it’s left to history texts and the like, I hope we collectively recognize our 18th sect as a missing part of Lebanon - and Lebanese - through and through.

Wadi Abu Jmeel is empty. Magen Avraham is locked and without service. But Lebanese Jewish memory, abroad and slowly vanishing, is worth preserving.

Special thanks to Marc Codsi for composing the podcast’s music, and to Maryline Hayek for her endless Photoshop skills.

If you’re enjoying The Beirut Banyan, please consider a contribution via Patreon or Paypal (links in the details box).

And as always…thanks for listening. And thanks for watching.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/gI6_11krQKs

Part 11 of "On the Move" with Elia Haber talks about independently educating ourselves and experiences with recommendations sent her way.

Each episode of "On the Move" tackles a different subject impacting Lebanon that also plays a role in her life abroad.

Elia is a recent Master's degree graduate in science journalism from Concordia University. She is the founder of Café Scientifique - Beirut and previously co-hosted this podcast for her "Voices from the Square' series, covering the initial months of the October 2019 uprising in Lebanon.

Follow Elia on her Twitter handle: @EliaHaber

and on Instagram: @elia.haber

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

Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/c/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. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.