E MOTION 12 When will we be free?
The end may be in sight to clear Lebanon of deadly land mines
16 Finding strength in numbers
How host communities can help forge stability for Syrian refugees
ESSE NCE 22 We want to take you higher
An awe-inspiring tour of some of the world’s most beautiful peaks
32 Kings of the World Meet the highest mountains on earth
48 Lebanon’s White Knights
The majestic ranges that constitute a country’s crowning glory
H ORIZONs 64 It’s oh so quiet…
The most peaceful places to live in the world today
85 Let your spirits soar
t h e
BEY O N D
TEA M
2014
Words from which to draw inspiration
MAGAZINE
Co-owner Ronald Saad
Winter
Owner and General Director Pascale Choueiri Saad
L.L.10,000
WINTER
Chief Environmental Consultant Edgard Chehab Environmental Consultant Bassam Kantar Copy Editor Jody Jaffe Art Director Milia Souaid Responsible Director Antoine Hajj Guest Photographers Yousra Bustros, Alfred Moussa, Riad Khoury, Christine Azar Contributing Writers Alia Fawaz, Farah Daher, John Bates, Susan Fulton, Sama Loucas, Pierre Sakr, Karim Dahdah Printed by Chamas for Printing & Publishing, Mazraa, Colombia Center Advertising & Marketing FST, info@fivestarstourism.com
www.beyond-magazine.com
Chief Editor Pascale Choueiri Saad
Published by
Five Stars Tourism s.a.r.l. Azarieh St. Azarieh Bldg. Block 01 Beirut, Lebanon Tel: +961 1 994 006 Fax: +961 1 994 007 This magazine is printed on recycled paper
Editorial enquiries mag.beyond@gmail.com
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M a in C on t ri b u t or s
Edgard Chehab
Yousra Bustros
Diana Boudargham Tannoury
Bassam Kantar
alia fawaz
alfred moussa
With 17 years of experience in the environmental field, Edgard Chehab is a renowned name in local and regional green circles. He is the assistant resident representative and manager of the Energy and Environment Program of UNDP, Lebanon. He is also the advisor to the Ministry of the Environment. Beyond is lucky to have Mr. Chehab as its environmental consultant and dear friend.
In her contributions to Beyond , Diana Boudargham Tannoury continues to push her poetic license to the next level. With a master’s degree in international communications and international relations from Boston University, Mrs. Boudargham Tannoury enjoys writing short stories and poems in the hope that her words will help raise awareness about nature’s fragility.
Alia Fawaz is a freelance writer based in Beirut with a passion to see a greener, cleaner Lebanon. Can we influence others to be environmentally responsible? Trying to answer this question is both a challenge and the source inspiration for her as a regular contributor to Beyond. She covers the increasing renewable energy projects and eco-initiatives in the country and shares snippets of natural wonders from around the globe‌
Yousra wanted to study medicine. She studied management, which bored her profoundly. She considers herself to be a selftaught person who learned according to her passions, which are numerous. They include reading, politics, philosophy, composing music, gardening, and hiking, when she is never without her camera. She has been the assistant to two extraordinary men: Gebran Tueini and Michel Elfteriades.
A seasoned Lebanese journalist, Bassam AlKantar is a founding member of the Lebanese Environment Party. Kantar frequently writes about environmental and human rights issues. He strongly believes that the free press can, be good or bad, but, most certainly without freedom, the press will never be anything but bad. Kantar won a fellowship from the Earth Journalism Network to cover the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change summit in Doha.
A photography artist who has captured the nature, architecture and people of 15 countries and 120 cities in five continents, Alfred Moussa has been taking his best shot since his tender years. He has contributed to Lebanon's Ministries of Tourism and Environment and LBC International, among many others. Mr. Moussa's work has earned him nods from Photo Laureates, American Art Festival, Georgetown University, World Press Photo, and many more. Info@alfredmoussa.com
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e mo t ion
when will we be free? Lebanon has had to bear the brunt of the devastating impact of landmines and cluster munitions over decades of war. Beyond the immediate dangers on life and limb, the mine problem imposes a heavy economic burden to affected communities. It directly obstructs the socio-economic development of certain regions, water supplies, and power lines, and it impedes farming and reconstruction and development efforts, thus reinforcing poverty and fear of movement in communities that are already amongst the poorest in the country. Words Alia Fawaz and farah daher
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It is thanks to the relentless work of the Lebanese Mine Action Center (LMAC) and its many supporters and partners which include the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), that Lebanon can now anticipate a future where these deadly devices will no longer be a threat… The History of deadly landmines in Lebanon The Lebanon mine action problem can be divided into three phases: The first phase was during the 1975-1990 civil war, during which Lebanese territory was littered with 100,000 landmines, including an alarmingly large number of unexploded ordnances. The second phase began in 2000 when Israel withdrew from Lebanon (after a 22-year occupation) leaving more than 550,000 antipersonnel and anti-tank mines in the South and Western Bekaa. By mid-2006, Lebanon was well on its way to recovery (clearance from these mines was expected to be reached by 2009), but the planning and optimism came to an abrupt end in July 2006 when Israel bombarded southern Lebanon and dropped more than 4 million cluster munitions. This third deadliest phase contaminated approximately 54.9 square kilometers of land, and affected over one million people. The Lebanon Mine Action Center (LMAC) Established in 1998, the LMAC’s vision is a Lebanon free from the impact of mines/ERW (including unexploded submunitions. The LMAC is staffed with army personnel assigned to the mine action program. It manages mine action activities that consist of: Demining, Mine Risk Education (MRE), Victim Assistance (VA), Advocacy, and ensuring the provision of administrative and logistical support to facilitate the work of all mine action organizations working in Lebanon in accordance with national and international standards. The UNDP continues to work closely with the Lebanese Army to strengthen technical and managerial capacities of the LMAC to effectively implement the mine action strategy 2010-2020.
