Category: Sackville’s Memorial park

Bambi’s sister, journalist Roula Douglas, attracted her attention to the following unfolding story:

In French…

https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1308254/prise-dotages-a-la-federal-bank-a-hamra.html

In English…

https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1308257/armed-man-holding-employees-and-citizens-hostage-in-hamras-federal-bank.html

https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/291787-armed-man-demanding-savings-detains-staff-at-federal-bank-in-hamra

In Arabic, with pictures and videos…

https://www.annahar.com/arabic/%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84%D9%87/11082022084808438

How SAD and how NOT surprising. Indeed, Bambi saw with her own eyes the distress of the Lebanese people during a recent trip to the Middle East :(. There is NO word to describe the current Lebanese human disaster, which began on October 17, 2019 when the banking sector collapsed. At that time, the people of Lebanon and the world realized that this country’s economy was based on a GIANT Ponzi scheme!

Since October 17, 2017, people have been (illegally) prevented from accessing their life savings. The Lebanese pound lost its value (with hyperinflation of almost 200%).

Without any surprise, the corrupt powerful folks at the top of the banking and governmental sectors got their money out (abroad). Not the average Lebanese who is getting poorer day after day. Not the citizens of Lebanon who have worked by the sweat of their brow all their lives, raising their families and contributing to society. No. Not them. Not those seniors who are supposed to enjoy the final stage(s) of their lives. Instead, their quality of life took an unacceptable hit: little or no power with an unbearable summer humidity along the coasts (and in the winter with much cold, especially in the snowy mountains), no access to medication. All this while going from a gas crisis to a bread crisis to ammonium nitrates exploding their places and work places AND killing them. All this without any accountability, any justice, any governmental reform effort. Nothing! Instead those in power are busy dividing the cake of power… of course according to sectarian, or identity-based, lines because this is what matters the most in life (Canada, please take note of where sectarianism could, at least theoretically yet very possibly, lead us in the future, may God forbid).

If Bambi sounds angry writing all the above, it is because she is indeed VERY angry and sad for the Lebanese people. Bearing the described context above in mind, she will add the following: The Lebanese government is bankrupt. There is no more public coverage of healthcare, at least in the private or semi-private hospitals. If you do not have an insurance, you literally die. If you do not have access to your OWN funds to pay your insurance, you also die. Now this being said, she will argue below how this man, his dad, the bank staff/clients and the ENTIRE Lebanese population are ALL victims of systemic corruption and decay.

Indeed, this still unfolding story seems to be going like this: If the fact is true, this man grabbed a weapon from the bank itself. This could be the case as Bambi did not recognize bank branches in Beirut. They are hidden behind metal walls– no windows, no light, nothing. How do employees manage to work without seeing the sunshine she wondered? At least, they are safe from people’s understandable and legitimate anger. Bambi also feels for those employees. They are victims too, as mentioned above. She has loved ones among them. Not at this particular bank, thank God.

Anyhow, the man in question is desperate because he is going to lose his dad (can you imagine?). He has money at the bank (maybe $200K or $230K, it seems), but no access to it. He needs $50K so his dad can have access to urgent care. His bank is not giving it to him and to the other depositors. This “illegal” (criminal?) banking practice has been going on since October 17, 2019. We are in 2022, almost in 2023. Can you imagine?

So, to conclude this post, may God help this man, his dad, the bank staff and two clients taken hostage. May those negotiating with him succeed in making the story end with humanity, justice, and.. without blood. If anyone knows if and how we can help this man and his dad, please let Bambi know to share. As for you Lebanon, Bambi has no more words about you. Just a prayer, if she may…

First of all, Bambi will start by saluting the courage and scientific integrity of Biologist and Professor Rod Cumberland. New Brunswick (NB), Canada, and the entire world need more people like him!

You may wish to listen to this former government wildlife biologist and instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology (Fredericton, NB) directly in the video below where he presented to the Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Stewardship on June 24, 2021. The latter day was part of weeklong meetings devoted to the examination of glyphosate use in NB forests. As a reminder, our province is 85% forested. The hot issue of glyphosate use is critical, regardless of the point of view about glyphosate use or abuse.

As you can see, biologist Rod Cumberland spoke about the effect herbicide spraying has on the health of deer and moose in the province. Bambi thanks him for caring for her and all her fellow deer (and indirectly of NB citizens, including those who are trying hard to silence him). In addition, he also spoke about the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s failure to protect the public from harmful herbicides and pesticides. Bambi also thanks him for caring for his fellow NB human beings.

