Executive Magazine

Vanina

by Sara Ghorra July 30, 2015

written by Sara Ghorra

A beautiful piece of jewelry is aesthetically appealing. A beautiful piece of jewelry with a story behind it is even more interesting. And when the story is fueled by talent, creativity, entrepreneurial drive and a spirit of activism, a piece of jewelry can evolve into a tangible testimonial.

VANINA’s range is an exquisitely crafted collection of stories; an assortment of subtle yet powerful statements embodied in unique handmade pieces, all echoing a single message: “Fashion is a Tool”. Although the brand labels itself as ‘Responsibly Capricious’, anyone who takes a closer look would agree that it is first and foremost ‘responsible’, and only ‘capricious’ in as much as its creators are continuously inspired to raise awareness of ecological, social and cultural issues through the creation of novel designs.

Tatiana & Joanne

Joanne Hayek and Tatiana Fayad, the duo behind VANINA, are childhood friends who have always shared a ‘creative complicity’. They spontaneously designed their first piece of jewelry when they were 19, while experimenting with old, devalued Lebanese Lira coins. This developed into a collection they later named ‘COINED’. The ladies had not planned to become jewelry designers as neither of their academic paths were related to fashion. Joanne studied architecture at the American University Of Beirut (AUB), while Tatiana pursued a business degree from Saint-Joseph University (USJ). And yet, what started as just a hobby back in 2007 is today a lifestyle brand recognized in some of the world’s most prestigious cities, as well as a wholly integrated business with a personality that one can’t help but admire. Over the course of eight years, VANINA has tastefully matured into a truly principled company with unshakable values, one of which is patriotism.

Joanne & Tatiana have made a point of producing every piece here in Lebanon, even if it has meant sacrificing monetary rewards which could have been gained by outsourcing. This contribution to the sustainability and growth of local communities and small businesses is perhaps what they are most fervent about. This positive involvement has not only benefitted the skilled craftsmen and women they partner with, but has also given a beautiful soul to their designs, one that is proving very attractive, especially to international clients.

PATCHES Collection

Behind each of VANINA’s jewelry collections lies a different mission, but all of them echo one of the many causes they defend, among which are social responsibility, sustainable development and heritage conservation. Social responsibility, concerned with maintaining an equilibrium between the economy and the ecosystem, is apparent through most of their designs.Their collections ‘DISCARDED’ (based on CDs), ‘COINED’ (based on coins), ‘UNLOCKED’ (based on keys) and ‘PATCHES’ (based on cloth remains) to name but a few, saw the pair transform useless or discarded materials into beautiful modern pieces, while simultaneously reducing the impact of waste upon the environment.

CONSERV’ED Collection

This creative reuse was, and still is, one of the strongest traits of the brand, and one that they have endeavored to develop while collaborating with other parties who share their vision. Through Arcenciel’s environmental program, for instance, they were able to turn tin cans into fancy evening bags, which saw the creation of ‘CONSERV’ED’. As part of their ‘STILL LIFE’ collection, and with Swarovski’s support for Eco-jewelry, they also designed luxury pieces by matching non-biodegradable plastic bags with Swarovski crystals.

STILL LIFE Collection

A creative collaboration with NK (Nour Kays) enabled them to develop the technique of creating patterns by layering and fusing sheets of plastic bags. This resulted in the creation of a new material and a collection of the same name – ‘PLASTILE’. Their innovative use of technology is also expressed in the edgy ‘LEAVES’ collection of stylish jewelry made from used paper sheets. Thanks to a partnership with ‘More Than Printing’ (MTP) and ‘Arab Printing Press’ (APP) and through MCor’s special 3D printing technique, paper sheets were transformed into superb, geometrically-shaped jewelry pieces.

CEASE-FIRE Collection

All these collections, impressive as they are, only make up part of the passion the two women share. They care not only about protecting the environment, but also about maintaining traditions. For their ‘90s we love you’ line of shirts (individually stitched by Palestinians who live in the camps), they aimed to help preserve the heritage of Palestinian embroidery in collaboration with the NGO Inaash. In partnership with ‘L’Artisan Du Liban’, they also created the ‘HALFA’ collection of hand-woven shoulder bags made from local straw that grows in Akkar in the village of Koueishra.

VANINA’s Mar Mikhael Boutique

Through VANINA, Joanne & Tatiana are ‘using fashion as a tool’, and are truly succeeding. They are transforming trite materials into pieces of art that are trendy, funky and modern, yet created in the most traditional ways. They are using technology in the direct service of environmental protection and waste minimization by creatively merging it with design. They are creating jobs and venturing into projects that raise awareness for the NGOs they collaborate with. They are always refining the process of ‘standardized customization’ they developed to make sure their clients get unique pieces even when the demand is high. And finally, they are attempting to grow as steadily and healthily as possible so as not to compromise the essence of their mission.

It isn’t everyday that one has the pleasure to discover that beneath the surface of a glamorous jewelry brand lies a local business with a noble mission. If more companies adopted only some of the methods VANINA is using, we would surely witness a change on a much wider scale in Lebanon.

VANINA Apparel

July 30, 2015 0 comments

Leaders Opinion

Taming the central bank

by Executive Editors July 30, 2015

written by Executive Editors

There is a deep rooted intuition or cultural knowledge that monetary power is extremely risky. Long before things like fiat money and central banking made their first appearances, this cultural DNA has come to expression in both prescriptive behavioral myths — such as Aristotle’s telling of Midas’ self-destructive fixation on the exchange value of everything instead of the use value.

There are enough indications to suggest that the power of central banks has been on a stiff growth trajectory. Testimonials, data points and indirect indications for this stretching of central bank mandates can be found aplenty — just a look at the rise in diverse central bank balance sheets in absolute numbers and in ratio to GDPs is enough to cause some wonderment. Central bank media coverage, academic papers and speeches by central bankers themselves provide ample corroboration.

Even assessing the idea from the opposite perspective is viable. In his recent work “The End of Power”, scholar (Carnegie Endowment), political figure (one-time government minister in Venezuela), editor-in-chief (Foreign Policy), former World Bank executive director Moisés Naím argues that the power of mega-players in the realms of politics, religion, business, culture, union labor and media is weakening. One subset of institutions that is not mentioned once in Naím’s book for weakening of its power are central banks.

