Lyrics:
If I had another chance tonight I'd try to tell you that the things we had were right Time can't erase the love we shared But it gives me time to realize just how much you cared Now you're gone, I'm really not the same, I guess I have myself to blame Time can't erase the things we said But it gives me time to realize that you're the one instead [Chorus:] You know I won't hold you back now The love we had just can't be found You know I can't hold you back now Now that I'm alone it gives me time to think about the years that you were mine Time can erase the love we shared But it gives me time to realize' ' just how much you cared [Chorus:] You know I won't hold you back now The love we had just can't be found ( Listen to me baby) Y ou know I can't hold you back now [ Instrumental break] You know I won't hold you back now The love we had just can't be found You know I can't hold you back now The love we had just can't be found [Repeat until fade]
I Miss You My Real Eternal Love...
Peace,
G.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Toto I Won't Hold You Back
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Killing Lebanon Economically
Killing Lebanon, economically
By Michael Karam
And so to the latest tented village. That the Rafik Hariri-inspired downtown area should be the field of battle between what must be seen - wittingly or unwittingly - as those who want prosperity and those who wish to obstruct it, is sadly fitting. Say what you want about the late prime minister, he was a deal maker of the highest order. In his book "Killing Mr. Lebanon: The Assassination of Rafik Hariri and Its Impact on the Middle East," Nicholas Blanford describes Hariri as "a corrupter rather than corrupt." That kind of behavior might be beyond the pale in Western politics, but compared to his colleagues in Parliament and the Cabinet, Hariri was an angel. He was the self-made prodigal son who rode into town on the back of a billion-dollar fortune, and set about realizing his dream to transform Lebanon into what he saw as its rightful position as Hong Kong of the Middle East.
But on Saturday night, while trying to make my way to the Hamra neighborhood from Achrafieh, I took a wrong turn and found myself somewhere I didn't want to be: near Riyad al-Solh Square, where opponents of the government have been protesting since last Friday. It was more Dante than downtown, as I watched a nation deliriously assisting in its own suicide. Was it really meant to be that way?
Crunch the numbers and it becomes obvious that this is neither the time nor the place for such a jamboree. Lebanon's total debt stands at $39.4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.9 percent. The debt-to-GDP ratio is a staggering 190 percent. PM Fouad Siniora, a banker by training, is aware of the urgency of reform. He is also acutely aware that nearly 30 percent of government spending goes to servicing the debt. There is a $3 billion deficit in public finances and even more worrying is the imminent maturity of $5 billion worth of government bonds in 2007.
The Paris III economic conference, already a year late, looks like being postponed once again. Rating agencies have given Lebanon a negative outlook and any delay in Paris III without a definite new date will see an automatic downgrade to a CCC rating - one step away from a default, putting Lebanon on par with the likes of Belize, Ecuador, Cuba, Moldova, Nicaragua and Paraguay.
Without a donor conference the Lebanese Treasury will have to refinance its debt at much higher rates, as there will be few if any takers with an appetite for Lebanese risk. Any inability to refinance could see Lebanon "do an Argentina." True, the Central Bank could mobilize its foreign currency reserves, but that would leave the Lebanese pound exposed. Sadly the country might not be able to fight on two fronts. Remember that during the summer war, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait gave Lebanon $1.5 billion to defend the pound; otherwise the currency would have nosedived.
If the Siniora government is toppled then Lebanon could be in for it. There would no doubt be increased political tension within the country, and with Israel, and major economic reform, the single most important obligation international donors have imposed on Lebanon, could be blocked by Hizbullah and its allies. There would be a massive flight of financial and human capital and the gains of the past six years could evaporate.
At the moment, Paris III is scheduled for January 25, 2007. Lebanon needs a minimum of $4 billion to avert a slide, and ideally $8 billion to finance reconstruction and pay back its $2.4 billion Paris II loan that matures this month. The conference was meant to happen in January 2006, so time is of the essence. Siniora's is the only government that has so far demonstrated a commitment to economic and fiscal management of the country. The prime minister has the tools to reduce the fiscal deficit and debt and create growth - primarily by privatizing the two telecom companies, the national electricity grid, and Middle East Airlines. He has pledged to increase taxes and encourage investment. Even on a "good day" it is estimated that Lebanon looses $1 million for every day it stalls in carrying out economic reform. Does the opposition care about such figures? One wonders.
The resurgent Beirut Stock Exchange looks likely to suffer from a prolonged political crisis, especially as Gulf markets are also falling off. Three Lebanese banks - BankMed, Credit Libanais, and Lebanese Canadian Bank - were considering listing in early 2007, one year after they had originally planned to do so. In the current climate they will wait even longer. And let's not forget that because of the summer war, 35-40 percent of the exchange's market capitalization was rubbed out. It is still falling.
Lebanon's other sectors can ill afford political gridlock. Tourism, which at conservative estimates represents 10 percent of GDP, will be out for the count if this situation continues for much longer. Lebanese industry is also punch drunk. Any gains the sector made in the first half of 2006 - 51 percent growth in exports by all accounts - were wiped out during the war. Fighting also cost the sector $1.1 billion and damaged 142 plants. The outlook for 2007 is not good: Both tourism and industry are expected to shed jobs.
Yes, the economy is hurtling to hell in the proverbial hand basket. Latest estimates put crisis losses at $70 million a day with roughly 7,000 jobs on the line. Lebanon's image as the region's party town is evaporating faster than you can say Bacardi Breezer, while brand Lebanon, which nearly two years ago oozed with equity, is looking very brittle. A widely televised war, a gangster-style assassination in broad daylight, and the sight of soldiers behind razor wire defending a holed-up Cabinet are not good for business, and whether we like it or not business is what makes Lebanon.
Michael Karam is managing editor of Executive magazine, a regional business monthly. He wrote this commentary for THE DAILY STAR.
i've to add that 80% of the new protestors are not paying any taxes for their houses, neither electricity bills nor traffic... they have more than 20,000 mid-range missles and receive financial aid from Iran... if you want to know the Lebanon they are looking for just visit the area where they lived... you'll be shocked
Peace,
G.
