_THESE DAYS_ _LEBANON_SINCE_12_07_06_

"Je ne sais quoi écrire"

2008-10-28T03:15:00.000-07:00

Je ne sais quoi écrire, et nuit après nuit l'insomnie rédige les pages blanches de mes nuits
Un scenario, un roman, quelque chose, et si ce n'est a l'exception de ces quelques mots de ces quelques phrases lucides, mon imagination me dicte inlassablement mon ennui. Ma main lassée par tant d'inaction trace des débuts formatés, sans vie, des rues vides, des contrées impossibles aux habitants incomplets. Et des ronds de fumées
Acre blanche jaune fumée grise qui empuanti le ciel l'empli le déborde
Mais je m'en fous c’est a l'extérieur qu'elle déborde désagréable et froide et fine et grise inlassable lave use pourrit un flot continue un fond de baignoire un jetwash a défaut d'être seulement un carwash et toujours en bleu de travail gris. Si gris qu'elle en perd toute fantaisie, la ville, et de sérieux aussi à en voir ses statues mornes futiles monuments d'un art consensuel. Tant pis pour ces colonnes grises ces rues grises ces murs gris c'est mon humeur qui est grise moi, grise couleur de fumée, fumée que j'avale qui m'entoure que j'exhale qui m'étouffe c'est con mais cyclique. Rond comme la perfection rond comme un rond point rond comme un ballon vide une bulle de savon éphémère et fragile.

DANY

"My Other Eye"

2008-03-17T08:43:00.001-07:00

TALAR AGHBASHIAN

"Sans Titre"

2007-06-26T10:40:00.000-07:00

On pensait qu'on en avait terminé de cet ennemi tant hai par tous les arabes. Et bien non!!!

A vouloir détruire le Liban et sa soit disant "souveraineté" (sur qui, allez donc savoir), Israël s'est vu amplement satisfaite de cette mission auto-destructive que portent a coeur tous ces "grands de la politique".

Dégoûtée, lassée, ébahie, choquée, le mot n'existe pas ou reste a définir, pour décrire ce par quoi passe cette population ballottée dans ces 10452km2.

Le Liban est à mon sens personnel, une des boules souvenirs que l'on vend dans toute boutique touristique et que l'on agite frénétiquement pour que tombe quelques étoiles a notre plus grande joie.

Quelles peuvent bien être "ces mains" qui ne cessent de secouer cette boule libanaise au point de vouloir tester sa flexibilité. Avez-vous un jour essaye de la secouer avec cette curiosité de connaître le point de non retour?

Quant cesseront tous ces échanges de balles car même une partie de tennis se termine bien au bout de deux heures de jeu par pur épuisement?

Quant pourra-t-on enfin décider de nos vies personnelles avant tout.

Car ces "grands pachas" qui soit disant se disent protecteurs de nous autres petits en ce bas monde, ne se rendent compte de rien. Que savent-ils de nous? Savent-ils que ma soeur toute jeune bachelière attend ses résultats du bac avec appréhension; non pas peur de l'échec mais peur de devoir quitter ce pays si cher a son coeur et commencer une nouvelle vie dans un monde qui ne l'accepte qu'au prix d'un double effort. Savent-ils que nous désespérons de vouloir rester au Liban malgré les bombes, la peur et cette indécision politique si latente...Mais que savent-ils de notre vie qu'ils veulent à tout prix diriger et manipuler?!

Non ils ne savent rien. Ils ne savent rien de cette destruction lente et douloureuse de l'esprit humain. Ils ne savent rien et pour cause....Chacun a assure les siens que tout se passera bien pour eux dans leur second pays d'accueil et que rien au grand rien ne les affectera.

C'est sur une lassitude temporaire j'espère, que je te quitte.

A bientôt.

T.M

"Sans Titre"

2007-06-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

The photograph taken by me, a clean Lebanese flag is seen in front of a bombed out building in Beirut, that was demolished by the Israeli attacks in southern Beirut,
The photo was dated August 17 2006.

WAEL K

"Terrible bilan"

2006-09-30T04:56:00.000-07:00

LUC QUINTON

Découpage&collage

20/08/2006

"Sans Titre"

2006-09-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

Paris, le 10 Juillet, Air France, Avenue de l'Opéra, il est 13.40h.

Les queues, et la canicule même dans les bureaux. Au bout de trente minutes d'attente debout comme dans une boîte de sardines, un guichet se libère et je fais face à une femme impatiente et sèche, sûrement pressée d'aller déjeuner : « Madame, les avions pour Beyrouth sont pleins, c'est LA période des vacances, je n'ai plus UNE seule place, même en liste d'attente, jusqu'au 8 Août ! Alors si vous ne partez pas comme prévu ce dimanche, il vous faudra aussi payer 350¤ pour prolonger votre billet. Alors, qu'est-ce que vous décidez ? »

Trois semaines de plus, ou partir après-demain? Je flanche. Absente depuis deux mois, je n'en peux plus de vivre dans une valise et un sac de toilette. A mon âge, on a besoin de son chez-soi, de retrouver ses habitudes, la nuit je rêve de mon lit et même de ma penderie ! De plus, le prix de mon billet ne cesse de s'allonger. Et puis cette incertitude quant aux dates du retour. Je ne me vois pas rester à Paris jusqu'à la mi-août, avec la cherté de la vie ça va faire beaucoup. Merde, je calcule encore, moi qui hais les chiffres et les dates.

D'autre part, Paris maintenant c'est le bonheur. Il fait jour jusqu'à 11h du soir, tout le monde est dehors et c'est la pleine saison du Mondial, j'adore ! Alors, je reste. Tant pis, le Liban attendra. Le jardin, la maison, maman, seront toujours là, en Août comme en Septembre, en Octobre et en Novembre. C'est comme ça depuis des années, y a pas de raison que ça change.

En effet, y pas de raison que ça change. La guerre éclate pour nous le rappeler. La guerre, de nouveau.

Et je ne peux plus rentrer chez moi.

Une fois de plus. Le pays par terre et moi dehors, à la porte. Ce Liban que j'ai passé ma vie à fuir, dès qu'il est menacé, il redevient mon élément vital absolu. Ma mère, mon arbre, ma maison. Je veux être avec eux et je ne peux pas. J'ai besoin de vivre avec eux, d'aider, de ramasser, de balayer, de rire, de pleurer, avec eux. Au lieu de seule ici à Paris devant la télévision. Cette télé qui s'étale sans fin sur la canicule ambiante - immense catastrophe ! - et des quelques vieillards morts de mort naturelle après tout. S'ensuivent des bulletins-météo détaillés, longuissimes, ridicules, et une pléthore d'intervenants, médecins, aides-soignants, volontaires et tout, les gestes à faire, l'évidence même, s'asperger, boire, se reposer. Tout pour ne pas mourir ! Je crois rêver.

On passe enfin à la guerre. Les mêmes images épouvantables qu'il y a trente ans défilent en boucle - corps déchiquetés, immeubles éventrés, carcasses fumantes partout - et un monde incapable de stopper cette folie. Un problème irrésolu depuis trop longtemps, sous couvert de compromis douteux, a fini par pourrir, et à créer ce monstre tentaculaire, insidieux qui a tout pénétré, tout envahi, et qui nous menace tous aujourd'hui. L'extrémisme généralisé et la haine bien ancrée dans le coeur des enfants.

Israel pilonne à coeur joie ce que nous venions de remettre sur pied après vingt ans de guerre. Nos routes, nos ponts, nos réservoirs, nos stations-radars et leurs missiles ne se privent pas de viser les gens qui tentent de fuir l'enfer de leur région.

Est-il possible encore que le sort de la planète dépende de trois individus assis sur l'arsenal du monde ?

Combien de temps a t-il fallu pour que l'Occident se réveille et se dresse contre Hitler ?

Vomir mon dégoût, ma colère. Que la vie s'arrête, un instant seulement. Mais la vie c'est la vie, sourde et aveugle à tout, elle ne s'arrête jamais la putain.

Mes larmes sont inutiles, mes hoquets enfantins, mais l'impuissance face à la violence c'est trop. Je tourne en rond, me lève, me rassois, je bois, je dors, je pleure, j'en veux à tout et à tout le monde. Surtout à ceux - une poignée d'hommes encore - qui nous ont tant berné depuis si longtemps. Ministres et présidents, leaders et députés, floppées de prêtres de tous bords, tous responsables, tous victimes, à la fois. Notre sort est un bien triste sort, nous qui avions une si belle mission à accomplir.