Lebanon’s Banque du Liban (BDL) fits the pattern of central bank power growth in both a general and a very peculiar sense. The size of BDL assets at the end of May 2015 was LBP 136.8 trillion ($90.74 billion) — not far from twice the country’s estimated GDP. When compared with five years ago, end of May 2010, the BDL balance sheet ballooned by almost 60 percent. And when compared with the same month in 1995, the increase was in excess of 1,100 percent.

A hint of more peculiar growth comes from BDL lending to investment banks and financial institutions in 2014. From LBP 102.6 billion ($68M) at the end of 2013, this infusion of funds shot up to more than LBP 580 billion ($385M) at the end of 2014.

Of course, my dear Oliver Twist, money doesn’t simply grow on trees and the money to finance economic growth in Lebanon must come from somewhere. The national government has been totally consistent in not incentivizing growth. Thus it is nothing but logical that BDL has been growing its reach into the economy.

As politically thinking economists in the conversations about monetary policy for this issue of Executive tell us, the largest current danger is not actually the dollar peg but the nation’s outsized expansion of debt when compared with Lebanon’s economic growth. There is a relationship of dangerous credit growth with the country’s imported monetary policy but, as the economists in our conversation also agree, the lever Lebanon has to seek is the one of economic growth.

The diagnosis is that the central bank was right to enter the arena of economic policymaking and fiscal incentive packages because the government had backed down from making its stand in this arena. BDL was right in stepping into the fray because in the presence of such perils as Lebanon faces today, not doing anything is a greater risk than the risks that are represented by doing something without following standard procedures and the protocols regarding the institutional division of labor.

It does not surprise us therefore that the World Bank just published a mid-June valentine to BDL. If there ever was a multilateral agency declaration of love to any partner institution, this paragraph on page 57 in the World Bank’s new Systematic Country Diagnostic on Lebanon must qualify: “Institutions in Lebanon are extremely weak, characterized by both inefficiency and corruption. [… However,] Banque du Liban stands out as an effective and respected institution, because its considerable powers are legally ringfenced, including being financially independent of the government.”

[pullquote]We are still not absorbing the burden of the debt[/pullquote]

But this to us means also that it is time to bark, and bark insistently, at the tallest and strongest cedar in the national institutional forest. Because there is quite a bit to bark about — and because there is nobody else in the public space worth barking at. And so we want to share our barking space in the confidence that Lebanon’s one institution with a “ya Habibi” declaration from the World Bank will become more interactive with the Lebanese sovereign.

We agree that, as the World Bank says, BDL’s financial independence from the government is all fine but isn’t the real scenario, and problem, that the Lebanese government appears dependent on the central bank? As economist Ghassan Hasbani tells Executive, the bank “becomes an operator of the sector and starts replacing the ministry of finance as an executive power and that’s a concern.”

Central bank management of Lebanon’s economic growth efforts is not providing sufficient results to put concerns over the balance of payments at ease, economist Sami Nader adds. “We are still not absorbing the burden of the debt,” he cautions.

In another concern we share, long term recipes for growth cannot be delivered by a central bank. But structural reform is the central need, as economist Joseph Gemayel highlights. “The solution would be to enhance our competitiveness and increase our exports by way of structural reforms, which would require that we reduce our cost of production and/or become more competitive via higher quality or other measures.”

For economic and political thinker Roger Eddé, the situation needs drilling down to the fundamentals of the Lebanese system. “The worst thing that is happening in this country Lebanon, this failed country Lebanon, is that everything is political. That spoils the very idea of independent central bankers. We need not only an independent central bank but we need every appointment to be non-political,” he says.

We have concerns, from both practical and principled economic perspectives, that rigid currency pegs are costly and ultimately unsustainable. We want to keep talking about ways to loosen the total dollar dependency. The country is entwined in more than enough other import dependencies. But we acknowledge that doctrinal purism has no space in the management of serial emergencies, which describe Lebanon.

In agreeing that there is a faint chance for Lebanon to switch to a domestically engineered monetary policy, and in consciously adjusting our metaphors to include both our environment loving and our car-hugging readership segments, we accept that the Lebanese pound will have to tailgate the dollar in convoy driving at least for several further quarters. Yeah, we are stuck with driving according to the Fed’s cruise control.

But then we want to have a cleaner windshield and a better conversation with the team that drives BDL. What BDL communicates today is better than what it used to provide 10 years ago. Forward guidance on monetary policy is not the only thing worth hearing from a central bank but even when there is not too much to say, such a conversation will be useful to keep the information juices flowing.

Knowing full well that transparency in central banking is not a panacea and can even become an obstacle to decision processes, we still call for a new constructive dialogue and for broadening the stakeholder base in dialogue with BDL. This dialogue, if it engages political economists, academic economists and analysts on a regular basis, including intellectual and social interactions, can for example be a starting point for the formulation of economic platforms and visions by one layer of public interest organizations that Lebanon sorely lacks — political parties that could get into habits of thinking macroeconomically by informed and interactive communication.

We call for more transparency at BDL, because there are still deficits in information flows to analysts, media and the interested public — some of these lacks are extremely basic, such as real time provision of authorized translations of new intermediate circulars or even posting of the Code of Money and Credit with good visibility beyond Arabic speaking stakeholders.

We call for pit stops with the BDL departments, for regular power breakfasts with the vice governors and for High Economic Tea with the governor.

July 30, 2015 1 comment

Leaders Opinion

Promoting tourism starts at home

by Executive Editors July 30, 2015

written by Executive Editors

No cultural tourism enthusiast would feel that a trip to Beijing is complete without visiting the Forbidden City, or to Athens without at least passing by the Acropolis, and the same thing can be said for Paris and the Louvre Museum. While cultural tourism is not the only form of tourism, it is the one that brings in the largest number of visitors to a country. Lebanon, which also has culturally significant antiquities has failed to cultivate these sites as touristic destinations that would match the aforementioned attractions.

Global examples such as Petra in Jordan or the Mayan Temples in Mexico show that developing touristic destinations around culturally significant landmarks can be done and would bring in benefits such as an increased number of visitors to the country, as well as increased economic benefits including investment opportunities in businesses complementary to tourism and employment.