By Michael Karam
And so to the latest tented village. That the Rafik Hariri-inspired downtown area should be the field of battle between what must be seen - wittingly or unwittingly - as those who want prosperity and those who wish to obstruct it, is sadly fitting. Say what you want about the late prime minister, he was a deal maker of the highest order. In his book "Killing Mr. Lebanon: The Assassination of Rafik Hariri and Its Impact on the Middle East," Nicholas Blanford describes Hariri as "a corrupter rather than corrupt." That kind of behavior might be beyond the pale in Western politics, but compared to his colleagues in Parliament and the Cabinet, Hariri was an angel. He was the self-made prodigal son who rode into town on the back of a billion-dollar fortune, and set about realizing his dream to transform Lebanon into what he saw as its rightful position as Hong Kong of the Middle East.
But on Saturday night, while trying to make my way to the Hamra neighborhood from Achrafieh, I took a wrong turn and found myself somewhere I didn't want to be: near Riyad al-Solh Square, where opponents of the government have been protesting since last Friday. It was more Dante than downtown, as I watched a nation deliriously assisting in its own suicide. Was it really meant to be that way?
Crunch the numbers and it becomes obvious that this is neither the time nor the place for such a jamboree. Lebanon's total debt stands at $39.4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.9 percent. The debt-to-GDP ratio is a staggering 190 percent. PM Fouad Siniora, a banker by training, is aware of the urgency of reform. He is also acutely aware that nearly 30 percent of government spending goes to servicing the debt. There is a $3 billion deficit in public finances and even more worrying is the imminent maturity of $5 billion worth of government bonds in 2007.
The Paris III economic conference, already a year late, looks like being postponed once again. Rating agencies have given Lebanon a negative outlook and any delay in Paris III without a definite new date will see an automatic downgrade to a CCC rating - one step away from a default, putting Lebanon on par with the likes of Belize, Ecuador, Cuba, Moldova, Nicaragua and Paraguay.
Without a donor conference the Lebanese Treasury will have to refinance its debt at much higher rates, as there will be few if any takers with an appetite for Lebanese risk. Any inability to refinance could see Lebanon "do an Argentina." True, the Central Bank could mobilize its foreign currency reserves, but that would leave the Lebanese pound exposed. Sadly the country might not be able to fight on two fronts. Remember that during the summer war, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait gave Lebanon $1.5 billion to defend the pound; otherwise the currency would have nosedived.
If the Siniora government is toppled then Lebanon could be in for it. There would no doubt be increased political tension within the country, and with Israel, and major economic reform, the single most important obligation international donors have imposed on Lebanon, could be blocked by Hizbullah and its allies. There would be a massive flight of financial and human capital and the gains of the past six years could evaporate.
At the moment, Paris III is scheduled for January 25, 2007. Lebanon needs a minimum of $4 billion to avert a slide, and ideally $8 billion to finance reconstruction and pay back its $2.4 billion Paris II loan that matures this month. The conference was meant to happen in January 2006, so time is of the essence. Siniora's is the only government that has so far demonstrated a commitment to economic and fiscal management of the country. The prime minister has the tools to reduce the fiscal deficit and debt and create growth - primarily by privatizing the two telecom companies, the national electricity grid, and Middle East Airlines. He has pledged to increase taxes and encourage investment. Even on a "good day" it is estimated that Lebanon looses $1 million for every day it stalls in carrying out economic reform. Does the opposition care about such figures? One wonders.
The resurgent Beirut Stock Exchange looks likely to suffer from a prolonged political crisis, especially as Gulf markets are also falling off. Three Lebanese banks - BankMed, Credit Libanais, and Lebanese Canadian Bank - were considering listing in early 2007, one year after they had originally planned to do so. In the current climate they will wait even longer. And let's not forget that because of the summer war, 35-40 percent of the exchange's market capitalization was rubbed out. It is still falling.
Lebanon's other sectors can ill afford political gridlock. Tourism, which at conservative estimates represents 10 percent of GDP, will be out for the count if this situation continues for much longer. Lebanese industry is also punch drunk. Any gains the sector made in the first half of 2006 - 51 percent growth in exports by all accounts - were wiped out during the war. Fighting also cost the sector $1.1 billion and damaged 142 plants. The outlook for 2007 is not good: Both tourism and industry are expected to shed jobs.
Yes, the economy is hurtling to hell in the proverbial hand basket. Latest estimates put crisis losses at $70 million a day with roughly 7,000 jobs on the line. Lebanon's image as the region's party town is evaporating faster than you can say Bacardi Breezer, while brand Lebanon, which nearly two years ago oozed with equity, is looking very brittle. A widely televised war, a gangster-style assassination in broad daylight, and the sight of soldiers behind razor wire defending a holed-up Cabinet are not good for business, and whether we like it or not business is what makes Lebanon.
Michael Karam is managing editor of Executive magazine, a regional business monthly. He wrote this commentary for THE DAILY STAR.
i've to add that 80% of the new protestors are not paying any taxes for their houses, neither electricity bills nor traffic... they have more than 20,000 mid-range missles and receive financial aid from Iran... if you want to know the Lebanon they are looking for just visit the area where they lived... you'll be shocked
Peace,
G.
We Have The Right for a Merry Christmas Too
Les chrétiens aussi ont des fêtes
BY: L'ORIENT LE JOUR
les chrétiens aussi ont le droit de passer leurs fêtes et nous espérons pouvoir profiter de nos fêtes
Le métropolite de Beyrouth, Élias Audeh, s’en est pris, hier, aux organisateurs des manifestations et a affirmé, lors du prêche du dimanche, que « les chrétiens aussi ont le droit de passer leurs fêtes et nous espérons pouvoir profiter de nos fêtes comme les autres le font.