-speaking ones. With the established capacity, Lebanon has been able to prove itself as a focal point in the region, whose advice and expertise is being sought out by other countries, such as Libya. Still work to do For Lebanon to reach its goal of being free from cluster munitions by 2019, Lebanon has yet to clear a remaining 17.06 million squaremeter of contaminated area. Factoring in the annual clearance average since 2012 of 3.31 million squaremeter (securing yearly 25 demining teams), indicates that the required time to clear the remaining areas would be close to five years. To reach LMAC’s clearance goal in the five year time frame, increased contributions of human resources, as well as physical and financial support will be required.
Helping others in the region Today, with its acquired competence and capacity-building efforts, LMAC has developed a highly competent team that has been providing training and support to organizations working in Lebanon’s mine sector, as well as to other affected countries and especially the Arabic
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time for an alternative
Lebanon’s electricity woes are a part of daily life. The constant shift from government-provided power to diesel generators is the norm. And while residents may be getting by, it’s the future that is most worrying; the demand will continue to increase and the state-run electricity company EDL (Electricité du Liban) – already struggling – will not be able to keep up. Naturally, alternative energy sources are already in place, with attractive subsidies from local banks to assist businesses and homeowners to take renewable energy (RE) loans. Words Alia Fawaz
The Small Decentralized Energy Power Generation Project (DREG) is a new initiative aimed at helping industrial and commercial businesses to realize longterm energy savings and also to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the four year project has a total budget of $1.575 million with approximately a $700,000 total grant component, and will be able to help up to ten beneficiaries. Executed by the Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW) and in coordination with the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC), DREG will assist each beneficiary through a grant and through technical and project management assistance, by setting the specifications and standards for procuring the equipment and installation services for an RE system. The equipment that will be mainly supplied is photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which have long been considered as clean sustainable energy technology that draws upon the planet’s most plentiful renewable energy source – the Sun. Luckily, Lebanon has sunny days for most of the year and it is only a matter of time before PV solar panels become widespread. “In the last five years, PV technology has grown exponentially,” explains Jil Amine, Project Manager of DREG. “And as this technology continues to mature, the prices will go down further and the technology will become increasingly attractive since the payback period will be shrinking significantly as well.” Each of these panels can provide up to 250 watts and has a life span of 25 years. While the cost of installing them is still somewhat
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high to, the long-term savings on electricity expenses are substantial. “For someone operating a large factory or a hotel for example, over a period of 25 years you can be looking at saving around $1.8 million on electricity bills” , Amine Said. DREG will finance 25% of the cost of each project, while the rest of the financing will need to come from the NEEREA low interest loan of 1.075%. So overall this scheme is highly attractive for the beneficiaries. “The UNDP CEDRO project has already started before us, albeit its co-financing is higher,” explains Amine. It is also worth noting that DREG will not only target PV technology, but will also explore possibilities in other renewable energies such as biomass, wind, and hydro. With more projects like these introducing RE into the industrial and commercial sectors, Lebanon will be able to achieve a higher share of alternative energy use, which is ultimately the way forward.
finding strength in numbers The impact of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon continues to deepen, reaching a scale unprecedented in the history of complex refugeedriven emergencies. In February 2015, the number of registered Syrian refugees alone reached nearly 1.2 million (nearly a quarter of the population) according to the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) office in Lebanon. Unlike the other neighboring host countries, Lebanon was already one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with an average of over 400 people per square kilometer of land. Words john bates
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Reaching the Tipping Point The sudden and large influx of the refugees is now placing enormous pressure on the country and its people, especially those in the poorest areas, where the displaced concentrations happen to be the greatest. The demand for public facilities and services such as electricity, water, sewage, and waste management has dramatically increased. Unable to cope with the demand, the quality of and access to education and health services have deteriorated according to UN agencies and ministries. The crisis not only challenges the country’s delicate social and economic infrastructure, but is also exacerbating significant development deficiencies such as unemployment especially among women and youth and profound disparities between the wealthy and the poor. The Syrian refugees, like the Lebanese in the local communities most affected, are becoming increasingly vulnerable. As their displacement extends and their savings deplete, their socioeconomic vulnerability increases, leading to even graver consequences. Supporting Host Communities The immense challenges has led to a call for strengthening the host communities in order to bridge humanitarian action with medium and longer term support to stability and development. The Lebanon Host Communities Support Programme (LHSP) serves to fulfill this mission, under the framework of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs. The LHSP aims to increase stability and support the communities affected by the refugee crisis, through improving livelihood and services provision. It targets communities with the highest ratio of Syrian displaced to Lebanese population that are located in the South, North, Bekaa and Mount Lebanon. The approach of LHSP is by working at a local level, involving local authorities, civil society, and private sector stakeholders for the identification of risks, needs, resources, and sustainable possible responses. The intervention
works on three fundamental levels: 1)Increase basic services at community level 2)Livelihood and the local economic opportunities (job creation and micro small medium enterprises development). 3)Improve capacities of municipalities and local organizations to respond to the crisis faced by their communities and promote peace building and conflict resolution. The efforts of LHSP to support stability in Lebanon are crucial at this stage and there still remains tremendous work and challenges ahead. An effective and continuous display of international solidarity and support will be vital for the country in the coming months and years.