Yet, Lebanon has largely missed this opportunity with only Byblos coming close to being a tourist destination, thanks to private sector investment in the city and the goodwill of its municipality. Other areas with cultural antiquities, such as the temples of Baalbeck or the hippodrome and seaside ruins in Tyre are ignored and left to languish with the little domestic tourism they can bring in (see article page 50).

So what can be done to change that and benefit from our country’s potential for cultural tourism? The basic and necessary first step would be a change of attitude by all stakeholders in the tourism industry, starting with the Ministry of Tourism itself, moving away from complaining about their limitations towards a more constructive attitude.

The Ministry of Tourism, charged with promoting and marketing these cultural sites, should research good examples of touristic destinations centered around cultural antiquities and develop a national plan that can be applied within the Lebanese context. Instead, the Ministry of Tourism has focused its strategy for the next five years on rural tourism. While it is a viable form of tourism for sure, it does not make a lot of sense to prioritize promotion of largely unknown locales over one of Lebanon’s most valuable touristic assets — its antiquities and rich cultural history.

Meanwhile, while it benefits the municipalities where cultural ruins are located to cultivate a viable city that will attract tourism — not only do they collect half of the total entrance charges, but they also collect taxes from building permits — it is often left up to a mayor’s personal initiative to back tourism projects through facilitating their development in terms of permits and such.

A good municipality can either make or break a touristic destination as there are no institutional practices or national plans to enforce and encourage positive action. Here again, a change of attitude from fatalistic to “can do” would be more beneficial to the city itself. Instead of municipalities complaining about a lack of budget, they could use whatever opportunities or investments they have at hand to attract tourists and more investors, such as in the case of Byblos.

Tourism is touted as being one of the pillars of the Lebanese economy; if this is the case then a more serious and well studied approach should be taken for its development and promotion. One where all stakeholders know their role and energetically follow a national strategy based on specific research and data.

July 30, 2015 0 comments

Leaders Opinion

A port policy for all

by Executive Editors July 29, 2015

written by Executive Editors

Lebanon’s seafaring culture stretches back to at least the time of the Phoenicians. Our maritime trade has, historically, connected East to West, spreading commerce and culture across the Mediterranean Sea. It was towards the end of their centuries-long rule that the Ottomans dug out what today is Beirut’s port and, less than a century later, in the 1950s, the Lebanese government built Tripoli’s port. Today our harbors are vital to the economy and a strategy is needed to strengthen our connectivity to and positioning among increasingly competitive global markets.

Ships sailing in and out of our ports carrying goods and freight bring us, for example, the latest electronic gadgets that are designed on one side of the planet, manufactured on the other and shipped across vast oceans to our stores and malls. Lowering the cost of maritime trade is and should remain a priority. Over the past decade, freight lines across the world have increased their container capacity, allowing a level of standardization that has transformed the efficiency and speed of maritime trade. At the Beirut Port, this standardization has at least made imports more efficient — products are cheaper allowing the Lebanese to, as the port’s management argues, maintain their purchasing habits. The global goods trade will grow by 4 percent next year, says the World Trade Organization, with a growing share of those goods shipped as containerized cargo. Lebanon’s ports must keep up with this trend but building container capacity must also be coordinated.

For our manufacturers, now that land transit across Syria is no longer viable, the ports provide vital access to foreign markets, particularly those in the Gulf. Once the civil war subsides in Syria, our ports could very well be indispensable in the reconstruction that will follow. Syria’s plans to expand its ports at Tartus and Latakia are on hold for now, while the links of those ports to Syria’s national infrastructure lay in a state of disconnectivity. Tripoli’s port might, to a lesser extent, also serve Iraq’s reconstruction needs once transit routes reopen.

Much work, however, remains to be done if we are to exploit these future opportunities. Infrastructurally we are weak. The reality is that the port of Beirut is practically isolated from any transportation infrastructure that would make it capable of serving Damascus or Baghdad. The lack of a rail link and the bumper to bumper traffic beginning at the port’s roadside entrance will only get worse without a plan for infrastructure investment. Lebanon needs two modern ports at the very least. Tripoli’s port may be in the better position geographically to transport goods to our easterly neighbors, but there is neither a national plan to coordinate the ports vis-à-vis each other nor a plan to build the transportation infrastructure needed for this kind of capacity.

If we want our ports to continue to serve the needs of our growing economy over the long term, and of neighboring economies in the medium term, we need a national strategy. This strategy must focus on port integration within the international logistics value chain as well as the interconnectivity of Lebanon’s ports with each other. A national strategy should also organize the way our ports are managed — whether it is full privatization, public-private partnerships, or nationalization — to maximize sustainable economic returns for the nation as a whole. The Beirut Port’s management consists of a temporary body whose mandate was never meant as a permanent solution. A port management that is accountable to the government with clear lines of reporting is a necessary first step in articulating such a national strategy, putting in place processes that contribute to decisionmaking at the ports, like major expansion plans.

A national strategy for our ports must be conceived through a coordinated discussion within the framework of the state. It cannot be left to the private sector, a temporary committee or to any other personal interest to decide. It must be a national debate.

July 29, 2015 0 comments

Museums & Galleries

Artscoops: a beirut based online art platform

by Sara Ghorra July 29, 2015

written by Sara Ghorra

“Tell me what you collect, tell me how you collect, and I will tell you who you are.” – Jean Willy Mestach (1926-2014).

As the late artist and collector of African art Mestach aptly insinuates, assessing someone’s private art collection is a subtle yet indisputably revealing glimpse into their mind and soul. Yet, although what one collects will always be unique to each individual, how one collects is slowly yet surely following the trend of almost everything else: going online.

By Fadi Yazigi

Indeed, the art world has undergone great changes in the last few years with the rise of digitized art commerce, as hundreds of online art selling platforms have been created worldwide in response to a growing demand. Whether in terms of genre, media or style of the artwork or in terms of the artist’s notoriety, the range offered by the international e-commerce websites is eclectic and expansive. Today, one can effortlessly explore a considerable chunk of the art market with the hope of finding and buying art that suits their taste, needs and budget.

But even though the online marketplaces for contemporary art are numerous, very rare are those centered on art coming from the Arab world. And that is why Artscoops came into existence. The Beirut based online art platform designed by mother and daughter, May and Raya Mamarbachi, launched less than a year ago and is the first one to focus solely on art from the Middle East and North Africa.

