Read about the young aspiring basketball star on his quest to success!

http://tribunelau.com/2012/05/10/youngest-player-in-the-lebanese-league/

LAU’s Tribune going Online Only Party!

Join us for Tribune Going Online Party! Tomorrow at LAU’s Safadi Fine Arts Building from 12 pm until 1 pm!

http://www.facebook.com/events/215975455183290/

Year of the Apocalypse?

Will the world end on December 21, 2012? Are the predictions true? Take a look and decide for yourself!

http://tribunelau.com/2012/04/09/apocalypse-now/

Animal Abuse: No Excuse

At a disorganized animal shop on the main road of Bourj Hammoud, a dog takes small steps inside a cage that is too small for its size.

Its alimentary, hygienic and physiological needs are neglected.

At closing hours, a cardboard box, filled with dead animals, including turtles, fish, rabbits and birds is carried out of the shop.

A university student and regular Bourj Hammoud visitor, Rabih, is not as shocked as I am by the scene.

Photo by Creative Commons

“Sometimes, you’ll see much worse,” he explains. “I’ve gotten used to it, but I still get sad.”

The Bourj Hammoud shop is not a unique case. Jason Miers, executive director of Animals Lebanon, says that most pet shops in the country do not meet the minimum standards set by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Animal abuse does not solely involve physical abuse. It also means keeping a dog locked in a cage that’s too small for its size, neglecting its alimentary and physiological needs, poorly maintaining its level of dental and physical hygiene and not providing its sleeping area with  adequate conditions of cleanliness.

“Because of the miserable conditions of animal shops, 95 percent should close down if they had to meet with basic standards,” explained Miers.

“You just need to buy a permit, without any regulation or legislation, to open up a shop and start selling animals to the public.”

Animals Lebanon, an NGO founded in September 2008, has closed down three of the most abusive zoos in Lebanon to date and has placed over a hundred animals in sanctuaries around the world. It is working at the moment to close the remaining zoos.

The organization has also established an adoption center six months ago.

It has now become home to many cats and dogs in need of care.

Animal abuse in Lebanon ranges from extreme mistreatment to less excessive, but still hurtful, behavior.

Dogs have been dragged by cars, used as bait in dog fights, or burnt alive.

In other cases, they have been over-chained, or just left alone without any human contact or interaction with other dogs until they developed obsessive behaviors, such as constantly licking their paws or compulsively engaging in back-and-forth movements.

Scientific research shows that abusers are brainwashed during their childhood to believe that animals have no feelings.

They are usually people who enjoy watching a helpless being suffer.

Another NGO specialized in animal rights, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), works to protect and help animals through legislation, educational campaigns, and rescue and shelter activities.

Rima Barakat, who joined PETA in 2006 as a volunteer, is happy to help one of the very few NGOs defending animal rights in a country including over 14,000 registered organizations.

“It’s very hard to explain to these people that when you poke an animal, he feels it and when you don’t feed him, he feels hunger, and when you don’t give him shelter in winter, he feels cold,” Barakat said.

A major reason behind animal mistreatment is the unrevised 70-year old law that dates back to 1943 –when the Lebanese pound had a much higher value.

Animal welfare law 762 states that a person who mistreats or oppresses a pet is sentenced to jail and fined a penalty of less than only 15 dollars.

Extensive research by Animals Lebanon demonstrates that this law has not been used even once during the past 20 years.

Bassam, a shop owner, believes there is a lack of clarification and enforcement of the laws relating to animal rights.

“I treat the animals I sell well without the need of a law and, even if there was one, you can be sure nobody would follow it without the proper enforcement,” Bassam said.

Another reason relates to profit.

According to Bassam, the equipment needed to maintain a pet shop based on international standards and the valid sanitary papers required for the animals and the shop are quite expensive.

During November 2011, Animals Lebanon drafted the first comprehensive legislation for the protection and welfare of animals to the parliament after a year and a half of work and revisions by over 20 international organizations.

The 29-page-long draft proposes drastic changes in animals’ conditions, which would eventually cause some shops in Lebanon to close down.

One of the laws states “ensuring the proper equipment for the provision of food, water and a sufficient stock for at least one week of clean food and water.”

Another law points to “undertaking the appropriate measures to preserve the general hygiene of the premises of the institution.”

Despite the hindrances which are expected to face the legislative efforts, Miers says the organization will keep working toward clear legislation on the issue and strong awareness campaigns until the situation of animals in Lebanon improves.

“It could take around two years to pass the votes,” Miers  said. “But we will keep meeting regularly with the Lebanese Parliament and Ministry of Agriculture to ensure this legislation is enacted as well as conducting strong awareness campaigns.”