Mais si en soixante ans nous n'avons pas été capables de bâtir cette nation, c'est que cette nation n'était pas réalisable. Et le Liban n'aura été qu'un leurre. Juste une bonne idée ? Une utopie ? Ma grand-mère d'ailleurs disait "nous sommes un pays d'amour ! Tout ce dont nous avons besoin c'est d'une poignée de penseurs, d'une poignée de semeurs et de quelques anges". Et depuis tout ce temps, ils ne se sont occupés que de façade et de propos, colmatant les brèches, acceptant des faits accomplis inacceptables. Faibles, menteurs, lâches, vendus. Comment ont-ils osé prétendre aussi longtemps, promettre et mener des générations entières vers un futur sans avenir ?

L'exil, la mort.
Je leur crache dessus.

GABY BUSTROS

"Landscape"

2006-09-28T03:41:00.000-07:00

NERMINE EL ANSARI

"Sans titre"

2006-09-26T02:35:00.000-07:00

Camion

Woman

Destruction

CHARBEL TORBEY

"Qana"

2006-09-25T02:23:00.000-07:00

Au sud,
Bien très loin
Au sud
Un cri, un enfant
Il joue,
Il est heureux
Un ange
Habillé de blanc.
Des rires,
Autres enfants
Des fleures,
Un parfum
Des papillons,
Un joli voyage
Les moulins tournent…
L’eau coule,
Le vin
Un silence,
Des ruelles vides
Sur terre,
Qana pleure…
Un village, en deuil.
Des corps,
Petits encore
Blanc
Des anges ?
Ils attendent
Les maisons de Qana,
Ses fenêtres, ses boutiques,
Ses champs…
Perdent quelqu’un
Une chose, un esprit
Des anges.
L’eau coule
A nouveau.
Le vin est bon
Oh Marie
Aime-tu les enfants ?

CHARBEL TORBEY

"La nuit de Qana"

2006-09-25T02:18:00.000-07:00

Dans un petit village, des sourires partout
La joie,
Immense comme un océan
Qu’on n’en a pas.

Juillet
La chaleur dure, le soleil brille
Un conte
De feux !

La nuit,
Bougie agonise
Maman raconte une histoire
De gloire…

Petit…il veut jouer
Difficile
L’obscurité règne
Le matin arrive.

Des trains
Des poupées
Des voitures
La télévision

Une salle,
Le sommeil
Un sourire se dessine…malgré tout
C’est la nature !

Le lever du soleil
Les oiseaux n’y sont plus
Un réveil, devant tout le monde…
Inévitable.

Un bruit,
Un bruit monstrueux,
Se casse…finit le rêve.
Révérence, la mort !

Des cris, des bruits
Des appels encore
Les enfants
Ne sont plus là.

Ils ne jouent pas dehors,
Plus jamais !
Les prairies encore vertes
Mais…ils sont partis.

La nuit, l’obscurité
Renaissance
Sans les rêves
Un sourire s’efface…

CHARBEL TORBEY

"Fille de Qana"

2006-09-24T02:27:00.000-07:00

Plus personne
Seule
Mes parents…perdus
Comment vivre
Un cauchemar
Mes frères, mes sœurs
Repos
Dans un monde
Cruel !
Un pays…égoïste !
Comment respirer ?
Mes larmes, à jamais
J’ai peur, j’ai soif
Pourquoi ?
Quand ?
Ciel
Est-tu là ?
Entend-tu mes prières ?
Je veux maman
Je veux papa
Je veux mes frères
Je veux mes sœurs
Redonnez-moi la vie !

CHARBEL TORBEY

"Hope"

2006-09-24T02:14:00.000-07:00

CLEH

"Des yeux"

2006-09-24T02:10:00.001-07:00

Dans la nuit, rien ne bouge
Des yeux s’ouvrent
Ils réfléchissent, ils contemplent
Ne rêvent plus
Humides
Un liquide salé, une vie amère
Fatigués, accablés…
S’efforcent de se fermer
Dérisoire !
Un espace limité…ils dialoguent
Un silence dangereux,
Personne n’entend
Personne n’exige
Occupés,
Ils cherchent…découragés
Ils veulent dormir.
Sec !
Une mer évaporée, des nuages s’ouvrent,
Des yeux se ferment.

CHARBEL TORBEY

"Le voilà"

2006-09-24T02:01:00.000-07:00

Le voilà,
Devant ses vestiges.
Le réel
Obscur comme la nuit

Le voilà,
Debout
Sans faire un bruit,
Il médite

Le voilà,
Comme un géant
En captivité…
Il est petit

Le voilà,
Un spectre vivant
Chaque jour
Il survit.

Le voilà,
Impuissant.
Il contemple encore
Epuisé

Le voilà,
Ferme les yeux
Ne dort pas encore
Vieux

Le voilà,
Il veut s’enfuir.
Il ne veut pas.
Supplicié

Le voilà,
Un petit enfant,
Des rêves brisés.
Appelle !

CHARBEL TORBEY

"Left-overs"

2006-09-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

ZIAD BITAR

"Feverfew"

2006-09-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

TAKUYA FUKUMOTO

"Trêve de plaisanterie"

2006-09-13T02:03:00.000-07:00

AMANDINE BRENAS

"Hanabi"

2006-09-11T01:50:00.000-07:00

Still image of the video HANABI
AMANDA RIFFO 2005 courtesy s&db

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfeuyUmwUiE

"The shiny people"

2006-09-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

HALA DABAJI

"Insanity"

2006-09-07T00:40:00.000-07:00

« Deprive me from my Liberty, for i shall free my Insanity »

MARIA KASSAB

"Red cross"

2006-09-06T00:57:00.000-07:00

MARIA KASSAB

"Landmark"

2006-09-05T02:41:00.000-07:00

I have been taking this road almost every day for 3 years. I have been taking this road almost twice a day. I am still taking this road almost every day. Not a single bomb fell on this road during the war; so I try to walk slowly.

NAYLA DABAJI

"I get the fear"

2006-09-03T14:30:00.000-07:00

CLEH

"leaving but staying, staying but leaving"

2006-09-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

ZIAD BITAR

"When i was a child.."

2006-08-30T00:32:00.000-07:00

WADIH AYOUB

"THE GRAY ENEMY.."

2006-08-29T08:26:00.000-07:00

WADIH AYOUB

"A War Against Art and Culture, Against Our Progress and Development"

2006-08-28T01:17:00.000-07:00

This past month, Lebanese artist Youssef Ghazzawi’s studio was destroyed by Israeli military bombardment for the third time in his life. The first time was in 1977 when his home in the southern Lebanese village of Khiyam was severely bombed. The second time was in 1983 during the Israeli occupation of Beirut . The apartment building he was living and working in collapsed due to continuous shelling. Under each barrage, his entire studio and most of its content were destroyed. He had salvaged a few things from the previous two demolitions and was saving them. In the most recent destruction of Youssef’s studio his entire life’s output was lost. Able to escape the incessant bombing of his neighborhood by Israeli war planes, he and his family returned to his home and studio, both located in Dahiyeh (the southern suburb of Beirut), to find disaster. Scattered, buried, or torn to shreds in the bombing, were hundreds of paintings, mosaic panels, work on glass and wood, work on paper, sketchbooks, notebooks, precious mementoes, and a vast library of art books in numerous languages.
Youssef, a professor at the Lebanese University , is an artist of breadth and vast experience. He spent many years in Paris studying and later practicing his art. Much of his work bears the stamp of his international experience. His wife, Suzanne Chakaroun, also an artist and art instructor, shared his studio and lost all of her work.
During a phone interview on August 16, 2006, Youssef discussed what has transpired over the past month, “I was planning a retrospective exhibition of my work from the past 25 years, and all this work is now gone.”
When asked if he was able to salvage anything this time, Youssef said, “Only some books. The paintings which I pulled out are torn to ribbons. I suppose there might be a chance to restore a couple of them.”
Later in the interview he affirmed, “We are all fed up with war and the attacks by Israel …We know that at any moment they can hit us. I see this war as one against our art and culture, against our progress and development, a war against humanity. We want to create beauty and they find an excuse to demolish us.”

