Category: Sackville’s Memorial park

She battled for her life at a hospital in Zahle (in Lebanon) for 24 days since the Beirut explosion. Five of Beirut major hospitals have been totally destroyed. The others were overwhelmed. She had to be rushed miles away. A medical team did the utmost to save her.

Sadly, she died yesterday morning at age 58.

Bambi’s heart goes to her brother and to the rest of their family. She hopes he will get the help needed to fix his destroyed place.

If she may, Bambi would like to dedicate this Amazing Grace interpreted by Mr. Andrea Bocelli (at his virtual “Music for hope concert”) to the memory of Annette. Through her, to all those who lost their lives in the surrealistic explosion.

Who knows? Ms. Khachigian may have enjoyed watching Mr. Bocelli’s international virtual concert a few months ago during the covid-19 lockdown (like Bambi’s family).

May you rest in peace Annette… May your memory be eternal.

Well, there are happy news coming out of Beirut in the middle of its darkness.

For instance, today, Nicolas (Bambi’s nephew) gives us hope about a promising future!

He gives us joy whilst reminding us of all the talents of Lebanon’s youth.

Indeed, those who regularly read this blog may recall an earlier post entitled “Bambi is a proud “deer” aunt of a “dear” nephew!” (please see the very end of this post).

On June 23, 2020, Nicolas Doghlass “graduated from the American University of Beirut (AUB) with the most prestigious distinction in his field of studies, architecture“.

As written in this earlier post: ” Of note, Mr. Doghlass and his peers graduated after a year spent in a revolution (due to Lebanon’s financial crisis) and the covid-19 pandemic.”

Well today, Bambi learned through her proud sister (Nicolas’ mom!) the following:

The Charette Architecture competition is all about the following:

“The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless.”

– Jean-Jacques Rousseau

“This competition exists in an Alternate Reality. You make the rules in this realm. Does gravity exist? Do humans live on Earth? How far has technology advanced? You decide!

The aim of this competition is to explore wild design ideas – what architecture truly means and what it can achieve without any constraints. Let your imagination run wild and create spectacular designs that grab the world’s attention. The intention is to spark a conversation regarding issues plaguing the world, through design dialogue.“

“The Charette is a platform for architects to explore contemporary fronts of the architectural discourse through architecture competitions & publications.“

The above citations are taken from:

Home

To conclude this post, may all your dreams come true Nicolas! Thank you for dreaming, planning, and continuing the journey of of building a better Lebanon (and with it, a better world)! Your talent is the true face of Lebanon, which will hopefully ultimately find the courage to make a conscious choice of building rather than destroying itself. Both the beautiful tiny country where Bambi was born and you studied (Lebanon) and the magnificent large country where you were born and Bambi lives (Canada) need their talented people. However, more than ever, Beirut needs young talented people like you.

Much love and all the best Nicolas in your career and personal life!

Bambi is a proud “deer” aunt of a “dear” nephew!

As you can see in this Global News‘ short documentary (taken from an article by Mr. Mike Blanchfield for the Canadian Press), Mr. Champagne asked Lebanon’s President to move forward with real reforms.

To echo his clever words (from other national and Lebanese local media), “listen to the street” and “seize the moment“. Well said Mr. Champagne!

Many thanks Canada for your generosity and for having listened to Canadians of Lebanese roots by sending donations to NGOs helping people on the ground, that is not to the government.

Thank you also for offering Canada’s help with the investigation (through our clever RCMP experts). Lebanese people want an international investigation into the Beirut port explosion (contrary to their President/Caretaker government!).

As Mr. Champagne explained in his press conference, the RCMP did help in the past (i.e., in the investigation of the Beirut explosion that killed Mr. Hariri and many citizens in 2005). In Bambi’s last post, there was a link to a CBC article on this topic (published in 2010). If you are curious and have the time to read, here it is again:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/cbc-investigation-who-killed-lebanon-s-rafik-hariri-1.874820

Merci bien/Thank you Mr. Champagne again. Safe travels back to Europe (for your next meetings related to Beirut) and then back to us :).

This romantic yet down to earth Beiruti young man is called Rayan.

He is in love with Lutchiana.

Whilst reading the 961, Bambi learned the following (https://www.the961.com/marriage-proposal-amidst-beirut-devastation/):

“On the doomsday of August 4th, Rayan Aouad was with his friends in Beirut planning for the proposal that would take place the next day in Ryan’s new bistro-bar in Gemayzeh, Luva.”

“The sad truth is that I was going to propose on Aug 5th in Luva privately with a romantic dinner. Then, we would celebrate our engagement in a rooftop in downtown with our friends,” Rayan told the961

But, the mighty explosion disrupted his perfect wedding proposal… and destroyed his Luva Bistro Bar, his Va et Vient mini-market in Karantina, his parents’ house, and his home-to-be with his girlfriend”.

Well, Rayan ended up proposing to Lutchiana three weeks after the blast.

