The Beirut Banyan

I share my thoughts on the 'Change' bloc fracture, democratic voting vs consensus, compromise vs absolutism & October 17's national-political pursuit overlayed with differing lists & districts. 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 p...

I share my thoughts on the 10-year marker of Wissam El-Hassan's assassination, joining his son Mazen El-Hassan in Martyrs Square where both of our fathers are buried side by side, heading to Gemmayze afterwards and untangling the political discussions that grew from there. Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon pa...

0:00 Intro 1:32 Cynthia Zarazir 26:08 Organization 45:18 Line 29 1:16:43 Baabda 1:42:48 Serail 1:48:34 Hezbollah 1:53:42 Social contract We're with Rawad Taha & Laury Haytayan for Episode 329 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/jvDheG_l1x8 We discuss all that is post-elections political terrain and also cover bank heists, the need for more October 17 supporters and groups to org...

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 em...

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...

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 surrou...

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/walkb...

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/w...

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' blo...

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, Ger...

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...

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. O...

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 b...

I share my thoughts on 'Change' MPs choosing not to vote for Nawaf Salam during prime-ministerial consultations, pragmatism vs. absolutism and Line 29, the downside to endless photo ops, fallout from Najat Aoun Saliba's comments regarding Nabih Berri's experience in parliament, and the inability to address policy concerns related to Iran's security dominion over Lebanon. Click to watch: https://yo...

0:00 Intro 0:28 Diaspora 3:19 Expectations 21:29 The three of us 29:18 Justice 36:03 Familiar terrain 47:47 Paternal duties 48:27 Trust 55:09 Failure 1:03:12 Mission 1:16:48 Nation We're with Paul & Tracy Naggear for Episode 318 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/D_cZTNKPwYk We discuss the diaspora vote, expectations for Sunday's parliamentary elections, and the mission that bo...

0:00 Intro 1:41 This time around 9:46 Policy 16:38 Earlier attempts 27:35 What can be done 35:39 Repetition 42:38 Current ambition 49:14 The Hariri name 58:14 Beirut 2 We're with Fouad Makhzoumi for Episode 317 of The Beirut Banyan. We compare this year's parliamentary elections with 2005 and 2009 and examine what can be done that is different to earlier attempts at reform. Our conversation includ...

0:00 Intro 5:19 2004 - 2005 11:50 Mar Mikhael Agreement 20:23 Sided opposition 27:29 Sectarianism 37:07 Fault 50:41 Protesters 1:02:24 Blast 1:08:54 Baabda 1:12:18 Iran's security in Lebanon We're with Alain Aoun for Episode 315 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/klKtZcfxk9Q We discuss the buildup to March 14, 2005, the political decisions taken in the aftermath of the Syrian a...

0:00 Intro 1:30 List formation 31:17 Reform 47:23 Fundamentally disagree 1:43:40 Economics 2:12:20 Post-elections We're with Mounir Doumani, Petra Samaha & Rayan Charara for Episode 314 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss the list formation process, why previous reform attempts failed and the program offered by Citizens in a State. Our conversation includes a look at post-civil war economics, post-el...

0:00 Intro 2:55 Sectarian anxiety 11:08 One particular figure 26:04 Voters in Beirut 36:35 Local issues 47:58 The message 1:03:11 Enter parliament 1:11:03 Expertise 1:24:22 A system for Lebanon We're with Iman Tabbara & Waddah Sadek for Episode 316 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss campaigning in Beirut 2 district, combating sectarian anxiety within the Sunni community and delivering the message of...

0:00 Intro 1:00 Personal intention 9:24 Municipal to national elections 20:44 National journey 34:43 Larger list 1:01:53 Day-to-day politics 1:15:31 The wall We're with Sarah Yassine for Episode 313 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/4tZTLxYRzYM We discuss the personal intentions for running for parliament, Madinati's journey from municipal to national elections, and why a larg...

0:00 Intro 0:58 Childhood 7:34 Enter parliament 12:47 Sovereignty 24:41 Pressure 29:25 Violence 43:02 Army figure 51:06 Baabda voters 57:00 Memories of my father We're with Khalil Helou for Episode 312 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/eOk2q_hr9Es We discuss his childhood pre-civil war, a well-established army turned political career, issues of sovereignty and foreign policy,...

0:00 Intro 2:38 Reluctance 10:49 Transition 24:38 Secularism 42:58 March 14 & March 8 57:10 On the ground 1:02:58 Judicial independence 1:10:38 The journey We're with Verena El Amil for Episode 311 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss reluctance and responsibility when it comes to running for parliament, the transition from student politics to national aspirations, and the journey set forward from Oct...

0:00 Intro 4:55 Memories 8:53 Politics today 13:03 Structural problem 23:24 Pursuit in parliament 30:30 Beyond the state 36:53 Independent 41:57 Generator industry 49:28 Waste burning 55:37 On the ground We're with Najat Aoun Saliba for Episode 310 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/BEsRNfDpCE0 We discuss early memories of Damour and pre-civil war Lebanon, political pursuit tod...

0:00 Intro 0:36 A success story 5:07 Parties & families 12:57 Unification 23:41 A path to parliament 36:41 Numbers 44:46 Zgharta 59:44 In parliament 1:11:15 Investigation stalled We're with Chaden El Daif for Episode 309 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/NAkzkKWOQoQ We discuss the Shamaluna coalition, its relative success compared to other October 17 electoral lists, and the d...

0:00 Intro 6:31 Limited 12:04 Earlier elections 23:47 Waste management 33:47 Initiative 43:09 Parliament 50:50 Decentralization 1:05:46 Third alternative We're with Ziad Abi Chaker for Episode 308 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/exiGOw5tPqI We discuss the difficult work necessary to tackle towards waste management, de facto decentralization emerging from the ongoing politica...