A War Against Art and Culture, Against Our Progress and Development By SAMIA HALABY

MAYMANAH FARHAT
Editor, ArteNews
http://www.arteeast.org/artenews/arteeast-artenews.htm

Future Window

YOUSSEF GHAZZAWI

Déja Vu

YOUSSEF GHAZZAWI

"I didn't know what had happened"

2006-08-26T12:50:00.001-07:00

WADIH AYOUB

"Carnet de bord d'un volontaire dans une ONG no2"

2006-08-25T01:21:00.000-07:00

"L'organisation se met en place "comme sur des roulettes" au centre arcenciel de Jisr el Bacha pour l'accueil des déplacés. L'ambiance est décontractée en général, l'intégration accomplie : en effet, les déplacés (particulièrement de Tyr et de la banlieue sud mais aussi des chrétiens de Damour aux pont et route bombardés) participent activement à l'organisation des repas et l'ordre…"
C'est fou le nombre de choses que nous faisons ou vivons pour la première fois !" fis-je cette constatation à Pascal Tristan, un volontaire français à arcenciel avec qui je travaille dans le cadre d'infocom. "Toi tu vois et entends les explosions d'un bombardement pour la première fois (et j'espère la dernière) et nous deux nous avons arrêtés net nos travaux habituels dans l'ONG pour nous retrouver ensemble à contribuer à l'organisation d'une cellule d'information et de coordination durant une crise sociale sur fond de guerre".
En effet, de nombreuses amitiés se sont créées. Je relate surtout l'amitié entre deux fillettes de l'âge de 9-10 ans que je vois de plus en plus souvent ensemble, l'une est originaire du quartier fief du Hezbollah en banlieue Sud et l'autre est la fille du responsable de l’approvisionnement. J'ai observé aussi différents profils de femme que je vais m'amuser à vous dépeindre. Il y a la jeune mère, voilée en noir de la tête au pied, qui est sortie de l'ascenseur quand un copain et moi – des hommes – sommes entrés. Il y a aussi la jeune femme voilée mais tirée à quatre épingles et qui porte des vêtements colorés et qui ne rate pas une occasion pour être à disposition pour l’organisation et exprimer son opinion personnelle en parlant avec les chrétiens et les occidentaux en anglo-français. Il y a également la femme voilée de condition modeste, mais expérimentée et serviable qui travaille à la cuisine et pour qui un travail bien fait est plus important qu'un voile bien ajusté. Ensuite, il y a la femme non voilée qui se confond avec la femme voilée tant ce détail est passé en deuxième plan quand il s’agit de travailler. N'oublions pas cette jeune femme, issue d’un quartier chiite à 100%, qui m'a affirmé que "bien que mon interlocuteur chrétien de la veille a utilisé un mot que je ne saurais reprendre pour résumer d’après lui notre attachement à la religion, je trouve qu'il est tout de même bon de découvrir l'autre pour mieux le comprendre". Enfin, je n’oublie pas la formidable Hayat, la réceptionniste standardiste d’arcenciel, qui est aussi pour les volontaires inexpérimentés "l’intendante de l’ombre" qui les épaule avec promptitude et tact…
Hé oui des complicités inter confessionnelles se sont créées, par exemple entre Carine la femme de ménage d'arcenciel et Narjisse qui se distingue au ménage et à la cuisine.
L’engagement de chacun facilite la vie à tout le monde.
Bravo les femmes !
Pour finir, l'ambassadeur d'Espagne a rendu visite à arcenciel car des ONG de son pays contribuent au financement de ses programmes. Dans le sillage de la visite, l'ex coordinateur général de l'ONG a raconté aux volontaires que dans certains endroits où les conditions d'accueil des déplacés laissaient à désirer, ces derniers exprimaient leurs besoins et profitaient de l'occasion pour réaffirmer de plus belle leur attachement au Hezbollah et la victoire contre l'ennemi sioniste.
Au contraire, dans les quatre centres arcenciel où des déplacés ont été hébergés, quand on leur demandaient ce qu'ils désiraient par rapport aux évènements qui se produisent au Liban, ils répondaient : "la paix".

RABIH RACHED

"060823 days after"

2006-08-24T00:57:00.000-07:00

don't you go play!
all the cruelty
in a haze
days after ceasefire
still feel numb
in a polarized blur
expired cluster bombs
by the tens of thousands
in a drain whirlpool
threaten children
on Lebanese soil
hey catch! its a ball
...bOmb...

060823 days after

WYSSEM NOCHI

"Homo Habilis Homo Ludens"

2006-08-23T01:12:00.000-07:00

Titled Homo Habilis Homo Ludens,
the Latin might be translated to English as
Constructive Humanity Playful Humanity...
two great characteristics that reach across
the globe and back through the millennia.

NORMAN GIBSON

"Dear..."

2006-08-22T02:52:00.000-07:00

Nayla,

thank you for your kindness and aprreciation of my words expressed.
I didn't want to say my greatfullness you mentioned openly.
I am thinking to send to you an essay I wrote some time ago about the importance of a "tree of life". I will wait for a while. I find it very special that this war escalated in the county that is symbolized by a tree. I find it very tragic. In June, I spent two weeks in Cairo. I went there, because it was my old wish to have visited Egypt. I decided this spring at once due to seeing a programme about the newest archeological discoveries that originate in the very past time of the worshipping of the Sun. They are nearby the village that is named Abou Ghuryab. I associate this name to Abou Ghraib in Iraq, but as well my last name Grabar. "Grab" is a sort of tree in croatian and other slovanic languages, but as well "a letter" in armenian, "grabar" means "to write an alphabeth".

I felt very good in Cairo, I felt completely accepted by the people and surroundings. I was in constant contact merely with the natives. I read in my little encyclopedia about the importance of the cedar tree as well in the times of pharaos.

Due to my knowledge as well about Islam and contemporary discussions in the west, the recent conflict in Lebanon doesn't surprise me, however I was shocked. It combines with my interpretation that the wars are created due to the westerns who learn about Islam; yet, those learn who felt troubled with the whole eastern world before the political changes in 1989 (Berlin wall fall). This re-reading causes inadequate interpretations ..

I was born in former Yugoslavia, in north-east of Slovenia. My father relatives were killed in Croatia, in Vukovar, in 1991. I am nearly 46. On the 25th-26th of August in the 90', the oldest library in Sarajevo was bombed and burnt. Many precious documents and historical literature was stored there. 26th of August is my birthdate ..

Many people think that merely Bosnia was inhabited with Islamic people. Yes, the Ottomanic empire occupied the region until 1918. But, the eastern Croatia is historically much more special, culturaly diversed and religiously tolerant. Just like Iraq used to be, just like Egypt somehow tries to ballance it and like Lebanon yet is. The Ottomans brought as well dimensions in Islam that have caused many adaptations, especially because they tend towards the doctrine of delieverance from evil and define evil linked to people who are non-believers and also non-muslim (I don't like people writing M-uslim or C-hristian, because these are adjecives). Such narrow mindness, which is very much presented here in the west, has been causing many political troubles. It is also very ridiculous that Netherlands has been politically very shaked, yet it is very unstable here, we have no parlament since June, for the second ! time in four years. Much is provoked due to discussions about muslims and consequently with them, who are mostly and the most loudly presented from Marocco and Turkey, mostly even former atheists, who remembered that they were born muslim after the Twin-catastrophe. The situations is ridiculous for Holland, because this surroundings is build on knowledge of islamic fundaments, but modern Muslims don't mind these. They cannot identify to that past.

I am a sociologist, studied at Univ. of Ljubljana, capitol of Slovenia. I was involved in anti-Cold war movements in the 80'. I was married to a Ducth man, but I returned to Slovenia after the divorce. I returned to Amsterdam alone in 2002, hoping that I could start normal life after all. Since 1990, I am constantly preocccupied with the war. I grew up reading about Middle East, in my spirit I was connected to the part of the world that I felt as to have been my origin. I was in Greece with my parents in the early 70' and remember very well the political crisis, also people suffering in Greece due to the millitary dictatorship supported by USA. Now, I don't doubt anymore. Life has given me hard lessons and has served me proofs that I have not been mistaken identifying myself.

