Season's Greetings from My Beloved Lebanon!

 

https://www.facebook.com/mybelovedlebanon

Beirut, the 2nd top destination in 2012

You just cant keep a good city down. Or, in Beiruts case, a turbulent past of decades of civil war hasnt taken the sheen off its glossy, cosmopolitan swagger. Lebanons capital is far from your "regular" Middle Eastern city: Nestled on the Mediterranean coast, Beirut is an enticing combination of French designer boutiques in rebuilt Downtown, chi-chi private beach clubs where bling is king, cutting-edge galleries in converted warehouses and magnificent third-century mosaics in the National Museum.

You'll adore Beiruts juxtaposition of old and new, traditional and downright funkiness. Restored Roman baths stand in the midst of the business district, surrounded by gleaming skyscrapers and an Ottoman palace. At Music Hall, in an old cinema hall, fez-wearing traditional musicians play Arabic ballads for their 15-minute spot, after an '80s cover band, while cocktail-dress Beiruti women belly dance with their designer-jeans-clad partners supping cocktails. Soldiers with machine guns keep one eye on families drinking coffee at midnight, with squealing kids playing, on pedestrianized Place de L'Etoile square. Le Gray luxury boutique hotel sits a moments walk from the bombed-out Holiday Inn, still bullet-ridden from 1976 Lebanon Civil War.

Small is definitely beautiful in bijoux Lebanon. In Beirut, you're never far away from a ski slope (Faraya, 45 minutes away), cedar plantation (an hour) and ancient Roman Temple (Byblos is an hour by bus). And on your way to Byblos, you can whisk up by cable car to Harissa, the immense hilltop statue, Lebanon's patron saint. Oh, and of course there are beaches, right here in the city.

And the icing on the cake? Well it has to be the food. From street food of hot m'neesh al zataar (flat bread with herbs) to a tableful of Middle Eastern mezze washed down with chilled Almaza beer or home-cooked Armenian cuisine, locals love to dine out. And then party, hard.

 

http://www.beiruting.com/news/beirut-the-2nd-top-destination-in-2012

Happy Independence Day Lebanon - 22 November, 2011

An Nasheed Al Watani Al Lubnani" (النشيد الوطني اللبنان) also known as "Kulluna lil watan" (كلنـا للوطـن) is the Lebanese national anthem. 
Lyrics by: Rashid Nakhle. 
Music by: Wadih Sabra. 
Adopted: July 12, 1927.


Lyrics:
Kulluna lil-watan, lil'ula lil-'alam
Mil'u ayn az-zaman, saifuna wal-qalam
Sahluna wal-jabal, manbitun lir-rijal
Qawluna wal-'amal fi sabil-el-kamal

Kulluna lil-watan, lil'ula lil-'alam,
Kulluna lil-watan

Shaykhuna wal-fata, 'Inda sawt-il-watan
Usdu ghaben mata, sawaratn-al-fitan
Sharquna qalbuhu, abadan Lubnan
Sanahu rabbuhu, li mada-l-azman

Kulluna lil-watan, lil'ula lil-'alam,
Kulluna lil-watan

Bahruhu barruhu, durratush-sharqayn
Rifduhu birruhu, mali' ul-qutbayn
Ismuhu 'izzuhu, munzu kana-l-judud
Majduhu arzuhu, ramzuhu lil-khulud

Kulluna lil-watan, lil'ula lil-'alam,
Kulluna lil-watan

Translation:
All of us! For our Country, for our Flag and Glory!
Our valor and our writings are the envy of the ages.
Our mountains and our valleys, they bring forth stalwart men.
And to Perfection we devote our words and labor.

All of us! For our Country, for our Flag and Glory!
All of us! For our Country.

Our Elders and our children, they await our Country's call,
And on the Day of Crisis they are as Lions of the Jungle.
The heart of our East is ever Lebanon,
May God preserve him until the end of time.

All of us! For our Country, for our Flag and Glory!
All of us! For our Country.

The Gems of the East are his land and sea.
Throughout the world his good deeds flow from pole to pole.
And his name is his glory since time began.
The cedars are his pride, his immortality's symbol.

All of us! For our Country, for our Flag and Glory!
All of us! For our Country!

Y.A.N.A.'s Annual Christmas Braderie

Y.A.N.A. (You Are Not Alone) is pleased to announce that its annual Christmas Garage Sale "Braderie" will be held at the Y.A.N.A. (You Are Not Alone) | Congrégation des Coeurs Unis - CCU headquarters in Dekwaneh on 14-15 December 2011. 

For your donations to the Annual Christmas Braderie... please deliver items of interest to CCU bldg in Dekwaneh every Wednesdays and Thursdays: 

• Home and kitchen appliances

• Furniture

• CDs, books, toys, ...

• Christmas or other types of decoration, ...

• Fashion accessories: Colifichets, bags, scarfs, glasses, wallets, etc…

• Unused items of clothing 

• etc...

You can also HELP by inviting your friends to www.facebook.com/yanaccu or www.twitter.com/yanaccu

Address: CCU bldg, Dekwaneh, St. Joseph str., Beirut, Lebanon. P.o.box: 55205 Sin el Fil Tel / Fax: +961 1 691 115-  info@ccujm.org, yana@ccujm.org

For every New FB page LIKE, a vote for Jeita Grotto!

