Global Voices » Moussa Bashir

Lebanon's Happy Offshore Oil Billboards

Moussa Bashir — Tue, 07 May 2013 08:38:50 +0000

“Lebanon’s Ministry of Energy and Water has launched a new [billboard] campaign promoting the benefits of off-shore oil exploration for the average citizen. The ads contain shots of smiling people aside captions like: “My children and I are staying in Lebanon“ or “I’m going back to work in Lebanon!“”

He continues, sarcastically “Why stop there? I think the Ministry needs a nudge in a more ambitious direction” and suggests adding: “Streets free of traffic jams, private jets, manaqeesh (a pizza-like Lebanese dish) with salmon and caviar, space exploration” etc.

Lebanon's Migrant Workers Mark May Day

Moussa Bashir — Tue, 07 May 2013 08:36:40 +0000

KAFA (Enough Racism and Violence) posted [Ar] that the migrant domestic workers in Beirut celebrated Labor's Day by holding a demonstration in which they demanded an end to the Kafala System [Sponsorship System]. The demonstration culminated with a gathering in a public park where the workers shared different aspects from their respective cultures.

Social Media and Sarcasm in Lebanon

Moussa Bashir — Tue, 07 May 2013 08:35:51 +0000

The Eleventh Room posted some funny tweets about Beirut’s first Social Media Awards event. They said the Social Media Awards hashtag #SMABeirut was going strong on Twitter days after the event. They added:

“As we were going through them, we couldn’t help but laugh out loud at some pretty sarcastic/hilarious ones. So, we thought we’d share them on our blog.”

Lebanon's First Social Media Awards

Moussa Bashir — Tue, 07 May 2013 08:33:28 +0000

Najib at Blog Baladi won the ”Blog of the Year” award in Beirut's first Social Media Awards event. He wrote this post about the ceremony in general with comments on some aspects of its organization. He also includes comments about the attitudes of some of the attendees such as those of celebrity Haifa Wehbe, among others.

2015 is the Year of Oil and Gas in Lebanon

Moussa Bashir — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 22:24:49 +0000

The year 2015 will be the Lebanese year for oil and gas exploration according to a timeline, which is supposed to be approved by the cabinet, and which is posted by the Lebanon Spring Blog.

Lebanon's National Football Team Scandal

Moussa Bashir — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 22:24:17 +0000

“If it’s true that there are many players involved in match-fixing, of which 9 players are in the National Team, then you can kiss Football goodbye in Lebanon.” This is how Blog Baladi summed up his response to reports about the match-fixing scandal that has been going on for years and of which nothing was done to stop by the knowledgeable game officials.

Christmas Decorations around Lebanon

Moussa Bashir — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:24:54 +0000

Cloud of Lace posts beautiful images of the Christmas decorations from various cities in Lebanon during this year's (2012) celebrations.

Lebanon: France, Oil and Independence Day

Moussa Bashir — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 21:20:27 +0000

Nadine Mazloum puts together a collection of Lebanese Twitter user reactions to Independence Day (Nov 22). She ends her article with a sarcastic comparison of the various occupiers of Lebanon in which France wins the first place. Thus, France is called upon to come back, especially now that oil was discovered in Lebanon.

Lebanon: Protesting Shalala's Honorary Degree

Moussa Bashir — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 12:25:56 +0000

Rami reported and posted a video of demonstrators who disrupted the Master’s graduation ceremony at the American University of Beirut to protest against awarding an honorary degree to Donna Shalala. The demonstrators protested Shalala's support for engagement with Israel.

Lebanon: Protest to Re-Open Beirut's City Park

Moussa Bashir — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 20:20:57 +0000

“Personally I do not understand how a park can be kept closed for the public, letting only the privileged few enter upon a permit,” wrote leelouz in a post about the protest held to raise awareness to the insignificant amount of public green space and to demand the re-opening of the city's park.

Lebanon: Beirut Most Expensive City in Middle East

Moussa Bashir — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 20:20:24 +0000

Blog Baladi shares this advice: “Beirut has become so expensive that even expats no longer can afford it. Maybe we should stop building 1000 square meters apartments for Arabs to rent/buy and start building reasonable flats with rational prices for Lebanese and the average tourist.”

Lebanon: Proposed Law to Regulate the Internet

Moussa Bashir — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:32:17 +0000

“I’ve previously called bullshit on the claims that the government wants to protect us. Oops, I just wrote “bullshit” and broke clause #1 of the proposed law,” blogs Mustapha in his post lambasting the Lebanese Ministry of Information's plan to discuss a draft law which aims at “regulating websites and protecting their owners”.

Lebanon: Is Social Media Useful?

Moussa Bashir — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:31:41 +0000

“I always ask myself whether the Lebanese online community is actually making things better by raising awareness or is just trying to reach out to more people?” writes Najib questioning the usefulness of social media in inciting action rather than just being concerned with tweeting and blogging. His post was in reaction to a video in which a man is shown abusing a foreign worker in front of the embassy of her country.

Lebanon: Bloggers Get Together

Moussa Bashir — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:07:52 +0000

The first Get Together for Lebanese bloggers organized by LebAgg took place on February 9, 2012. ”It was a pretty casual one, the sole purpose was to kick-start a series of more get togethers for bloggers. We were hoping for some brainstorming and bloggers suggesting ideas, but the settings didn't really help whereas there was food and drinks and the bloggers were having fun..” wrote Liliane, who spearheaded this event.

Lebanon: Her Veil

Moussa Bashir — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:53:13 +0000

“And when I made up my mind and ran to my mom screaming ”baddi it7ajab” [I want to wear the veil] she looked at me and said if you wear it now will you ever take it off ? I paused and asked her ”Are you ever going to take it off mama?” she said no, well I will never take it off either I said. And that is how I wore my veil,” says Esraa in her blog 7ijabi [my veil] which she started to raise awareness about the discrimination that she, as a veiled woman, faces.