L’archevêque grec-orthodoxe a vivement critiqué les jeunes qui vont manifester et paralyser le pays.
Sommes-nous devenus aveugles ? s’est-il interrogé. « Ce sont ces mêmes jeunes diplômés, dirigés comme des moutons, qui vont manifester aujourd’hui, qui iront demain dire qu’il n’y a pas de travail dans le pays et qui boucleront leurs valises pour quitter le Liban », a-t-il souligné.
BY: L'ORIENT LE JOUR
les chrétiens aussi ont le droit de passer leurs fêtes et nous espérons pouvoir profiter de nos fêtes
Le métropolite de Beyrouth, Élias Audeh, s’en est pris, hier, aux organisateurs des manifestations et a affirmé, lors du prêche du dimanche, que « les chrétiens aussi ont le droit de passer leurs fêtes et nous espérons pouvoir profiter de nos fêtes comme les autres le font.
L’archevêque grec-orthodoxe a vivement critiqué les jeunes qui vont manifester et paralyser le pays.
Sommes-nous devenus aveugles ? s’est-il interrogé. « Ce sont ces mêmes jeunes diplômés, dirigés comme des moutons, qui vont manifester aujourd’hui, qui iront demain dire qu’il n’y a pas de travail dans le pays et qui boucleront leurs valises pour quitter le Liban », a-t-il souligné.
Metropolite Elias Awdeh’s (ArchBishop of Beirut and all coastal Phonecia, for Greek Orthdox) sarmon during Sunday’s mass was an attack on the blind people following their leaders like sheep , about the demonstrators in the DT, about the right for us Christians to have a merry Christmas.
He quoted: “Those who are planning our future should not forger we have the right to spend our Christmas peacefully as well”, Why is it that everyone who loves Lebanon is killed?
He continued: ” I am sad to see that all those educated young men are becoming like sheep and not thinking of their future, We are a blind people”.
Our economical situation is at its worst, and i feel bad to see our youth sitting uselessly and demonstratings, because those same people will be cursing Lebanon and leaving in few years time.
He finally concluded that we deserve to spend our holidays and asked those planning for all that to take into consideration that both of ‘us’ have holidays. He always addressed the ‘Saints’ demonstrating asking if they wanna save the country or destroy it? Are they feeding the poor people instead of cursing the government and accusing it of not feeding those?
He quoted: “Those who are planning our future should not forger we have the right to spend our Christmas peacefully as well”, Why is it that everyone who loves Lebanon is killed?
He continued: ” I am sad to see that all those educated young men are becoming like sheep and not thinking of their future, We are a blind people”.
Our economical situation is at its worst, and i feel bad to see our youth sitting uselessly and demonstratings, because those same people will be cursing Lebanon and leaving in few years time.
He finally concluded that we deserve to spend our holidays and asked those planning for all that to take into consideration that both of ‘us’ have holidays. He always addressed the ‘Saints’ demonstrating asking if they wanna save the country or destroy it? Are they feeding the poor people instead of cursing the government and accusing it of not feeding those?
He ended it with a beautiful quote :
” ان من يجاهر بحبه لهذا الوطن يتم قتله”.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Bachir Gemayel - this is the president we want...
This is the president who we want. a president that can be responsible on the 10452km2, not an ass licker
Enough!!!!
Enough you are killing our young Leaders since 3o years... Does a presidency chair deserve all this Sir????!!!!!! Shame on you Mr. Killer Aoun
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Too Many Lebanese Citizens are Already Wearing Black
Too many citizens are already wearing black
25-11-06 07:59 BY: DAILY STAR
Justice will not be allowed to elude Lebanon. With the cowardly silencing of every freethinking, outspoken voice in Lebanon, the obvious goal is to try and push justice farther and farther away.
The murderers seem to have the courage to kill, but not enough courage to show their faces and claim responsibility for their actions. Why don't they have the courage to allow Lebanon to be free and sovereign? Why don't they have the courage to let men speak their minds? Why don't they have the courage to let justice take its course?
We, as Lebanese, should have no fear of justice. The actions of those who are vainly trying to bury justice betray their fear and cowardice.
Their fear that they will lose power and control has driven them to kill. These cold-blooded murders have changed our nation forever. But we humans have a remarkable ability to forget our pain and our struggles with time.
Even though our physical body has been designed with eyes facing forward, giving the impression that we should always look ahead, we must not forget the past. If we stop learning from the past, we lose the lessons that have been hidden there. So far, that lesson is that violence cannot solve any problems. And as this cycle of violence perpetuates itself, is hope fading for true unity and genuine peace? We can keep hope alive, and reach our goal through our words, actions and our determination to bring justice to all Lebanese. Is our purpose on this earth to destroy violence through enlightenment, education, vision and evolution or are we destined as a nation to continue to destroy ourselves with violence?
My husband Basil died because he believed in Lebanon. Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Samir Kassir, George Hawi, Gebran Tueni and now Pierre Gemayel and our Martyrs have all suffered the ultimate punishment for having the courage to raise their voices for unity on behalf of their beloved Lebanon.
Are we now facing a future where we will have to tell our children that their fathers died because they believed in a lost cause? Too many citizens are already wearing black, let us see no more of them, or else Beirut may turn into a city of ghosts.
Some would try and split the trunk of the majestic cedar, but we must not allow ourselves to fracture. Instead we should stand firmly together, with courage to heal this tree and not allow any more branches to die.
It is said that those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it. Let's not repeat history at the expense of any more Lebanese martyrs.
25-11-06 07:59 BY: DAILY STAR
Justice will not be allowed to elude Lebanon. With the cowardly silencing of every freethinking, outspoken voice in Lebanon, the obvious goal is to try and push justice farther and farther away.
The murderers seem to have the courage to kill, but not enough courage to show their faces and claim responsibility for their actions. Why don't they have the courage to allow Lebanon to be free and sovereign? Why don't they have the courage to let men speak their minds? Why don't they have the courage to let justice take its course?