I hope you are fine. I still want you to ask if you are informed what has happened to Zena. I find it so strange that after the past sunday she seems as "abandoned" her blogg. I am sure that there are many people who find it strange and worry. It is hard to believe that she would be ignoring people asking. I am sure that people at Greenpeace know, since her husband has been working there. Would you try to find out the facts?

Your blogg is very beautiful, however I don't spend much time reading yours or any other. Until, I have followed slightly the "Baghdad Burning" blogg that was nominated for an English reward. I don't know if the young woman, a former ex-pat, won the price.

I have never expected that my birtday of these year would be so sad. On the same day Tariq Ramadan celebrates. He is a phylosopher born in Swiss. His grandfather established Muslim brotherhood in Egypt and was assasinated by the king's government. Prof. Tariq is a very nice man, born in 1962. I met him once in the Netherlands as he gave a lecture, but listened to him twice. He is an excellent lecturer; to have listened to him is just amazing. His first language is French. Unhappily, I have never learnt french. See his website, it is very informative what happens in the west regarding political events and discussions about "to be muslim". Europe and the Mediterranian would need more people as him, and students ought to have chances to would have been thought in the appropriate manners. I doubt that those "American Unversities"existing as well in Cairo would be sufficiently good. They "sell smelly" k! nowledge, I fear! ...

I hope you will find my letter easy and conforting.
Best regards also to your friends.

BOJANA K.GRABAR

"12072006"

2006-08-21T01:12:00.000-07:00

MAHER DIAB

"Sunday-everyday"

2006-08-20T06:17:00.000-07:00

"Days"
NERMINE EL ANSARI

"060819 building blocks"

2006-08-19T13:02:00.000-07:00

pure blood water the cedar again...

in a hospital
waiting family claim
in wood boxes
the dead stack neat
waiting land claim

red white green flags wrap
organic wood boxes
building blocks
return to earth
in every block
of birth come
gift to dream
bear shelter today

in a hospital
waiting family claim
in the new born infant ward
in glass blocks
peace cradle blocks
conscience wake
waiting life claim

to the dead and the newborn
to a country reborn
to NEO… my son today born

060819 building block

WYSSEM NOCHI

"Saturday"

2006-08-19T04:16:00.000-07:00

"Days"
NERMINE EL ANSARI

"Friday"

2006-08-18T01:43:00.000-07:00

"Days"

NERMINE EL ANSARI

"Foreigners vs locals"

2006-08-18T01:33:00.000-07:00

Here's the second part of the story

They say that when journalists invade a country, it means the situation is very bad.

Indeed.

For the past four weeks Beirut witnessed an assault on its southern suburbs, as well as on its local bars and restaurants. While Israelis were leveling all they could find on the ground, the press was (just like me) getting drunk in some dark corner in Gemmayze, (dark corner means no electricity, not dodgy town – or maybe in that case it could mean both).

Here is how the situation looks like from a local point of view. Get a phone call from a depressed local, (again and again) decide to meet up for a drink (creative decision), take the car, drive through ghost town (again and again), park the car, enter the bar, find your local friend, and start the mission. Drinking.

After spending an hour mixing unorthodox alcoholic beverages (you start with a local innocent beer, notice that it is way too mild for you, so you order a local glass of rose, drink it in one sip, still not strong enough… decide to get to the heavy artillery, the one and only Gin Tonic). The night is still young but you decide to be moderate and responsible. This third drink is definitely your last one tonight (for the moment).

Meanwhile Attila’s army (the foreigners of course) makes a loud entrance and disturbs your local peace. Mmmm, throw a quick glance at the invader, blond ones, short ones, giant ones, big asses, tiny legs, huge noses… you name it. Quite a melting pot, or maybe should I say a salad bowl, an exotic fattoush anyway. Mmmm interesting.

You have been in that bar for almost two hours, and your local friend and you have nothing more to discuss (cause it’s war time and there isn’t much to say except to ask around when this shit will stop).

This is where you decide to confront the enemy, the foreigners (not a very difficult task to do when there is a certain amount of alcohol in your body).

Start with the usual boring introduction, “where are you from?” “Whom do you work for?” “have you been to Beirut previously?”, “you know it was definitely better before”, and of course “what’s your name?”

Ask the ultimate inevitable question:” so tell me, how do you find Beirut so far?”
This is where it gets funny and interesting.

HIM - “oh you know it’s soooo amazing, all these Lebanese people, are just soooo welcoming and charming even if they are going through difficult moments… blablabla”

HIM - “but you know there is something weird about Lebanese women… they dress very sexily (me thinking – yeah he means like whores) but they are still virgins…

ME THINKING – well today I am wearing a round collar t-shirt, and a knee length skirt (so no outrageous skin showing)…. I guess this makes me a nun.

HIM – can you explain this sociological phenomenon to me?

ME STILL THINKING – stupid colonialist bastard go back home. I am sure he had distorted preconceived ideas of Lebanese women, the kind of information you get from another foreigner just before coming to Lebanon. He certainly had to look up Lebanon on a map when he got the assignment… oh great, I am going to Lebanon there is a war there, but who is fighting again? What is Hezbollah exactly? I am sure we could find some very interesting species in that country; maybe we could go on a safari when we have some time… yeah great I am gonna pack my nice beige African hat. However the safari turns into something completely different once these foreigners get familiar (familiar in the westernized way of course) with their surroundings. Exotic local women replace animals; they first spot them, get closer and stare… and…oops no can’t touch this, it’s dangerous.

I remember another war conversation between a local bartender and local customers talking about all kinds of foreigners. He argued he didn’t want an international force in the south, nor did he want foreign journalists covering the story for one simple reason and I quote:” man these guys they come here and they steal our women.” That was quite a line! I guess he got part of the story right.

However I can’t help but think (again and again) that some of these foreigners are here to show the whole world the truth (that’s a cheesy analysis) and wherever they have been before (Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Yugoslavia…) they are each time confronting a war situation, they are risking their lives to witness atrocities, and I could never thank them enough for that. These people might be specialized in conflicts (journalists, humanitarians, Human Rights Watch…) but at the end of the day no one can ever get used to a war.

JOUMANA

"Untitled"

2006-08-18T01:24:00.000-07:00

MARAL MINASSIAN

"Thursday"

2006-08-17T01:36:00.000-07:00

" Days"
NERMINE EL ANSARI

<>

2006-08-16T16:03:00.000-07:00

<>

2006-08-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

<>

2006-08-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

<>

2006-08-16T15:26:00.000-07:00

"Wednesday"

2006-08-16T02:17:00.000-07:00

"Days"

NERMINE EL ANSARI

"My world is no different from yours"

2006-08-16T00:57:00.000-07:00

MARIA KASSAB

"Liberty tower"

2006-08-15T06:06:00.000-07:00

"Liberty Tower, a magnificent twelve story building, where all offices boast spectacular views of the city below.

Ideally located in Hamra, the main city center of Beirut, the Centre is within easy reach of the capital's principal hotels, stores, restaurants, banks and government offices. It is easily accessible with parking facilities within the building and all around it too."

RUTH MACDOUGALL

"Tuesday"

2006-08-15T05:39:00.000-07:00

"Days"
NERMINE EL ANSARI

"Help me"

2006-08-15T05:18:00.000-07:00

MAHER DIAB

"Monday"

2006-08-14T02:30:00.000-07:00

"Days"

NERMINE EL ANSARI

"Day 33"

2006-08-14T02:00:00.000-07:00

33 earth days cease…
fire come… to wonderland
060814 day 33

WYSSEM NOCHI

"Rasputin"

2006-08-14T01:51:00.000-07:00

MAHER DIAB

"1701"

2006-08-14T01:36:00.000-07:00

scarecrow_Lebanon_14_08_2006

NAYLA DABAJI

"Health care society"

2006-08-13T12:29:00.000-07:00

CATHERINE MERDY

"Draw"

2006-08-13T06:40:00.000-07:00

can you draw?
with…
draw them borders
get out!
leave and let live
in peace

060813 draw

WYSSEM NOCHI

"Cease fire"

2006-08-13T06:24:00.000-07:00

body piles number rise…fall out peace markets
exchange rates allied against injured lives
humanity headlines conditional bone orgy
wired blood cry cease fire cease fire cease fire

060812 cease fire

WYSSEM NOCHI

"South"

2006-08-13T05:25:00.000-07:00

"The white houses"

"The white balloon"

"Border 1"

"Border 2"

"Barbed wire"