For every new LIKE on My Beloved Lebanon's facebook page (www.facebook.com/mybelovedlebanon) we will send a vote to Jeita Grotto to become one of the 7 wonders of the world!

Please like and share to increase the votes! 

Let us count together, as of now we have 149 likes... We will see by 11.11.11 how many Jeita Grotto votes we would have raised!

Thank you for supporting Jeita Grotto! :)

PS: you can also vote yourselves by sending an sms in Lebanon to 1070 or by logging to www.n7w.com

Vote for Jeita grotto to Become One of the 7 Wonders of the World!

Lebanon: Send JEITA or جعيتا to 1070 (0.10 $)
Canada: Send JEITA to 77077 (0.25 Can$)
UAE: Send JEITA to 3888 (2 AED)
Poland: Send JEITA to 7155 (1 PLN)
Australia: Send JEITA to 19788555 (0.55 Aus$)
Philippines: Send N7WCONTEST JEITAGROTTO to 2861 (2.5 PHP)
South Korea: Send JEITA to 001-1588-7715 (150 KW)
Taiwan: Send N7W JEITA to 55123 (10 NTD)
South Africa: Send JEITA to 34874 (2 R)
Bangladesh: Send JEITA to 16333 (2 BDT)
Jordan: Send JEITA to 94089 (0.06 JD)
Ireland: Send JEITA to 53131 (0.3 €)
Brazil: Send JEITA to 22046 (0.42 €)
Argentina: Send JEITA to 5656

If your country is not in the list, you can still vote by international telephone:
1- Dial one of these numbers: +1 649 339 8080 or +44 758 900 1290
2- At the end of the message, after the tone, insert Jeita Grotto's code: 7714
3- When you hear the thank you message, you are all done

or log onto http://www.new7wonders.com

Deadline to vote: 11.11.11 

More information here:  

http://www.new7wonders.com/archives/wonder/jeita-grotto

https://www.facebook.com/New7WondersofNature

http://www.jeitagrotto.com/

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeita-Grotto/21462737525

Live Performances by Singer / Actress Josiane El Zir

Sunset Over Beirut!

 

 

 

 

© Souleima Zod - www.facebook.com/souleimazod

"Where Do We Go Now?": Film from Lebanon win Toronto International Film Festival

TORONTO (AP) — "Where Do We Go Now?" a bittersweet comedy set in war-torn Lebanon, bested two well-received entries starring George Clooney to win the people's choice award Sunday at the Toronto International Film Festival. The Cadillac People's Choice award, which also includes a C$15,000 cash prize, is voted on by festival audiences and has typically been regarded as a bellwether for Oscar success.

Lebanese-Canadian director-actress Nadine Labaki's feminist film about village women bent on keeping their hotheaded men out of a religious war was chosen earlier this month as Lebanon's 2011 entry in the best foreign language film category for the Academy Awards.Labaki, who also stars in the film, was traveling in Europe when she heard the news, which was announced Sunday at a closing brunch for the 11-day festival. Festival programmer Rasha Salti accepted the award on the filmmaker's behalf, reading a statement sent by Labaki from an airport in Germany. "I'm thrilled, I'm happy, I'm ecstatic, I'm excited — my day that had just started on the wrong foot because of a flight cancellation has just been turned upside down," the 37-year-old Labaki said in her statement."I'm running around jumping up and down at the Frankfurt airport. Tomorrow we'll be screening 'Where Do We Go Now?' for the first time in Lebanon and I will be proud and happy to announce the news in front of my crew, my family and the Lebanese audience."

Festival director Piers Handling noted it was a surprise triumph for a film that was overshadowed by heavily promoted, star-studded Hollywood films. These included Clooney's two films, "The Descendants" and "The Ides of March." "We have some very, very high-profile films here at the festival and ones that a lot of people are talking about and I'm sure will go on to awards," said Handling. "But Nadine's film obviously connected with the public in a significant way because it was a clear, clear winner." Last year's fans' pick, "The King's Speech," went on to take four Oscars, including best picture, and the 2008 people's choice winner, "Slumdog Millionaire," took best picture and seven other Oscars. Quebec director Philippe Falardeau's "Monsieur Lazhar," about an Algerian schoolteacher in Quebec and his relationship with two students, won the award for best Canadian feature and a C$30,000 prize. The best first Canadian feature award, which includes a C$15,000 prize, went to director Nathan Morlando's period piece "Edwin Boyd," starring Scott Speedman as the notorious Canadian bank robber.

"Where Do We Go Now?" garnered rave reviews at this year's Cannes Film Festival, where it screened on the margins of the official competition. It follows Labaki's feature "Caramel," a sweet love story set in a Beirut beauty salon, which was Lebanon's entry for the 2007 best foreign language film Oscar. Set in a remote village where the church and the mosque stand side by side, "Where Do We Go Now?" follows the antics of the town's women to keep their blowhard men from starting a religious war. Women heartsick over sons, husbands and fathers lost to previous flare-ups unite to distract their men with clever ruses, from faking a miracle to hiring a troop of Ukrainian strippers.Labaki wrote the screenplay for the film which was shot on location in three remote Lebanese villages with a cast made up almost entirely of nonprofessional actors. Labaki, who is married to the film's composer, Khaled Mouzannar, also included a handful of old-school song-and-dance numbers that buoy the mood.