May & Raya

Artscoops gives one the opportunity to browse, discover and acquire contemporary pieces – mostly drawings, paintings, photographs and sculptures – created by both renowned and emerging artists from the region (prices for individual pieces start from just $250 and can go up to $100,000 and more). It partners with artists, cultural institutions and various commercial galleries, both in Lebanon and abroad, in an attempt to showcase and promote the best of Middle Eastern art.

In addition to its ongoing informative listing of artworks and their respective artists, Artscoops also curates online exhibitions, which feature harmoniously grouped artworks that correspond to a specific theme. Some of the galleries they collaborate with in Lebanon include Mark Hachem Gallery, Agial, Art Factum, Galerie Janine Rubeiz and ArtLab, among others.

Once the desired artwork is selected, one can make secure online payments via PayPal, one of the world’s leading payment networks for e-commerce.

Another interesting area in Artscoops’s range of work is the online auction, during which it invites potential buyers by e-mail to participate and engage in a continuous bidding process that happens over a span of 10 to 14 days, receiving its peak bids in the final 48 hours. It has previously organized an auction in association with Paddle8, the specialized international online auction house.

By Joumana Medlej

The platform’s principal aim is to expose MENA artists to the world and to allow international collectors to get acquainted with their creations and be enticed enough to add some of them to their collection.But beyond just being a bridge between buyers and sellers, Artscoops offers precious advisory services that benefit not only the collectors but also those who have just started considering crafting their private collection. As a matter of fact, more and more young men and women in Lebanon are contemplating buying art. But while their initial instinct might be finding the pieces that would use to embellish their newly bought apartments and houses, Artscoops’ Co-Founder Raya Mamarbachi suggests leading them on a further step.

Beyond just discovering the artworks that embody their personal aesthetic choices and hint at their individual sensibilities, the novice buyer has the opportunity to make a more thoughtful selection.

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By Fadi Yazigi

Indeed, in her publication “Evaluating Art as an Alternative Investment Asset”, published in 2009 in The Capco Institute Journal of Financial Transformation (authored by Raya Mamarbachi, Marc Day and Giampiero Favato), Raya Mamarbachi examines the changing role of art and its newfound appreciation as a very attractive object of investment. “Returns are just as attractive if not better in art than the stock market” states the paper, an alluring idea that is developed throughout with conclusions that shed new light on art collection.

Therefore, with the aim of educating and guiding, Artscoops offers the services of its team of art consultants, among whom are Raya Mamarbachi, May Bendki Mamarbachi and Delphine Leccas. Their expertise can help any beginner to start their artistic journey, by introducing them to the type of artwork that echoes their preferred style, as well as guiding them on important matters of evaluation.

Norms are changing in all fields, and art is no exception. Although art pieces such as those auctioned at Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Philips can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars if not millions, they comprise only a small part of the overall art market. The rest can be relatively affordable. And since it has now become possible to explore so much art in so little time, no matter one’s location, it’s just about the right time for budding art collectors to start the quest for the pieces that thrill them.

By Hassan Darsi

July 29, 2015 0 comments

Film

Issam Merheb’s social criticism through ‘Velfies’

by Sara Ghorra July 29, 2015

written by Sara Ghorra

Issam (‘SiMi’) Merheb is Lebanon’s latest viral sensation. His 60 second ‘Velfies’ (Video-Selfies), which he began filming from his car, have taken the social media scene by storm. In the videos, Issam shares his personal observations, sarcastically reflecting upon high society’s latest personality disorder symptoms.

Each of his videos is a comical example of the loss of personal identity that plagues our society. Although Issam used to express some of his thoughts through humorous and cynical Facebook statuses (with respect to his cherished freedom of self-expression), it was only after he changed his method of delivery that these pertinent reflections started disseminating beyond his close circle of friends. Issam’s popularity is now growing fast thanks to his casual, funny and concise videos which touch upon topics others wouldn’t dare discuss. Yet his revolt against our society’s fake attitudes and its adoption of foreign trends is understandable to anyone who knows where he comes from.

Alain Merheb

Issam is the son of the late beloved Alain Merheb, ‘King of Al-Howara’ (Howara is a type of satirical song that talks about social, economic and political issues) and the dancer and choreographer Nay Lahoud Merheb. He grew up in a home filled with love and art, in an atmosphere that inspired individuality and authenticity. Issam’s father, who was one of the nation’s greatest treasures in the performing arts scene, was praised as one of the few people who endeavored to preserve our traditional artistic forms. He made it his lifelong mission to teach the world about Lebanese music and dance, and his genuine pride in belonging to his nation touched many, particularly his family.

Issam Merheb in ‘Tarik El Shams’

So it comes as no surprise that Issam (also a natural born performer, who showed his acting skills in his uncle Romeo Lahoud’s play ‘Tarik El Shams’ in the summer of 2014 at the Casino du Liban), shares his father’s passion for Lebanese traditions. He is spicing it up with his own individually crafted satire and, thanks to his ‘Velfies’, his message is spreading fast.

In his videos, he reproaches the ‘trendiest’ chunk of our society both for their tendency to show off and their lack of modesty (‘Cedars & Business Lounges’ Velfie); for their sudden applause for causes they should already be supporting, prompted by an event that took place on another continent and which won’t even affect them (‘El Pride Bel Love’ Velfie); and for any type of false emulating of the latest worldwide trends while getting further away from their Lebanese belonging (‘Quinoa/Kale’ Velfie).

The topics he is tackling might seem inconsequential when taken individually, but his broader message is far from petty. Although he sarcastically brands himself as a “#HaterForLife his second hashtag implores “#SaveLebanon”. And this genuine plea, although packaged in a spontaneous and mocking manner, has more to it than pointless sarcasm.

SiMi

Unsurprisingly, not everyone is a fan of Issam, especially those who do not enjoy the art of self-criticism. Yet few can remain unmoved to the obvious frustration which underlines his desire for a more candid society. Shouldn’t we be grateful for the likes of Issam, one of the few who cares enough to publicly expose the signs of our society’s loss of individual identity? Someone confidently satirizing the attitudes of those who supposedly make up the ‘crème de la crème’ of society, but who are actually uprooting themselves in a mannered attempt to seem more ‘open’?

