We're joined by Mira Minkara for Episode 63 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the protests, celebrations and hopes of the residents of Tripoli. Mira also reflects on local initiatives, youth empowerment and women playing a central role in the revolution. Mira is a licensed tour guide and conducts her 'Mira's Guided Tours' on a weekly basis. Check our her schedule and tour details by clicking below: https://www.facebook.com/mirasguidedtours/ If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The ...
Nov 18, 2019•35 min
Voices from the Square, Part 16-2 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from downtown Beirut. The second installment of Part 16, Elia continues her conversation in Martyrs Square with Lama Tabbara, 34-year old entrepreneur who spent twenty years in Canada and returned to Lebanon for the revolution. Lama reflects on Alaa Abou Fakher's death and what it means for protestors demanding dignity and calls for national unity. If you're enjoying these episodes, help supp...
Nov 17, 2019•17 min
We're joined by Ishac Diwan for Episode 61 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the The Economic Rescue Plan for Lebanon released a week ago. The meeting that led to the document's publication was organized by the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies, the Political Economy Observatory on the Middle East and the Arab Reform Initiative. Ishac helped contribute and is a signatory to the paper (accessible via the following link): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HoZw7WjndZSivnnHwLzEKKabuJmbJqU3/view I...
Nov 17, 2019•26 min
Voices from the Square, Part 16-1 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from downtown Beirut. Elia is joined by several voices in Martyrs Square, reflecting on Alaa Abou Fakher's death in Khalde and the next steps needed for protestors to persevere in their demands. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing to our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan And subscribe to our podcast from your preferred podcast ...
Nov 16, 2019•15 min
We're joined by Oussama Himani for Episode 59 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the Economic Rescue Plan released by the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies. Oussama Himani is an economist and CIO at Parkview. He shares his thoughts on the recommendations floated by the authors of the paper to stabilize the economy, and reflects on calls for government controls, hesitation towards privatization and the Lira's durability. Click below to read the Emergency Rescue Plan: https://drive.google.com/f...
Nov 16, 2019•31 min
We're joined by Jad El Khoury for Episode 58 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss art and urban intervention, and attempts at post-civil war healing through various types of expression. Jad is best known for his Burj El Hawa installation and his caricature contributions alongside the former Holiday Inn's eastern wall. He is currently active in the uprising and adding more of his work throughout downtown Beirut. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing to ...
Nov 15, 2019•44 min
Voices from the Square, Part 15 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from Martyrs Square. Elia discusses medical efforts in downtown Beirut with Bilal Baadarani, a 25-year old registered nurse volunteering as a first aid medic in Martyrs Square. Bilal shares his hopes for political reform, an end to pervasive corruption, and the national unity that's persisted into the uprising's second month. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by ...
Nov 15, 2019•8 min
Voices from the Square, Part 14 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from Martyrs Square. Elia tackles the difficult aftermath of the President’s recent speech and a protester’s death in Khalde, and the emotions resonating throughout the country. She heads straight to Martyrs Square at a vigil set up to honor the protestor’s life and speaks with five people from different backgrounds sharing their calls for national healing, unity and pride. If you're enjoying t...
Nov 14, 2019•16 min
We're joined by Walid Fakherddine for Episode 55 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss Haki Thawra at Samir Kassir Garden and the momentum behind leaderless demonstrations entering their fifth week. Walid is a media analyst and scholar. He reflects on previous demonstrations and their limitations, and why this uprising is particularly unique in modern Lebanese history. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing to our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/th...
Nov 14, 2019•42 min
We're joined by Joey Ayoub for Episode 54 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the role of new media and citizen journalism, as well as the images of unity that have defined the demonstrations over the past four weeks. Joey shares his reflections of events that took hold last night, coinciding with the President's speech and death of a protestor in Khalde. Joey is the co-host of Hummus for Thought podcast. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing to our P...
Nov 13, 2019•29 min
Voices from the Square, Part 13 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from Martyrs Square. Elia interviews Maria Akl - 31-year old architect protesting into the fourth week of the uprising. Maria shares her reflections on unemployment, social mobility and hopes for economic reform. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing to our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan And subscribe to our podcast from your pr...
