Wednesday, November 25, 2009

How To Make Bucket Margarita

pollution of rivers in Lebanon is Lebanon



click image to enlarge




The pollution of rivers in Lebanon

1 - Tell us about yourself? Your training? Your profession? Your activities? I am president of an NGO Mawassem Khair (Harvest charity) whose sole mission is to discover and preserve this heritage of biodiversity and richness of our nature.
Member of the Lebanese community in Senegal, I started my actions in Africa prior to dedicate myself exclusively to the Middle East. ... There, alongside my brother Haidar El Ali, I am committed, as part of the association Océanium in defense of dolphins and protected species, then in the reforestation effort. In Lebanon
then, when I first went there only five years, accompanying my father on the death of my mother. Lebanon has been a revelation to me: I discovered a "Sacred Land "Capital of Biodiversity in the Middle East, and I since then engaged in protecting its rich ecological heritage.



My NGO, Mawassem Khair, Harvest of Charity, in cooperation with UNIFIL, has been involved in defusing bombs over 4000 South Lebanon, reforestation of the region and that the fight against fires, especially in raising awareness and educating the public about environmental problems.
My big project is to upgrade my current reforestation initiatives in Lebanon to assist municipalities in waste and sewage, and create a news agency dedicated to sustainable development and eco-health issues in Lebanon.

2-What can you say about the rivers in Lebanon?

Lebanon, unlike its neighbors, has abundant water resources. Its rivers are a reflection of the many paradoxes of our pays.Que whether our water, our mountains, plants and flowers, our coastline, our migratory birds, or wildlife
- rush treasure of biodiversity Middle Eastern and permanent mess caused by greed - Ecosystem Lebanon paid a heavy price because of the easy solutions and the lack of involvement of a government still unstable, more worried and concerned about maintaining its security issues, that sustainable development is an integral party yet human security.
Lebanon is composed of more than 2000 rivers and 40 rivers of which 17 are perennial as the Nahr Litani, Orontes, Nahr Awali, Nahr Ibrahim, Nahr Abu Ali, and 23 seasonal.

The main pollutants are agricultural in nature, with nitrate and phosphorus from fertilizers and pesticides of different nature Industrial gaps discharge of sewage and waste finally physical of any kind. Water is the greatest wealth for decades to come, protect it to derive the benefits tomorrow.
3 - What are the activities that pollute (the causes of pollution)?

What a question! Any pollution in Lebanon. Agriculture, like I said earlier, with its overdose of pesticides is certainly not the last factor. Do you know that in France, 70 products have been accepted as pesticides while in Lebanon we have over 130 registered, let alone products Contraband! Industrial activity in the vicinity of cities has a large share of responsibility, by getting rid of its surplus toxic paints, motor oil etc.. Household waste, sanitary waste, discharges from hospital waste, disposal of sewage into rivers, urban or rural areas are a scourge. Septic systems in our homes and leave the waste seeping feces in the groundwater. The various motor oil industries or cars are highly carcinogenic due to lack of facilities for their recovery. Finally, underline our bad habit of any discharge into rivers after our family picnics.

4 - Are there any rivers more polluted than others? The rivers less (or not) contaminated?
Yes, Nahr Ghadir through southern Beirut could beat the world record for the most polluted river,

( look at these two pictures, how the river is a paradise through the Chouf ...) ( and how it happens in poor neighborhoods and industrial south Beirut, ending in our common Mediterranean Sea )


and cleaner in my opinion would be the Wazani river, as there is very little agriculture in the vicinity, there are even fish and abundant wildlife.


What we can say about it is that there is disparity in the dosage of pollutants on different rivers. The Ministry of Environment has studied in 2006 and their observation in five catchments indicates that the rivers Damour, of Awali, Litani and Beirut deficient in oxygen, causing eutrophication, which is mainly caused by increased levels of nitrate and phosphate and a negative influence on the life of the water.
Indeed, because of enrichment, water plants such as algae grow intensively. Therefore, the water absorbs less light and some aerobic bacteria become more active. These bacteria lowers oxygen levels to such a level that only anaerobic bacteria can be active. This makes life impossible in the water for fish and other organisms.
waste that can be decomposed by bacteria are greedy for oxygen. However
the application of nitrogen is important in the rivers of Damour and Awali.
In addition, the Awali River seeks phosphorus, unlike the rivers of the Litani and Beirut. Unfortunately, this imbalance ecosystem of rivers because of epidemics.
( Look at the wealth of biodiversity around our waterways )


5 - It is said that the Mediterranean is the most polluted sea in the world. What proportion of this environmental disaster in Lebanon?