وهلّأ لوين؟

Where do we go now? Et Maintenant On Va Où? 

Musique de Khaled Mouzanar
Musique originale du film: Et maintenant on va où?
Film réalisé par Nadine Labaki

(hashish of my heart)

Wine in Lebanon: the grapes of wrath

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/oct/02/wine-in-lebanon-bekaa-valley?fb=optOut

• James Hipwell
• The Observer, Sunday 2 October 2011

In search of a glass in a country where the wine industry dates back 5,000 years and has survived wars and intolerant religions

"When we started planting the vineyard, we found a cluster bomb on the ground that had been dropped on the village in 1983. The army said it would take two weeks to get here, but I had 1,000 vines that had to be in the ground immediately or else they'd die. So with a couple of brave young men, we decided to plant the vines. Thank God nobody got hurt." This isn't the kind of commentary you get on most wine tours. But this is a vineyard in Lebanon, not the Loire. On a visit to Chateau Belle-Vue, high above the heat and hustle of Beirut on the top of Mount Lebanon, its irrepressible owner Naji Boutros gives us not only a lesson in viticulture but a first-hand account of his country's troubled history, too. Boutros grew up in the village of Bhamdoun but left when it became engulfed in heavy fighting during the early 1980s. After a career as an investment banker, he returned in 2000 with his family to set up the winery in what was left of his village, naming it Chateau Belle-Vue after the hotel his grandfather ran there. My wife and I scramble to keep up with him as he shows us around the vertiginous terraces now planted with merlot and cabernet sauvignon vines. "The more hurdles you overcome, the better the result," he says, laughing off his close shave with a cluster bomb and opening a bottle whose label could not be more apt for his endeavours with Belle-Vue and the Lebanese wine industry as a whole – La Renaissance. Two decades of relative peace since Lebanon's civil war ended have allowed a wine industry that dates back more than 5,000 years to flourish. There are now 35 wineries in business, and most are more than willing to open their doors to visitors wanting to discover another side of Lebanese culture. The journey to Lebanon's extraordinary vineyards, however, requires strong nerves. The main wine region is reached by the Beirut to Damascus highway, a thunderous road that is five terrifying lanes across – two going up the mountain, two coming down, and one in the middle fought over by a simple game of chicken. Our taxi driver holds his own while we cower in the back. Just after Bhamdoun, the Bekaa Valley opens up before us. It was the Phoenicians who first discovered that the long summers, wet winters and warm temperature made this huge green plateau bordered by mountains perfect for viticulture. Our next stop is the exquisitely tasteful Massaya winery. After a tour, the enigmatic co-owner Ramzi Ghosn ushers us down through the vines to a beautiful hidden garden. Eating cherries picked from the orchard, we sip on a delightful 2010 rosé and watch the setting sun turn the eastern slopes of the valley the exact shade of pink as the wine. "In Lebanon the wine is produced to complement our food," says Ghosn. "Ask yourself where the Romans built the Temple of Bacchus, the god of wine. It's not in Tuscany, it's not in Rioja, it's not in Bordeaux. It's in Baalbek, in the Bekaa Valley, just half an hour from here." It is to this world-famous temple that we head the following morning. As we drive along the valley floor, calls to prayer from numerous mosques drift across the vineyards, and as we approach Baalbek, billboards of Shia clerics and martyrs begin to line the road.

Baalbek is the headquarters of Hezbollah, the Islamic political party whose military wing is regarded as a terrorist organisation by many countries, including Britain. You might think Islam and vineyards make uneasy bedfellows, but they seem to coexist peacefully in the Bekaa, with winemaking accepted as part of the culture of the land. The ruins at Baalbek are breathtaking, and carved vine leaves adorning the entrance to the Temple of Bacchus provide us with a direct connection to Lebanon's past glories in winemaking. Our highlight is the Palmyra Hotel, another example of Baalbek's faded grandeur. Not much has changed since the 1920s, and walking into the lobby, with ornate Ottoman furniture and arabesque tiles, is like stepping into an Agatha Christie novel. We half expect to hear murderous shrieks in the night and Hercule Poirot to appear at breakfast. The next winery on our list is another name now impressing international wine circles. Domaine des Tourelles was founded by a French engineer in 1868 and is being revived by descendants of the founding family. Here we tasted some of the best wines of our visit. "Every bottle we produce is touched by the hands of every employee. It's a personal, human business," says Faouzi Issa, one of the co-owners. "We want to keep it that way, so we keep the passion in our winemaking." She believes that Lebanon's troubled past can have a positive impact on business. "When people hear about wars in Lebanon, that there's a very bad political situation here, and then they taste a wonderful Lebanese wine, they appreciate it all the more." This has worked for Chateau Musar, the last winery we visit and perhaps the most famous outside Lebanon. It kept producing world-class wines throughout the civil war, earning it legendary status in the wine industry and making its owner, Serge Hochar, Bacchus's corporeal equivalent in today's Lebanon. Chateau Musar's vineyards in the Bekaa are stunning, the soil is terracotta red, and the vines – a luscious, almost lime green – are framed by snow-capped mountains. The winery, however, is the other side of the mountain near Beirut. So getting the grapes to the winery every year, across what was often the frontline of warring factions, was a dangerous undertaking. We meet the twinkly-eyed septugenarian Hochar, who walks us through the Musar cellar, thick with cobwebs and rows of dusty bottles. He plumps for a bottle of 1977 red. On first taste it is vinegary and sharp. He watches our grimacing faces with amusement. "If you were given that in a restaurant, you would send it back, am I right?" he says with a knowing smile. "But leave it for a few minutes and then taste it again." After 10 minutes its smell and taste had changed completely into something light and fresh that lingers deliciously on the tongue. Hochar says this lasting taste is the wine "talking" to you. "A wine that has the ability to age is like a man who ages," Hochar explains. "As you get older, you have more experience and you have more to say. A young wine can talk to you for maybe only a second or a minute, but a wine that has aged, a wine with experience, can talk to you for hours." After five days immersed in this extraordinary industry and landscape, wine has come to represent the magic of Lebanon itself. With its connection to the soil, the climate, the past – surviving conflict and religious divides – a conversation with Lebanese wine is one worth having again and again.