Nov 13, 2019•16 min
We're joined by Jean Kassir for Episode 52 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss political activism, calls for social change and the role of citizen journalism. Jean Kassir is the managing editor and co-founder of Megaphone News. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing to our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan And subscribe to our podcast from your preferred podcast platform. Follow us on Instagram: thebeirutbanyan Twitter: beirut_banya...
Nov 13, 2019•39 min
Voices from the Square, Part 12 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from the streets of downtown Beirut. Elia interviews Pierre Madani - 47-year old financial anaylst. Pierre shares his views on the Central Bank's approach to the current financial crisis, disillusionment with the policies so far and recommendations on a more suitable way forward to manage potential bankruptcy. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing to ...
Nov 12, 2019•25 min
We're joined by Professor Samir Khalaf for Episode 50 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss Martyrs Square and the role of the 'Bourj' in modern Beirut's story. Professor Khalaf offers his perspective on the central problems with post-civil war urban planning and why Beirut did not reemerge the way many designers and architects had hoped. He also shares his childhood memories of Ras Beirut and a reflection of academia in Lebanon over the past seven decades. The books he authored mentioned during ...
Nov 12, 2019•49 min
Voices from the Square, Part 11 with Elia Haber for The Beirut Banyan, bringing conversations directly from the streets of downtown Beirut. Elia interviews Joy Bassil - 22-year old international management student at NDU; and Ramzi Shamaa - 55-year old self-employed market researcher. Joy and Ramzi share their admiration of unity throughout the country, reflections on the past four weeks and what what they want to see in the near future as demonstrations continue. If you're enjoying these episod...
Nov 11, 2019•11 min
We're joined by Jessica Semaan for Episode 48 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the role of poetry and prose during the uprising, and ways of collective healing through art and expression. Jessica Semaan is a published poet who wrote 'Child of the Moon', available for purchase via the following link: https://www.amazon.com/Child-Moon-Jessica-Semaan/dp/144949448X The poem she shares during the episode, 'Lebnen, I am coming home' can be found below: https://medium.com/@jessicasemaan/lebnen-i-am...
Nov 11, 2019•27 min
We're joined by Nadim Houry for Episode 47 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss calls for unity, protestors ability to reclaim public space, and demands for social change taking hold throughout Lebanon. Nadim Houry is the executive director of Arab Reform Initiative in Paris and previously served as the director of Human Rights Watch office in Beirut. The Economic Rescue Plan Nadim signed on to can be accessed via the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HoZw7WjndZSivnnHwLzEKKabuJmbJ...
Nov 10, 2019•32 min
Elia Haber captures the uprising directly from the streets of downtown Beirut in Voices from the Square, Part 10. Elia interviews Fares Attieh - 29-year old financial analyst; Georges Gemayel - 28-year old banker; and Charelle Abdallah - 23-year old filmmaker. They share their reflections on the past four weeks of demonstrations, and what what they expect in the near future as calls for reform continue. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing to our Patr...
Nov 10, 2019•10 min
We're joined by Nadim Shehadi for Episode 45 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the country's power-sharing structure and its durability throughout modern Lebanese history. He offers his view from New York and the diaspora's ongoing role in Lebanon's post-war economy and politics. Nadim Shehadi is the Executive Director of Lebanese American University's New York campus and previously served as Director of the Fares Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies at Tuft's Fletcher School of Law &...
Nov 09, 2019•35 min
In Voices from the Square - Part 9, Elia Haber captures the October Uprising directly from Martyrs Square with Mohammad Bzeih, a 22-year old graduate economics student at LAU. Mohammad shares his perspectives from the post-1989 political and economic order, and the structural problems that led to the uprising. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing to our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan And subscribe to our podcast from your prefer...
Nov 09, 2019•10 min
We're joined by Faysal Itani for Episode 43 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss long-standing structural problems facing Lebanon. The conversation includes difficulties in persisting with the confessional power-sharing mechanism Lebanon inherited in 1943, and the unsustainable post-1989 economic model protestors are currently challenging. Faysal Itani is a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council with a focus on defense policy and extremism, and a professor at The George Washington University. If ...