Whoever bathes in the Mediterranean Sea has strong chances of finding garbage, and it rises to the north, the concentrations are high because the current that brings everything back from Tyre to Tripoli.
There are 33 units of waste per square meter of water, not to mention the damage caused by plastics, combined with the jellyfish feed our turtles, dolphins and migrating birds. The state
Ghadir River crossing south of Beirut, our mountains of garbage in Saida, and the Ras al Ayn above the water source that feeds the entire city of Tyre, three of them summarize the entire environmental problems in Lebanon.


(Bon Appetit, these fish filled with heavy metals and all kinds of toxic will be on your plate soon. Click on the picture to give you an account)
All these wastes will throw themselves into the sea A sea already widely polluted due to the destruction of hydrocarbon reservoirs in the central Jiyeh, spewing more than 15,000 tons of oil on our coastline. In addition to our lives and our homes, our nature has sustained heavy damage and they persist to this day.
reconstruction after the war was characterized by an overuse of water and especially in the coastal sand, real filter to prevent any salinity and marine pollution back in our rivers. Chemical bombs are found in our groundwater, and finally, are partly responsible for forest fires.
The political fragility of Lebanon turns into a dump.
Lebanon is in the confluence of the traffic of oil tankers who blithely dump all their surplus. Each year, 400,000 tons of oil were discharged illegally into the Mediterranean, up to 10 grams per liter of oil.

sources of pollution are the most direct and river systems that drain wastewater from areas urban and dump them at sea When will we finally our sewage wastewater?

The Mediterranean is the world's most polluted, cleaning must be a priority of the Union for the Mediterranean (UPM).
Everybody understood the interdependencies in ecology: a plastic bag that falls can be found in Saida in Marseille.

6 What are the consequences of such pollution on the environment and the health of citizens?

I was always struck by the high rate Cancer in Lebanon, while our diet close to the Mediterranean diet is the best in the world. The water pollution in Lebanon is certainly a cause.
pollution of rivers is a real health hazard, the proximity of houses on the river through the towns that the outpouring of PCB products, or polychlorinated biphenyls, classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPS) and used as additives in industrially paints, inks and oils mechanical, are poorly biodegradable, carcinogenic and hyper.
bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasitic worms that grow in sewage and untreated sewage and access to drinking water of poor quality (virtually everywhere in Lebanon), cause all sorts of diseases (diarrhea, dysentery, gastroenteritis, etc.).. In addition to cancer, many patients are affected by hepatitis A and typhoid. This is true further north and south (areas receiving drinking water sparingly). We still drinking in these regions of rainwater stored in concrete tanks throughout the year without any form of treatment.

Finally, water-soluble radioactive compounds can cause cancer, malformations among newborns and genetic changes and are therefore water pollutants very dangerous. The news speaks of highly radioactive used in agriculture, containing a cobalt-36 source of -60 can kill a person in minutes. This product should be used for a project to fight against the flies which destroy crops, particularly apples. I really find this information very disturbing. All forms of pollution in water and then eventually affect our health. How can we reasonably believe that only fish of the rivers are dying and that this pollution will save us?

7 - What is the responsibility of government in the fight against pollution?

I do not want to heap too much blame the Lebanese government on the one hand is struggling to survive in an internal political context and regional complicated, and the other dares not take courageous steps for fear that would contravene the interests of farmers, already hard hit by the crisis. Such an option would lose even more credit to rural populations.
Reports CNRS attached to the Prime Minister are formal and are the specific details of all forms of pollution in our agriculture and in our water sources. The actions are known by our scientists but social stability already oh so fragile in our country, binds the government. Who will dare to touch the subsidies on tobacco that will burn, or impose a farming and working for an environmental Lebanon?

What is the responsibility of citizens who do not pay their water bills while increasing its speed, which dumps all its trash in our rivers? How many mayors have diverted drilling licenses of municipalities in their house? Environmental, responsibility lies primarily with our priests and "sayyid" in our cities, our teachers. The work must be done at the level of civil society to empower citizens to achieve by conducting effective public awareness campaigns and provided to restore the balance of water distribution in different regions and to ensure better management of public funds.
The main effort must be made by the State which shall remain exemplary for our municipalities so poor in financial means eventually be mobilized. (It is not forbidden to dream).
(that is to keep Lebanon Paradise Fountain and the Middle East we are fighting)


8 - Tell us about your next (or rather today?) Project?

