Climate change threatens Lebanon's legendary cedars

BAROUK, Lebanon's majestic cedar trees have withstood the test of time for centuries but climate change is threatening the country's most treasured symbol.

Used by various civilisations throughout history for their strong and durable wood, Lebanon's cedars are now on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's "Red List" as a "heavily threatened" species.

Local experts and environmentalists warn that global warming could have a negative impact on the cedars.

"Enough talking about the need to preserve the cedars, it's time for action. We must preserve the trees now," said Nizar Hani, scientific coordinator of the Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve in the mountainous Shouf area southeast of Beirut.

"All indications are that if the current climatic changes continue, the cedars could be in danger."

Lebanon's largest reserve, where 25 percent of the country's 2,000 hectares (nearly 5,000 acres) of cedar trees are located, was established in 1996, stretching from Dahr al-Baidar in the north to Niha Mountain in the south.

Some of the reserve's cedar trees, which belong to the pine family and have needle-like leaves bearing seeds in scaled clusters, are estimated to be 2000 years old.

"The melting of snow on mountains as a result of climate change would lead to the disappearance of the cedars in Lebanon," said Wael Hmaidan, executive director of the League of Independent Activists, or IndyAct, a non-governmental organisation which focuses on environmental issues.

"We need to tackle climate change and limit its effects before it's too late."

Snow is a must for the tall evergreen cedars, which have a natural range from 1,200 to 1,800 metres (from 4,000 to 5,900 feet) above sea level. Warmer temperatures would push the trees higher up in order to grow and develop.

"If there is no combination of rain, snow and frost for several consecutive days, the seeds of the cedar won't be disseminated. We also need cold treatment for the seeds to be able to germinate," said Fady Asmar, a consultant and expert in Mediterranean forests.

"They also need summer mist, which compensates for water needs. Any change in these conditions for several consecutive years might eventually lead to the death of trees."

Lebanon's cedars were heavily deforested for thousands of years, and the remaining trees are now kept in protected areas.

Deforestation accounts for around a fifth of global emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases.

It is said the Phoenicians used the tree for building trade and military ships, as well as houses and temples, while their resin was key to the ancient Egyptians for mummification.

It is also believed that King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem was built from Lebanon's cedars, which were designated as the dwelling of the gods in the Sumerian epic of Gilgamesh. Three other species of cedar exist in Turkey, Cyprus, Morocco and Algeria as well as Afghanistan and India.

"The rainy season was bad this year ... We can't easily control climate conditions," said Hani.

Drought was blamed for the infestation of a wood wasp called Cephalcia Tannourinensis that ravaged cedars in Tannourin village in northern Lebanon several years ago.

"This (wasp) lives with the cedars in the same environment. But warm weather and rising temperatures have extended its life cycle from once a year to three times a year, leading to the problem of Tannourin," said Hani.

"Such pests become very active when temperatures increase."

While Hmaidan warned that global warming could "transform Lebanon into a desert," Asmar said the effects of climate change in the long run can not yet be measured.

"Unfortunately, Arab countries are not exerting enough efforts like the rest of the world to face climate challenges," Hmaidan said.

"They are not considering their long-term interests and do not realise the dangers of climate change ... which might transform Lebanon into a desert."

However, Asmar said there was not enough data available to sound the death knell of the trees at this time.

"The changes are not obvious yet," he said. "The trees here could adapt to the new conditions."

In Lebanon, the majestic tree is a symbol of the country's identity, and it stand proudly in the centre of the national flag.

It is also the symbol of a number of political parties such as the Christian groups, the Phalange and Lebanese Forces.

"The cedars are an integral part of our culture and heritage," Hani said. "And we are fighting to preserve them through reforestation, by building water reservoirs and by promoting public awareness."

Hani, whose reserve works under the umbrella of the environment ministry and gets support from several local, regional and international agencies, said Druze leader Walid Jumblatt has played a leading role in helping preserve the trees.

"He has provided political, financial and moral support," Hani said.

Residents of the Shouf region, a Druze stronghold, said that during Lebanon's devastating 1975-1990 civil war, Jumblatt, who chairs the Shouf Cedar Society, built sand ditches and planted landmines around the cedar forest in the area to protect it.

"Our only message right now as far as the cedars are concerned is preservation, preservation and more preservation," Hani said. "These trees could face extinction unless we quickly address the problem of climate change."

The Fifa World Cup

The FIFA World Cup (also called the Football World Cup, the Soccer World Cup, or simply the World Cup) is an international association football competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946 when it was not contested because of the Second World War.

The current format of the tournament involves 32 teams competing for the title at venues within the host nation(s) over a period of about a month – this phase is often called the World Cup Finals. A qualification phase, which currently takes place over the preceding three years, is used to determine which teams qualify for the tournament together with the host nation(s).