“#SaveLebanon”, he preaches ironically. However, if we each started making an effort to detect and work on those small complexities that are distorting our sense of belonging to the colorful mosaic of our nation, we may eventually be able to collectively shape a healthier and truer society and perhaps, ultimately, ‘save Lebanon’.

‘Tarik El Shams’

July 29, 2015 0 comments

Culinary Art New Food Concepts

The Beirut Street Food Festival, An Event With A Ripple Effect

by Sara Ghorra July 27, 2015

written by Sara Ghorra

Some people’s relationship with food is more of a passionate love affair. They take sensual pleasure in preparing it, and may even feel a hint of guilt when indulging in it. To them, food is pleasure, cooking is art, and the perfect dish is akin to a little piece of heaven.

Although not everybody has such strong feelings about culinary art, nobody can deny the fact that food is often much more than just a means to satisfy one’s hunger. Food brings people together, and great food brings people even closer.

Anyone who has watched “Babette’s Feast”(1987) will remember the superb final scene, depicting Babette’s sumptuous French dinner being served to a small congregation of unusually austere people. Her guests, who are used to plain meals typical of their chaste existence, are presented with a feast which is lavish beyond their wildest dreams.

In that final scene we witness a fascinating transformation of energy among the invitees who initially find it almost sinful to comment on the earthly pleasures of their meal but whose inhibitions vanish as they discover exquisite flavors they had never before dreamed of. The feast elevates them to a physical and spiritual delight that mystically affects the dynamics of the diners and changes the atmosphere among them entirely.

There is no denying that the act of sharing a flavorsome meal with others can have a real effect on those partaking in it. But what if such an exchange could take place outside the delimited space of a dining room in a house, or a table at a restaurant? For instance in a public area, where more people could participate in the tasting … what effect could it have then?

The answer is provided by Youmna Mteiny & Zeina Halawi – an energetic duo who are forging the trend of ‘street food’, one event at a time!

Youmna and Zeina merged their respective know-how in design and hospitality during March of this year, and kick started their endeavor of introducing new flavors to our scene through the “Beirut Street Food Festival (BSFF)”.

That event, which took place last May at a public parking lot in Monot (Beirut), gathered 30 chefs and food lovers who presented both traditional and personally-crafted recipes ones to more than 10,000 participants. There were no company labels to be seen and no references to the professionals amongst the chefs, only an attractive name relating to the dish being served at each stand. This intentional simplification made it more exciting for both the cooks and the tasters to discover new plates without any preconceptions.

However, this successful event is only part of Youmna & Zeina’s bigger vision. Indeed, they have the goal of becoming trendsetters in Lebanon’s hospitality industry, weaving a solid community from the culinary sphere and elevating our food-loving nation to a higher level while turning this yearly festival into a celebration recognized by the entire MENA region.

This might seem an ambitious goal considering their young age, but their palpable energy suggests otherwise. The pair, who completed their Master’s Degrees in ‘Culinary Management & Innovation’ at the esteemed ‘Institut Paul Bocuse’ in France, had each taken a culinary course at the institute before deciding to embark on the full program, a year apart from one another. For Zeina, it was another personal reward, in addition to the ‘International Etiquette and Protocol’ course which she had taken at the ‘Institut Villa Pierrefeu’. For Youmna, it was her graduation gift!

Their paths eventually crossed, leading them to partner up and build a culinary art platform in the shape of the non-profit organization ‘BSFF’. And even though this initiative is far from being the bread and butter of the two ‘Culinary Concept Creators’, they are giving it equal importance. What makes them stand out from the crowd is their approach, which draws simultaneously on Youmna’s industrial design background as well as Zeina’s hospitality management experience in some of the best luxury hotels in Asia.

The Beirut Street Food Festival was both the trigger for their mission, and what set off its momentum. In order to keep that momentum alive, they have created “Discover”.

“Discover” is a series of experiments they have designed and started carrying out at the environmentally-friendly hangout spots The Junkyard (since June) and The Garden State (since July). These bi-weekly tastings are an invitation to uncover not only innovative dishes and flavors but also different chefs (whether professionals, semi-professionals or amateurs). Indeed, at each of these tastings, 2-4 new culinary artists are introduced and present the tasters with personalized dishes according to that evening’s theme. Each event proves more surprising than the last as the chefs’ creativity blooms in an attempt to challenge the traditional.

But some of the most interesting things about Youmna & Zeina’s endeavors are the broader consequences of their work, which are already extending beyond their events. Thanks to the ladies’ BSFF model and their method of implementation, a great number of the featured cooks have found themselves facing exciting new opportunities. Moreover, some of the ‘chefs-at-heart’ who had never considered turning their hobby into a full time job are finally taking the plunge.

Any witness to the culinary synergies they are creating would agree that Youmna & Zeina’s BSFF could become a game changer. By revealing so many diverse culinary talents to players in the hospitality industry and potential investors, they are encouraging not only the fusion of new tastes but also the growth of a new trend in the restaurant business.

If people had the chance to visit a restaurant because they know the specialties of its chef, wouldn’t it be satisfying for them to know that their bill would neither incorporate the cost of the premium location, the architecture, the interior decoration nor the other elements that aren’t at the core of their outing? Real food lovers do not mind a minimalistic dining experience in a boutique restaurant consisting of a gourmet meal, a clean setting and good company (even if the latter is just a glass of fine wine!). Their aim is to satisfy their palate, without necessarily hurting their wallets. Indeed, we could point to some existing venues that are all about the food they serve (the likes of Motto restaurant, Jai Kitchen, Onno, etc.), which attest to the popularity and success of this concept.

Food is art. And just as an art collector would excitedly visit a gallery to discover what the latest addition to their collection could be, key players in the hospitality field ought to show up at the BSFF events to uncover preferred artists. As for the rest of the tasters, join the movement – even if only to enjoy the food!

July 27, 2015 0 comments

Theatre

‘One Night on Broadway’ By Roy Khoury

by Sara Ghorra July 25, 2015

written by Sara Ghorra

One of the delights no theater enthusiast would ever miss on a trip to London or New York is a West End or Broadway musical. This performance, which mingles the worlds of acting, singing and dancing, can be a truly enchanting spectacle, one which we have never had the chance to experience on our home soil … until now!