This being said, Bambi would like to thank Cumberland’s former boss at the Maritime College of Forest Technology, retired Executive-Director Gerry Redmond, for creating a fundraiser campaign to support his legal fees. She is honoured to have just contributed to it. She did so both as a peer and as a grateful deer/citizen. Now, if like her, you care about academic freedom/freedom of expression in our dear province, and can afford to support Mr. Cumberland in any way you can, here is the link to this campaign: https://www.givesendgo.com/G3MXE?sharemsg=display.

As for us in NB, and by extension in Canada, we should be ashamed of ourselves for not being wise enough to know how to listen to and respect all opinions on any given topic and regardless of whether we agree with it or not.

Stated differently, everyone has the right to freely express his or her opinion, whether the latter is scientific, medical, political, religious, etc. Powerful pressure groups, governments, and individuals must urgently re-commit to this basic principle of common sense in communication and in human rights, if we want to still keep calling ourselves a democracy.

Last but not least, in the fundraiser link above, you can find more media coverage on the story. Below are a few additional ones:

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2022/05/25/news/teachers-fight-against-glyphosate-pitted-him-against-nbs-most-powerful-interests

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/forestry-college-director-wanted-positive-relationship-ahead-of-firing-1.6405234

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/glyphosate-herbicide-cumberland-hearings-1.6078282

To conclude this post, Bambi wants to thank Mr. Cumberland again for his inspiring courage. Best wishes to him in “his” long battle, which is “ours” too. Indeed, if one of us is silenced, we are all censored. This is why Bambi is standing up for academic freedom/free speech, that is in full solidarity with this courageous scientist/citizen!

Bambi’s heart has been heavy since this morning. How could it not be following the loss of her beloved Kayla, as per the earlier post below?

To cheer herself up before sleep, she looked for new versions of her favourite Arabic summertime love melody on YouTube. Of course, she means the “Three Daqat” song.

If she may, she would like to dedicate the “Three Daqat” [3 Heartbeats] song to the sweetest Kayla. Yes, all our hearts are beating for you today in unity to say good-bye. Much love again to those grieving this wonderful dog, especially the Douglas family in Lebanon and Dubai ?.

As for you dear readers of this blog, it is Bambi’s hope that you will enjoy this brief musical post. May the rest of your summer be light and merry. May love, with a big and/or a small L, always fill your hearts and inspire your life!

An instrumental version by Mr. Maan Hamadeh et al.:

An English translated version by Ms. Banah, a singer/songwriter who resides in Bahrain after growing up in the Middle East and Canada:

A wonderful interpretation by B.I.G and Soya in Arabic (Bravo!):

A creative version by a Jordanian talented sibling duo, namely a brother and a sister called Ms. Lama and Mr. Costandi Zakharia (Wow!):

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Good-bye sweetest Kayla!

Bambi’s heart is sad today. She lost a dear family member. Her grieving heart goes to Kayla’s immediate family, the Douglas one by one (Michael abroad, Roula/Gladson, and Nicolas). She is also thinking of Mabelle and Stéphanie as well as all her extended relatives in Lebanon. They all loved Kayla. Even Bambi’s family and friends abroad are fond of her. Bambi’s heart also goes to her family members, beyond the Douglas, one by one. Everyone is sad today…. Mom and dad, Bambi is sorry for your loss.

Kayla was a famous dog. She had great relatives and friends in Canada and Europe. One of those wonderful friends medically and generously cared for her from far away. She is thinking of you Gina. What a devoted and competent vet you are! Bambi is also thinking of Kayla’s own vet in Lebanon and other caregivers. They will all miss her.

To come back to you Gina, a BIG thank you , from everyone in Beirut, Dubai, and even Sackville for your humanity and wonderful words to them today. You are right: They did give this wonderful dog a great life. As you wrote so nicely this morning, Kayla is on her way to the “Rainbow Bridge” (poem shown below).

This being said, Bambi’s German cousins also fell in love with Kayla six years ago and had the chance to see her lately. Bambi is thinking of you Laila. She is sorry to share the sad news on her blog (unless you heard it already?). When you left Beirut four days after Bambi, no one saw this coming. Bambi is happy we all got to see Kayla, especially you Michael even for a short time!

As far as she is concerned, Bambi will always remember how Kayla opened her room’s door twice to check on her, in the middle of the night, upon her arrival from Canada (Bambi started her journey at her sister’s place before moving to their parent’s apartment). Sadly, Bambi did not have the chance to return the care to you Kayla. She just sent you her love with her sister and prayed for you to leave our world in peace and without pain.

Last but not least, Bambi cannot end this dog obituary without having a tender thought for all the kind humans and pets Kayla loved in her building and neighbourhood. Of note, she was a good friend to a caring human being, Ahmed. Bambi is thinking of him now. In addition, she was in love with one particular cute dog. Will he miss her too?