No Excuse for Animal Abuse

How you entered an animal shop at some point curious to see what animals are sold or simply stopped by curious to look inside? If you have, it is also likely that you have witnessed some form of mistreatment and neglect towards the animals. Many of us that visit these shops are in fact passive and ignorant witnesses of the abuse that is going on behind the scenes.

Animal abuse does not necessarily involve hurting an animal directly until cries in pain; it can mean keeping a dog in a cage that’s too small for its size, neglecting its alimentary and physiological needs and maintaining poor levels of hygiene and inadequate conditions for the animal.

Widely scattered around the Lebanese territory, these illegal, unregulated roadside shops are easily found by just going for a walk around the city and outskirts. Located on the main and busy road of Bourj Hammoud, is one good example of how these unregulated shops are like in the country. By just standing outside the shop at closing hours you will be shocked by the horrifying and revolting scene of a cardboard box filled with dead animals ranging from tiny turtles, fish, rabbits and birds that had not made it through the day. This is what people and cars routinely witness each day passing by the shop; animals that just like lifeless, broken objects, are brutally disposed of and mostly likely died from negligence.

Rabih, a university student walking by the same street, did not look as shocked as me at the view of that horrible sight. He explained that every day as he passes by the shop, he witnesses the same atrocious scene and has eventually turned into a common and normal sight. “Sometimes you will see much worse” he said. “I’ve gotten used to it, but I still get sad.”

A major problem related to animal mistreatment is the unrevised 70-year old laws that date back to 1943 when Lebanon was newly formed to be an independent country. Animal welfare law 762 states that a person who mistreats or oppresses a pet is sentenced to jail and maximum penalties of less than $15. Extensive research by the Animals Lebanon NGO has not shown this law used even once in the past twenty years.

So who is actually doing something about this issue? In Lebanon there are only two Animal Welfare NGOs that through lots of hard work and dedication are making the needed difference. BETA and Animals Lebanon were founded by Lebanese people and both share similar purposes; protect and help animals through legislation, education, campaigns, rescue and shelter activities. BETA focuses mainly on the rescuing and assisting animals with their shelters while Animals Lebanon efforts more on the legislation, education and campaigning.

Rima Barakat, who joined BETA in 2006 as a volunteer, said “I’ve always been interested in human welfare, but knowing that there are 14,000 registered organizations in Lebanon whereas there are only a few to defend animals’ rights, made me feel like I did the right choice”.

Barakat sheds light on the forms of abuse an animal can go through; these can be of psychological, emotional and physical nature. She gave examples of extreme real life scenarios ranging from dogs being dragged by cars, shot in the back and burned alive. In other cases dogs are used as bait in dog fights, over-chained or are just left alone to themselves without contact with other dogs or humans until obsessive behaviors develop like constant licking of the paws and back and forth movements.

Barak explained that scientific research have shown why abusers reach such levels of behavior; since childhood, they are brainwashed to believe that animals have no feelings and do not feel any pain. They are usually people who enjoy watching a helpless being suffer. She added: “It’s  very hard to explain to these people that when you poke an animal he feels it and when you don’t feed him, he feels hunger, and when you don’t give him shelter in winter, he feels cold.”

Animals Lebanon was founded in September 2008 and has been working since to protect animals. They closed down three of the most abusive zoos in Lebanon, placing over 100 animals in sanctuaries around the world and working to closing the remaining zoos as none comes close to meeting the minimum standards set by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. An adoption center has been established six months ago and is now home to many cats and dogs that are in need of adoption or care.

Jason Miers, executive director of Animals Lebanon, says that “because of the miserable conditions of animal shops, 95 percent should close down if they had to meet with basic standards”. He adds that they “just need to buy a permit, without any regulation or legislation, to open up a shop and start selling animals to the public”, most of which are smuggled in the country illegally.

In response to these accusations, animal shop owner Bassam explained also on behalf of other animal shop owners alike that it is much easier, faster and cheaper not to abide to international regulations because of the lack of an official Animal welfare legislation in Lebanon clarifying what the laws are a lack of enforcement regulating them through sanctions and police. A second reason is that it is more profitable to own and manage an unregulated animal shop because the materials, the equipment needed and the valid sanitary papers for the animals and the shop are expensive. Smiling, he said, “I treat the animals I sell well without the need of a law and even if there was one you can be sure nobody would follow it without the proper enforcement.”

During November 2011, Animals Lebanon drafted the first comprehensive legislation for the protection and welfare of animals to the parliament after a year and a half of work and revisions by over 20 international organizations. The draft is 29 pages long and many laws proposed would drastically change and improve conditions in Lebanon and eventually close down many shops and illegal practices. One of the law states “Ensuring the proper equipment for the provision of food, water and a sufficient stock for at least one week of clean food and water.” Another law is to “undertaking the appropriate measures to preserve the general hygiene of the premises of the institution.” Miers said: “It could take around two years to pass the votes, but we will keep meeting regularly with the Lebanese Parliament and Ministry of Agriculture to ensure this legislation is enacted as well as conducting strong awareness campaigns.”