For the very first time in Lebanon and the Middle East we have a chance to get a taste of the drama in the production “One Night on Broadway”. This show, which gathers 25 artists and 25 members of the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra on stage, has already enthralled crowds on two fully booked nights at Casino du Liban back in May, and will be one of the most anticipated events at the Zouk Mikael International Festival this month.

Yet the most exciting news of all is that this outstanding production was the creation of one of our own local talents, 26-year-old Roy Khoury, who graduated with honors from the ‘Broadway Musical Theater’ program at the New York Film Academy back in 2012.

Roy Khoury

“One night on Broadway” is Roy’s personalized musical, an artfully designed compilation of excerpts from twenty of Broadway’s most famous shows. The musical numbers include Footloose’s “Mama Says”’, Chicago’s “All That Jazz”, Sister Act’s “Raise Your Voice”, The Addams Family’s “When You’re an Addams”, Les Miserables’ “I Dreamed a Dream”, Hairspray’s “You Can’t Stop the Beat” as well as extracts from the enchanting Phantom Of The Opera, among others.

No two scenes are alike, with each stage setting distinguished by its unique décor, special costumes, and flamboyant troupe of actors, singers and dancers. Even better, no scene lasts more than five minutes, and the transitions from one to the next are as smooth as they are funny. Roy, the choreographer, director and musical director of the whole show wanted his musical to be a spectacular ‘tasting’ in which each member of the audience could find satisfaction.

The high quality of the show is a reflection of the rich experience Khoury gained during his studies, internships (at the ‘Broadway Dance Center’ & ‘Steps on Broadway’) as well as his participation in some Broadway musical performances. He took part in productions of ‘Sister Act’ (backstage as hair & make-up artist), ‘The Lion King’ (on stage as dancer and puppeteer) and ‘Wicked’ (as backing actor & singer) in New York.

Khoury has always been a fan of performance arts and, as a youngster, used to take singing, piano and violin lessons with private coaches, as well as dancing classes in studios. His passion knew no boundaries, until he was injured in an accident that put him in a coma for two months in the middle of 12th grade.

After waking up from his coma, he decided to stop all other artistic activities and concentrated on filmmaking studies at the Académie Libanaise Des Beaux-Arts (ALBA). After two years, he stumbled upon the ‘Broadway Musical Theater’ program and applied on a whim. He received a callback within two days of submitting his video audition, and was invited to audition live in New York.

The two years he spent at the New York Film Academy were a period of highly intensive training. While there, he studied music theory, musical theater and theatrical scene, acquired the major acting techniques such as ‘The Meisner technique’, ‘Stanislavski’s system’ and ‘Uta Hagen’s technique’, exercised his vocals to adapt to several music genres and performed all types of dances (Classical, Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Ballroom, etc.).

Yet when he came back in 2012, he was disappointed to discover there was no place in Lebanon for somebody with his training. Broadway musicals were still foreign to the Middle East, and a university teaching position without a PhD was out of the question at any reputable university.

That is when he decided to establish his own dancing school – STEPS. For more than a year he experimented and innovated with his students, many of whom were interested in honing their skills and adapting them to the requirements of a musical. And that is how, just before the end of 2014, Khoury decided to create his first musical – ‘One Night On Broadway’ – featuring his troupe of acting, dancing and singing students!

Success is often difficult to come by, but when it happens, it is truly a reason for celebration. Khoury is one of many talented young Lebanese, yet he is also one of the few who had the fortune of being around people who took risks on him simply out of faith in his abilities. But their risk paid off as the show not only sold out and thrilled audiences keen to discover a new form of theater, but also raised the bar in our theater scene. Local talent and creativity is yearning to unveil itself, and we hope that “One Night on Broadway” will be the first in a long line of future Lebanese musicals.

July 25, 2015 0 comments

Uncategorized

Exploration on hold

by Mona Sukkarieh July 24, 2015

written by Mona Sukkarieh

This article was written in May for the June edition of Executive Magazine.

The third well drilled in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) failed to reveal commercially exploitable natural gas reserves. Italian multinational Eni’s Saipem 1000 drillship drilled to a depth of 5,485 meters in Amathusa, in Block 9, without yielding positive results.

This is the second failed attempt by the Eni-KOGAS consortium in Cyprus’ EEZ. The consortium is hoping to get similar treatment to that given to Total, and submitted a request to extend its exploration license. As it stands today, the license expires in February 2016, with the consortium negotiating with Nicosia for a two year extension. Eni reportedly plans to use this period to form a more precise picture of the previously unexplored area and reevaluate the geological model and data collected in both drills.

With Total and Eni’s failure to locate commercially exploitable quantities of natural gas, all five blocks awarded in the second licensing round to big fanfare in 2013 yielded disappointing results. Of course, this does not rule out positive results in the future with the possible extension of the exploration program — granted for Total, and hoped for by Eni.

Exploratory drilling on hold

If Eni’s failure in Onasagoras and Amathusa, both in Block 9, is in itself a setback for Cyprus (although not entirely unexpected given the success rate for drilling at such depths), it does not mark the end of bad news for Nicosia. The Eni-KOGAS consortium, which holds exploration rights in Blocks 2, 3 and 9, is legally bound to drill at least four wells in its current exploration program. But, after two unsuccessful wells and over $300 million spent, the program is shrouded in doubt. No exploratory drilling is expected this year in Cyprus (the Saipem 1000 drillship is scheduled to undergo maintenance lasting around five months) and could possibly be delayed for much longer. Indeed, with current oil prices, the Italian company has suffered significant losses in the last quarter of 2014, leading to cutbacks and the decision to sell up to €8 billion ($8.9 billion) of assets. Its priorities seem to lie a bit further south, after pledging to invest $5 billion in Egypt. Similarly, Noble has suspended further drilling plans in Block 12 due to the slashing of its exploration budget.

Resumption of negotiations

The disruption of offshore exploration, which is not expected to resume before 2016 or even 2017, in addition to the expiration of Turkey’s NAVTEX (navigational telex warning) and the withdrawal of its seismic research vessel Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa from Cyprus’ EEZ, opened a window of opportunity to resume negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The election of President Mustafa Akıncı — seen as a moderate — in Northern Cyprus on April 26, brought hope, for the first time in years, that the Cyprus problem can actually be settled.

