Take the lead

It’s too soon to say whether Lebanon’s potential oil and gas resources are truly a game changer or not. But if the resources might significantly alter the trajectory of the country — its economy, its businesses, its people and their way of life — then Lebanese civil society must vigorously impress values of transparency and accountability upon the management of this sector. One important component of this is the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI, see “Not just a pipe dream“); civil society must demand that the government commit to implementing its standards. While instilling values of transparency and accountability can be realized in part through the EITI, differing opinions — for example, the timing of its application and the flexibility of its requirements — found within Lebanon’s civil society must first be calibrated. While some believe the EITI can be useful now, even before petroleum contracts are signed, others argue this