"Behind the tree"

"Landscape 1"

"Landscape 2"

NERMINE EL ANSARI

"Release them"

2006-08-13T05:01:00.000-07:00

Love’s kidnapped… across land
undefined borders destination
near darkness... cruelty
kindly release them

060812 release them

WYSSEM NOCHI

"B0mb"

2006-08-13T04:59:00.000-07:00

b0mb
louder bill
fall...closer
wonder kill
scratch
wipe out
underground dub
iron hard
land
b0mb
burn out mix
b0mb
Beirut
10 feet under
concrete
mushroom
dust

060811 b0mb

WYSSEM NOCHI

" 8 Portraits robots"

2006-08-12T05:19:00.000-07:00

HALA DABAJI

"Leçon de géographie"

2006-08-12T04:13:00.000-07:00

MARC ABIRACHED

"Discrimination"

2006-08-12T03:52:00.000-07:00

NAJI ASSI

"I love Beirut"

2006-08-12T03:07:00.000-07:00

MARIE JOE RAIDY

"Shooting"

2006-08-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

CHRISTIAN SCHOCH

"Sans titre"

2006-08-11T03:20:00.000-07:00

sentiment d'absurdité devant l'actualité internationale
jusqu'où peut-on aller?
[...] que la guerre anéantit des vies humaines gorgées d'espoir, qu'elle met les êtres humains, un par un, en état d'avilissement, elle les force à tuer leurs semblables, qu'elle détruit des valeurs matérielles inestimables, qui sont le produit du travail des hommes... et qu'elle fait plus encore.
C'est ainsi que la guerre, dans sa forme actuelle, n'offre plus aucune chance de réaliser le vieil idéal héroïque, et qu'une guerre future, par suite du perfectionnement des moyens de destruction, serait en mesure d'entraîner l'extermination de l'un, ou peut-être même, des deux adversaires. Tout cela est bien réel, et tellement indiscutable, et l'on ne peut que s'étonner de n'avoir pas encore vu les meneurs de guerre répudiés par un accord général passé entre les humains.
S. Freud, Pourquoi la guerre ? Correspondance Freud-Einstein, 1930

c'était en 1930 et nous sommes en 2006.....et si cet accord était encore possible entre les humains ?
une pensée pour vous tous et votre pays

docteur GEORGINA ASLANIDIS

"Lebanon"

2006-08-11T02:01:00.000-07:00

ANGEL HEINEMANN
http://flickr.com/photos/malaak/sets/72157594211581620

"Planet "E" is far away"

2006-08-11T01:17:00.000-07:00

MARIA KASSAB

"Ma cause n'est pas la sienne"

2006-08-11T00:58:00.000-07:00

Ma cause n'est pas la sienne !!
Mon cri n'est pas le sien, ma cause n'est pas la sienne, ma peine n'est pas la sienne.
Je suis Libanaise, il est Israélien ; je suis Libanaise, il est Palestinien ; je suis Libanaise il est Syrien ou Iranien. *Je suis Libanaise un point c'est tout*.
C'est cette différence qu'il faut commencer à faire, qu'il faut clamer à tous les toits.
C'est cette cause qu'il faut défendre avant tout, car c'est ce peuple qui est en danger après tout.
Je suis fatiguée d'être exploitée par les Palestiniens, Syriens ou Iraniens chaque fois que je critique l'offensive Israélienne et que je deviens pour eux anti Hizbollah. Je suis fatiguée d'être traitée de pro Israélienne à chaque fois que je critique Hizbollah d'avoir initié la guerre ou de se mélanger aux civils et de les utiliser comme écran contre les attaquants. Je suis fatiguée d'entendre dire que Hizbollah est un mouvement strictement libanais, quand on sait pertinemment bien qu'ils sont financés et armés à coup de centaines de millions de dollars par l'Iran et la Syrie.
J'ai ma propre cause après tout, la cause LIBANAISE que tout le monde oublie. C'est la cause d'un peuple qui a toujours survécu, qui a toujours su remonter les pentes vers lesquelles les différentes guerres l'ont poussé ;c'est un peuple qui a été éparpillé de par ce monde, qui a su devenir chef d'entreprise, chef de département, banquier, médecin, politicien, artiste ou chanteur ; c'est un peuple fier qui a fui son pays en guerre et pris d'autres nationalités, mais qui garde le contact avec sa terre natale, son village où les montagnes verdoyantes viennent caresser la mer bleue. C'est le drapeau de ce peuple qu'il faut montrer lors des manifestations pour le Liban ces jours ci et non les drapeaux des autres pays qui ont certainement leurs propres causes, mais qui amoindrissent la mienne maintenant. Je suis Libanaise avant tout et je dis aux autres de me laisser pleurer mon pays, de me laisser crier ma peine, de me laisser sortir de ce marasme dans lequel certains ont du plaisir à me plonger. Il nous a fallu 10 ou 15 ans pour sortir enfin du trou et montrer au monde que le Liban peut toujours être le « Paris du Moyen Orient », comme l'a maintes fois clamé le correspondant de CNN.Nous avons été renvoyé à la case de départ comme dans le jeu de Monopoly sans toutefois collecter l'argent qui nous est dû….Que va-t-il advenir de mon pays maintenant avec toute une infrastructure à refaire, des milliers d'évacués, des centaines de milliers de déplacés, des morts et des blessés,des gens désillusionnés.
Ayez pitié de ce peuple qui ne fait que payer depuis 30 ans le prix des guerres des autres. Essayez de comprendre la détresse dans laquelle nous sombrons quand on se sent si impuissant et laissez nous manifester au moins seuls en montrant *NOTRE DRAPEAU LIBANAIS* qui reste encore intact dans nos coeurs.

UNE CANADIENNE D'ORIGINE LIBANAISE

"Falling flyer"

2006-08-11T00:49:00.000-07:00

falling flyer said children
this is the end...of peace
the land is yours...ours to mine
060809 falling flyer

WYSSEM NOCHI

"My land is not for sale"

2006-08-10T01:42:00.000-07:00

25 MAI 2005

En commémoration de la Libération du sud..

MONA TRAD DABAJI

"Enjoy our product"

2006-08-10T01:28:00.000-07:00

24.07.06 PASCAL HACHEM

"Approchez, approchez!"

2006-08-10T01:07:00.000-07:00

"Approchez, approchez!

Amateurs de sensations fortes, vous trouverez chez nous tous ce que vous cherchiez.
Frayeurs, sueurs froides, chocs moraux, vision de sang, être dans la peau de rambo...
N’allez pas plus loin! Oui, vous êtes arrivés à bon port.
Laissez vous porter par ces sensations incomparables, uniques.
Et oui, le Liban reste et restera fidèle a son mythe".

Fête foraine, annonce publicitaire, proposition de croisière, film de science fiction?
Malheureusement ou heureusement, non. Il s'agit tout simplement du contexte libanais au XXIeme siècle.
Arriverons-nous un jour a ce stade? Le Liban sera t-il "la terre promise" au peuple libanais?
Serons-nous un jour effacé de l'histoire et de la mémoire humaine?
Ne nous laissons plus faire et agissons au nom de l'humanité et de tous ces principes.

T.M

"THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY"

2006-08-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

WAR,

That’s a word that I thought I would never have to hear again, unfortunately I did. During a war people die, some have to leave their house other simply leave their country and others like me, just stay. In a war there are mostly bad aspects but surprisingly there are good ones too.

Since July 12th, I stayed almost everyday with my family which I had not done since a very long time, I got closer to a friend ( Khaled ) I would never have known better and to others that live in my neighborhood ( Joe ), I also met very interesting people ( Chereen, Caroline, Walid, Marwan, Serge, Klaus, Karim, Kamal ), that I wouldn’t have met in another situation. What I am trying to say is that war gets you closer to one another, and instead of looking only at the bad aspects of the war and be desperate, why not try to get the good things out of it.

But deep inside you feel bad.

KASSIM DABAJI

"I love beirut. i love her deep blue sea..."