Contacts resumed on May 15. Greek Cypriots would have headed to the negotiation table with a stronger hand had they made a new discovery, which would have made them much more at ease in monetizing their gas resources. Instead, developing the ± 4 tcf Aphrodite gas field is in itself a challenge in the current context. This seems to have brought the Turkish option back to the table as one of the means to monetize Cypriot gas, even faster than negotiators.

Development of Aphrodite

With the break in exploratory drilling, Aphrodite remains the only Cypriot gas discovery to date and will remain so in the short to medium term. Noble Energy is expected to submit its development plan in the next few weeks.

The plan is likely to involve a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit producing 800 mmcf of gas per day, and subsea pipelines to possible destinations, which in addition to Cyprus may include Egypt. Already, there are difficulties. It appears Noble Energy and Delek, the owners of Aphrodite, are hesitant when it comes to contributing to infrastructure work beyond the development of the field, which would ultimately leave it to the buyers and interested parties to transport the gas to its final destination.

Noble is also obligated to find export markets to proceed with the development of Aphrodite, since the local market is so small (requiring less than 35 billion cubic feet of gas per year) that it does not, on its own, justify development costs. Egypt, with its idle LNG plants and vast local market, emerges as the most logical option. The Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) is negotiating to import approximately 700 million cubic feet of gas per day from Aphrodite. Gas will be transported via a pipeline that would be completed “within two and a half to three years,” according to a statement by EGAS chairman Khaled Abdel Badie to Daily News Egypt.

But Egypt is setting 2018 as a target year to become self sufficient in gas, and plans to stop imports by 2020. In addition, the Egyptian LNG option also comes with its own sets of challenges, although they can be managed in a way so as to alleviate their impact and make the Egypt option more viable. First, the combined capacity of the two LNG plants in Egypt is 12.2 mtpa and the operators are in discussions with other potential providers, including the Leviathan and Tamar partnerships, BP and BG (for supplies from Egyptian gas fields). This means not all of these suppliers can be accommodated. It is not exclusively a matter of ‘first come, first served’, as other elements such as geopolitics and prices are also taken into account, but timing is very important. Second, there is a risk Cypriot LNG might not be competitive in European markets where LNG is now delivered at around $7 per mmBtu (or even Asian markets, with similar prices). Taking into consideration the price of gas at the well, and adding the costs of transport to Egypt, liquefaction, transportation to Europe, regasification and profits, the end-user price could end up at $12 per mmBtu. Granted, LNG prices regularly fluctuate and cannot be predicted years in advance, but the LNG glut whose impact we are beginning to feel is expected to continue with additional supplies hitting the markets in the next few years, and an expected return to grace for nuclear energy in Asia. Barring a major catastrophe, these developments may indicate that prices are unlikely to return to their all time high in the foreseeable future.

There might still be another option, namely marine transport of compressed natural gas, allowing exports to Europe, although it doesn’t seem to generate much enthusiasm given it is still untested (the first ever carrier currently being designed for Indonesia’s PLN is expected to become operational in May 2016).

Changing market conditions, inflated expectations, a subjective assessment of geopolitics and political risks, unreasonable bets and so on might explain why Cyprus had to abandon grandiose ambitions and make the most out of what it already discovered — in itself significant — all while, rightfully, bracing for more. Unfortunately, these are symptoms we are all too familiar with in Lebanon.

July 24, 2015 0 comments

Comment

Combating a global scourge

by Nabil Watfa July 24, 2015

written by Nabil Watfa

Child labor afflicts over 160 million children worldwide, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO) — making it one of the most pressing human rights issues globally. Fortunately, the response of the international community to the phenomenon has been immense. The 96 year old ILO first addressed the problem with the adoption of the Minimum Age (Industry) Convention (No. 5) in 1919. This was followed by the adoption of the Minimum Age Convention (No. 138) in 1973; the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in 1998; and the Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention (No. 182) in 1999. In 1989, the United Nations also adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child as a global standard based on four main principles: nondiscrimination; the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and respect for the views of the child. Yet there is still much work to do.

What is child labor?

Children engage in different types of work. If the work includes activities such as helping parents or assisting a family business, without interfering with the child’s schooling or undermining the child’s development, it should not be classified as child labor. On the contrary, engagement in such activities will contribute to the child’s development and the welfare of the family, and will provide the child with the skills and experience that are required to become a productive member of society.

However, if the work deprives children of their childhood, potential or right to dignity, or if it is harmful to their health, then it is deemed child labor. Examples of such work include activities which specifically interfere with school attendance, lead to dropping out of school and involve arduous, heavy work with long working hours. The severity and nature of child labor varies depending on the child’s age, type of work and the circumstances under which it is carried out. If child labor jeopardizes the physical, mental or social wellbeing of the child, it is referred to as ‘hazardous work.’ The priority for the international community is to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.

The worst forms of child labor (WFCL), as addressed by the ILO Convention on the subject, refer to:

• All forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage, serfdom, and forced and compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict;

• The use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances;

• The use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs and;

• Work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children.

Globally, the response to child labor started with the ratification of the 1999 ILO Convention (No. 182) by 179 member states. This means that, at present, more than three out of four children live in countries that have ratified it. Efforts have concentrated on a number of actions, including prevention, protection, legislation, recovery and social integration of millions of children. The response was directed at different types of child labor, including hazardous work in areas such as agriculture, small scale mining, child domestic labor, child trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, forced and bonded labor, and the engagement of children in armed conflict and illicit activities.

Worldwide trends show positive signs in tackling the problem. ILO statistics indicate that the number of child laborers (5–17 years old) worldwide dropped from 246 million in 2000, to 218 million in 2008 (an 11 percent decline); and to 168 million in 2012 (a 35 percent decline). Meanwhile, the number of children involved in hazardous labor dropped from 171 million in 2000 to 85 million in 2012 (a 50 percent decline). The statistics also show that Asia and the Pacific still maintains the largest number of child laborers (78 million, or 9.3 percent of the child population); Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest incidence of child labor (59 million, or 21 percent of the child population); Latin America and the Caribbean has 13 million or 8.8 percent of the child population; and the Middle East and North Africa is home to 9.2 million child laborers or 8.4 percent of the child population.