Fady Noun on MTV's Kitab: Dévastation et Rédemption – Récits d’Apparitions de la Vierge Marie au Liban (1960-2005)

Dévastation et Rédemption – Récits d’Apparitions de la Vierge Marie au Liban (1960-2005)

by Fady Noun on MTV's Kitab

 To view the video, click on the link below:

http://www.mtv.com.lb/Kitab/Fady_Noun?type=1&filter=0

Kitab:
Kitab is a book review segment in which books and authors are discussed. Whether with a special guest or without, the main point is always the book. Famous writers in the three languages (Arabic, French and English) are received to discuss their biography, their writing style and their latest works. Also, new book releases are discussed and reviewed by our two hosts, who are both also published writers.

Under my Skin By Jezz & Bob Howard

... and who said Lebanese are not talented people! Check out this new music house release (2011-2012) by our very own Jezz and DJ Bob Howard.

This song will be launched at WHITE (Beirut) tonight Thursday 22 September 2011.
Join us at WHITE and watch Jezz sing it LIVE!

My Beloved Lebanon Now on Facebook!

You can now follow this blog "My Beloved Lebanon" on facebook by liking our facebook page here:

http://www.facebook.com/mybelovedlebanon

Do not forget to suggest the page to your friends! :)
Best,
J.

First Arab-International Forum of Young Entrepreneurs and Business Persons

L.I.B.A.N. has the pleasure to invite you to attend the First Arab-International Forum of Young Entrepreneurs and Business Persons organized by L.I.B.A.N. (Lebanese International Businessmen Associations' Network).

It will be held under the Patronage of H.E. General Michel SLEIMAN, President of the Republic of Lebanon and in the presence of HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, in Beirut Lebanon, on September 30th-October 1st 2011, at Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel.

The Forum will witness the 4th MAME YE (Young Entrepreneurs Associations from Europe, Africa & the Middle East) Meeting.

The two-days forum will present a platform for young Entrepreneurs and Businesspersons from all over Africa, Europe and Middle East to meet in Lebanon upon the invitation of their Lebanese counterpart, L.I.B.A.N, which is the sole national and international association that represents Leading Lebanese Young Entrepreneurs & Businesspersons in Lebanon and abroad.

This unique gathering is co-organized by UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization ),the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture in Lebanon, and General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in the Arab countries, with the active partnership of ESA ( Ecole Supérieure des Affaires ), IDAL (Investment & Development Authority of Lebanon), and support of ILE ( Institute of Leadership Excellence – MEPI Alumni ).

The forum aims to :
- open a channel of communication and networking between all participants from different sectors/countries,
- create B2B meetings,
- brainstorm among participants on contribution in socio-economic development and Corporate Social Responsibility
- provide an exciting opportunity for all young entrepreneurs to be mentored
- benefit from starting constructive debate with success stories
- to establish strong collaboration with the associations of young entrepreneurs in the target countries.
We look forward for your participation in this unprecedented gathering.

For more Details and Registration, please click here:
http://www.libanorg.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55%3Aregitsration-yeb-2011&catid=34%3Ayeb2011&Itemid=43

Also note that there is a registration fee (non refundable) for the event (150 USD).

Dévastation et Rédemption – Récits d’Apparitions de la Vierge Marie au Liban (1960-2005)

Posted on August 26, 2011 by youmny

Écrivain à L’Orient Le Jour, Fady Noun publie son livre “Dévastation et Rédemption” par l'USJ (Université St Joseph). Le Livre est tellement marquant que je ne saurai l’expliquer ou le critiquer. Pour garder mon objectivité je vous laisse en juger en rapportant quelques extraits. Que vous soyez croyant ou pas, je suis sûre que le texte ne vous laissera pas indifférents.
Le Pape Jean Paul II et le Liban

Le Pape a œuvré pour sauver le Liban, et le Liban a prié pour sauver le Pape.