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the driving desire for a better future IPT Energy Center (IPTEC) is an unprecedented, specialized research center in Lebanon set up to carry out research and specialized programs in fields such as energy, oil, and gas. From campaigns to tackle transportationinduced air pollution to setting high safety standards in the petroleum sector, IPTEC strives to make its sector safer and as environmentally friendly as possible, as it explains to BEYOND… Words susan fulton
What does IPT stand for? IPT stands for Issa Petrol Trade. Starting as a small gas station in 1989, IPT grew throughout the years to become today a leading Lebanese oil and gas company that imports, stores and distributes petroleum products including gasoline, gasoil, diesel oil, LPG and lubricants to gas stations, factories, and homes. Tell us about IPTEC IPT Energy Center (IPTEC) was established in 2012 as part of IPT Group’s CSR initiatives. It is a specialized research center in the field of energy conservation and efficient energy use and is run by both an internal and external team of energy and environment specialists. IPTEC serves IPT and the wider Lebanese society, since its activities focus on primary environmental issues derived from the use of energy sources. In collaboration with different partners, IPTEC tries to promote efficient energy use and solutions for the reduction of the bad impact of energy use on our health and environment in order to transform our society into a cleaner and better place in which to live. Tell us about your initiatives. Because the transportation sector significantly contributes to air pollution in Lebanon, IPTEC launched the “National Campaign for Air Pollution Reduction in Lebanon through Efficient Energy Use in Land Transportation” in 2012, and the “Koun Eco-Driver” initiative in September 2014, with the support of the Ministry of the Environment, ESCWA, and UNDP. As part of the initiative, IPTEC is collaborating
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this year with Fabriano (an art products supplier) and a large network of schools to invite students to express through art their concern for the air pollution caused by land transportation and the solutions that they propose. IPTEC is also planning to organize a seminar on “Air Pollution from Land Transportation in Lebanon: Reality and Solutions” at AUB, which will be held in collaboration with the UNDP, the Ministry of Energy and ESCWA. The seminar will be addressed to engineering and environmental health students to debate the impact of the land transportation sector on air pollution and climate change in Lebanon, and the proposed solutions to reduce environmental pollution from land transportation in Lebanon. Tell us about your new partnership with UNDP. The Center has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the UNDP on sustainable and renewable energy and eco-driving. In the framework of the MOU, the UNDP and IPTEC will collaborate in several areas of common interests including a joint lobbying and support for activities related to sustainable and renewable energy, the transportation sector and the oil and gas sector in Lebanon. We will mainly work on the development of environmental and safety measures for gasoline stations and natural gas prospective stations, the improvement of the standards of fuel in Lebanon, the development of the concept of eco-driving, and the promotion of public transportation.
Byblos Bank and MasterCard Celebrate
“Fly to the Swiss Alps” Success
Byblos Bank HeadquartersThursday, February 12, 2015: Byblos Bank and MasterCard celebrated the success of their latest “Fly to the Swiss Alps” offer, which allowed hundreds of cardholders to redeem only 29,000 of their accumulated Points/ Miles for a travel ticket to Switzerland during winter’s high season. “With “Fly to the Swiss Alps”, Byblos Bank confirms once again its comparative advantage in banking services in Lebanon, and its ability to cultivate partnerships with worldclass companies such as MasterCard, for the benefit of all concerned parties,” said Gilbert Zouein, Assistant General Manager and Head of Group Products,
Segments and Marketing at Byblos Bank, during the “Solong Switzerland” brunch held at Liza Restaurant, Ashrafieh. Zouein added: “Byblos Bank has become a valuable partner to all its cardholders, thanks to the periodic offers provided by Akram Program, which lately enabled many to visit prime vacation spots in Europe with just 29,000 Points/Miles instead of the originally offered 35,000 Points/Miles.” Basel Eltell, Market Manager for Levant at MasterCard, said: “We are happy to celebrate the success of the “Fly to the Swiss Alps” offer with Byblos Bank, which is yet another step in our longstanding partnership. At MasterCard, we strive to
provide cardholders with products and services that enable them to win for more rewards when using their cards.” “Fly to the Swiss Alps” is one of the numerous offers by Byblos Bank’s Akram Program, the most generous card loyalty program in Lebanon, given that it entitles cardholders to reach more distant travel locations with fewer Points/ Miles than its competitors, even during high season. Its added value, moreover, lies in helping customers plan their activities with ease and comfort, thanks to a host of facilities including full ticketing services, a 24/7 access to the Bank’s Customer Service for all immediate demands, and free additional travel insurance. For more information, please contact: Elie Wehbé Group Communication Department at Byblos Bank Tel.: 01-335200 (Ext.: 0325) Email: ewehbe@byblosbank.com.lb
e s s e nc e
The top of the mountain The hills is always the are bottom of another.
