Affairs
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On Marxism, Capitalism, and the Sex Industry
Content Warning: Mentions of sexual violence and assault. A popular rhetoric commonly used by liberal and sometimes radical feminist circles about sex work is ‘sex work is work.’ Such phrases provide a borderline lazy framework for the nuances that surround sex work. The phrase ‘sex work is work’ is often used to convey ‘sex work…
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Dalia Ahmad and Racism in Lebanese Society
Racism in Lebanon is by no means a passing or benign phenomenon, but it is rather entrenched within the different dimensions of Lebanese society. Our culture treats racism lightly, refusing to raise awareness over the structural damage it incurs, and casually employing it in conversations, language, and politics. Recently, famous Al-Jadeed anchor Dalia Ahmad was…
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One News Piece, a Myriad of Explanations
American communication professor, George Gerbner, once wrote that “All news is views.” This could not be more true with Lebanese media, which functions within the constraints and context of the complex socio-political system in place. For every news piece about the recent happenings in Lebanon, a myriad of explanations arises, with different platforms interpreting these…
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State Lab Chemists Go Rogue: Drug Scandal of the Century
What seems to be the greatest problem facing criminal justice systems throughout history is their staggering reliance on human work. Why? Because humanity is undoubtedly flawed. Naturally born sinners, humans possess an inherent penchant to breach moral laws and ethics. Despite all that, one entity views itself immune to human error: science. Exempted from fallacy,…
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Lebanon’s Obituary: A Cry of Despair
When one imagines a summer in Lebanon, what is usually expected is an image of pure joy. You could imagine kids playing on the beach while their parents sink their feet in the sand to enjoy a sunny afternoon after a rich lunch consisting of a traditional “Tabouleh” to accompany meat known as “Mashewe” fresh…
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After a Year and a Month of Power Vacuum, Lebanese Banks Declare Victory Through a New Government
Following an explosion that erased a part of the capital, another explosion that left people burning to their demise, an economic crisis that resulted in 82% of the population living in poverty according to UNESCWA, and almost complete paralysis of the health, electricity, transportation, and tourism sectors, a new Lebanese government was announced on Friday,…
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Political Apathy as a National Epidemic
“You’re so pure,” is usually the response you get when you exhibit an ounce of optimism regarding Lebanon’s political, economic, and social situation. Through the numerous discussions I’ve had with Lebanese people about the future of the country, they have mainly vocalized a negative outlook and have especially repeated the phrase “there is no hope”…
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BDL’s Latest Circular: A Solution Or A Distraction?
On June 4th, Banque Du Liban (BDL) announced Circular 158 which obliges all banks to pay small deposit accounts opened before October 2019, $400 in fresh dollars and another $400 to be paid in lira at a rate set by BDL’s currency exchange platform, Sayrafa. This rate is always subject to change as it is…
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Just Don’t Do It
“Believe in something even if it means sacrificing everything” a famous line by Colin Kaepernick in one of the most controversial Nike ads – a line so inspiring yet simultaneously so hypocritical as the company continues to exploit their female athletes by denying them their basic human rights. Nike’s programs and contracts are designed to…
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The “Electronic” Intifada: Reflections on Digital Spaces and Palestine
Co-written with Cynthia Nahhas Our relationship with social media has always been defined by no other than “it’s complicated.” Being of the generation that grew up with an overwhelming number of screens all around, online trends were always changing, until they eventually accumulated in us a severe hatred of online content that only screamed consumerism.…