Sector wise, the largest number of child laborers work in the agricultural sector (98 million, or 58 percent of the world’s child laborer population). The service sector (wholesale and retail trade; restaurants and hotels; transport, storage and communications; finance, real estate and business services; and community as well as social personal services) exploits 54 million; while industry (mining, quarrying, manufacturing, construction and public utilities) exploits 12 million.

[pullquote]Prior to March 2011, the child labor population in Lebanon was estimated at 100,000[/pullquote]

The situation in Lebanon

Among the four different categories of the WFCL listed above, hazardous child labor is more predominant in Lebanon. Prior to March 2011, which marks the start of the Syrian crisis, the child labor population in Lebanon was estimated at 100,000. Earlier surveys conducted in selected southern villages and in Mount Lebanon and Beirut provinces identified child labor in agriculture and construction, two of the most hazardous sectors, and sweat shops, as well as the street children in the urban areas of Beirut, Bourj Hammoud, Antelias and Jounieh. The assessments showed that 16 percent of the labor force in small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) were children aged 9–18, 5 percent of whom were girls. Child laborers are exposed to a number of hazards, including chemicals, heavy mechanical machinery and psychosocial stress. The effects on the health of working children are not only acute, but may be chronic, manifesting in long term poisoning, cancer and musculoskeletal and mental disorders. Field experience has also revealed that a growing number of girls were victims of sexual exploitation, including abuse in the workplace. Boys and girls were also engaged in the use and distribution of illicit drugs. Earlier studies conducted in the South Lebanon province revealed that children were sexually active at an early age, with limited knowledge about prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. The phenomenon is exacerbated by the continued massive influx of Syrian refugee children, who created significant human rights and economic challenges for host communities, and for the refugee legal framework in Lebanon.

In 2013, a study was sponsored by the ILO, UNICEF, Save the Children International and the Ministry of Labor (MOL) for the purpose of assessing the number and conditions of children living and working on the streets. The study, entitled “Children living and working on the streets in Lebanon: Profile and magnitude,” was conducted in 18 districts across Lebanon, covering a total of 1,510 street based children (SBC). The results identified the causes for the high numbers of SBC as social exclusion, vulnerability of households, the influx of Syrian refugees into Lebanon, organized crime and exploitation of children. SBC were more prominent in begging (43 percent) and street peddling (37 percent), and more prevalent in urban areas. The study covered a wide range of aspects that are too detailed to include here.

Fortunately, Lebanon reaffirmed its commitment to combat child labor through the ratification of the relevant international conventions and the issuance in 2012 of ministerial Decree 8987, which prohibits the employment of persons under the age of 18 in hazardous jobs. In November 2013, Lebanon pledged to eliminate the WFCL by 2016. This will depend on the proper application of the national action plan. However, given the problem’s complexity, the MOL’s efforts need to be supported in a coordinated fashion with other government ministries such as social affairs, public health, education and higher education, the interior, municipalities, as well as UN agencies.

What needs to happen

Action aimed at the elimination of child labor must address a number of target groups and partners, especially the direct beneficiaries — namely the vulnerable children — and the indirect beneficiaries, including parents, SMEs, schools and community leaders. This is not to mention direct recipients, including the MOL’s Child Labor Unit (CLU) and labor inspectors, the National Steering Committee (NSC), social work NGOs, employers and workers organizations, and all governmental agencies involved in combating child labor. Other collaborating partners include governors, law enforcement officers, municipalities and UN organizations.

At the field level, an updated situation analysis is needed to identify gaps in child labor relevant programs and policies in the different provinces across Lebanon. A strong national steering committee needs to be involved in the collection, analysis and dissemination of data on child labor, in order to support the planning of policies and services. The development and implementation of a Child Labor Monitoring System has also been effective in reducing the impact of risk factors and in promoting positive and protective services. Public awareness campaigns to promote the understanding of child labor are also essential as supporting services. The same goes for the provision of training and technical advisory services for the direct recipients, indirect beneficiaries and the collaborating partners referred to above.

[pullquote]Given the direct correlation between incidences of school dropout and child labor, resources must be directed at efforts to keep all children in school[/pullquote]

Given the direct correlation between incidences of school dropout and child labor, resources must be directed at efforts to keep all children in school, especially those between the ages of 6 and 15. This necessitates a number of interventions, including the provision of livelihood services such as an assessment of obstacles that prevent children from attending school, and the provision of financial support and other incentives to help households offset income currently being earned by children. This must be accompanied by the implementation of safe schools and smart student programs to improve school enrollment, retention and destigmatization of working children.

Such school and student focused programs would need to include at least four main elements. First, teachers should be trained to assess school readiness for children in primary and secondary education. Through this, teachers will become qualified to diagnose the particular educational requirements of the students, identify criteria for remedial classes, develop a diagnostic tool for students’ enrollment in remedial classes, design and deliver remedial competency based curricula and design training tools for monitoring student progress.

Second, teachers should also be trained to conduct remedial classes targeting students who have sporadic school participation or are at risk of dropping out. This will qualify teachers to provide incentives such as back to school kits and lunch programs in order to encourage attendance and retention in schools; conduct awareness raising activities at national and local levels, beginning with a knowledge, attitude and practice study to assess youth refugee perception towards displacement and identify psychological status; design and modify existing tools to monitor students’ progress; and aim to alleviate poverty by promoting income generating activities for families with children.

Third, safe child and youth friendly schools must be created to promote social cohesion and accommodate the learning needs of all children. This should include anti-bullying campaigns, tutoring, cultural activities, team sports and group therapy. Additionally, training in, and the implementation of, the National Strategy on Violence Against Children will be needed.

Finally, targeted interventions should be implemented through surveys and site inspections designed to identify and withdraw children who are under 14 from forced labor environments and conduct rapid assessments on the impact to the family; identify and withdraw children who are above 14 from the WFCL and conduct rapid assessments on the impact to the family; and improve school enrollment, performance and retention through mentoring, tutoring and financial incentives. Preventing at-risk children from becoming victims of forced labor by helping families through coordination with mayors, labor unions and development service centers must also be employed. If such coordinated action is taken, Lebanon will be able to do its part to combat the global scourge of child labor — and provide the next generation with a far brighter future.

July 24, 2015 0 comments