alive with the sound of music... If you don't have
Marianne Williamson
Julie Andrews
a mountain, build one and then climb it. and after you climb it, build another one; otherwise you start to flatline in your life.
When preparing to climb a mountain, Every man pack a light heart.
Sylvester Stallone
Dan May
should pull nearI likethebeing top of a mountain. a boat over a One can't get lost here. mountain once in his The cliche is that life is a The waters life. rose and mountain.You go up, reachthe
Wislawa Szymborska
Werner Herzog
top and then go down.
covered the mountains to a depth of more than fifteen cubits.
Jeanne Moreau
Genesis 7:20 22
FAMOUS ARTISTS QUOTES
What would be Cubism is like standing at a ugly in a garden certain point constitues beauty on a mountain and looking in a mountain. around. If you go higher, things will look different; if you go lower, again they will look different. It's a point of view.
Victor Hugo
Ain't It is No Mountain not the High Enoughwemountain conquer Jacques Lipchitz
Marvin Gaye & Tammi TerreL
Never measure the but ourselves. height of a mountain until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was. Edmund Hillary
Dag Hammarskjold
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high above down below
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There are times when it's best to just sit back and enjoy the awe-inspiring beauty of Earth, our little rock in a corner of the universe. Here's a good opportunity to do that. Beyond Magazine brings you a tour of the Highest peaks and the sprawling green expanses that surround them.
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swiss alps
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mount shasta, california
abisko national park, sweden
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French Pyrenees, france
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mount kailash, tibet
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Gosausee, Austria
Wo
mount kilimanjaro, tanzania
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nepal
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kings of
The world’s tallest mountains are some of the most stunning and awe-inspiring wonders of nature. They continue to intrigue and amaze us with their imposing presence and grandeur. The tallest peaks in the world all happen to be situated in Asia, and each of them reaches an impressive altitude of over eight thousand meters (fourteen mountains in the world can boast such a height). Revered by extreme climbing enthusiasts from around the world, these mountains are all aligned in the Himalaya range mostly covering Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan, and China. Words Alia Fawaz
We take you through five of the tallest on earth… 5 Makalu, Himalayas (8,485 meters) is on the border between Nepal and China and 14 miles east of Mount Everest. Makalu, which means "spiritual destiny", is often referred to as the "Great Black One" because of its dark, brooding appearance. It is an impressive mass of red granite with a four-sided pyramid shape peak. Makalu is fit for extreme climbers looking for some challenge. Because of its exposed ridges, it requires steep climbing. 4 Lhotse, Himalaya s (8,516 meters) sits on the border of China and Nepal and means "South Peak" in Tibetan. Lhotse is the least climbed among the world’s highest mountains because of the degree of difficulty resulting from its sharp, steep summit and dropping vertical ridges. Solo ascent to Lhotse is physically impossible. This mountain was actually “discovered” after Everest was climbed and it is used as an alternative route in reaching Everest. 3 Kangchenjunga, Himalayas (8,586 meters) lies between Nepal and India. Its name means the “The Five Treasures of Snows,” as it contains five peaks, with each representing the repositories of God: gold, silver, gems, grain, and holy books. The summit of Kangchenjunga has not been technically reached in order to respect the Sikkimese, the indigenous people living closest to the mountain. They believe that the summit is sacred; therefore climbers opt to end their climb before reaching its summit. 2 K2, Baltoro Karakoram (8,611 meters) is found between Pakistan and China. The “K” stands for the Karakoram Range, where it lies, and “2” stands for the second peak when it was first spotted. K2 is known as the “Savage Mountain” because of the difficulty of ascent and it has the second-highest fatality rate among the “eight thousanders” for those who climb it (Annapurna, the tenth tallest mountain, has the most fatalities to date). For every four people who have reached K2’s summit, one has died trying. 1 Mount Everest, Himalayas (8,848 meters) is located on the border between Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal, and Tibet, China and is part of the Himalayan Mountain Range. It was named after a British General Surveyor serving India in the 19th Century. Although it is the tallest mountain and attracts many climbers of both advanced and limited climbing skill, it is one of the easier mountains to climb. 34
the world Gasherbrum
Manaslu Gasherbrum
Dhaulagiri
Broad Peak Lhotse
Cho Oyu
K2
Shishapangma
Kangchenjunga
highest Mountains Annapurna
Makalu
Everest
Nanga Parbat
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Shishapangma , tibet
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kinabalu, malaysia
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Nanga Parbat, pakistan
Cho Oyu, nepal 39
Karakoram mountain range, Northern Pakistan
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Bimberi Peak, Australia
Seven Wonders of the World Andes Cordillera, Latin America
From snow-capped peaks to rugged rocky towers, these icons from seven different continents of the globe loom large and gloriously.