“Priez, et faites prier pour le Liban” – le pape Jean Paul II

Dés son élection en 1978, Jean Paul II propulse le Liban au premier plan, et œuvre pour son unité. Derrière cette motivation, une histoire touchante :

Sous l’incitation de Gilberte Doummar, le pape explique à Stéphane Vilkanovitch: Quand en 1978, après son élection, Jean Paul II sort au balcon pour saluer la foule sur la place Saint Pierre, malgré l’interdiction des bannières, il en voit une qui se lève, «Saint-Père, sauvez le Liban». A la fin de la célébration, il rentra et s’agenouilla devant l’Eucharistie, et demanda à Jésus, de lui donner «assez de vie pour sauver le Liban”.
Un évêque “vêtu de blanc” (le pape disaient les voyants) […], tombe à terre “comme mort sous les coups d’une arme à feu” – Troisième Secret de Fatima

Des mois avant l’attentat, Sœur Mathilde Riachi, envoi un message d’avertissement au pape à travers le patriarche, qui prend l’avertissement à la légère mais avertit, quand même, le nonce apostolique, qui sourit, mais transmet, de même, l’avertissement au Vatican. Au Liban, Sœur Mathilde incite les gens à prier pour le pape, “le pape est en danger, priez pour lui” leur disait-elle.

En 1981, l’attentat a eu lieu, le Pape s’en sort vivant, par une providence divine, “la main de la Vierge a dévié la balle” dit-il.

Mathilde Riachi: Ministère Prophétique

La Mission

“Tu tiens entre les mains un message “rissala” au monde” lui dit la Sainte Vierge dans sa première apparition, alors que Mathilde Riachi n’avait que 7ans.

A l’église Saint-Georges des Grecs Orthodoxes sur la place de l’étoile et à l’église voisine de Saint-Georges des maronites, Mathilde Riachi reçoit la même vision : “au moment de l’offertoire, elle voit dans un ravissement inexprimable, l’enfant Jésus à la place du pain, des gouttes de sang, ou des fils lumineux, relient l’offrande au calice et aux personnes qui communient.” La Sainte Vierge lui explique ces visions: “mes enfants morcelles mon fils, bien que sa grâce est la même dans toutes les églises. Je souhaite que tu œuvres à l’unité de l’église.”

“Comment le ferais-je alors que je ne sais ni lire ni écrire?”

Fille Presque illettrée, ne sachant ni lire ni écrire, Mathilde Riachi recevra des messages en différentes langues qu’elle prononce syllabe par syllabe. Elle se jettera à la rencontre des plus grands représentants religieux et politiques du pays, “aux présidents de la république, au commandant en chef de l’armée, le général Iskandar Ghanem, à la gendarmerie, à la sûreté générale […] à Camille Chamoun, à Sleiman Frangie, à Raymond Edde, à Pierre Gemayel” pour les avertir des dangers que le Liban cours avant qu’ils s’accomplissent, sous la demande de la Sainte Vierge. Elle parcours le territoire Libanais, en priant le rosaire du matin au soir, visitant ces églises et en enfonçant des croix blanches bénites par un prêtre aux creux des mures des églises. Pour protéger le Liban, elle fait jeter de l’eau bénite sur les maisons par l’intermédiaire d’un hélicoptère, même au dessus de la mer, à en arriver jusqu’à chypre.

“Comment! Le Liban est en danger et tu dors?” la réveille un soir la Sainte Vierge. Elle ira jusqu’à prier vingt trois heures par jour, ne dormant qu’une heure. A l’exemple de Jésus Christ, Sœur Mathilde accomplis même un jeune de 40 jours sans rien manger ni boire, pour le salut du Liban. Des dons innombrables qu’elle reçoit, Fady Noun cite celle de la guérison, de la prophétie, des langues, entre autres.

Entre Faits et Foi

“La Vierge saigne pour le Liban”
- Mgr Maximos Salloun

Dans Dévastation et Rédemption, Fady Noun, prend bien soin de relater les apparitions de la Vierge Marie qui ont eu lieu au Liban entre 1960 et 2005. Il cite entre autres: la Vierge qui tourne à Harissa en 1967, et 1989, les apparitions mariales au dessus de l’église Saint Pierre et Paul des Syriaques Orthodoxes à Mousseitbe en 1970, le miracle de Rmeich en 1983, le miracle de Bechouate en 1975-76 et 2004. Son récit retrace une à une ces apparitions en les relatant à la situation politique de leur époque. Il explique «une relation entre le pêchée de l’homme et ses conséquences dans l’histoire ».
Notre Dame du Liban

Mathilde Riachi note l’importance que tiens le Liban aux yeux de la Sainte Vierge “Il existe des liens privilégiés entre Notre-Dame et le Liban, assure-t-elle. Elle attribue ces paroles à Notre-Dame “le Liban m’appartiens, et à personne d’autre” (loubnan melki, mish laghayri) ou encore “ma patrie, le Liban” (watani loubnan).”

Des Prophéties en Cours

“L’histoire du monde est inséparable de l’histoire du salut”
- André Frossard

Mathilde Riachi expose dans la Bible, au sujet du Liban: Zacharie Chapitre 11 “Ouvre tes portes, Liban, et que le feu dévore tes cèdres!” mais encore: Isaïe Chapitre 12 “Tu diras, ce jour-la; Je te rends grâce, Yahvé, tu étais en colère contre moi, mais ta colère s’est calmée et tu m’as consolé!”

De la guerre au Liban, Mathilde Riachi a affirmée: “elle (Notre Dame) m’a dit que la guerre au Liban commencera par être confessionnelle, qu’elle revêtira ensuite une dimension régionale et finira comme un conflit mondiale. Comment? Je l’ignore. C’est le monde entier qui sera impliqué. Ses apparitions se multiplieront aux quatre coins du monde, comme autant d’avertissements, pour que le plus grand nombre d’êtres humains soient sauvés, avant le grand coup.”