Nov 08, 2019•32 min
In Voices from the Square - Part 8, Elia Haber captures the October Uprising with Milia Ayache, lecturer in English at AUB and actor. Demands for political restructuring and economic reforms are addressed directly from Martyrs Square. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing to our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan And subscribe to our podcast from your preferred podcast platform. Follow us on Instagram: thebeirutbanyan Twitter: beirut...
Nov 08, 2019•18 min
We're joined by Houssam El Eid - managing partner of Urbanista - for Episode 41 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the youth's role in the current uprising. Social media and technology have reshaped the way protestors interact with and share news, making this revolt markedly different than previous demonstrations. Houssam El Eid shares his thoughts on the role of work-space environments and how they cater to freedom of expression and thought. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The...
Nov 08, 2019•38 min
In Voices from the Square - Part 7, Elia Haber captures the October Uprising with new guests Jovanie Feghaly - a 19-year old cinema studies student at Lebanese University; Youssef Lahoud - a 27-year old process engineer and pure chemistry student; and Hala Ghoussoub - a 29-year old architect and and tourism sector entrepreneur. Unemployment, economic concerns and demands for political reform are addressed directly from Martyrs Square. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Ba...
Nov 07, 2019•21 min
We're joined by Emile Hokayem for Episode 39 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss external and internal concerns facing Lebanon today, and how regional and domestic politics play a key role in resolving Lebanon's structural problems. Emile Hokayem is a senior fellow for Middle East security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and writes extensively on security matters and inter/intra-state politics and conflict. His writings and commentary have featured in The New York Times, F...
Nov 07, 2019•29 min
Voices from the Square, Part 6 with co-host Elia Haber, bringing conversations and reflections directly from Martyrs Square. Elia captures the October Uprising with her eight and ninth guests, Nayla Geagea - a 35-year old lawyer and legal researcher, and Selim Mawad - a human rights activist and painter. Check out Selim's art via the following link: www.selimmawad.com Nayla and Selim share their frustrations and hopes from the demonstrations now entering their fourth week. If you're enjoying the...
Nov 06, 2019•21 min
We're joined by Michael Young for Episode 37 of The Beirut Banyan. The first section of our conversation focuses on the political and economic factors that led to the October Uprising and the possibilities ahead for change and reform. The second section - beginning at 36:15 - takes us back to Michael's student years in Ras Beirut and AUB, his early career in political analysis at The Lebanese Center for Policy Studies and journalism at The Daily Star, and why he wrote 'The Ghosts of Martyrs Squa...
Nov 06, 2019•1 hr 21 min
Voices from the Square, Part 5 with co-host Elia Haber, bringing conversations and reflections directly from Martyrs Square. Elia captures the October Uprising with her seventh guest, Lana Halabi - a 31-year old children's storyteller and co-founder of Halabi Bookshop. Lana has been offering children's readings during the demonstrations, and she shares her reasons for continuing to protest and her optimism for a renewed sense of unity throughout Lebanon. If you're enjoying these episodes, help s...
Nov 05, 2019•13 min
We're joined by Mark Daou for Episode 35 of The Beirut Banyan, and we discuss the youth factor, communication strategy and political activism during the October Uprising. Mark is a lecturer at AUB and LAU, focusing on media and public relations. His political activism bridges politics and communications with a sincere belief that structural change is both possible and needed. If you're enjoying these episodes, help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing to our Patreon page: https://www.patreo...
Nov 05, 2019•30 min
Voices from the Square, Part 4 with co-host Elia Haber, bringing conversations and reflections directly from Martyrs Square. Elia captures the October Uprising with her fifth and sixth guests, Joelle Assaf - a 24-year old working in advocacy / reform in the Bekaa Valley, and Mohamad Bzeih, a 28-year old software designer and architect. Both Joelle and Mohamad share their demands for political change, fighting corruption and what economic improvement should look like. If you're enjoying these epi...
Nov 04, 2019•15 min