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Mount Ararat Armenia Mount Elbrus, Russia
Mount Fiji, Japan
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Rocky Mountains, USA
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rock
Climbers are truly a courageous breed. They embrace challenges that many would dare not attempt. They are ready to take on the big walls of the world and bravely conquer mountains in brutal conditions that most would shy away from. Their remarkable bravery and discipline to climb the highest and most challenging peaks is admirable. The following world-renowned mountain climbers have made history as a result of their towering achievements…. Words Alia Fawaz
Tenzing Norgay was a Nepali Indian Sherpa mountaineer who was 19 years old when he won a spot in the 1936 Everest Expedition. Years later, in 1953 he, along with Edmund Hilary, became the first two people to stand atop Mt. Everest.
Maxime Chaya, Lebanon’s foremost sportsman and climber, was the first person in his country to climb Mount Everest in 2006. He also became the sixth person in history to complete the Explorers Grand Slam (a rigorous challenge to ascend the seven summits – the highest mountain on every continent – while also skiing to the North and South Poles). 44
The second highest peak to be conquered after Everest was the challenging K2, which was reached by Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli on July 31,1954. While lauded for their feat, these two famous climbers are also noted for allegedly betraying their teammates Amir Mehdi and Walter Bonatti to ensure that they reached the summit first.
stars Junko Tabei from Japan became the first woman to reach the summit of Mt. Everest in 1975. During Tabei’s remarkable climb, she got buried in an avalanche and even lost consciousness for six minutes. Reinhold Messner fell in love with the Alps and climbed his first summit at the tender age of five. Messner holds the record for having climbed all fourteen 8,000-feet high peaks without supplemental oxygen.
A beekeeper by profession, Edmund Hilary climbed mountains as a hobby - first, the slopes of his native New Zealand and then the Swiss Alps. He went on to conquer 11 peaks before deciding to climb Mt. Everest in 1953 and making it to the top. 45
holy peaks
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Mountains are well represented in the world’s holy books: Moses retires to Mount Sinai, where God reveals to him the Ten Commandments; Jesus gives his sermon on a mount, and he is on top of a mountain when he is transfigured; and Muhammad meditates in a mountain cave when he receives his first revelation.
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where deference reighs
Song of Songs 4:8 "Come with me from Lebanon, my bride.... Descend from the crest of Amana, from the top of Senir, the summit of Hermon, from the lions' dens and the mountain haunts of the leopards." Words Alia Fawaz
Mount Hermon, Lebanon
Ever since early times, mountains around the world have been held sacred; in almost any culture you can find a mountain that is revered and adored. Perhaps it is due to their sheer beauty and grandeur, which gave people a sense of divinity. After all, these looming peaks are most closely positioned next to the heavens and the celestial bodies, which make them all the more inspiring and rightfully out of this world. Religions around the world have long attributed divine qualities to the mountains that have impacted their civilizations. Egypt’s Mount Sinai is where Moses received the Ten Commandments and Mount Ararat in Turkey is the site where Noah’s Ark finally landed after the flood to cleanse humanity. 48
In Lebanon, we can account for three summits as holy alluded to since earliest history in the Bible and in the accounts of Mesopotamian conquerors: Qurnat as Sawda in the North, the glorious Sannine in the Centre and Mount Hermon to the South, on the border between Lebanon and Syria. At the base of Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth, lays the famous Rongbuk Monastery, an important pilgrimage site for the Sherpa people. The volcanic mountains of Mauna Kea are sacred for the native Hawaiians as is Mt. Kailash in Tibet, where the Hindu god Shiva is believed to sit in a state of eternal meditation. Over in Sweden, Áhkká, the
12-peaked massif in Sweden's Lapland is regarded as holy in the indigenous Sami tradition and in California’s Mount Shasta, according to the folklore of the native Klamath Tribe, Skell, the "Spirit of the Above-World", inhabits the snow-capped volcano. Whether you believe the different legends and religious associations that surround them or not, it's hard to deny the sublime power that mountains represent. Their presence alone and the exhilarating sensation derived from being perched on their magnificent peaks is enough to make them appear sacred. Here are some of the world’s most majestic mountains worth visiting for a spiritual high.