2006-08-09T01:05:00.000-07:00

ZENA EL-KHALIL

beirutupdate.blogspot.com

"Peace chant"

2006-08-09T00:59:00.000-07:00

wednesday 12 july
calendar still...tire
day to day gift babe
hum...silent peace chant
to Ana Corbero 'buddhas'
from Beirut Place Saifi
to
Soeur Marie Keyrouz,
a bombed out church in Italy.
060806 peace chant

WYSSEM NOCHI

"Painkiller 060807"

2006-08-08T03:13:00.000-07:00

pain started again
the wound is infected
can you think on pain?
killer float me to Loveland
homes on fire plains
the world is afflicted
hells on fire planes
060807 painkiller

WYSSEM NOCHI

"Funeral for a friend"

2006-08-08T02:37:00.000-07:00

happeningZRH 12.07.2006 zurich

PASCAL HACHEM

** Hezbollah seizes Israel soldiers **

Militant group Hezbollah says it captured two Israeli soldiers

during clashes across the border with Lebanon.

''The moment''

2006-08-08T01:13:00.000-07:00

Marhaba,

i don't know if our voice are heard in the world, or maybe they don't want to hear what happening, but i can say that me too i can not imagine what is happening, like I am hallucinating...

i left lebanon the 4th of july for a short period of time, part of a project ‘artist in residency’ for 3 month in zurich, organized by ‘’pro helvetia’’.
and i left in a way as if i'll be back the next day or two, like small details keeping my sketchbook on the table, my last notes onthe corner of the table, my pens one near the other, putting this color here and this one near the black...

i was living in beirut, i was working in beirut, and beirut allowed me to make a living providing me with the basics for 27 years,..., and until now i don't know beirut!

she might be so angry from the fact that I left her!

yes i left, and all this is happening, in such a short time! in few second...

and all things changed when i received at 14:33 12.07.06 an sms from rana haddad a citizen from Beirut.

everything has changed from that moment, my studio in zurich changed, people around me changed...

PASCAL HACHEM into this happening moment

"Another day..."

2006-08-07T01:37:00.000-07:00

Dear all,

I'm one of you, one of those victims. one of those who always believe in peace and comprehension. Now what do I believe in....My brain's shut down this day. This 12th of july 2006. It's been brain dead.

This thing bolt in our life without knocking without warning. Where am I now? I am only a black pawn for some and for others only an obstacle.

Today, my life is up side down. My family's life is up side down. What did we do? What can WE DO? How can we fight against this "hurrican"?

May the next time, I'll write more about our daily life from outside this hell. Cause travelling or living abroad doesn't help you to forget this awful "rape".

T.M.

"Sadder day"

2006-08-06T13:12:00.000-07:00

Good evening,

Today I was certain I wouldn't be able to write nor send anything out to the world.

Do you know it has been 24 days that the world has been letting this realm of horror carry on freely?

24 days...

900 dead...

3283 wounded...

913 760 displaced, homeless, refugees, call them what you want but don't call them numbers!

As you read this, do you feel the reality of the situation?

Or are they just numbers?

75 roads...

74 bridges...

6200 housing buildings...

12 factories...

25 gas stations...

5 hospitals...

Are these only more numbers?

Owww I forgot:

1 Mediterranean coast...

that no one can clean up because we are still under attack.

There is no racism here, no segregation! Human life is under siege and being smothered, but marine life as well! You see? Perfect justice for all forms of life...

Even the 2 petrol ships at large are afraid to come in without a signed paper from the Israelis because they have seen that they don't segregate (between civilian, medical, UN, relief, vegetables, and Hezbollah)

As you can see I'm not at my best today.

I initially just wanted to be silent and let you watch this moving video:

Please please please forward it far and wide.

It's a letter, a love letter, from a dying lover, called Lebanon, to the world.

http://www.beirutletters.org/

Go to the site and follow the instructions to download it.

24 days and still counting,

and still hoping,

for a reply...

Sat, 5 Aug 2006

CHRISTOPHE KATRIB

"Mia"

2006-08-05T17:13:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I want to start this text by explaining why I left Lebanon. I left my country several months ago thinking that it was the best think to do due to the lack of opportunities and personal satisfaction that I couldn't (in my mind ) found. I wanted to explore the world and get the best out of life. But what If you though that the country you once left, is the ultimate source of satisfaction that you never though you would feel. By that I mean an attachement to the Lebanese soul, its culture and its authenticity. and guess where I am right now the United States of Hatred. yes the land that once I though would bring me happiness Is the source of grief.

Where do I go from here? what about watching all your friends, family leaving Lebanon, because for now they thing it is the "best solution" but what if the best solution is to contribute to the rebirth of the most wonderfull country in the world. and that would be from the point of view of someone who lives in the "best city " in the world. THE BIG F APPLE. and that my friends is a lie.

So fuck you all or bless you all for saving your soul by leaving this soil. but I had a dream a dream that one day this project would succeed a FREE LEBANON.

All I can say is:

To Beirut with all my heart and kisses, to the sea and clouds,

to the rock of a city that looks like an old sailor's face.

from the soul of her people she makes wine,

from their sweat she makes bred and jasmine,

so how did it come to taste of smoke and fire?

Hala je t'aime.

MIA

THESE_DAYS_or the need to communicate_details

2006-08-05T16:48:00.000-07:00

After receiving several requests to detail the project in process, i decided to give an outline of my work.

The war started the 12th of July 2006.
"these_days" is its immediate reaction.

This project attempts to root itself mainly in this present time.
Before the 12th of July we had/or had not memories of life, dreams and ambitions.
Since the 12th of July, we feel pain; we have fears and lost hopes.

This period between the 12th of July and (.) is part of a time-laps in the present where, i must admit to have a bulimic need for traces and exchange, as if multiplying communications with people could give me the hope of security, survival and resistance; And i feel it’s urgent.
It’s “quite difficult” to describe to where or to what this project could lead, since this work reacts to on-going events, follows time, and becomes its immediate victim and witness.

The first part of the project is the blog;
To collect “expressions” in the present and to share them in a virtual, ephemeral, public, international and free place; a contact zone open to all possibilities.

The second part of the project "will" be the portraits;
To photograph people who have participated in this project (if they agree) after the blog...after the war...after the crisis…

But for the time being, it’s blurry...

NAYLA DABAJI

"Carnet de bord d'un volontaire dans une ONG"

2006-08-04T13:08:00.000-07:00

"En premier lieu, je vous ai raconté le profil des femmes tel que je l'ai vu. Qu'en est-il du profil des hommes ? Ils font du beau travail eux aussi… mais les Anglais nous ont appris de penser "ladys first" (je plaisante). Pour la prochaine lettre de nouvelles, il s'agira des brèves de Jihad qui veut prendre des photos avec chacun des volontaires car l’expérience est inoubliable pour lui. Des ados qui en ont marre et rejette la faute sur leurs parents. Des enfants avec qui les volontaires livrent une longue et patiente "bataille" – celle de la "maîtrise stratégique" de l'ascenseur qui n’est pour eux qu’un instrument pour jouer à cache-cache … Et ce, dans le but d'appliquer la règle simple qu'il est interdit aux enfants non accompagnés de prendre l'ascenseur. Pour cela, les volontaires d’élite (de l’animation) ne cessent de traquer et d’expliquer aux membres de la bande du petit Mohamed (9 ans) et son fidèle lieutenant et frère Ali (7 ans) le pourquoi du comment il faut respecter les consignes affichées. Ces deux frères ont perdu leur père. C'est dire qu’ils n’ont plus quelqu’un pour leur délivrer une parole ou un ordre...En deuxième lieu, j'ai écouté ce matin la terrible nouvelle d'un massacre de civils à Cana. Un premier massacre ayant été perpétré il y a 10 ans dans ce même village, dans des conditions politico militaires similaires, je m'invite et peut-être vous invite aussi à méditer. "Ils auront beau nous bombarder, ils n’empêcheront pas les fleurs de pousser" disait le frère d’un de mes amis de Fondacio (son frère a été tué par les Syriens pendant la guerre de 75-90 au Liban). Une amie roumaine m’a partagé aussi ce proverbe : "le pays brûle et la vieille dame se peigne". Quand cessera la logique de violence ? Quand Israël ne sacrifiera plus les civils sur l'autel de son amour-propre et ses raisons d'Etat ? Quand triomphera la modestie, prélude à la réconciliation qui est garante de la paix durable ? Le monde libre dira-t-il enfin "stop" à Israël ou continuera-t-il à le disculper coûte que coûte au Liban et en Palestine ? Quand le dit "Parti de Dieu" relativisera son conflit avec Israël et arrêtera de discourir sur le bien et le mal ? Quand cessera-t-il d’utiliser le mot "saint" pour qualifier son combat violent, indépendamment des raisons convaincantes qu’il réussit à trouver devant certains Libanais ? Jusqu’à quand arbitrer les différents par la loi du Talion ?Plutôt que d'essayer par la force d'obliger le Hezbollah à bien se tenir, essayons d'arrêter la violence et laisser les Libanais le réduire à sa juste taille grâce au dialogue. Ils savent et ils veulent. "Rengaine ton glaive ; car tous ceux qui prennent le glaive périront par le glaive" Jésus Christ (Matthieu chapitre 26, verset 52)."