We, as Lebanese, should have no fear of justice. The actions of those who are vainly trying to bury justice betray their fear and cowardice.
Their fear that they will lose power and control has driven them to kill. These cold-blooded murders have changed our nation forever. But we humans have a remarkable ability to forget our pain and our struggles with time.
Even though our physical body has been designed with eyes facing forward, giving the impression that we should always look ahead, we must not forget the past. If we stop learning from the past, we lose the lessons that have been hidden there. So far, that lesson is that violence cannot solve any problems. And as this cycle of violence perpetuates itself, is hope fading for true unity and genuine peace? We can keep hope alive, and reach our goal through our words, actions and our determination to bring justice to all Lebanese. Is our purpose on this earth to destroy violence through enlightenment, education, vision and evolution or are we destined as a nation to continue to destroy ourselves with violence?
My husband Basil died because he believed in Lebanon. Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Samir Kassir, George Hawi, Gebran Tueni and now Pierre Gemayel and our Martyrs have all suffered the ultimate punishment for having the courage to raise their voices for unity on behalf of their beloved Lebanon.
Are we now facing a future where we will have to tell our children that their fathers died because they believed in a lost cause? Too many citizens are already wearing black, let us see no more of them, or else Beirut may turn into a city of ghosts.
Some would try and split the trunk of the majestic cedar, but we must not allow ourselves to fracture. Instead we should stand firmly together, with courage to heal this tree and not allow any more branches to die.
It is said that those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it. Let's not repeat history at the expense of any more Lebanese martyrs.
It is enough.
Yasma Fuleihan is the widow of late former Economy Minister Basil Fuleihan, who was killed alongide...
Yasma Fuleihan is the widow of late former Economy Minister Basil Fuleihan, who was killed alongide...
With each New Martyr we become more stronger.. their death is our new baptism. Lebanon will be strong by the blood we are paying, it's expensive to all of us and to the martyrs' family. but we are here to stay
Long Life Lebanon...
peace, love and harmony...
G.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Stop Killing Our Free Independent Leaders...
لن نحيد عن خط حددناه بالدم...BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- Lebanese Christian Cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel has been shot dead by apparent assassins in Beirut, senior Lebanese government officials said.
Gunmen opened fire on the industry minister's convoy as it drove through a Christian area of the city on Tuesday, security sources told Reuters. Gemayel, who was in his 30s, was taken to hospital where he died of his wounds.
Lebanese television showed angry and distraught supporters gathering outside the hospital, the news agency said.
Gemayel was a member of the Christian Phalange party and supporter of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority.
The killing is set to deepen the political crisis in which the Lebanese government is currently locked in a power struggle with pro-Syrian factions led by Hezbollah.
"We believe the hand of Syria is all over the place," Lebanese parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri told CNN Tuesday, shortly after the shooting. Hariri is the son of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The United States described Tuesday's killing as an "act of terrorism," a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
"This is a very sad day for Lebanon. We were shocked by this assassination. We view it as an act of terrorism and we also view it as an act of intimidation," U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said of the assassination.
In the ongoing political crisis, all five Shiite Muslim ministers and one Christian in Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's 24-member Cabinet resigned over the creation of an international tribunal to probe the assassination of Hariri.
U.N. investigators linked Syria to the death of Hariri and 22 other people on February, 14, 2005, when an explosion was set off near his motorcade. Damascus denies any involvement, and Hezbollah says Syria's accusers have no evidence to back up their claims.
Hariri's assassination led to a wave of anti-Syrian protests, dubbed the "Cedar Revolution," and the withdrawal of Syria's military from Lebanon. Syria had dominated Lebanon since 1976, when Syrian troops entered in the early days of Lebanon's civil war.
Gunmen opened fire on the industry minister's convoy as it drove through a Christian area of the city on Tuesday, security sources told Reuters. Gemayel, who was in his 30s, was taken to hospital where he died of his wounds.
Lebanese television showed angry and distraught supporters gathering outside the hospital, the news agency said.
Gemayel was a member of the Christian Phalange party and supporter of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority.
The killing is set to deepen the political crisis in which the Lebanese government is currently locked in a power struggle with pro-Syrian factions led by Hezbollah.
"We believe the hand of Syria is all over the place," Lebanese parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri told CNN Tuesday, shortly after the shooting. Hariri is the son of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The United States described Tuesday's killing as an "act of terrorism," a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
"This is a very sad day for Lebanon. We were shocked by this assassination. We view it as an act of terrorism and we also view it as an act of intimidation," U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said of the assassination.
In the ongoing political crisis, all five Shiite Muslim ministers and one Christian in Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's 24-member Cabinet resigned over the creation of an international tribunal to probe the assassination of Hariri.
U.N. investigators linked Syria to the death of Hariri and 22 other people on February, 14, 2005, when an explosion was set off near his motorcade. Damascus denies any involvement, and Hezbollah says Syria's accusers have no evidence to back up their claims.
Hariri's assassination led to a wave of anti-Syrian protests, dubbed the "Cedar Revolution," and the withdrawal of Syria's military from Lebanon. Syria had dominated Lebanon since 1976, when Syrian troops entered in the early days of Lebanon's civil war.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Il Divo - Mama
Mama, Il Divo : lyrics
I didicate this song to the soul of my Mum and to all the mothers of the world, an awsome song that makes me cry the 1st time i heard it...
Mama, thank you for who I am
Thank you for all the things I'm not
Forgive me for the words unsaid
For the times I forgot
Mama remember all my life
You showed me love, you sacrificed
Think of those young and early days
How I've changed along the way [ along the way ]
And I know you believed
And I know you had dreams
And I'm sorry it took all this time to see
that I am where I am because of your truth
And I miss you, yeah I miss you
Mama forgive the times you cried
Forgive me for not making right
All of the storms I may have caused
And I've been wrong, Dry your eyes [ dry your eyes ]
And I know you believed
And I know you had dreams
And I'm sorry it took all this time to see
that I am where I am because of your truth
And I miss you, I miss you
Mama I hope this makes you smile
I hope you're happy with my life
At peace with every choice I made
How I've changed along the way [ along the way ]
And I know you believed in all of my dreams
And I owe it all to you, Mama
May God rest your soul in peace my mum, i'm missing you.
peace
G.