During the 18 tournaments that have been held, seven national teams have won the title. Brazil have won the World Cup a record five times, and they are the only team to have played in every tournament. Italy, the current champions, have won four titles, and Germany are next with three titles. The other former champions are Uruguay, winners of the inaugural tournament, and Argentina, with two titles each, and England and France, with one title each.

History

The World Cup is the world's most widely viewed sporting event; an estimated 715.1 million people watched the final match of the 2006 World Cup held in Germany.^[1] The current World Cup is being held in South Africa, between 11 June and 11 July 2010, and the 2014 World Cup will be held in Brazil.

From 1930 to 1970, the Jules Rimet Trophy was awarded to the World Cup winner. It was originally simply known as the World Cup or Coupe du Monde, but in 1946 it was renamed after the FIFA president Jules Rimet who set up the first tournament. In 1970, Brazil's third victory in the tournament entitled them to keep the trophy permanently. However, the trophy was stolen in 1983, and has never been recovered, apparently melted down by the thieves.

After 1970, a new trophy, known as the FIFA World Cup Trophy, was designed. The experts of FIFA, coming from seven different countries, evaluated the 53 presented models, finally opting for the work of the Italian designer Silvio Gazzaniga. The new trophy is 36 cm (14.2 in) high, made of solid 18 carat (75%) gold and weighs 6.175 kg (13.6 lb). The base contains two layers of semi-precious malachite while the bottom side of the trophy bears the engraved year and name of each FIFA World Cup winner since 1974. The description of the trophy by Gazzaniga was: "The lines spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world. From the remarkable dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture rise the figures of two athletes at the stirring moment of victory."

This new trophy is not awarded to the winning nation permanently. World Cup winners retain the trophy until the next tournament and are awarded a gold-plated replica rather than the solid gold original.

This year the world cup tournament is being held in South Africa. The tournament started in June the 11^th and it will end in july the 11^th.

The Lebanese President Michel Suleiman

General Michel Sleiman took command of the Lebanese Armed Forces on December 21st 1998. He was born on November 21st 1948 in the town of Amchit - Caza of Jbeil.
He graduated from the Military Academy as 2nd Lieutenant 1970. General Sleiman holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politic and Administrative Sciences from the Lebanese University.

During his military service, he progressed from an infantry Platoon Leader to a Battalion Commander, and then assumed the position of a trainer in the Military Academy and in the Non Commissioned Officers’ School. From December 4th 1990 until August 24th 1991 he was appointed as the Chief of the Intelligence Branch of Mount Lebanon. On August 25th 1991 he was reassigned to the post of the Army Staff Secretary-General until June 10th 1993. Then, he became the Commander of the 11th infantry brigade from June 6th 1993 until January 15th 1996, a period that witnessed violent confrontations with Israeli enemy on the front side of the regions of West Bekaa and South Lebanon. On January 15th 1996 he was appointed as Commander of the 6th infantry brigade and remained in this post until December 21st 1998 when he was nominated as the Armed Forces Commander.

Accomplishments — Protected mass anti-Syria demonstrations and counter-protests; squashed sectarian violence; deployed army in Hezbollah strongholds of southern Lebanon for first time in decades; crushed rebellion by Islamic extremists in northern Lebanon.

He is the 12th and current commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). He succeeded Emile Lahoud after he was elected as the President of Lebanon.

While serving in the Lebanese army, President Michel Suleiman has won the following medals.

* National Order of the Cedar, knight grade and grand cordon grade - Lebanese Order of Merit, 3rd, 2nd and 1st grades - Decoration of Military Pride, silver grade - Medal of War - Decoration of Military Valor, silver grade - Decoration of the National Unity - Decoration of the Dawn of the South - Syrian Order of Merit, Grade of Excellence - Certificate of Honor of the Arab Union - Decoration of Arab Union for Military Sports, 2nd degree (commander) - President of Ukrainian Republic. The Defense ministry of the Republic of Russian Federation in 2007

* Military Medal - Internal Security forces’ Medal - General Security Medal - State security Medal - Commemorative Medal of Conferences for the year 2002.

* Citations of the Armed Forces Commander, 4 times - Felicitations of the Armed Forces Commander, 18 times - Felicitations of the Brigade Commander, once.

Rima Fakih The Lebanese Miss USA

On September 19th, Lebanese American Rima Fakih made history when she became the newest titleholder of Miss Michigan USA. She is the first Arab American to hold such a title. Judges selected Fakih amongst a group of 40 competitors based on a series of three major categories: personal interview, swimsuit/fitness, and evening gown.

