For the sake of securing a future to the state and the society, one must look at technological innovation as a key role in Lebanon's economics.

As the world is approaching the "virtual revolution" with excitement, the industrial phenomenon is still active and will remain intact just like all other technological practices of the past.

I see no reason why our nation should not invest in this field.

After all, we know that a major transformation throughout the 10452Km2 can open the door for more job possibilities, which in turn, will provide a better future to our fellow countrymen and countrywomen.

According to my analysis, I believe that the most important section of Lebanon's upcoming industry should be none other then...the water market.

Just like the Arabs from the Khaleej (Gulf States) have an economy that is booming thank to the oil industry, Lebanon shall prosper through the water revolution.

This idea, "The Water Project", came into conception in the '60's by Maurice Gemayel.

Coined as “Lebanon’s Leonardo Da Vinci”, he equally was a brilliant politician in his time.

I find it sad that there isn't a lot of information about him and his work (on the Internet or in the Public Libraries).

However, I did find some things on the man, and I would like to share them with you all!

Here's one link about him...



The following is another peace of information that is found about him, thanks to a fellow compatriot from the Lebanese political forums...

La planification intégrale des eaux libanaises[/B] / Maurice Gemayel. - Beyrouth : [s.n.], 1951. - XI-262 p. : ill., cartes, plans ; 25 cm. - (La valorisation du Liban, Plans et programmes ; 1)

I beleive it is a study he worked on, and this document is available to the public in Lebanon.

Below, is a brainstorm paper I am working on, and everyone is free to comment on the idea!

An Excellent Water Market, Should Start With a Good Environmental Quality

Just how decent is the environment of our beloved Lebanon?

Attached with this article, is a fact box displaying the result of the 2002 environmental report for the City of Beirut.

As it is shown, the city's environment is rated 90/100---this mean that the country have some of the best environmental quality in the world...our neighbors do not even level us on this matter.

In the mountains, some got rated 100 out of 100...

This is a good indication that a strong water market should start with a solid basic: the health factor.

Lebanon has more reason then any others to invest in there and sell the best of it.

Even in the West and elsewhere, such a quality is far from found.

I think that many Lebanese from within and abroad, are dedicated engineers, from geo-technical to water and environmental studies, so I think we should pave the way and make these jobs available for them in Lebanon.

In order to do this, we have to start with the market, and the market is only possible through the government.

Therefore, politicians and businessmen should meet in order to formulate a way for this market to be open and firmly established.

We can have them meet, only if we have strong student associations and social clubs who are good in activism and who have a decent starting plan with them, in order to present it to the media, government, companies, etc...

What can make Lebanon unique, is the idea that our water, which will come from our beloved mountains, should be 100% natural and pure.

None of the chemical stuff in it.

Everything, from pipelines to the manufactory, must be made of healthy material and designed in a way where only natural and clean water can be collected, produced (ie: vaporisation) and packaged.

Also, I beleive that the package in which it shall be filled in, must be of a healthy material and not cheap ones such as plastic bottles (where studies have shown that some disease come out of this material).

Why not take advantage of this resource of our's and sell them per gallons, bottles or through pipelines...just like the Gulf did with their oil industry?...

I thank you once again for this great idea.

So in other words, I truly beleive that this project should be promoted throughout the Lebanese universities as well as any form of Internet or newsletter type of medias which we will address all Lebanese from within and abroad.

University students and Lebanese in general, can brainstorm the ideas together, prepare the final conception of it, and make extensive research by contacting people in the many fields which will make this project possible (ie: engineers, business people, etc).

A final "draft" can be prepared, and voted on by many Lebanese people through polls and statistics...

Presenting these polls and the finalised draft to the media, companies and government, will help us move a step forward....

Wether it will be possible or not, is another story.

But for a starter, I think that this is the most realistic method we can apply.

The following is out of subject, but somewhat related...

What can make Lebanon even more better, due to the environmental quality found in the land (which is not the case in many other areas), is the thought that we can upgrade our agricultural market.

Also, on the Mediteranean sea level, there is the seafood market of our's, which is said that our fishes in there, are far better then the one we buy from the big companies of the West...