Three projects are close to my heart.
The first is to clean the Nahr Ghadir down the Chouf to cross the neighborhoods of south Beirut, before it flows into the sea The river is a "poison street", and focuses all forms of pollution that exist in Lebanon.
It contains very high concentrations of heavy metals, nitrate, bacteria, a source of disease for local residents. To clean
the river effectively, it is imperative to educate at the same time the farmers that supply gardening Beirut using pesticides and fertilizers in high doses, manufacturers of the Chouf region and from the airport, which use the river as a dustbin their toxic products, and finally the highest population of all of Lebanon, who lives in these districts and who is throwing his trash, or its waste water.


My second project is an extensive reforestation program.
My third is to add two reserves or national parks in the program of the Ministry of Environment. One was Forest pine Jezinne, the second this magnificent forest rich in biodiversity wadi hjer leaving Zawtar in Majdal in the Nabatiyah, and develop ecotourism.



this

or this: Which Lebanon do we want?

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Booty Blackberry Vids

Quebecers this Friday, December 4, 2009


--- --- DATE REMINDER
DEADLINE NOVEMBER 26, 2009 --- REMINDER ---



Hello ,

The tradition continues! This year Cock & Karibou has

pleasure to invite you to this new edition of the Christmas party
of Quebecers to be held on Friday, December 4, 2009 .


The evening will be held at

:

SPACE MADELEINE

11 Rue Duphot

75008 Paris

http://www.espacemadeleine.com

Metro Madeleine (line 8) or Concorde (line 1)

And this, from 10:00 p.m. until the end of the night.

Like last year, consumption will be at unbeatable prices

from 1 € to 4 €. A glass of Champagne will be offered beginning
arrival, courtesy of Amadeus Council. It will cost a modest 20 euros
to be part of this great party hosted by our excellent DJ
very eclectic.

So you want to celebrate Christmas before time in a very friendly

? Please come and discover or rediscover this
evening and share a moment with us!

The evening is limited space available, it is of course highly recommended

register quickly. We point out also that
for legal reasons and contractual payments to the
door will not be accepted. The seats are only available pre-sale only
.

Your reservation will be confirmed upon receipt of your payment

. First come, first served basis as they say!

To subscribe, simply tell us by email

the number of people for whom you want to book and their names
. We will send you by return mail a confirmation of your registration
with your reference number will remind
upon arrival.




Send your payment by check payable to the attention of
Cock & Karibou at
follows:

Patrick LIGHT 6, rue de la Plain 75020 Paris 06.15.41.66.77

patrick_leger@hotmail.com

If you want to make your payment "in person", it will be possible to
we meet every Thursday at Pot
Quebec from October 22.

Hoping to see you to come celebrate this holiday season

with us.


Stéphane Fortin, Patrick Mathieu SMITH LIGHT &


Wednesday, November 18, 2009

North Face Without Emblem On Back

Guest House Delareynie

Located in the heart of Paris, close to the Centre Georges Pompidou and the Marais, at 22, rue de la Reynie.

He will welcome you in this historic quarter.

From home, you can easily discover the Hotel de Ville, the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Latin Quarter and the Vélib, cafes and delicious restaurants.


1 person 70 € / night (breakfast included)

2 persons 85 € / night (breakfast included)

€ 15 per extra person

To book write an email: delareynie@gmail.com
Mobile:

+ 33 (0) 6 22 74 67 66

website: http://www.delareynie.fr

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

I Heart Boobies Bracelets By Color

not a trash


click on photos to enlarge


"Lebanon is not a dustbin '

Who would have thought that a short visit to Lebanon by a Lebanese who spent most of his life in Africa would be transformed into a passionate fight to protect a unique ecological heritage in the Middle East?
Yet the story of Ali Ibrahim El . This man went to Lebanon for the first time five years ago. There, he discovered a land rich in biodiversity but mistreated and sometimes disfigured. The first stage of his fight has been the foundation of an NGO, "Khair Mawassem " or "Harvest of charity" that was assigned primary responsibility the protection of Lebanese forests. The last action of NGOs took place in the forest of Bkassine. AlBalad had the opportunity to meet with Ibrahim Ali El to take stock of activities Mawassem Khair.
By Chantal Bou Akl Al Balad newspaper






• What is your journey from Africa to Lebanon?