Now it is the time to conclude this post. Bambi will do so by paying tribute to Kayla in three ways. First, she will share with you a beautiful picture of our dear Kayla taken in Beirut years ago, courtesy of Roula. Second, as mentioned above, she will share Gina’s Rainbow Bridge poem. Last but not least, if she may, she would like to offer Roula, Gladson, Michael, and Nicholas a song inspired by Gina’s poem… with much love ❤️. Bon courage tout le monde!

She does not know about you, but Bambi adores Byzantine chants. Maybe because they remind her of her parents, of their charming Saint George Greek Orthodox church, or of childhood memories.

Anyhow, before sleep last night, quite randomly while searching Youtube for other purposes, Bambi discovered a young singer from Lebanon: Ms. Ribale Wehbe. How talented! Bambi could not help not to wonder if her parents knew her.

Ms. Ribale Wehbi studied musicology at the Antonine University. She plays the oud and the guitar. However, as she explained accurately (in French) in the interview below in Rumania where she participated in a musical competition, Byzantine music does not use any instrument. If Bambi recalls well, the entire church musical liturgy is based on 8 melodies only.

Of note, Bambi will clarify that two of the pieces below are for Easter and Epiphany, respectively, while another one is a famous psalm. As for the very last song, it is not from the Byzantine liturgy. It is actually an Arabic translation of a famous English Christmas Western carol.

To conclude this post, Bambi is already a fan of your talent, Ms. Ribale Wehbe. Thank you for these beautiful spiritual or just artistic moments (depending on how one wants to perceive them). Best wishes for your professional career… and bless your angelic voice!

It is with great sadness, through a Lebanese-American internet radio station, that Bambi learned about the recent death of Maestro Ihsan Al Mounzer. What a huge loss to the world of music!

Renowned Lebanese Maestro Ihsan Al Mounzer Just Passed Away

Bambi’s heart goes to Mr. Al Mounzer’s family as well as to to all his friends, colleagues, and fans around the world, including but not limited to Lebanon, Italy, Norway, and, Denmark.

According to Al Jazeera, Mr. Ihsan Al Mounzer pioneered the “belly dance disco, a genre that fuses Western and Middle Eastern music” (https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2020/11/23/ihsan-al-mounzer-the-godfather-of-belly-dance-disco). If you wish, below you can find a compilation of some of his famous compositions, hoping you will enjoy discovering OR re-listening to them.

May Mr. Al Mounzer’s memory be eternal… just like his inspiring musical legacy! ?

Many thanks to journalist Roula Douglas for re-tweeting the moving picture of a billboard originally tweeted by Mr. Philippe Bustros, the Managing Director at AGC Equity Partners.

At the precise moment of posting the above, Bambi received a personalized message from her sister (the journalist mentioned above), along with today’s inspirational quote, which happens to be VERY relevant for this post. It is by Mr. Pablo Casals and it is valid for all the countries of the world, including Canada too. It goes like this:

“The love of one’s country is a splendid thing. But why should love stop at the border“?

Related to the above, please do not let anyone fool you into thinking that loving, or being grateful for your country, is a bad thing in life. It is actually healthy, not toxic. It is genuine, not racist.

In the tragic case of Lebanon, what is beyond bad is how the officials of this country do not have an ounce of love/respect for their country and for its people. Of note, among the damage costs listed above, there is the further damage to the country’s basic infrastructure: The electricity sector in Lebanon, notoriously known to be dysfunctional. Today more than ever :(! Bambi is planning a future post on the daily life of two unnamed seniors living in Beirut.

To conclude this post on a musical note, Bambi will leave you with a moving interpretation of “Elle s’appelle Beyrouth” of the most talented and generous Mr. Khaled (featuring Mr. Rodge), by SOS Children’s village, Lebanon. As a reminder, if Bambi is not mistaken, Khaled may have been the first (international) singer who composed a song to Beirut shortly after August 4, 2020. All the benefits went to the Lebanese Red Cross (a per the older post below). As written on YouTube in the description of these talented kids’ performance: ” We remember with a sad heart, but we sing with hope that our beloved Beirut ?? will witness better days”. May “their” Beirut heal, get justice, rise, and shine again.

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Beirut explosions: Thank you Rai Singer Cheb Khaled for your new single”Her name is Beirut”!

Thanks to the talented French singer, Mr. Grégoire, for his 2011 Album entitled “Le même soleil” [The Same Sun] that Bambi just discovered (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_M%C3%AAme_Soleil).

First of all, Bambi will start by sharing with you his Soleil” song, immediately followed by an English translation of its deep lyrics filled with truth and sensitivity (https://lyricsaround.com/en/gregoire/soleil/):

“We don’t have the same flag or the same skin colour.

We don’t have the same language, the same culture, the same images.

We don’t have the same roots, the same idols who fascinate us.