As the winner, she will receive $100,000 in scholarships and prizes, including the opportunity to complete a master's degree at some of America's finest universities. Fakih, a Dearborn native, previously attained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 2008, with a double major in Economics and Business Management.

No stranger to beauty pageants, Fakih most recently held the title of Miss Lebanon USA in which she made numerous appearances at Arabic community events. Now as Miss Michigan, Fakih will embark on an even larger adventure. In addition to traveling around the state to show her support to various charity causes, she will act as a role model for young women, speaking about the importance of self confidence, health awareness, and education.

Fakih, a Lebanese immigrant, told pageant organizers her family celebrates both Muslim and Christian faiths. She moved to the United States as a baby and was raised in New York, where she attended a Catholic school. Her family moved to Michigan in 2003.

Fakih told reporters she sold her car after graduating college in Michigan to help pay for her run in the Miss Michigan USA pageant.

Fakih replaces Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton and won a spot representing the United States this summer in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant. She also gets a one-year lease in a New York apartment with living expenses, an undisclosed salary, and various health, professional and beauty services.

Fakih will represent the state at the Miss USA pageant on April 18th, 2010 at the Planet Hollywood resort in Las Vegas. It has been 16 years since Michigan last saw their representative

ascend to the highly coveted Miss USA title. To say the least, the state is thirsty for a win. And what more,

Lebanese Politicians mark 35th anniversary of civil war outbreak in a soccer game.

BEIRUT - Rival Lebanese politicians took their disputes to the playing fields Tuesday with a friendly soccer match to mark the 35th anniversary of the outbreak of the country's 1975-90 civil war.

There were no spectators in the stadium, however, because of a two-year old regulation prohibiting audiences at soccer stadiums following incidents of sectarian violence during games.

"We are one team" was the slogan for the 30-minute match played by ministers and legislators and attended by the Lebanese president.

On April 13, 1975, an ambush by Christian gunmen of a busload of Palestinians sparked a civil war that lasted 15 years, killed 150,000 people and caused $25 billion in damage.

Almost two decades after war ended, the country enjoys a precarious peace but this small Mediterranean nation, home to 18 religious sects, is still sharply split along sectarian and political lines with occasional outbreaks of sectarian violence.

A fragile national unity government headed by pro-Western Prime Minister Saad Hariri was formed in November which includes politicians from the Syria and Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Marking the war's anniversary Tuesday, lawmakers from the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah group and their allies played alongside politicians in the Western-backed parliamentary majority.

"The message is that sports can unite the Lebanese, and this is a very important since politics unfortunately is not uniting them," lawmaker Sami Gemayel of the right-wing Christian Phalange Party told The Associated Press.

The friendly match was advertised in the media through a TV clip showing politicians - each wearing a T-shirt the colour of the political party they represent - lined up on a soccer field singing the national anthem in unison.

However at Tuesday's game, the politicians were split into two teams, one wearing red and the other wearing white, the colours of the Lebanese flag, with the words "We are all one team" printed on the back.

The politicians high-fived, hugged and kissed following the game as they posed for pictures.

"I wish they would love each other as much in real life, instead of fighting all the time," said Rania Achkar, a 38-year-old woman who was watching it at home on TV. "It's a nice idea but they're just kidding themselves and us."

The game was broadcast live on local TV stations and was covered by local and international media. But the stadium was closed off to spectators, in line with regulations of the Lebanese Football Association to prevent violence.

For the last two years, soccer matches have been held without spectators because of violence in stadiums between Sunnis and Shiites supporting rival teams where sometimes injuries occurred.

"Today we are also sending a message of sportsmanship to sports fans in Lebanon. Everyone should accept the rules of the game," said Health Minister Mohammed Jawad Khalife who was taking part in the game.

The game was played at the Sports City in Beirut. The stadium served as a base for PLO fighters in the early 1970s and 1980s, until it was bombed out by Israel in 1982.

"Those dark days are never coming back," Hariri said.

The 40-year-old premier played throughout the game, jogging back and forth on the soccer field, but didn't score. Gemayel, 30, who was on Hariri's team, scored the game's only two goals.

"I feel great," a sweaty Hariri, wearing a red T-shirt and shorts, said grinning after the game.

Ali Ammar, one of two Hezbollah lawmakers taking part, said he had been fine-tuning his muscles and doing sprints for the past weeks in preparation.

"I hope that this good sportsmanship will reflect itself on politics as well," he said.

Gemayel, a vehement Hezbollah critic who often clashes verbally with members of the group, said he had "a positive feeling" playing with Hezbollah politicians.

"Sports is one thing and politics is another. At the world cup, countries that are at war play against each other. Why can't we?" he said.