Mauna Kea, Hawaii
Mount Vesuvius, Italy
Mount Olympus, Greece
Mount Kailash, Tibet
Machu Picchu, Peru
Arunachala, Tamil Nadu, India
Mount Everest, Nepal
Sannine, Lebanon
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lebanon's
Lebanon is synonymous with mountains and snow, thanks to its unique geography. In fact its very name is derived from the ancient Semitic word for white, “laban,” with references to its frosted peaks dating back to the Old Testament. Being a small country and virtually entirely perched on two mountainous ranges – Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon – with proximity to the sea, means that you can literally ski and swim in the same day (yes, you’ve undoubtedly heard of that cliché). What divides these two mountain ranges is the lush, fertile plateau of the Bekaa Valley, which forms the northern extremity of the Great Rift Valley. The Mount Lebanon range extends along the entire country for about 170 km, parallel to the Mediterranean coast. Its highest peak is Qurnat al Sawda', (3,088 m) followed by Sannine (2,628 meters). Lebanon has historically been defined by these rugged mountains, which provided protection for the local population. The mountains are known for their sprawling oak and pine forests, and the last remaining old growth groves - of the famous Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) - are on the high slopes of Mount Lebanon (2000 m altitude), in the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz-el Rab) World Heritage Site, in the town of Bcharré. In the winter, frosts are frequent with heavy snowfall and snow covering the highest peaks for much of the year. In the summer, temperatures may rise as high during the daytime as they do along the coast, but they actually fall far lower at night. Inhabitants of the coastal cities and around the country seek refuge from the oppressive humidity of the summer by spending much of those months in the mountains, where they commonly have a second summer residence. Naturally these mountain ranges also offer great skiing resorts and amazing summer retreats, with the most sought after spots being the Cedars, Laqlouq, Mzaar Kfardebian, Faqra Kfarderbian, Qanat Bakish, Zaarour, and Sannine. 50
ŠAlfred Moussa
white knights
hermel, lebanon 51
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ŠAlfred Moussa
Arez, Becharri, LEBANON
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"In the beginning were the blossoming almond trees"
ŠYousra Bustros
Y.B.
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ŠYousra Bustros
"There is like a breath of madness in the winds of spring" Y.B.
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"The intoxicating perfume of broom signals that spring is taking its leave"
ŠYousra Bustros
Y.B.
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ŠYousra Bustros
"Where the mountain meets the plains, its sides are adorned with tenderness" Y.B.
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do not disturb Developments in the mountains may be endangering the vital water cycle Lebanon, the mountainous terrain with the highest peaks in the Middle East region, is characterized by remarkable topographic features due to the intensive geological setting as well as the development of remarkable geomorphologic features in many parts of its terrain. Karst is one of these features, which is very well developed in the carbonate rocks. Words Bassam Alkantar
Thus, there is an obvious concern about the karstic landforms in Lebanon, which are often merely considered from the landscape point of view. However, they have another role with respect to water resources, notably for groundwater flow and storage. Karstification is well pronounced among the limestone and dolomite rocks in the Lebanese territory, and it is developed in the subsurface media as much as on the ground surface. The Cenomanin rocks are composed largely of highly fractured and karstified limestone, dolomite, and dolomitic limestone, with some intervening marly limestone. These rocks are almost always exposed, and soil occurs only in the depressions and among the existing sinkholes. In addition, the exposures of these rocks show intensive fragmented rocks almost of gravel size. From a geomorphic point of view, the area of concern comprises a piedmont land feature, at a considerable altitude, 58
where it is covered by snow for about ten months per year, and the snow patches remain in some valleys and depressions as well as sinkholes to the middle summer season as the last snow patches on the Lebanese terrain. A scientific study conducted by Shaban and Darwich in 2011 aims at characterizing the existing sinkhole systems in the Lebanese high mountains and identifying their orientation and dimensions, and thus recognizing their influence in transporting water from the melting snow into the Cenomanian aquifer. This highlights their importance from an environmental point of view, in order to conserve these geomorphic features, which are believed to be the major channel system in feeding the groundwater reservoir in the region. In the past decade, there has been an unprecedented rush to build mountain resorts, primarily in the hills overlooking Beirut, but also in some high mountains
areas that should be totally protected against any haphazard urbanization. In July 2014 the Lebanese government ratified a proposal by the Ministry of the Environment to prepare a master plan for the protection of the high mountains and natural areas and organize coastal investment and green spaces and agricultural lands in Lebanon. The environmental implications of mountain resorts have yet to be thoroughly assessed by urban planning departments as well as by the relevant host municipality. Mountain resorts engender potentially significant and irreversible impacts not only on the natural environment but also on the rural fabric of mountain villages and towns. This may be exacerbated with time if environmental controls are not anticipated and implemented. Field reconnaissance shows local pollution aspects. There is a fear that this could be a prelude to further contamination processes.
belouh Balaa, tannourine, lebanon 59
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heavenly contemplation A cathedral is a place for one to pray and reflect, so why not do that in the most down-to-earth setting, as in the midst of nature? This is what artist Giuliano Mauri envisioned when he set out to build Cattedrale Vegetale (Tree Catheral) in Bergamo, Italy. Today this structure, located at the base of Mount Arera, is arguably the most impressive piece of "natural architecture" on Earth. Trees are continuously killed in order to construct things, including homes, but this cathedral is made of living, breathing trees that continue to thrive. It’s a structure that does not take away from the natural landscape or compete with it, but instead blends in and becomes part of it. To realize his vision, Mauri and his team combined trees and branches to make 42 different columns that formed five aisles. The columns incorporate 1,800 spruce trunks and 600 chestnut tree branches woven together
with over 6000 meters of hazelnut twigs. Nails, string and local traditional methods of intertwining and weaving were used in order to secure the columns around the trees. The cathedral covers 650 square meters and took months to construct. Since these man-made columns will eventually decay and collapse, Mauri planted hornbeam trees, so that years later, the trees will eventually outgrow the structure. This will create completely natural walls and roofs to be a Words Alia fawaz
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truly organic and a very much “alive” cathedral. These trees will also eventually morph into canopies that will form the spectacular vaulted ceiling of a Gothic style cathedral. The framework of Cattedrale Vegetale was completed in 2010 (a year after Mauri passed away), but the actual planning and foundations began back in 2001. This aweinspiring site stands in tribute to Mauri’s incredible work and a living proof that nature can be integrated intelligently into more facets of our lives.