Mathilde Riachi a toujours eu le sentiment que le Liban se relèvera mais que ce triomphe dépend en grande partie de l’unité et de la repentance des chrétiens. “Le chanteur populaire Wadih el Safi se rappelle avoir entendu Mathilde lui dire: “N’aie pas peur pour le Liban. Toute main qui aura coupé ne fut-ce qu’une tige verte au Liban sera coupée”.

http://thecubelb.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/devastation-et-redemption-%E2%80%93-recits-d%E2%80%99apparitions-de-la-vierge-marie-au-liban-1960-2005 

To view the video, click on the link below:

http://www.mtv.com.lb/Kitab/Fady_Noun?type=1&filter=0

Kitab:
Kitab is a book review segment in which books and authors are discussed. Whether with a special guest or without, the main point is always the book. Famous writers in the three languages (Arabic, French and English) are received to discuss their biography, their writing style and their latest works. Also, new book releases are discussed and reviewed by our two hosts, who are both also published writers.

 

Lebanon, Make Way for a Faster Internet Connection!

It seems that the days of the snail like internet connection that has plagued Lebanon are soon to be over. We’ve had our share of nail nibbling, nervous lip biting, and that weird habit of self-induced hair pulling whenever the internet slowed down, and now, the odd habits that we’ve developed will come to an end! Lebanese students, entrepreneurs, business persons, companies, investors, poets, artists, housewives and ‘housebands’ are soon to reap the benefits of fast research, communication, and time management.

That’s great news for almost everyone out there.

Lebanon’s fastest internet connection which used to be 1 Mb/s will now be the slowest, for a much cheaper price. Here’s the preliminary price list of Ogero and other internet connection providers. Ogero is selling at a slightly higher price though. We do not know if they’re providing extra services yet.

Posted by Pascale M. under News & Trends http://mizal.la/qVel33

Lebanon bans smoking in public places

August 17, 2011 01:45 PM
The Daily Star

BEIRUT: Lebanon's Parliament Wednesday endorsed a law banning smoking in all enclosed public places, including restaurants, bars, cafes and offices.

The law was presented for vote with an amendment that would see owners of businesses fined if they fail to prevent their costumers smoking, and will also fine individuals who violate the ban.

Under the new law tobacco advertising and promotion will be illegal, including billboards, magazine advertisements and tobacco company sponsorship of events and concerts. The bill also calls for a pictorial warning of the dangers of smoking covering 40 percent of each pack.

The law also makes smoking onboard planes illegal.

Hotels are allowed to set aside 10 to 20 percent of their room for smokers.

Companies now have a set period in which to implement the new policies.

Lebanon has been obligated to pass tobacco control legislation since the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which the country signed, entered into force in 2005

Also set to be considered Wednesday is a draft law which would equalize marriage discounts for working men and women who pay income tax. Currently, married women receive less of a discount on their income tax than married men.

A draft law which would give compensation to ex-detainees of Syrian prisons is also on the table, as is legislation that would bump up the employment status and pay grade of employees and retirees of the Ministry of Telecommunications.

(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

"Peinture Dans la Nature" in St. Stephano Resort - Batroun

Latifa-Art, the leader in Lebanon in Bringing Traditions Into Life, is organizing its first Artistic Excursion to the North of Lebanon on August 18th, 2011.

Join us to discover new passions; Where Art meets History and Leisure

Program
8:30 AM meeting in the public parking coming from DT Next to Campomatic Company, Under the Pedestrian Passengers
9:30 AM: Arrival to the St. Stephano Resort and Settlement in the nature under the palm trees facing the sea
10 - 11:30 AM Starting the Painting Session (optional subject: A view of the nature with acrylic colors)
11:30 - 11:45 AM Coffee Break
11:45 - 1:15 PM Continuing the Session
1:15 - 2:15 PM Lunch (Lebanese Cuisine)
2:15 - 6:15 PM Swimming and a tour with a professional guide in the Souks of Batroun to discover the Old Sites of the village.

Price: 75$ / Person. Including Transportation, Painting Session, Coffee Break, Lunch, Access to the Resort, Canvas painting and a Touristic Tour. (Special Price for 5 people & more)

Bring with you: A Hat, Swimming Suit, Towel, Sun Protection and Jogging Shoes.

For Reservation call: +961 3 863158 (places are limited)