November 02: a Foggy Weather in Dubai
This Morning the weather was so Humid and Foggy here in Dubai... All road was covered by water and dews. The sight view is haisy, just we can see for a distance of 10 meters...
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Why dont we sue the martyrs?
editorial by Ghassan Tueni from Annahar:
I dont recall reading such an aggressive and “angry” post by Ghassan Tueni, but he had every right to be angry and his editorial today in Nahar was beautifully written !
The title : Why dont we sue the martyrs ?… ولماذا لا نحاكم الشهداء؟
I will attempt translating the article or sort of resume the contents.
” I dont wanna go into a debate with the president concerning his sudden position opposing the International tribunal memo that the UN proposed, knowing that he is illegitimate locally and internationally …
What Lahoud did today was never done before, and his position i fear could be the first step towards putting an end to protecting HR in Lebanon and the invididual freedoms by bringing back the Syrian regime !!!
Lahoud has become the symbol of this rotten regime and his last guardian, and has been trying in a very filthy and direspectful way to the victims, defending the innocence of the four generals in jail ..
But what was even worse was Lahoud’s attack on the UNIFIL and the UN, disregarding the latest incident between the Germany navy and the Israeli air force.
What Does Lahoud want ? get Lebanon back to total isolation ? make Lebanon yet again a playground for the wars of others and a base for terrorism ?Does he want us to think that the martyrs who were killed during his mandate committed suicide … and not just Rafic el Hariri, but Bassel Fleihan and Samir Kassir and George Hawi and Gebran Tueni ??Or Does he want us to adjust the international tribune text in order to sue those martyrs for killing themselves ?
NO & NO, the international justice shall stay the strongest and most capable, and no one can escape justice ..
Our biggest concern remains that the blood of our martyrs wont be wasted, and let them know that the country that they sacrificed for will punish harshly anyone trying to threaten its sovereighty or trouble its peace and most of all dishonor its martyrs.
Thank you Ghassan Tueni
Friday, October 20, 2006
The Eagle & The Storm
Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks?The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.To face the challenges of a storm, not by fighting it, but moving with it, and rising above it.Turn every storm into opportunity knocking, what do you think, somehow detaching ourselves and spirits lifted to better deal with the onslaught that inevitably hits us all, may we soar with eagles carefree majestic devoted to freedom.
i like to think it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
The October 15th
The October 15, event was cancelled due to bad weather.
We were promised that Lebanon after Oct. 15 will be different from before Oct. 15;
We were promised by Aoun that the event will change Lebanon to become the country that we "all" want; We were promised miracles which will save Lebanon from the ruling mafia. However, it seems that the weather is too cloudy for such a great change to take place. Oh great people of Lebanon, you will have to wait until the clouds clear and the sun shine before Aoun can deliver his promise of the great change for the great nation of the great people.
Meanwhile, oh well, drink orange juice...
Friday, October 13, 2006
It's Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th
Unlucky No. 13 combines Christian and pagan beliefs
by David Johnson
Friday the 13th is an unlucky day in much of Western Europe, North America, and Australia. Many people avoid travel and avoid signing contracts on Friday the 13th. Floors in tall buildings often skip from 12 to 14. And while the superstition is believed to be fading, it nonetheless has deep roots in both Christian and pagan culture.
Unlucky No. 13 combines Christian and pagan beliefs
by David Johnson
Friday the 13th is an unlucky day in much of Western Europe, North America, and Australia. Many people avoid travel and avoid signing contracts on Friday the 13th. Floors in tall buildings often skip from 12 to 14. And while the superstition is believed to be fading, it nonetheless has deep roots in both Christian and pagan culture.
The Day Jesus Was Crucified?
Many Christians have long believed that Friday was unlucky because it was the day of the week when Jesus was crucified. The number 13 was believed to bring bad luck because there were 13 people at The Last Supper. Since there were 12 tribes of Israel, that number was considered lucky.
Roots in Norse Mythology
Thirteen was also a sinister number in Norse mythology. Loki, one of the most evil of the Norse gods, went uninvited to a party for 12 at Valhalla, a banquet hall of the gods. As a result, he caused the death of Balder, the god of light, joy, and reconciliation. Loki tricked Balder's blind brother, Hod, into throwing a sprig of mistletoe at Balder's chest. Since mistletoe was the only thing on Earth fatal to Balder, the beloved god fell dead.
Literature and Folk Wisdom
During the Middle Ages, the superstition against Friday the 13th grew. On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered the arrests of Jaques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templars and sixty of his senior knights in Paris. Thousands of others were arrested elsewhere in the country. After employing torture techniques to compel the Templars to "confess" to wrongdoing, most were eventually executed and sympathizers of the Templars condemned Friday the 13th as an evil day. Over time a large body of literature and folk wisdom have reinforced the belief. In the 18th century, the HMS Friday was launched on Friday the 13th. It was never heard from again. Since then, ships are not usually launched on that date. (Click here for other mysterious ship disappearances.)
Dinner With 13
It is considered especially unlucky to have 13 people at the table during a meal, such as in Agatha Christie's mystery novel, Thirteen at Dinner. During the 1880s, a men's group that felt superstition was an unhealthy influence on public life held Thirteen Club dinners. Those diners would have doubtless deplored Triskaidekaphobia, which is a fear of the number 13. They would also have looked askance at Triskaidekamania, which is an excessive enthusiasm for the number 13. (Take our Phobia Quiz (part I) on Triskaidekaphobia and other scary phobias.)
Unconditional Love: a motivation story
A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco.
"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me."
"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."
"There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."
"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."
"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."
"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."
At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.
The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.
Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!!