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it's oh so quiet... The notion of peace in our life is sometimes taken for granted, depending on where we live. Places with high crime rate, corruption, little or no freedom of speech, and constant wars raging, rob citizens of their sense of security and well-being. We all deserve our basic human right to live in a safe and peaceful environment but that is not the case in too many places today. Here are the nations listed as the most peaceful in the world by the IEP (Institute for Economics and Peace). They are clearly doing something right‌. Words Alia fawaz
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Switzerland has received the lowest score for political instability and has low levels of violent crime. Although Switzerland is known for its neutrality in regional and global political issues, it maintains strong diplomatic relations with many countries around the world. 65
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Denmark tops this list and the Danes are renowned for being friendly too. Even while Copenhagen was under occupation by the Nazis during World War II, it still did not fight. It seems that Danes prefer to focus on economic matters, instead of engaging in armed conflicts. 66
According to the Global Peace Index, Bhutan is also among the 20 most peaceful countries on Earth. The mostly Buddhist natives are known for being cultured and peace-loving, with a deep reverence for nature.
A relatively new country, the Czech Republic gained its independence from the Soviet Bloc in 1989. Since then it has largely concentrated on building a strong capitalist economy and creating a stable climate for investment. 67
Slovenia surprisingly makes this list but it does comply with the measures of most peaceful countries. Maribor and Ljubljana are wonderful cities teeming with unique culture worth visiting too.
Since World War II, Japan has been really peaceful, with little internal conflict and low crime. The country relies on an internal security force in order to maintain the peace. 68
Slovenia surprisingly makes this list but it does comply with the measures of most peaceful countries. Maribor and Ljubljana are wonderful cities teeming with unique culture worth visiting too.
Iceland has managed to steer clear from the main conflicts in the world and remains an exciting tourist destination filled with spectacular natural beauty. 69
Norway is the country with the highest level of human development in the world and the government always places peace at the forefront of the nation’s priorities.
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Situated in the heart of Europe, Belgium is one of the best and most peaceful places to live that has low homicide and imprisonment rates. Its capital, Brussels, is home to the European Union and NATO.
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Finland is still a country that embraces mandatory civil and military service, yet its only participation in fighting has been as a part of joint United Nations peacekeeping forces. Finland places education at the heart of literally everything. Its education system is ranked fifth best in the world.
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Mauritius was ranked the most peaceful country in the whole of Africa. This island country boasts relative stability in the region and promotes itself as a trusted platform for wealth management services and estate planning. 74
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a shore Turkey is a nation surrounded by water with the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Black Sea to the north and the Aegean Sea to the west. Whichever side of the coast you are on, you are sure to find a tranquil and gleaming slice of paradise. Here are some amazing beaches worth visiting in Turkey… Words Alia fawaz
Often rated as the best beach, Iztuzu or Turtle Beach is located in the southwest of Turkey. It is the most important breeding site for Loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean. The narrow beach stretches for almost 5 km in the delta of the Med and Dalyan River. It makes up a protected wildlife area, so the beach is not overcrowded. To reach Kaputas Beach you will need to take a long flight to stairs (nearly 200 steps), but anyone will tell you it is worth it. Located in southwestern Turkey between Kas and Kalkan, Kaputas sits at the base of a dramatic gorge that opens out into a stretch of sand. You can swim to the sea caves of Güvercin Mağarası and Mavi Mağara, and there are plenty of waterside rocks that act as natural diving boards. Kabak Beach is known for its tranquility and untouched natural beauty, where you won't find any watersports, sun beds, or boat trips. Situated at the brink of the Kabak Valley in the southwest, where the Mediterranean meets the Aegean, it is surrounded by a lush pine forest, making the trip to this stunning beach quite an adventure in itself. Butterfly Valley is a charming small beach that found its place at the brink of a V-shaped valley between two spectacular towering cliffs. Faralya village is on the top of the cliff, where you can hang out and enjoy breathtaking scenery. You can climb 76
down the rocky path to the water or else get there by boat. Patara Beach is 11 miles of shimmering sand dunes located in a national park. The beach is closed after sunset from May to October, so that loggerhead sea turtles can lay and hatch their eggs in the sand. You won’t find many tourists here and it has one community-run café. The beach that runs from the ruins at Olympos to Çıralı has everything you can possibly want during your vacation - quiet fish restaurants, tree house cafés, and beach yoga classes overlooking inviting transparent waters. Çıralı Beach is surrounded by rocky hills, covered with pine forest, and it faces Mount Tahtali, the home of Gods. If you are fond of snorkeling Sivrice Bay is the best choice, located in Assos on the Aegean Sea. Often overlooked by tourist guidebooks, this idyllic beach is a real gem if you’re looking for natural beauty. It has a narrow pebbly shore fringed with olive groves and water so transparent you can see fish, with or without a snorkel. The soft golden sands and warm waters of Aydincik Beach are a favorite among locals and windsurfers. The beach is on the Turkish island Gökçeada, making up one of two Aegean inhabited islands. Flamingoes and other birds can often be seen bathing in the salt water inland, and the area nearby is a nature reserve.