But each of us is alive, with the same colour of blood.

And we all have the same sun and the same moon at our sleep.

And we all have a hand to give,Can we really wait?

We don’t have the same customs, same rituals, or same costumes.

We don’t have the same stories but their mixtures have made history.

We don’t have the same parents, but we’re all still kids.

And all of them gone mad, but born so wise.

And we all have the same sun and the same moon at our sleep.

And we all have a hand to give. Can we really wait?

Because we all have the same planet begging us to be less stupid.

And we all have a hand to give,Can we really wait?

Humans with our differences and our powers to make a chance.

Because we all have the same sun and the same moon at our sleep.

And we all have a hand to give,Can we really wait?

Because we all have the same planet begging us to be less stupid.

And we all have a hand to give. Can we really wait?

Because we all have the same sun and the same moon at our sleep.

And we all have a hand to give. Can we really wait?

Because we all have the same sun.

And we all have a hand to give. Can we still just wait?”

Last but not least, this post will end with six pictures taken last week in the Northern part of Lebanon. The first three photos were taken by Karen and the last three by Rana. Bambi thanks them both for their talent and generosity. May they both always know how to appreciate the sunset’s and sunrise’s beautiful shades, even when Lebanon’s (and the world’s) days get dark(er) ❤️❤️.

Ms. Céline Dion’s French song, which is featured in this post, was composed by Mr. Jean-Jacques Goldman. It is being interpreted here by TALENTED youth from Québec (Canada), namely members of “Les petits chanteurs de Laval“.

Here are some of the lyrics of this beautiful melody:

REFRAIN (in the original French)

“S’il suffisait qu’on s’aime, s’il suffisait d’aimer. Si l’on changeait les choses un peu, rien qu’en aimant donner. S’il suffisait qu’on s’aime, s’il suffisait d’aimer, je ferais de ce monde un rêve, une éternité“.

CHORUS (translated into English)

“If it was enough that we love each other, if it was enough to love. If we changed things a little bit, just by loving giving. If it was enough that we love each other, if it was enough to love, I would make this world a dream, an eternity”.

If she may, with all due respect along with a heavy heart, Bambi would like to offer Ms. Dion’s song on love to Isaac’s dad, Mr. Craig P. Oehlers. His tweeted words reported below, and the shared picture, touched her soul. As shown further below, Bambi had honoured his late son in several older posts, including some featuring Isaac’s grieving mom, Ms. Sarah Copland from the United Nations.

May justice be FINALLY served for Isaac and his family… and for ALL the other victims of the Beirut surrealistic port double blast. The 224 victims of this still unaccountable tragedy were of different ages (i.e., toddlers, youth, adults, seniors), nationalities, and from all walks of life. Bambi is thinking of them all, one by one, including but not limited to: the little Alexandra, the young Elias (from her parents’ parish), the beautiful young mother Diana (her parents’ neighbour, sister’s friend, friends’ cousin), the nurses/patients (of a nearby hospital), and an anonymous owner of a store Bambi searched for in that heavily damaged neighbourhood days ago, before leaving Beirut.

To conclude this brief musical post, it is Bambi’s hope that you will enjoy the song in question, even if you do not understand French.

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The Australian embassy in Beirut honours the memory of two-year-old Isaac (son of Ms. Sarah Copland & Mr. Craig Ohlers) with a swing in the garden of the Sursock Museum

ABC Net, RN Drive: “Seeking justice for Isaac, nine months after Beirut blast”

Two-year-old Isaac Oehler lost his life in the Beirut blast. Thanks to his parents for courageously sharing his story

In continuous solidarity with Judge Tarek Bitar and the families of the Beirut blast victims!

United Nations’ “Awake at Night”: Ms Sarah Copland, interviewed by Melissa Fleming

Ms. Sarah Copeland: “My life is on hold, frozen at the moment my son died in the Beirut blast”

Tomorrow it will be August 4, 2022. Yes, it is almost the two-year anniversary of the the surrealistic Beirut port explosion. Twenty-four months have passed… and there is still no resemblance to justice.

Since her arrival to Beirut, almost a month ago, and up to her journey on three airplanes taking her very far away from it, Bambi has been wondering how to pay tribute to her birth city. How can she honour the victims, the grieving families, the injured (many in the coma still!), and all the silent traumatized population of the Lebanese capital?

Well, she has finally decided to: (1) post Fairuz’ Le Beirut song, as interpreted by singer Amrie Saurel and pianist Michel Tardieu today, that is on the eve of this sad anniversary; and (2) to observe 24 hours of silence on her blog. This means that there will be no post on August 4, 2022.

May everyone’s memory be eternal. Peace, safety, dignity, and much love to Beirut… and to the entire Lebanon.