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=201751176546768

Orange House Project

Eco Lodge - Bed & Breakfast / Sea Turtle Conservation

For millennia, sea turtles have swum ashore every summer to lay their eggs on beaches in what is now southern Lebanon. After incubation, the hatchlings race across the sand from their nests to the sea at night. A chance encounter with a sea turtle one night in 1999 inspired Mona Khalil to create the conservation project at Mansouri and Kolaila that is unique in Lebanon. Mona, then living in the Netherlands, had returned to Lebanon to visit her family’s beachfront farm. One moonless night, she was amazed to spy a green turtle laying eggs on the beach – and when she discovered that turtles were in danger of vanishing from Lebanon, she immediately knew what she would do when she came back to live there. In 2000, just after Israel withdrew its troops from south Lebanon, Mona and her assistant Habiba began restoring the farmhouse, researching turtles and consulting experts on how they could protect them. This turned out to be labour-intensive – keeping the beach clean, daily monitoring to gather data during the nesting season from May to September, relocating nests higher up the beach if they were threatened by agriculture runoff or sea flooding and installing metal grids to protect them from predators. “We were spending a lot of money on the sea turtle project and no one was helping us, so we decided to rent out a room,” Mona recalls. That was the beginning of the Orange House bed-and-breakfast, an eco-tourism venture that helps fund the project.In 2006, Israel’s war in Lebanon briefly forced Mona & Habiba to leave the farmhouse, which was damaged two days later by an Israeli bomb. But the 34-day conflict did not deter the turtles, which laid 79 nests that summer, the highest number since the project began. The war had kept people off the beach, leaving the turtles undisturbed. But it also brought a new predator in the shape of foxes, apparently driven from the hills by intense shelling. More than two years later, they are still around, having become more adept at raiding nests than the dogs that were previously the main threat. Illegal dynamite fishing near the shore and rubbish on the beach also endanger the turtles. Human activity and lights during the night on the beach can prompt females to drop their eggs instead in the water, where they are doomed. Mona and her assistant try hard to spread ecological awareness among local people and visitors in a conflict-torn country where environmental issues have had a low priority.

Early every morning is when we go on rubbish patrol along the beach, putting litter and washed-up trash into bags that will later be removed by the municipality. Turtles and other marine life on the Lebanese coast are threatened by pollution that includes plastic bags, hospital waste, factory chemicals and fertiliser run-off from farms. Plastic bags in the water can suffocate turtles, which mistake them for jelly fish and try to eat them.During the nesting season, we also look for tracks of turtles and their efforts to camouflage their nests. Once we find the eggs, which need 45 to 60 days to incubate, we remove some sand and lay a one square metre metal grid over them, anchored with iron hooks. This keeps out dogs and foxes, but leaves holes big enough for hatchlings to get out. Sometimes we relocate the nests further up the beach if they are in danger of flooding from the sea or if they are too shallow.To get a clear picture of how sea turtles behave during the nesting season and what their needs and preferences are, we collect scientific data, which can also be fed, into bigger surveys on Mediterranean Sea turtles. We count the nests and measure how far each one is from the sea and from the nearest vegetation. We measure the size and weight of sample eggs, which are about as big as ping-pong balls. We record how many nests are raided before the eggs hatch – and try to rescue any survivors.
Email: orangehouseproject@gmail.com
Phone: +961 7 320063
Website: http://orangehouseproject.com/

Join Orange House Project on Facebook and help spread the word: https://www.facebook.com/OrangeHouseProject

World Kitchen Goes to Beirut, Part II

World Kitchen

Patrick Drake

World Kitchen Goes to Beirut, Part II

Wed Jul 20, 2011

Trends always seem to follow a similar life cycle. Born out of innovation they take hold with the early adopters and enjoy a brief moment in the sun before the mass market gets hold of them and they inexorably lose their appeal. "What's he going on about this time?" you think to yourself. Answer: Fusion food.

The phrase used to have a real buzz back in the 90s with the likes of Asia de Cuba blurring national boundaries to expand our culinary horizons, but pretty soon the hoi polloi got in on the act. Chinese restaurants wanting to keep their current clientèle but also cash in on the popularity of Thai food suddenly became 'Pan-Asian,' whilst the local tandoori started to put the likes of spaghetti with curry sauce on the menu. McDonalds even has a McAloo Tiki (TM).

It was with this slight prejudice in mind that I was at first skeptical about the idea of Lebanese fusion food. Having indulged myself on the classics for a couple of days, I was fairly convinced that Beirut had a solid formula not to be tampered with, but then I went to Eau de Vie. Sitting atop the Phoenicia Hotel, Eau de Vie is presided over by internationally acclaimed head chef Rabih Fouany, who has been combining local ingredients with European influences to produce unique results. Foods like kishik and frikeh would normally be the staples of a Lebanese village diet, so their inclusion in the likes of risotto and velouté was a real eye-opener. For those who thought Lebanese food was all about the 3 am post-club shawarma, it's time to experience the Nouvelle Vague ...

From the city, my next stop was to investigate a quiet oenological revolution in the Bekaa Valley. To the uninitiated, it may come as a surprise to know that Lebanon is producing some seriously respectable wines. So, in the name of thorough research, I set up a tasting. The vineyards themselves are a venerable 150 years old but the wine making tradition of Lebanon goes back as much as 5000 years. I spent an afternoon at Chateau Ksara with Rania Chammas, whose knowledge was as profound as her generous hospitality. Needless to say my sore head the next day bore testament to this and I would recommend you spend an afternoon there.

Next time on World Kitchen I'll be checking out a side of Lebanese food which holds a particularly fond place in our hearts ... the post party munchies!

For Patrick's other entries, go to his blog homepage.

Photo by Emma Smart

Now on Facebook!

You can now follow this blog "My Beloved Lebanon" on facebook by liking our facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Beloved-Lebanon/141045125970679

Do not forget to suggest the page to your friends! :)
Best,
J.

THINK PINK proudly presents CAFE DEL MAR

THINK PINK proudly presents CAFE DEL MAR... July 4, 8pm @ SKYBAR, Beirut...

Join the fight against Breast Cancer and be with us when we reach $500 000 total proceeds generated for awareness, prevention and treatment!