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that sinking Lebanon’s beaches are contaminated at dangerous levels in many public areas and resorts in the country, according to testing conducted by National Centre for Marine Sciences, which measured fecal levels in swimming water in 30 areas along Lebanon’s coast. The report found the water unsafe for swimming, well above international safety limits, in 20 areas. Words Bassam Alkantar
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feeling The center follows this activity since 1980; thirty representative sites of the coastal region are chosen alongside the Lebanese coastline. Physical, chemical, bacteriological and biological analyses are carried out monthly (2 times per month during the summer). An annual sites’ classification is established according to different types of degradation. Samples collected from swimming areas in Al- minieh, Al-Fidar, Tripoli, Nahr Al-Kalb, Jounieh, Tabarja, Manar, Ramlet al-Baida, and Sidon all measured above the 100 fecal coliforms mark which meant that the beaches are no longer safe for swimming. But good bacteriological water quality in Heri, Kobah, Batroun, Al- Bohsa, Byblos, Damour, and Tyre. The Only near 90 percent safe beaches in Lebanon are Enfeh Northern Lebanon and Naqoura Southern Lebanon. Unsafe levels of fecal coliforms can lead to rashes, diarrhea and vomiting and can spread disease depending on the extent of exposure. Results can vary widely in the same city based on where the sample is taken, it often depends on where waste is exhausted, which is not widely regulated. The Lebanese government, municipalities and international organizations have been working on building a slew of waste treatment plants on the coast for years. Treatment plants are in various stages of development. But various delays
continue to slow the projects. Lebanon’s public beaches are shrinking, partly due to infringements on the public maritime domain. Coastal erosion, mainly in north Lebanon, is also affecting beach quality and access. Bathing water is affected by several pollution streams (sewage outfalls, thermal plants, industries, etc.) and therefore the need to monitor its quality is pronounced. In addition to untreated sewage from cities and towns, coastal waters are also affected by large seafront dumpsites in Tripoli (still active but contained), Bourj Hammoud (closed but not rehabilitated), Beirut (closed and rehabilitated), Saida (closed and rehabilitated) and Sour (active). Additional pollution into coastal waters stems from coastline thermal power plants (Beddawi, Zouk, Jieh and Zahrani) and the overwhelming presence of heavy industries along the coast. The Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) load from industrial wastewater is estimated at 5,000 tonnes per year. Waters near industrial sites show high levels of the heavy metals Arsenic, Lead, Zinc and Chromium. The highest levels were found near the Dora industrial complex, due mainly to the significant tannery industry located there. Chromium levels may have dropped since because several tanneries have closed. Very little has been achieved in so far as treating industrial wastewater before discharge into the municipal streams, rivers and sea. 79
mountain memory carry you away
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Of Love And Forces
Diana Boudargham Tannoury
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Fighting for Beating Hearts Nearly one in 100 babies are born with congenital heart disease, making it the leading birth defect in the world. When treated adequately, 85% of these children are cured, but if left untreated, more than 80% will die or develop major problems before their first birthday. While the prevalence of heart disease in babies is high, they are far more treatable today than before. Unfortunately, many families don’t have the financial means to cover the costs (on average, surgery costs $10,000-$15,000). Active since 2005, the Heartbeat Association in Lebanon has made a significant contribution towards treatment and awareness of congenital heart disease. it work with hospitals and patients nationwide to provide surgical technology and expertise available for children suffering heart disease. So far it has treated 1700 children through donations, which through music concerts and gala dinners attracting nearly 6,000 people each year.
This year for its tenth anniversary, it set out to reach far more people through its nation wide “Heartbeat Box” campaign, featuring its long-time ambassador, the Lebanese mountaineer and explorer Maxime Chaya. Close to 100,000 boxes were distributed throughout Lebanon in key points, ranging from schools, universities, LibanPost offices, ABC Malls, Roadster Diner branches to cinemas with requests for donation. In conjunction, Heartbeat visited fifty schools all over the nation for an awareness campaign educating students on how to diagnose congenital heart disease and the medical treatments available. The hugely successful “Heartbeat Box” has become the biggest donation campaign of its kind in the country. We salute the hard work and dedication of Heartbeat. Thanks to you many more newborns will have the chance that have been collected mainly they deserve…
we must teach our children to smell the earth to taste the rain to touch the wind to see things grow to hear the sun rise and night fall to care john cleal
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