There's a miracle called Friendship That dwells in the heart.You don't know how it happens or when it gets started but you know the special lift it always brings and you realize that Friendship Is God's most precious gift!
Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.
"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me."
"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."
"There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."
"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."
"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."
"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."
At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.
The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.
Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!!
There's a miracle called Friendship That dwells in the heart.You don't know how it happens or when it gets started but you know the special lift it always brings and you realize that Friendship Is God's most precious gift!
Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.
peace
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Childhood Memories!!!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHH MEMORIES!!!
Close your eyes...And go back...
....Before the Internet or PC or the MAC......
....Before semi-automatics and crack....
....Before Playstation, SEGA, Super Nintendo, even before Atari...
....Before cell phones, CD's, DVD's,Ipod, voicemail and e-mail....
....way back....
....way.....way.....way back.....
I'm talkin' bout hide and seek at dusk
Red light, Green light, erase the map (ma7ou el kharita)
Playing kickball & dodgeball until the first...no...second...no...third
Streetlight came on
Ring around the Rosie
Jump rope
YOU'RE IT!!
Parents stood on the front porch and yelled (or whistled) for you to come home - no pagers or cell phones
Mother May I?
Hula Hoops
Seeing shapes in the clouds, counting stars at Dusk & starring at the big yellow summer moon raising behind the mountain.
Endless summer days and hot summer nights (no A/C) with the windows open
The sound of crickets
Running through the sprinkler
Cereal boxes with that GREAT prize in the bottom
Cracker jacks(Oath) with the same thing
Ice pops with 2 sticks you could break and share with a friend
...but wait.....there's more....
Watchin' Saturday Morning cartoons
Fat Albert, Road Runner, Smurfs, Picture Pages, G-Force & He-Man, Tom & Jerry
Oh, I'm not finished yet....
Tang was the drink of the summer
Giving your friends a ride on your Chopper (bicycle)
Wearing your new shoes on the first day of school
Class Field Trips with mushy sandwiches... eat Thymes to become smart.
Ehhh who cares right? Age is just a number.With age comes Wisdom
Close your eyes...And go back...
....Before the Internet or PC or the MAC......
....Before semi-automatics and crack....
....Before Playstation, SEGA, Super Nintendo, even before Atari...
....Before cell phones, CD's, DVD's,Ipod, voicemail and e-mail....
....way back....
....way.....way.....way back.....
I'm talkin' bout hide and seek at dusk
Red light, Green light, erase the map (ma7ou el kharita)
Playing kickball & dodgeball until the first...no...second...no...third
Streetlight came on
Ring around the Rosie
Jump rope
YOU'RE IT!!
Parents stood on the front porch and yelled (or whistled) for you to come home - no pagers or cell phones
Mother May I?
Hula Hoops
Seeing shapes in the clouds, counting stars at Dusk & starring at the big yellow summer moon raising behind the mountain.
Endless summer days and hot summer nights (no A/C) with the windows open
The sound of crickets
Running through the sprinkler
Cereal boxes with that GREAT prize in the bottom
Cracker jacks(Oath) with the same thing
Ice pops with 2 sticks you could break and share with a friend
...but wait.....there's more....
Watchin' Saturday Morning cartoons
Fat Albert, Road Runner, Smurfs, Picture Pages, G-Force & He-Man, Tom & Jerry
Zeina & Nahool, Lulu & Tabboush... the mighty Grandeizer...
Watchin' Sunday afternoon football match (mostly german league)
Wonder Woman & Super Man Underoos without forgetting Abou Salim el tabel...
FONZIE.....AYYYYYYYY
Playing Dukes of Hazard
Catchin' lightning bugs in a jar
Christmas morning
Your first day of school
Bedtime Prayers and Goodnight Kisses
Climbing trees
Swinging as high as you could to try and reach the sky
Getting an Ice Cream off the Good Humor Truck
A million mosquito bites and sticky fingers
Jumpin' down the steps
Jumpin' on the bed
Pillow fights
Sleep-overs
A 18" black and white TV in your house meant you were RICH
Runnin' till you were out of breath
Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt
Being tired from PLAYING
WORK: meant taking out the garbage
Your first crush
Your first kiss (I mean the one that you kept your mouth CLOSED and your eyes OPEN)
Rainy days at school meant playing "Heads up 7UP" or hangman" in
The classroom, Remember that?
Watchin' Sunday afternoon football match (mostly german league)
Wonder Woman & Super Man Underoos without forgetting Abou Salim el tabel...
FONZIE.....AYYYYYYYY
Playing Dukes of Hazard
Catchin' lightning bugs in a jar
Christmas morning
Your first day of school
Bedtime Prayers and Goodnight Kisses
Climbing trees
Swinging as high as you could to try and reach the sky
Getting an Ice Cream off the Good Humor Truck
A million mosquito bites and sticky fingers
Jumpin' down the steps
Jumpin' on the bed
Pillow fights
Sleep-overs
A 18" black and white TV in your house meant you were RICH
Runnin' till you were out of breath
Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt
Being tired from PLAYING
WORK: meant taking out the garbage
Your first crush
Your first kiss (I mean the one that you kept your mouth CLOSED and your eyes OPEN)
Rainy days at school meant playing "Heads up 7UP" or hangman" in
The classroom, Remember that?
Oh, I'm not finished yet....
Tang was the drink of the summer
Giving your friends a ride on your Chopper (bicycle)
Passing a Syrian checkpoint walking back from a Volleyball tournament was a challenge...
Hiking in the valleys and among the olive trees... walk to the abbey is an achievement...
Wearing your new shoes on the first day of school
Class Field Trips with mushy sandwiches... eat Thymes to become smart.
Sitting at the back sit of the school bus was the priority...
When nearly everyone's mom was at home when the kids got there
When nearly everyone's mom was at home when the kids got there
(except for me:(...)
When a lira(Lebanese Pound) seemed like a fair allowance;
and another Lira a MIRACLE
When ANY parent could discipline ANY kid, or feed him, or use him
to carry groceries...And nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it.