We don't have a lot of seafood and this market cannot be big compared to others, but I know for a fact that the fish over there is one of the best in the world---so it makes a difference...

Not only that, but we can find ways, through ecologist, scientists and others, on how to create a nice ground under the Mediterranian sea, so that it can attract as many sea creatures are possible.

Our fruits and vegetables, have different taste then those found elsewhere, something can be done there too...

To top it off, it is said that in the sea level, a few kilometres away from Saidon and Batroun, respectively, beneath the earth of the sea, there are oils in there...

Lebanon and the oil industry?...

The country will end up richer then the Gulf or elsewhere...

But maybe this part was a farce, since both cities did not succeed at attracting job seekers, so they had to "invent" a story and see if they can get more people there.

Nonetheless, with oil or without oil, thanks to the Lebanese mountains, the water market could make our country one of the most productive in the world!

Question is: what will we support, Lebanon, or the militias which will destroy our dreams and future?...

Take good care,

Mazen

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One of the remaining problem we have in Lebanon today, is the never-ending mockery that is thrown at us from this feudal-based political system and it's parties that are still eating off the citizens' bread and milk.

As long as this type of regulation exist, then our country is bound for corruption in every sense.

Back in the days, before the Lebanese Independance, our country had figures like Pierre Gemayel who was working on the ground in order to form one of the best socio-political party the nation ever got to know: the Kataeb.

It was later registered through the government by the name of the "Social Democratic Party".

Now, I am not capable of reading the Founder's mind, but I often ask myself wether "Sheikh Pierre" did this for a feudal interest or if he really was working on making a democratic party for all the Lebanese.

With the 1958 pact from the government, an American plot which used Arab pressures over Lebanon, the contract was made in a way where true democracy would be delayed in the country, for a feudal-based structure was established instead.

Since then, "clientelism" became the name of their game.

From religious exploitation which feeds nothing but spiritual contamination and sectarian extremism, to the bourgeouasie/nanti lifestyle of the so-called "elites", Lebanon is still possessing a political class that reminds people of the medeaval times when nations like France and it's neighbors used to be ruled by the monarchy.

Did we ever get to learn a thing or two from them?...

As long as we have this kind of corruption, then this is what will happen next: the exact same thing as the French Revolution...

Does Lebanon still have the time left for such an event to occur?...

Why do the Lebanese people need to go backward, when they have everything it takes in order to move on forward?...

Attached, is a picture of a typical feudal leader, circa 2006.

I got it off a "Social Democratic Party" web site.

It explains just how funny the Lebanese society can be sometimes...

Regards,

Mazen

This is a small video clip that I found while browsing youtube.com . It is going to be the first video of many more to come in a weekly video feature that will be started on the blog.

I find this video to be greatly inspiring, although I find it ironic because I am actually studying outside of Lebanon. Missing Lebanon is one of the greatest challenges that my Lebanese students studying abroad have to endure. One other small comment I'd like to make is although this clip is titled "Ma Tghayir Balad" ( don't change country ) I personally think that the title should be "Ma Tghayar El Balad" Look at it. Nothing has changed. The abuse is still there, people are still starving, and our country is slowly being sold to foriegners in pieces in the name of the economy. I hope the government does realize that it can salvage the economy in different ways that don't have to include selling Lebanon piece by piece. Mainly, but not being feudalist bloodsucking liers amatuer carless irresponsible politicians.

According to my friend Lira = 1500. These are the few things that the Lebanese society is infected with, and yes, it is a disease. You can read more of his blogs on http://lira1500.blogspot.com/ . Feel free to add more in the comments section and I'll add them to the main post.

1. Racism

2. Sectarianism

3. Arrogance

4. Indiscipline

5. Laziness

6. Ignorance

7. Shallowness

8. Corruption

Hello everyone,

The comment script on the previous template was not working, and since scripting has never been one of my strong points I had to completely change the template. Uptill now everything seems to be working. We would appreciate your feedback on everytihng we write.