Lots of giveaways + raffle prizes collectively worth over $75 000...

Tables sold out but $100 Open Bar Tickets available at all Virgin branches!

EARLY DETECTION CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE!!!

www.thinkpinkcharity.com

Please email karim@jabadogroup.com if you're interested in making donations. Money this year is going to: 70% May Jallad Foundation (treatment), 15% Faireface Foundation (awareness), 10% Bras for a Cause (awareness), 10% Lebanese Breast Cancer Foundation (awareness), 2.5% Marsa Health Clinic (awareness)....

THANK YOU!

World Kitchen Goes to Beirut, Part 1

World Kitchen
Patrick Drake
World Kitchen Goes to Beirut, Part 1

Published: Tue May 24, 2011

It's always slightly disconcerting when you get off a plane and find airport security waiting and asking your name. I was briefly concerned that my first trip to Beirut was going to be spent in a jail cell, but I soon realised that my hotel had arranged for a personal escort to arrivals.

Wondering which Hollywood celebrity I'd been mistaken for, I decided to enjoy the moment as the immigration queue parted like the Red Sea and an incredible trip began ...

To the uninitiated (or those initiated by CNN), you'd be forgiven for thinking that Beirut was a rather troubled city, though anyone who reads the likes of Tatler and GQ know it as an emerging force in the world of all things epicurean. Inspired by a love for Lebanese food, I decided a four-day trip was in order, a gustatory reconnaissance mission with its beginning in traditional cuisine.

For authentic insight into a country's cuisine, a great place to start is the local farmer's market. In Beirut, Souk el Tayeb doesn't disappoint. I was fortunate enough to meet the organiser of the market, Kamal Mouzawak, and quickly realised that this market goes way beyond a simple amalgam of local produce. For Kamal, the market is practically a socio-political statement that people from myriad backgrounds—religious, political, and idealistic—can be united through a common love of all things edible. Each week all sorts of lively characters travel from the four small corners of Lebanon to sell their wares, and the sense of community was almost tangible. But let's talk food.

Lebanon has been a cultural melting pot for a long time, owing in no small part to occupation by the Ottoman Turks and later the French. Enlisting the help of Chef Malek from the prestigious Phoenicia Hotel (it's amazing the doors ASW can open), my Lebanese food vocabulary grew quickly as we ploughed our way through the incredible mezze in the market. Battata Harra, Fatayer, Saj ... you name it I ate it. When the time came to cook lunch, I wasn't sure I could take much more (but, of course, I did).

The thing I love about Lebanese people is the matter-of-fact way they describe their cuisine as the best in the Middle East, like a fact not up for discussion. Chef Malek is more accustomed to catering to the hundreds of guests from various backgrounds that walk through the doors of his restaurant, Mosaic, but he took time out to show me some of the basics.

This week we'll cover a couple of simple, familiar dishes that you might not know how to create yourself: Kibbeh and Fattoush. In my next installment of World Kitchen, we'll check out one of Beirut's top chefs and take an entirely modern look at local cusine. Yalla!




For Patrick's other entries, go to his blog homepage.
Photo by Emma Smart

Chocol'art for Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL)

At the intersection of the sweet addiction inspired by cocoa, the warm fulfillment of charity work, and the radiant promise held in innocent children comes a new concept in a socially-responsible excuse to party, Chocol’art!

Chocol’art’s kick-off will take place in Beirut early summer 2011, where everyone will join forces with SPLONGE to raise funds for the Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL).

Chocolate caterers, fashion designers, musicians and artists will be invited to create spontaneous and unique works during the event, all inspired by and related to the theme of chocolate. In addition, all guests attending will be encouraged to contribute funds or art related supplies that can then be re-distributed to the children at CCCL.

Event Date: Thursday, June 16, 2011
Event time: Starting 7:00 pm
Venue: Mouawad Palace Gardens (Downtown Beirut)
Ticket Price: $75 (Drinks, bites, lots of chocolate & art!)
Ticket Info: +961 70 850500

CATERING

Crepaway
Lindt
Le Talleyrand
The Cupcakery
Cocoa & Co.
Vermicelle
C Black Chocolate
Sugarush
Metis
Club Grappe

PERFORMANCE

Bands: PLUGGED (Soft rock) & FAREEQ EL ATRASH (Hip Hop)
DJs: GUNTHER & STAMINA , PHIL and MASS

Hosted by the voice of Chocol'art maDJam

Live Graffiti show by ASHEKMAN

Live Painting by DIANE AYOUB

Visuals by KAA

ART

Anthony Rahayel (b-lebanon.com)
Roula Ayoub
Adriana El Hajj
Ceramics 'N' More
Wissam Koleilat
Blessing
Dimpill
Christian Ghammachi
Lush
Al-Khayyat Al-Saghir

FASHION

Walk in Closet
Nadine Zeni
Moe K
Poupee Couture
Carla Line
Purrl
Zeta
Mojo

MEDIA

BeirutNightLife.com
TimeOut Beirut
Beirut.com
PingDubai.com
Sayidaty Magazine
Elegante Magazine
DoubleU
achtART.com
ScoopCity.com
VTR Beirut

PARTNERS

Aerial7
BankMed
Integrity Media & Film
SPLONGE
Karaky Printing Press
Good Karma
Effects
CKA