Campaign to Preserve the Lebanese Language

First, some questions:
-Have you ever seen a Hollywood movie dubbed in Arabic?
-Did you ever solve a math problem in Arabic?
-Did you eat in an Italian restaurant where the entire menu is written in Arabic?

If you answered “no” to all of the questions above, you’re probably Lebanese. A “yes” answer on the other hand means that you could be Syrian, Egyptian, Jordanian or a holder of any other Arab nationality.

To people like Suzanne Talhouk, founder of a new Lebanese movement that seeks to preserve the Arabic language, this is a problem. Her frustrations are laid out in an Afp article entitled “in polyglot Lebanon, one language is falling behind: Arabic”

“Some of our youngsters are incapable of writing correctly in Arabic, and many university students we interviewed were not even able to recite the alphabet,” Talhouk told AFP.

To the extend that her campaign seeks to fight mediocrity, she could have a point: If you really want to speak and write proper Arabic, you have no excuse doing it half-heartedly. There is no shortage of places in Lebanon where you can learn good Arabic.

But if Ms. Talhouk seeks a government role to artificially “preserve” Arabic and frown at those who don’t speak it at home, we’ll have a problem.

Ms. Talhouk, like many who seek to protect languages all over the world (I’m looking at you France), has it backwards: It is not that people think it’s cool to speak French or English at home with their kids. It’s that they know that it will put their kids at an advantage when it comes to their education: All the centers of educational excellence in Lebanon are in English and French. Giving your children fluency at a very early age is the best way to secure them a good education.

You see, a language is not an end in itself, it’s a means to communication, education and development. If you want more people to speak Arabic, the best way is to have Arab breakthroughs in Science, technology and economics. If Facebook was invented by an Arab, “Facebook Arabic” will no longer be the insult Ms. Talhouk intended it to be.

There’s another reason why we shouldn’t lament the dilution of Arabic: The Lebanese have always had a complex relationship with their national identity. We have fought wars over which of our cultural ancestries is the dominant one, but we ended up concluding that we derive our richness from diversity itself, that we are Arabs and citizens of the world at the same time. In that context, the concept of a “mother tongue” becomes slightly obsolete.

We all know people of Lebanese ancestry who can’t speak a word of Arabic. Lebanon is a country with a huge diaspora: More people of Lebanese origin live outside of Lebanon than inside Lebanon. If they don’t speak Arabic, that doesn’t make them any less Lebanese. In an increasingly connected world, we should take pride in the fact that that we form that cliché bridge to the rest of the world.

Finally, I’ll leave you with a thought: This blog has always been about Lebanon and the Lebanese. Does the fact that it’s written in English make it any less authentic?

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Easter in Lebanon

Easter in Lebanon is celebrated by local Christian communities (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syriac Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syriac Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Coptic, Protestant). Christians make about 40% of Lebanese population.

Another important Easter preparation is the making of the maamoul. Maamoul are little cakes that are made with semolina and covered with icing sugar and filled with walnuts or dates, they are made during the last couple of weeks during Easter. Each member of each family prepares a different part of the cake such as decorating the cake tops, women preparing their own recipes for the dough, plus hundreds of cakes, which are then laid out on trays or white sheets. The next day after they have been prepared they are taken to the bakery to be cooked.

People go to church on Palm Sunday wearing new clothes or if they cannot afford this at least a new pair of shoes. A ceremony known as shanineh is held at the church. This celebration is a procession in which the children carrying candles are carried around the church on their parents' shoulders. The candles are decorated with ribbons and flowers.

People fast during Lent and on Good Friday nobody eats any meat or animal products.

During Lent every Friday evening a special church service is performed which re-enacts of the different stages of Christ's progress to Calvary. These services end on Good Friday, when the statue of Christ is taken down from the altar, placed in a coffin and taken around the church or even the surrounding neighborhood. The statue is left in the coffin during Easter Saturday and the church is in mourning until the Easter Mass held at midnight on Saturday or on Sunday morning.

It is traditional that on the afternoon of Easter Saturday people visit seven churches to be blessed at each. Some people place their dough outside in a tree on Saturday night, believing it will be blessed by Christ. On Sunday evening, they place small pieces of the dough in their other food containers, so that these will also become blessed.

Everybody goes to church at Easter, whether it is on Sunday morning or Saturday's Midnight Mass as it is considered more important at this time then at Christmastime.

Traditions associated with the festival survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in colored easter eggs, originally painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring, and used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts.

Easter Sunday all families hold a special lunch at which turkey or chicken stuffed with nuts is served with rice. The afternoon is spent visiting as many people as possible so they only visit people for a short time. Each household has the maamoul laid out on a big plate with other delicacies such as chick peas covered with sugar and sugared almonds, these also are offered to guests.

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