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Before I begin with the topic that I want to discuss concerning the Lebanese youth, I would first like to thank Mazen for his wonderful opening thread, and I'm sure we'll see many more of the same caliber as things get going. And now to the topic at hand.

I'm sure that a large number of the people who are going to be reading this blog will be people under the age of 30. They will be people of principle, and people of thought. But I have always wondered, are they people of free thought ?

If you take a look at Lebanese newspapers these days you will see that the frontpage is full of news concerning local and regional politics, and you might also see the student representative of a certain political party at the bottom of that frontpage. But you will never see a real student movement taking up a space on the frontpage, and if you ask me why, that's because there are no free thinking student movements. Most if not all of the political parties in Lebanon have a student committee, the Free Patriotic Movement, the Future Movement, the Communist Party, Hezbollah, etc... And I believe that all these committees restrict the development of the student body as a whole on all campuses. Instead of seeing students becoming the bringers of change, they have now become a tool of exchange. Do not get me wrong here, I am for the freedom of thought and I believe that you have the right to enter any sort of organization that you want, however, take a minute and look at the Lebanese political scene.

Where do the students come in when it comes to decisions made in politics? You would think that they would have a say since they are told to attend demonstrations and support whatever decision the party they support or sympathize with has took, but sadly that's about it. If the party does not tell them to participate in a demonstration they believe in or think is right. They will not move an inch. Students have become nothing but mere followers and sheep in a stock guided by a shepard. However, the shepherd's decisions do not have to be negative, and could be positive, but just the fact that they will not take part in a certain act without being told by that shepard means that they are truly sheep, which are occasionally sent out to graze.

Since when have students been taught not to think. We could partially blame it on the educational system which teaches a child to accept instead of criticize. We could also blame it on our middle-eastern community which is also based on a feudalistic ideology, or we could blame it on the lack of vision that has hit our youth and has become a virus smeared amongst them. They have become an extension of previous followers. When the government issues a law that restricts a certain freedom or is unjust and unfair no word is uttered by those students if the leader does not say a word.

When you look at any country outside of Lebanon, you will see that the students are the ones who have led the change in society. They have rebelled against whole governments and regimes. They have pressured leaders into giving into their demands, and not the opposite. Lebanon has been stuck in a gigantic loophole for the last 50 years because of the lack of vision that inhabits its youth. Instead of being the condemners of violence they are the messengers of violence. Instead of learning from their elders' huge amount of mistakes, who have done nothing but shed blood on Lebanese territory, they carry on with their legacy threatening to kill and destroy. We do not see the the development of our society through our youth. We are only witnessing the propagation of the old sectarian, feudalistic, and rotting values in them. A small example of this continued rotting mentality is the titles given to the Lebanese leaders, which are a remnant of the Ottomans' regressive era. The shiekhs, the bieks, and the affendis, although removed as official titles by law, are still spread throughout the Lebanese community, the educated and the non-educated. Instead of having a student think about why he is giving that person such a title he goes ahead and says it without giving it a single thought. He does not think that he is giving a person that does not surpass him in anyway as a human-being, physically or mentally, the idea that he is better than him. The Lebanese youth are simply the continuation of mistakes of the past, only reincarnated into new bodies.

Why aren't the students revolting against the government ridiculous economical policies on their own. Why aren't they aware that their country is collapsing in front of their own eyes, and are not starting an initiative on their own for their country, rather than for their parties and leaders? Why aren't they on the streets at this moment protesting against the governments continuous failure? The government's economical policies do not only concern the FPM and HA. They also concern the FM, the PSP and the LF. Where were they? Aren't they aware that their fellow Lebanese are suffering. Are they just blinded by the few cans of oil and donations that they receive from the Hariri foundation? If that's the case, then the thought of not biting the hand that feeds you certainly comes into the affect.

Living on past victories has truly blinded most of the Lebanese youth. Looking at the short-run without taking a step forward and looking at the long-run, and where are the youth? The revolutionary youth that have started riots against their leaders because they did not like their policies. To me, it seems that they are hanging around in a deep slumber. More occupied with winning the university elections for their party, than actually campainging for a better university and a better Lebanon. Orange, blue, red, white, green, fushia, turquoise shirts do not create a new country founded upon patriotic principles, but it seems that this has become their center of attention. Yet, the way I see it, it only creates a rainbow of ignorance that follows to the pot of gold.