When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to
the fate that awaited you at home.
Basically, we were in fear for our lives but it wasn't because of
drive by shootings, drugs, gangs etc.
Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! And some of
us are still afraid of em!
Didn't that feel good? Just to go back and say, "Yeah, I remember
that!"
Well, let's keep going!!
Let's go back to the time when...
Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo"
Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "do over!"
"Race issues" meant arguing about who ran the fastest.
Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in "monopoly"
Catching fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening (Nar ya nar ya nar ya hoooo)
It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends.
Being old, referred to anyone over 20.
Nobody was prettier than Mom
Scrapes and bruises were kissed by mom or grandma and made better (w tfouh 3al shaytan)
It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people" rides at the Church park.
Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true.
Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dog-dare"
Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles.
The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.
Water balloons were the ultimate, ultimate weapon.
Older siblings were your worst tormentors, but also your fiercest protector
If you can remember most or all of these, then you have LIVED!!!
When a lira(Lebanese Pound) seemed like a fair allowance;
and another Lira a MIRACLE
When ANY parent could discipline ANY kid, or feed him, or use him
to carry groceries...And nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it.
When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to
the fate that awaited you at home.
Basically, we were in fear for our lives but it wasn't because of
drive by shootings, drugs, gangs etc.
Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! And some of
us are still afraid of em!
Didn't that feel good? Just to go back and say, "Yeah, I remember
that!"
Well, let's keep going!!
Let's go back to the time when...
Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo"
Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "do over!"
"Race issues" meant arguing about who ran the fastest.
Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in "monopoly"
Catching fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening (Nar ya nar ya nar ya hoooo)
It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends.
Being old, referred to anyone over 20.
Nobody was prettier than Mom
Scrapes and bruises were kissed by mom or grandma and made better (w tfouh 3al shaytan)
It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people" rides at the Church park.
Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true.
Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dog-dare"
Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles.
The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.
Water balloons were the ultimate, ultimate weapon.
Older siblings were your worst tormentors, but also your fiercest protector
If you can remember most or all of these, then you have LIVED!!!
Ehhh who cares right? Age is just a number.With age comes Wisdom
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Sunset at Dubai Creek from DFC
It was the Dusk on the creek, being at work at this time is something normal here, but staying 15 minutes starring on the sunset from the project site is unusual. i beleive it's a sign : I'm in Love with Dubai...
But i'm missing you here.
peace
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Georges & Dalia wedding pictures
Georges Zakhem get married to Dalia Mouawad on 29-07-2006
Mabrouk Georges
congratulations my dear friend
congratulations my dear friend
Gebran Tueni Quotes
Gebran Tueni (September 15, 1957 – December 12, 2005) was a Lebanese politician, famous for his editorials in the An-Nahar daily newspaper in Beirut, Lebanon. He was assassinated by a car bomb on December 12, 2005.
To access all 2005 editorials written by Gebran click on: http://web.naharnet.com/editorials.asp
The Oath of Independence:
"I swear to God As a Muslim and a Christian To defend my dear country ‘till the death And to stay united with my brethren (to stay muwahadeen) Until my last days on earth Defending my great Lebanon (Al A3zeem) "- (March 14, 2005 – during Lebanon’s biggest Independence March in Downtown Beirut. Marking one month exactly to the day of former Lebanese Prime Minister; Sheikh Rafik Al Hariri’s assassination)
Sourced:
"You must realize that many Lebanese are not at ease either with Syrian policy in Lebanon or with the presence of Syrian troops in our country..."- open letter to Lebanese leader Bashar Assad, published March 23, 2000,
"We are on the edge of a new era. It can be something completely positive for Lebanon, and it can be something completely dark for Lebanon. ... That's why we are really at a turning point where anything can happen..." -Associated Press interview, May 2000
This followed the withdrawl of Israeli troops from Lebanon.
Attributed:
This followed the withdrawl of Israeli troops from Lebanon.
Attributed:
"Don't think it is easy for anyone to be forced to live abroad, far from his country, colleagues, wife and children. But sometimes I think, maybe if I am far away I will spare them difficulties and problems. I would transfer the danger to somewhere else and I would not involve those I love..." - Interview with LBC television station
"Yes, there may be other attacks and assassination attempts. One of us may pay the price. Anyway, hopefully it will be us, not anyone else.
The Lebanese security authorities and the remnants of the Syrian system in Lebanon, and directly the Syrian regime from top to bottom, is responsible for every crime and every drop of blood spilled..."
The Lebanese security authorities and the remnants of the Syrian system in Lebanon, and directly the Syrian regime from top to bottom, is responsible for every crime and every drop of blood spilled..."
"The Syrian regime is responsible from head to toe for this horrific terrorist crime. Lebanon's opposition should promptly close ranks anew to have every Syrian intelligence cell left behind in Lebanon ruthlessly smashed," June 2, 2005, following the assassination of colleague Samir Kassir
"It is time for us to put an end to our fear for which we paid a very heavy price, to face all the lies of the Syrian security regime..."-Dec. 1, 2005, editorial in An-Nahar
"The Syrian security regime should know ... that despotic regimes and tyrants who committed massacres against humanity were pursued, prosecuted and collapsed..."-Dec. 8, 2005, editorial in An-Nahar
The Father call at Gebran Funeral:
"I call on this occasion not for revenge or hatred but for us to bury with Gebran all our hatreds and to call on all Lebanese, Muslims and Christians, to unite in the service of great Lebanon and its Arab cause," Dec 14, 2005- Ghassan Tueni
The Daughter Cause:
"I, Nayla, daughter of my father Gibran, daughter of my grandfather Ghassan, daughter of my grandfather's father Gibran, I, the daughter of Tueni, am the daughter of freedom. I am the daughter of a martyr, and a martyr never dies..."