I am president of an NGO called "Mawassem Khair" ("Harvest of Kindness") whose mission is to discover and preserve the rich natural heritage of Lebanon, its unique biodiversity in the Middle East.
Member of the Lebanese community in Senegal, I started my actions in Africa prior to dedicate myself exclusively to the Middle East. Senegal, next to my brother Haidar El Ali, I am committed, as part of the association Océanium in defense of dolphins and protected species, then in the reforestation effort. In Lebanon
then, when I first went five years ago, to accompany my father on the death of my mother. There, I could discover with amazement a "Holy Land" real capital of the biodiversity of the Near East and the blow of heart led me to get involved in protecting its rich ecological heritage. My NGO, Mawassem Khair, "Harvests of Beneficence," in cooperation with UNIFIL, has participated in over 4000 defusing bombs in southern Lebanon, reforestation of the region and the fight against fires. It has mainly focused its efforts on raising awareness and educating the public about environmental problems because it is a condition for him to learn behaviors to address the issues of sustainable development.
My big project now is initiatives to strengthen my reforestation of Lebanon, to assist municipalities in waste treatment and waste water, creating a news agency dedicated to sustainable development and eco-health issues in Lebanon.



What is the idea behind Mawassem Khair and his agenda?


The fact that Lebanon, a formidable reservoir of biodiversity and water tower in the Middle East, has all the ingredients to become a country with a high carbon footprint. Our forests contain a rich biodiversity, especially in terms of wildlife. It is not uncommon to come across a hyena or a lynx, endangered species. My ambition is to participate in this project that all nature lovers and Lebanon want to see happen, mobilize all organizations engaged in this struggle and civil society to make a kind of Grenelle, and suggest future government Bills to preserve this resource, lung of the domestic economy.
In our continued operation "Lebanon is not a dustbin," we are planning to completely clean our forests, and create a kind of environmental policy, who would exercise control of holidaymakers and their vehicles to check that at the time of departure, the guests do not throw their garbage in the forest.




I propose the idea that every polluter is punishable by a fine that is paid when the owner submits to the control of his car mechanics. Agents of civil defense may well play this role or rangers, or even a municipal police. This means thinking about deterrence and punishment, because this kind of enforcement action is able to push polluters to a radical change behavior.
This will probably long but not impossible. Who would have thought it just three years ago that the Lebanese would accept one day to fasten their seat belts while driving?
Our agenda is provided, but alas, like all Lebanese NGOs we know the problem of financing.

What are the achievements of the NGO and its objectives

"Mawassem Khair" was marked by active participation in demining operations in southern Lebanon after the 2006 war, then by actions support to people with access to potable water and electricity etc., always in close cooperation with UNIFIL.
"Mawassem Khair, was then mobilized to plant trees and fight against forest fires, mobilize international opinion through lectures at UNESCO in the framework of the Paris forum to protect this wealth of biodiversity that we Lebanon offers naturally.

Its objectives are: to continue to clean the pine forest Bkassine, initiate a project of sewage wastewater in the region, mobilizing all stakeholders to integrate such forest in the national parks program to protect and then create an agency in Lebanon which would be the link between public authorities, municipalities and the different actors of civil society (NGOs, schools, etc..) so that they have all the information to assist communities and find practical solutions to waste management physical, wastewater and any form of pollution, and finally to educate the public effectively and sustainably so that it does not repeat the same patterns and harmful encounters the same problems in the future. Three lines of action will be jointly carried out: cleaning operations on the ground, awareness / prevention, and punishment / enforcement in case of recurrence.


Our goal is to make Lebanon a reference and a pioneer in the field of ecology. This may seem completely unrealistic or excessive, but the continuing crisis and disorganized structure of the state in time of war pushed the Lebanese to show the full extent of their legendary resourcefulness, and to find solutions that marry the course ' ecology. A few examples will suffice: in Lebanon we use energy saving lamps while Europe plans to make it mandatory in 4 years Homes recover rainwater, solar water heaters are very common in Lebanon, and the recovery of energy through batteries and UPS batteries can provide electricity to homes for a power outage. The road is still long, and it grieves still see both as wealth and so much mess. ...


• Regarding the collection of garbage in Jezzine: What is the idea behind this project? Tell us about the progress and preparations for the participation of the inhabitants.