Thu, 03 Aug 2006
RABIH RACHED

"Vendor machine #1479659"

2006-08-04T12:33:00.000-07:00

happeningZHR 20:39 15.07.06 ZURICH
PASCAL HACHEM

« THESE_DAYS_ou le besoin de communiquer_détails »

2006-08-03T09:43:00.000-07:00

Après avoir reçu plusieurs demandes de détails sur le projet,
j’ai décidé d’en donner un « petit » aperçu.

La guerre a commencée le 12 juillet 2006.
« these_days » en est la réaction immédiate.

La tentative de ce projet est de s’ancrer dans le temps, principalement dans « ce » présent. Avant le 12 juillet, nous avions/ou pas des souvenirs de vie, de rêves et d’ambitions.
Depuis le 12 juillet, nous avons des souffrances, des peurs et de faux espoirs.
Cette période qui se situe entre le 12 juillet et (.) fait partie d’un laps de temps dans le présent et dans lequel, j’avoue avoir le besoin boulimique de repères et de partage ; comme si multiplier les traces et les communications avec les autres me donnait l’espoir de la sécurité, de la survie et de la résistance. Et j’en ressens l’urgence. D’où la difficulté de décrire concrètement le projet, à partir du moment ou c’est une réaction aux événements; il suit le temps et il en devient victime et témoin dans l’immédiat.

La première partie du projet est le blog.
Collecter des « expressions » dans le présent et les partager dans un lieu virtuel, éphémère, public, international et libre ; une zone de contact ouverte à toutes possibilités.

La deuxième partie du projet « sera » des portraits.
Photographier les personnes qui ont participés au projet (si elles sont d’accord) après le blog…après la guerre…après la crise…

Mais pour l’instant, c’est le brouillard, vous ne trouvez pas ?

NAYLA DABAJI

"A Long Way From Lebanon"

2006-08-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

Nayla

I'm a long way from Lebanon. In the UK I read the newspapers, watch
the TV. They say that diplomatic efforts are moving forward, the
French and the Americans have agreed to some new wording on a
statement and it represents a significant step towards peace. I
wonder how can it be that people are dying, lives destroyed and we
are talking about words not action.

I spent some of the most enjoyable weeks of my life in Beirut in
2001. I worked with Christine Tohme. I met Lebanese artists. I grew
to love Beirut. Last week some friends stayed at our house, a man, a
wife and two young boys. They had quickly left their house in
Northern Israel when the violence came too close to their home.
Edgar, who is English with an Israeli wife, told me that before he
left his house he tidied up, wanting to leave it clean and peaceful
for whatever may come next. If you go there today, you will open the
door to a nice clean house and on a table in front of you, you will
see a copy of the Koran, the Old Testament and the New Testament, all
sitting quietly side by side in peaceful co-existence.

This small gesture, some may say pointless, has some significance. It
says to me that whilst we may feel that we can do nothing, that is
not true, we can all do what we can do. I can sit here feeling
helpless and saying to myself
"So what, I've visited Beirut and I have some Israeli friends, but
there's nothing I can do to help this situation"
or I can do what I can when I can and see what happens.

Edgar left the religious books, you are collecting stories, I am
writing and email. None of them are reported, but they all add a drop
of nectar into a sea of hurt.

I send my love, I send my prayers.

You are my sister Nayla, I am your brother

LEO SEDGLEY

"War drawings"

2006-08-03T01:57:00.000-07:00

MARIA KASSAB

"Untitled"

2006-08-03T01:38:00.000-07:00

ZIAD BITAR

"Qana 060730"

2006-08-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

bombs crush buildings
into their own craters
kill works of art
industrial tragedy...
intelligence projectile
guide missile matter
dare...
on war day 19
under rubble
cover to dust
children of Qana
again...
in body bags
flower covered
labeled travelers
rest...
await burial
mold cease fire talk-stall
fail destination
oppose life balance
unending power tug
retaliate difference
positions...
under fire cry
hate pregnant
past road map
link memory place
deal...
peace fiction
countdown sections of time
recover metropolis
crying blocks
flesh spreads
blood pulp
collapse...
scaffold light force
destruct abstract
newborn landscape
remain...
day after morning
witness...
landed rocket dredge
love drought mass grave
shatter traps oblivious hollow
waite next impossible pain tear fall
flyer drop in frail blue clouded sky
avenge hell base
human shield waiters
fire shell fire shell fire shell
persist carnage sequel
zap...
search...
watch...
ironic war talks mad
continue...
to highjack peace
060731

WYSSEM NOCHI

"Space invaders 060720"

2006-08-02T14:49:00.001-07:00

playing space invaders
killing times
pain in the other
cause to understand
world from another
bomb to understand
mortal fire agendas
under-star collide
live iris void stare dead
TV watch as 7 days go by
comet struck
Beirut surprise!
sulfur solvent zephyr
target rocket burn
civilian toll crater
resistant hero terms
the purifying sleep sigh kill
my son is 7 today
playing wasting no time
space invaders
to obi...2006.07.20

WYSSEM NOCHI

"Hi"

2006-08-02T14:30:00.000-07:00

Sorry nayla but ur "artistic" project is purely political

FADY HACHEM

"The War Diaries-Day 16"

2006-08-02T09:26:00.000-07:00

Dear World

July 27, 16th day of war.

When I was a child, the 8 o'clock news were the most annoying thing for me. It was the moment where I couldn't communicate with my parents anymore,the moment where I had to stop watching my Felix the Cat cartoons videos.Silence prevailed around the house, leaving space to the speaker's voice,announcing the deceases and destructions of the war.
I remember one specific event, on some war night, where General Michel
Aoun went on television and announced that the "Liberation War" was going to end,
for the sake of Lebanon's children. I remember my mother jumping with joy,
and I will never forget the relief I felt within, although I was too young
to grasp what was happening. Of course, the next morning, we woke up to our
lovely boom-boom alarm. And it took another interminable set of boom-boom
mornings before the war ended.Whatever I say, I will never be able to express how intense my thirst is to this sentence: "the war is over".
But everyday, we face the reality that it will not end soon.
The mostpainful thing about it is that we don't know anything.
We don't know where they are going to bomb, when they are going to bomb,
what they are going to bomb. We don't know if we can plan for tomorrow.
So far, all that we know is that fuel will run out on Friday.
Fill up your Mazola plastic bottles so you can operate your generator
for a few days before darkness prevails. Store up candles and matchboxes. Prepare a radio and spare batteries.The eighties all over again. My father's silhouette is highlighted by the corridor's night candle. He carries me out of my bed and takes me
to our vestiaire, the only safe area in the house, far from windows and balconies where gunshots are likely to land. Except that now,
there are no gunshots,but bombs. No area in the house is safe. My father is not here anymore, and anyways I am too heavy to be carried out of my bed.Today, while they were digging somewhere in the south to check if anotherUN officer was buried under the rubble, they found the bodies of a mother>holding her two children. Once again, me deepest respects to the Israelis, who are so keen on freezing our intimate moments under masses of
powdered concrete.
Mummification Revisited.The Ministry of Health announced today that the number of deceased reached over 600. What is the peak number before they ask for a cease fire? Athousand? A million? One American? 600 without counting the people in the South Villages surrounded without food, water, milk for 16 days now. 200 out of the 600 are still buried underneath the powdered households.Today, as I was going back home from a friend's house, I took a glimpse at the sea, of which I could see a chunk, framed between two buildings. I miss the sea. Since they bombed the lighthouse and set the Beirut Port on fire,
I have been avoiding going to that area. But it is only from a far distance that
I can enjoy it now, since they have been pouring oil and petroleum,which set it
in a disastrous state of pollution and killed most of the marine lifeIt is funny what God's Chosen People are doing to his creation. Havingwithin something as intense as life, going on doing something as destructive as what we have been witnessing and enduring for the past two weeks.Today, I realized that we might be totally out of electricity in thecoming weeks. So I started calculating. No electricity, no fridge. Being myself a big fan of fruits, that cannot survive without refrigeration, I decided to start making fruit preserves.These Israelis never stop surprising me with their avant-gardist visions.Training the next generation of Lebanese Grandmas, who would have thought about that!