"In the names of all those martyrs I solemnly swear our freedom will never die...My father is not dead! He will live through me. I will be the eye of the rooster [An Nahar symbol] which will follow the murderer until the last grave, until we know the truth...An-Nahar will never die, Lebanon will never die...My father always wanted to die for his country and he did. I call upon you all never to forget the oath that he taught you on March 14."- Dec 14, 2005 Nayla Tueni
"In the names of all those martyrs I solemnly swear our freedom will never die...My father is not dead! He will live through me. I will be the eye of the rooster [An Nahar symbol] which will follow the murderer until the last grave, until we know the truth...An-Nahar will never die, Lebanon will never die...My father always wanted to die for his country and he did. I call upon you all never to forget the oath that he taught you on March 14."- Dec 14, 2005 Nayla Tueni
"We swear by God Almighty, Muslims and Christians, to remain united and defend great Lebanon forever and ever."
May God Bless his soul. (Allah Yirhamou)
Peace.
G.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Dubai is Second Worldwide in Building Offices
Dubai is second worldwide in building offices
http://archive.gulfnews.com/business/Hotel_and_Tourism/10071646.html
10/02/2006 12:19 AM Staff Report
Dubai: With over 24 million square feet of commercial office space currently under development, Dubai has been ranked a close second in the world in terms of office real estate construction activity by Colliers International one of the top three global property service consultants.
According to the company's mid-year Global Office Real Estate review, which assesses the worldwide commercial property markets in 50 countries, only Moscow ranks higher with the Russian capital boasting an estimated 26.90 million square feet of ongoing commercial property construction.
John Davis, CEO, Colliers International Middle East, said: "It is no surprise to see Dubai so close to the top in terms of construction activity. This go-ahead emirate has been making massive progress in recent years with development steaming ahead at an incredible compound annual growth rate of 42.5 per cent.
"Positioned to become the business capital of the region, Dubai has implemented a succession of world-class incentives to attract corporations, NGOs and SMEs from across the globe."
According to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), the emirate's nominal GDP grew 27 per cent in 2005 more than five times the global average. Buoyed by massive increases in non-oil dependant industries, Dubai is generating strong demand for commercial office space.
"Dubai currently boasts 14 million square feet of available primary and secondary grade office space within its established Central Business Districts (CBD's), a relatively small amount considering the rapid influx of foreign business and the development of indigenous entities currently being undertaken here. Supply is quite simply not meeting demand and developers are feverishly trying to correct the market," added Davis.
According to the report, Asia's commercial construction industry is also thriving. China's ongoing economic boom was evident with Beijing and Shanghai placed third and fourth in the global rankings with 23.58 million square feet and 21.61 million square feet respectively of office space under construction. In addition, Tokyo Central Wards, Guangzhou, Kuala Lampur and Hong Kong, were ranked nine through 12 respectively.
Ranked fifth was South Africa's most populous city, Johannesburg, which is currently undertaking 17.87 million square feet of office space construction.
Only one European city finished in the top ten rankings, Paris, which is currently undertaking 14.61 million square feet of commercial development.
http://archive.gulfnews.com/business/Hotel_and_Tourism/10071646.html
10/02/2006 12:19 AM Staff Report
Dubai: With over 24 million square feet of commercial office space currently under development, Dubai has been ranked a close second in the world in terms of office real estate construction activity by Colliers International one of the top three global property service consultants.
According to the company's mid-year Global Office Real Estate review, which assesses the worldwide commercial property markets in 50 countries, only Moscow ranks higher with the Russian capital boasting an estimated 26.90 million square feet of ongoing commercial property construction.
John Davis, CEO, Colliers International Middle East, said: "It is no surprise to see Dubai so close to the top in terms of construction activity. This go-ahead emirate has been making massive progress in recent years with development steaming ahead at an incredible compound annual growth rate of 42.5 per cent.
"Positioned to become the business capital of the region, Dubai has implemented a succession of world-class incentives to attract corporations, NGOs and SMEs from across the globe."
According to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), the emirate's nominal GDP grew 27 per cent in 2005 more than five times the global average. Buoyed by massive increases in non-oil dependant industries, Dubai is generating strong demand for commercial office space.
"Dubai currently boasts 14 million square feet of available primary and secondary grade office space within its established Central Business Districts (CBD's), a relatively small amount considering the rapid influx of foreign business and the development of indigenous entities currently being undertaken here. Supply is quite simply not meeting demand and developers are feverishly trying to correct the market," added Davis.
According to the report, Asia's commercial construction industry is also thriving. China's ongoing economic boom was evident with Beijing and Shanghai placed third and fourth in the global rankings with 23.58 million square feet and 21.61 million square feet respectively of office space under construction. In addition, Tokyo Central Wards, Guangzhou, Kuala Lampur and Hong Kong, were ranked nine through 12 respectively.
Ranked fifth was South Africa's most populous city, Johannesburg, which is currently undertaking 17.87 million square feet of office space construction.
Only one European city finished in the top ten rankings, Paris, which is currently undertaking 14.61 million square feet of commercial development.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Mona Taleb's Team In Training Page
Koullona Lillwatan
For all my countrymen, for all Lebanese & Friends,
A young and active Lebanese Mona Taleb is a medical student in the US. I am sure you all remember the snap shot from the Martyr Square demonstration onMarch 14th showing a lady wearing the Lebanese flag on her face with the cedar tree decorating her nose. Yes, this is she Mona Taleb who wants to wear the Lebanese flag again in Chicago while running the Marathon for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on October 22, 2006.
Mona is a proud Lebanese nationalist and I call on all my countrymen to support her and make a token contribution to her fundraising. She wrote: " I just wanted to remind you that I am training with The Leukemia andLymphoma Society's "Team-in-Training" for the Chicago Marathon. I have already fundraised $1065... but that's still short of my $4000 goal. I would really appreciate your contribution!
The website for online donation is: http://www.active.com/donate/tntsc/tntscMTaleb
Let us show the world that Lebanese people are caring and everywhere and Lebanon shall prevail.
Mona E-mail is: mona.taleb@gmail.com
Good Luck Mona,
Peace,
G.
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