Rima Barakat and Jason Miers both agree and explained that the most appropriate course of action and attitude at this moment to help stop animal abuse is to work on campaigns and raise awareness and. More people should speak to friends, family and colleagues about organizations that help animals and to join in their efforts to make a change. This is easy and can be done by simple acts like reporting abuse to authorities or competent groups or making donations to NGOs helping those volunteers and staff that base their daily lives in protecting the rights and welfare of animals.

Social Media Changing Lives @ AUB

Friday December 16 at AUB’s Issam Fares Hall a great conference day began just as early as 11 am and progressed through the day with speakers and live bands up until the closing notes at 9.30 pm. The conference, Social Media changing lives, was organized by (AUBOC), a student organization in AUB seeking  to group social media enthusiasts as well as experienced individuals in the digital media world to help expand and promote proper digital citizenship. Many fields were addressed such as education, business, politics, religion, science, human rights, journalism and several more. And as many speakers were invited, both nationals and from abroad to get involved in the conference. I was not able to attend the entire conference but the ones I attended clearly showed just what a great informative and interesting day it was destined to be. The ones I attended were Farid Chehab (Improving Lebanon through Social Media) and Naeema Zarif (Open Source and Free Culture) each one focusing on different areas that however come together though the great tool that is media and communication. The leading purpose of the conference was to gather bloggers and users of social media under one organization and come together in order to facilitate common activities and interests. Second, the event was to  encourage AUB and foreign students to start their own blogs and help them get started by teaching them the technical and cultural aspects of social media. A very successful day indeed.

Nasri Atallah meets LAU Social

After a successful book signing event last week at renowned Secteur 25, new book author and blogger Nasri Atallah has attended a personal and friendly interview with the Social class at LAU last week. It was great to meet him in person and learn so much more about him, his work and his personal life. Indeed he is not just a friendly but also a quite smart and interesting person. He explained and talked to students just how the events that led to creating a blog and then a book were all but planned and straightforward.

He moved from london with the intention to start a magazine with his dad but as he said, “it never happened”. Motivated by his close friends who were aware of his writing abilities along with his dad’s influence as a famous writer, he decided to try with blogging. As he explained, it all concretely began one day as he received lots of likes, comments and feedback on one his most famous post with 200,000 plus readers, “Sex, but no sex”. Realizing the niche that he could fill he began following a series of steps that eventually led him to that successful book-signing day.

The first and most important one, suggested also by his publisher, was to expand his social friends and make use of them. So he began using  social media applications like Twitter, Facebook and Blogs to broaden his spectrum and amount of followers, and in other words, to get known. This led to more blog posts and eventually the great idea to compile a book based on a series of very successful and influential posts.

A question raised in the newsroom was: “How do you blog if you don’t like blogging?”. Atallah’s answered that just like him, some people blog for personal satisfaction, and if what you blog happens to overlap with other people’s ideas, then you have a greater chance to become popular and be known. He added that as long as one is consistent with what you share, a regular blogging could be even once a month and not necessarily once a day, as you would still have your personal interested followers waiting for you post and ‘hear’ you have to say.

Hope survives shooting of dogs

Because of the lack of laws in Lebanon protecting domestic and stray dogs from violence and abuse, it is common to hear about these innocent creatures being wounded and shot dead for different and unacceptable reasons. Such common events can be the result of personal disputes between people involving weapons or by the police who claim to be ‘taking care’ of dog overpopulation. What these people are unaware of is that laws and specialized centers like animal shelters are the humane and civilized solution over violence, abuse and of course weapons. Hoping that the laws proposed at the Parliament will soon be implemented. Read more here.

Nasri Atallah presents “Our Man in Beirut”

Today at the prestigious and Banksy decorated bar Secteur 75 blogger Nasri Atallah presented and signed his new book, Our Man in Beirut. Based on 2-year blog posting regarding Lebanese society and lifestyle the book launch was a success, many people attended and had their fresh new book signed. The atmosphere was welcoming, modernly artistic and everyone seemed to be enjoying the event having conversations, sipping on great drinks all with good music playing in the background. It is unusual to hear of a blog turning into a book suggesting that it must have been a very successful one covering relevant and captivating posts accepted and praised by the public. A great evening and compliments to Nasri Atallah also a very cool and friendly person!

First Welfare Laws presented at Lebanese Parliament

Lebanese national animal protection and welfare legislation has come a step closer to reality as the campaign was launched on Thursday 24 at the Parliament Building, read all about it here.