This project started a year ago, after a visit to the region with the aim of promoting forest Bkassine - the largest pine forest in the Middle East with over 220 hectares of pine - and integrate it into a comprehensive program to protect natural forests of Lebanon. For Bkassine Our Ong hopes to get her classification as a protected natural park. Zeina
MAAZ (daughter of Vice President Mawassem Khair) from the village of Sabah, bordering Bkassine, Sbeih and Sarah (his cousin) were shocked to see so much garbage piled up in all sorts of a beautiful forest and we experienced a feeling of revolt legitimate to this environmental disaster rampant. Then they contacted Mawassem Khair and we decided to launch a cleanup and outreach involving large-scale area youth.



When French television has contacted us to do a story of tourism in the region, we have stressed their need to speak also of the urgent measures needed to protect Lebanon's forests. Thus, two birds with one stone, we cleaned the forest, albeit partially, we know this fact and reforested beautiful region with many French viewers.
This is just a start, we continue to mobilize ourselves to continue our actions.






• What were the difficulties and facilitations obtained?


We were welcomed by the municipal government of Sabah and Bkassine, but our greatest reward was to see how enthusiastic children who wanted to do more. As the French TV channel France 3 had a story on activities Mawassem Khair, we had scheduling requirements for turning, but the joy of children in cleaning and in reforestation, and see that it is possible to preserve the forest with local initiatives is our greatest reward .
Challenges remain, but also regret to see that the picnickers are still smoking the hookah and the furnaces continue to be a real threat to this forest of pines that ignites very quickly.


The sight of these dumps affects us profoundly, we are environmentalists, but also realize that all children thoroughly by cleaning the forest, the beauty of this site should be protected.






• Tell us about the long-term importance of educating families, including children
.


A child who picked up trash and has planted trees usually speaks enthusiastically to his family and all his classmates. It takes an intense pride to see his work recognized and picture posted in the local press or on the web. This permanently removes the personal satisfaction of disrespectful behavior the environment. These same children endorse a watchdog, they become the guardians of their forest and inform those around them. The aim is to preserve this enthusiasm, make him a source of learning first order from the moment her little hands meet the ground to plant a tree. Each child who participates in our actions becomes a vehicle for spreading our message of awareness: "Lebanon is not a dustbin."



The role of local authorities in preserving the environment, especially in Jezzine: gaps and solutions.


Local authorities have a very large role to play in preserving the environment, this is true for Lebanon, but for most developed countries of the world, including France, these are only local who perform these tasks.
What is particularly interesting in the case of Jezinne Area, is that the Forest of Pines Bkassine has captured all the surrounding municipalities around the need to protect this heritage, creating a dynamic collectivism, which is It must be said, quite rare in Lebanon because of political differences or clans. Here, the forest can get everyone to agree, and that is, the mobilizing power of the environment. A bird will never arise the question whether such a tree is a Muslim or Christian, of any political party, before landing. One quickly understands the important role of NGOs that serve as catalysts for ideas and projects, to effectively assist municipalities. By mobilizing all energies bright, our needs and aspirations in common, we can help change attitudes and behavior in Lebanon.




Residents will be ready to undertake such initiatives even in the absence of the NGO?

The first instinct of people is often discard and to endorse the state and municipalities the responsibility for all their woes.
But it is clear that the Lebanese lambda does not care much for the public space and has recurring problems of waste in all municipalities are proof. Yet it has the power (and duty) to his level, to contribute to the well-being.
The Lebanese will have a picnic, for example, are aware that it is their duty as citizens to bring all their garbage with them and put them in trash bags in their cars, but for convenience and neglect, they prefer to throw them in the middle of the pine forest without thinking of the disastrous consequences of all these non-biodegradable waste on the environment which is precisely Lebanon a popular tourist destination.
People do not seem ready yet to take such initiatives themselves. NGOs then rely on public awareness and mobilizing people, especially youth, to awaken consciences and push them toward healthy behaviors civil and respectful of the common good that is the ecosystem of Lebanon.



Our goal is to continue our advocacy to children, schools, boy scouts, families, through the implementation of information campaigns and awareness of the type "Lebanon is not a trash can" then take action larger using the example of the complete cleaning of the forest Bkassine, before playing our full role as a catalyst for ideas, and being force proposal with the Department of the Interior to consider all the company shares, including possible sanctions against those previously mentioned that pollute our environment. It
is important to support our cleanup actions and ensure they were not in vain, to provide exemplary sanctions against people who persist in polluting. Otherwise, even with the best intentions, our actions would not help.