With Love,
A Lebanese Citizen,
and promising grandmother-to-be.

MAYA RIZKALLAH

"Sans titre"

2006-08-01T03:27:00.000-07:00

Un paysage typique de la Suisse, où j’habite.
On nous dit que le monde est de plus en plus interconnecté
Il y a donc du sang partout.

ZIAD OBERMEYER

"SOS"

2006-08-01T03:18:00.000-07:00

JOE KESROUANI

"Untitled"

2006-08-01T02:58:00.000-07:00

CHARLES KASSATLY

"Hawiyya"

2006-08-01T02:32:00.000-07:00

HALA FAYAD
still images of the animationhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXw9hFda04o

"Sliding out of Time"

2006-08-01T01:50:00.000-07:00

They're saying it's the week-end.
The last sunny hours before sunset...A soft summer breeze is blowing.It's calm, you can hear crickets, and a few birds, chirping in the distance.They say you can tell the temperature by the frequency of a cricket's chirp... Behind a blue curtain, a boy is playing the guitar, he seems to be singing;"we're not gonna die...."Strange melody, strange words...Outside a house, by an olive tree,a little girl with beautiful auburn hair is strolling back and forth on her scooter. Far away, the sea glitters under the sun's golden reflection,But you can't see Beirut, it's lost in the haze, or the smog, or is it just lost?Is that the hum of a warplane? Or is it the remnants of another southern shelling? This light, these warm smells of summer brush, these colors, these sounds, this "calm",
Are constantly screaming out for peace in silence...Something does not make sense when such beauty is raped.The hum is louder now, it's definitely a jet plane.Something is absurd when daily, every smile we draw tastes like salt, When every rare burst of laughter almost crushes our chest into arrest.But we still appreciate the simple runaway moments,The cool air when the ground starts to breathe after sunset,The moon hanging over the poisoned sea, The certainty that there is something immortal to this land,To this blood,The feeling that even if we don't get to witness or confirm it,This country and these people will live forever,As magical as that, As simple as that.You can't kill magic with metal and hatred and fire.You can't touch what you can't see, what you can never understand,Because long ago you let fear eat you up, and turn you into a blind monster. "I shall kill, and oppress, in order to never be oppressed or killed, ever again."Makes sense, if you are ready to go through life without living it.Without soul.Without magic.
Wake up.

CHRISTOPHE KATRIB
29/07/06
Lebanon.

The attached pic, I've taken with my phone, so forgive the quality.

"My message to you from the land of war"

2006-08-01T01:23:00.000-07:00

My dear friends and colleagues.

I once lived in peace with you, I once lived in a safe
place far away from here. I urge you this time, I am
calling you to act in a way or another, through
manifestations or protests. We here need your help,
the only hope for a cease-fire is through the pressure
of the international community on their governments.
I urge you to act against the war in Lebanon for two reasons.
The first one is to save the disastrous humanitarian
situation, but the second reason is for less violence in the whole world.
The war here is not between Lebanon and Israel as
it might seem to you, it is only happening on a lebanese ground.
It directly turned to a war between islamic ideologies
and the americo-israeli politics in the middle east.
More violence from the israeli side leading to more
deaths and more blood in Lebanon will only bring more
extremism in all the arabic world. We have seen the
consequence of that violence in the 9/11 events. We
don't want more of these events therefore we don't
want more bombs over our children and houses.
THE WAR THAT ISRAEL IS LEADING IS TOO DIRTY TO BE
CALLED WAR, these are sequences of massacres and
genocides put together on the so-called land of the
levant, the land of olives. They are using phosphoring
bombs, and other kinds of forbidden bombs, burning
fields and killing civilians. And more powerful bombs,
the so-called 'smart bomb' coming from the U.S.A are
on their way through israel to lebanon.
Here is what I want you to know:
I don't know about you, since 30 years, we are living
at least our sixth war, I rememeber only 3 of them. I
am not sure we can handle more.
This war is not destroying Hezbollah as it is claimed,
it is destroying a country, a country which was once
full of life and joy and human beauty.
My country does not look like a country anymore.
What is happening here is a real disaster.
On average there are about 40 poeple killed everyday
(600 in 15 days) of which 90% are civilians and 45%
are children. On average 120 injured everday.
This is worse than in Irak and in Palestine.
It is raining tons of bombs from the sky of southern
lebanon, southern beirut and our dearest Bekaa valley.
Practically over more than 30% of the surface of
Lebanon.If this looks dramatic to you, I can tell you this is
not the real catastrophy. Here, we are living a real
humanitarian catastrophy.For those of you who haven't been here. Lebanon
is a very very small country with less then 4 million
poeple. At least half a million of these flew away, if
not much more. Poeple who were able to survive all the
wars earlier have left this time. How many times are
we supposed to reconstruct our demolished houses? what
about our dreams?About 700 thousands of lebanese are immigrants in
their own country, staying in schools or public
places, gardens. Most of these poeple have lost there
houses, more than 50000 appartements were literally
destroyed.These poeple will have no place to stay even after the
war ends, if it will ever end.Let's forget about the destroyed infrastructure, and
the miserable economic situation.What is scary is the humanitarian situation of these
poeple, with hardly any hygiene, for many of them, no
clean water, not enough food. New deseases will
start,and I beleive this will be for very soon. The
most disastrous situation is for the poeple who are
still in the south.There are villages, remote villages which have been
kept completely isolated from any other living place.
Roads were cut, electricity is destroyed , water pumps
are destoyed, gaz is missing, and afcourse food if
there still, will not be left.To these villages there is no route, not any emergency
vehicule is allowed to enter. More then once Lebanese
red cross vehicules were bombed, ambulances were
bombed, firemen vehicules were bombed, even medicine
and food trucks and escaping civilian cars
were also bombed, always under the claim of fighting
Hezbollah.In the south of Lebanon also more then this is
happening. Afcourse, telephone lines are destroyed, TV
antennas as well. There are about 250 missing poeple,
there are houses destroyed with families inside, no
chance to have governmental help. No chance to take
corpse under the ruins.This was about the villages, now the same policy has
started to apply in the biggest southern city of Tyr,
the city with the oldest phenician port, and the world
biggest roman stadium. This city has become isolated.
It took more than 5 days for Israel to agree with the
UN for nutrition help entering under a safe zone,
i.e., without being attacked by the flighing israeli
airplanes.I am afraid Israel will not allow us to get to the
southern villages and cities. We are afraid poeple
will die from hunger and diseases.
My dear friends and colleagues.
I once lived in peace with you, I once lived in a safe place.
I urge you this time, I am calling you to act in a way or another.
The american and the israeli governments know that
Hezbollah will not get destroyed, it has roots deeper
than the sky of israel. And this is unfortunate.
If one leader is gone, another one will come.
Hezbollah started existing only after the israeli
invasion took place in my counrty, more violence and
more israeli bombs will only reinforce it and give it
a better reason to exist. These poeple have nothing
more to loose, they lost children and houses more than
once now, they only have their lives.
We, the lebanese poeple were working together with the
Hezbollah parti on disarming Hezbollah, this was an
ongoing process which was meant to happen peacefully.
But there were and are still many other urgent issues
in the middle east and much more extreme situations to
solve than the arms of Hezbollah.
Israel and the U.S.A know this.
For the ones of you who are still able to think about
the stars and the galaxies, and for the ones of you
who are enjoying a normal daily life give us few
moments, think that you may save a child.

NELLY MOUAWAD

Mon, 31 Jul 2006

"My land is not for sale"

2006-07-31T18:40:00.000-07:00

MONA TRAD DABAJI 2006
Proposition de Projet Pour SOS Racisme?!

"Saint Valentin"

2006-07-31T11:55:00.000-07:00

AMANDA RIFFO
Still image of the video SAINT VALENTIN 2004

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPEeYlnPy1Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65l5ju1K2mI