The Lebanese youth are asleep, dreaming not acting.

I would like to start my first post, here at Lebanese Renaissance, by thanking Fadi for establishing this foundation.

A great idea, I am sure!

After getting to know him for a few months online, I feel honored to participate with him in this brand of Lebanese Cause.

Fadi is a humble man with principles. He is a person who has strong love for his country and it’s people, and he is ready to contribute to this nation by any means necessary. In other words, we can say that he is a man of peace---a man for Lebanon.

A fast learner by choice, Fadi is an independent person with clear goals and a decent cause in mind.

He is creative, dynamic and tolerant, among the many other qualities we will see in him as time goes by.

God Willing, we will learn a great deal from what he has to say.

In addition, I would like to give a big welcome to Ali, another great individual who would do much for his country and his people.

As it will be shown by his personality, Ali is one of those guys who can help you by giving his 100% while he does not expect anything in return. Learning from what he knows is a blessing for all of us. Like Fadi, he certainly is a man of service, which is what we, the Lebanese, are known for best: hospitality!

With the arrival of others on board, I am sure this site will give you all a facet of Lebanon which will not be seen elsewhere. That is due to the leadership’s meticulous aim at promoting the country’s diversity by selecting members who may be different from one another but have one common ground: Lebanon.

Nowadays, many Lebanese from within and abroad are lobbying for Lebanon in their own way. I like and respect them all no matter how much I may disagree with their approach.

However, being with this circle right here is unique because I know we have a particular way of getting our message across.

In the Middle East, war and peace is the official constitution of our daily life.

Human beings are prone to error, and in a region where the “powers that be” of every generation had ambitions for conquering this part of the world, division amongst the native people are bound to happen.

This is where war kicks in and the hellfire is burning, fire upon fire.

But then, once a generation learned from it’s past, they resort into the ultimate Paradise: Peace.

Light upon light, the region and it’s people became one of pure illumination---a Phoenix on it’s own and a beacon of civilization.

Alas, the fire is no longer used as burden to the people---on the contrary, it became a lamp for our heart.

That’s when the Dove became significant to all of us.

This type of bird has been used throughout history as a “messenger of peace”, because the leaders who called for it used to write to each other through the Dove, who would then transmit their message.

The Dove is a sign of light, whitening and cleanliness. It is often used to represent anything that is in the process of purification, and there is nothing more pure in this world then peace.

In Arabic, the name: “Lubnan” is very similar to the meaning of Dove.

However, it is not a type of bird.

“Lubnan” is in fact the snow that is covering the peak of a mountaintop. It is illuminative, whitening, clean, pure…peaceful.

Lebanon in English, Liban in French, no matter by how many languages it is said, the meaning remain the same.

There is a proverb that I say about my compatriots all the time, and it’s the following…

"The Lebanese People are as mysterious as the snow flakes on top of a mountain’s peak! When obscurity occurs, they shine in the dark, but when comes the break of dawn---they are mistaken for the rays of the sun"

Indeed, no matter how many times we will go through difficulties, we will remain as we where, if not better.

Today, I wish that our dear readers will understand why every post we will write, can be seen like a Dove who is about to transmit a message to you---straight from the Lebanese mountaintop!

With the current events in our country, we wish to report to you how we see them as they unfold for the moment.

All the best in your readings!

Sincerely,

Mazen :)

Hello Everyone,

I decided to start this blog due to the fact that most of the politics that are being discussed on the Lebanese forums seem to restrict my true freedom of expression. However, this project will not be maintained by me only, but by a few friends as well, who may and may not share the same political view on certain issues and topics. We are all patriotic, some even nationalistic, some pro-arab, some anti-arab. We all have our different views, but we all want a free and independent Lebanon. The other bloggers will introduce themselves shortly.

Hope you enjoy your stay and visit us again.