Please, steal our money

Although it’s been nearly 18 months since Lebanon’s first licensing round for oil and gas exploration was launched, its closing date has been postponed four times — each time pushing back exploration and potential exploitation of the coveted resources. But despite the numerous opportunities afforded by these delays, the country’s nongovernmental organizations have barely feigned interest in the nascent sector. This is a grave mistake. The industry is not only massively broad and complex — encompassing everything from geology and mechanical engineering to finance and international relations — but also notoriously dirty. Luckily, civil society may get another chance: all expectations are that the licensing round’s close will be delayed yet again. If this postponement stretches into early 2015, as some reports rumor, then civil society does have a chance to catch up. But Lebanon’s NGOs have not another moment to waste. [pullquote]Several NGOs state they need to wait and