As you can see in the picture above, they both refused to give up.  Same for all the Lebanese youth who just want to live, love, and earn a living. Some are volunteering to help their fellow citizens who lost everything (see below an earlier post on Lebanese NGOs coming together as the “true” government”). Others are rushing in front of embassies to get a visa to leave their country.

To come back to Rayan, instead of asking his Lutchiana “will you marry me?”, he asked her “will you rebuild the future with me?”

Yes, was her answer. “Mabrouk”… long live their love!

May ONLY love prevail in Beirut!!

Yes love… love, justice, and peace.

NOT corruption and political stupidity. NOT criminality. NO MORE impunity!

Sadly, how can Beirutis dream of an international justice for the victims of the Beirut blast when the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon just let the victims of Mr. Rafic Hariri tribunal down, as well written by Mr. Hussam Itani?

https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2456741/hussam-itani/hariri-tribunal-and-fate-probe-beirut-blast

The costs of that international tribunal were very high on Lebanon. All that public money paid since 2005 for what? Injured or killed innocent people (including Bambi’s relatives or friends) suffered for what? For whom? A country’s PM assassinated means a whole country assassinated… and this was followed by many other assassinations. For instance, Bambi can think of many great intellectuals, including Mr. Samir Kassir or Mr. Gibran Tueni to name a few, and a certain Lebanese police/detective hero called Mr. Wissam Eid (https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/cbc-investigation-who-killed-lebanon-s-rafik-hariri-1.874820). They died for what precisely?

Anyhow, let’s end this post with what matters the most today, Rayan and Lutchiana’s love. Again, congrats/Mabrouk. Be safe please and thank you for still dreaming of building a new Lebanon!

“Basecamp: The Real Government”…”by the people for the people”

To begin with, it is reassuring to see how thorough our province has been during the covid-19 pandemic from day 1. All in all, well done. Thank you!

Well, this evening, Bambi got a personal proof of our seriousness, as a province, when it comes to public health. Why is she saying so? Because a competent and kind RCMP police officer knocked on their door to check if her spouse was in quarantine. As Bambi told him: “Merci Monsieur le policier”/”Thank you Sir” for taking care of our public health and safety“.

Well, of course, her spouse has been at home since his return from a long trip abroad. Not only him actually. She has been quarantining with him to avoid introducing the virus (if any) to anyone in our town, province, and Maritime bubble.

One must also add here that usually her spouse gets from the airport in a minute or so (whist she waits for him in the car). This time, it took a MUCH longer time because of a screening interview. So, again, well-done.

Those who read this blog regularly may recall that Bambi has criticized Canada big time at the beginning of the pandemic for their delayed response at our airports and with many other issues, namely some bad decisions like getting rid of our emergency personal protective equipment (PPE), etc. This being said, our federal government managed to catch up over time (as mentioned in another post).

Today, according to Bambi, our federal government is doing a great job! The latter is the case, even with Canada’s choice of not performing mandatory testing to all travellers like in other countries, including New Zealand or… even tiny bankrupt, corrupt, and stateless Lebanon. Another proof of Canada’s great job is an email sent by the federal government to her spouse (in NB) and cousin (in Québec) to remind them to stay at home. Thanks for this follow-up.

To conclude this post, once again, bravo NB and well-done Canada. Despite our serious national issues, we remain a beautiful country/province to live in. Bambi is saying so, even without any comparison to other less fortunate places. So, imagine with a comparison :)! This being said, let’s always aim for the best.

Until the end of this pandemic (with a vaccine), we have all the reasons to be proud of our NB and of our good public health strategies. Bambi loves our province in both normal and in pandemic times (OK, she is saying so whilst being eager for our whole planet to get rid of covid-19 :)).

Bambi would like to thank Ms. Roula Douglas for sharing this inspiring and reassuring video from Beirut. Bravo to Basecamp for their incredible initiative (“the Real Government” indeed)!

In their own words…

” Not all heroes wear capes. A group of NGO’s and volunteers joined forces to achieve what the Lebanese government failed to do! “By the people, For the people”.

“Special thank you to the heroes: @minteshreen @muwatinlebnene @baytna_baytak @embrace_lebanon @toters_delivery (a leading Lebanese delivery app operating in the region) PS: The Real Government includes other NGO’s and groups who have done a fantastic job raising funds and helping after this disaster Location?Trainstation Mar Mkhael Honorable mentions @lebaneseredcross @shaabemasouleyati @offre.joie @sealforlebanon @impact.lebanon @caritas_lebanon @nationstation__ On Aug 4, a devastating explosion in Beirut killed more than 200 people, injured more than 7,000, and left 300,000 homeless. ❗Help us share and spread the words. #talkaboutlebanon ❗ #el3ama#beirut#prayforlebanon#prayforbeirut#basecamp#lebanon?? #lebanon @cnn @beckycnn @bbcnews @bbcarabic @aljazeeradocumentary @aljazeeraenglish @miakhalifa @cnnarabic”.

According to an article published in The 961, Lebanon’s tourism sector has been hit very hard, first by the economic collapse since October 17, 2019, the covid-19 pandemic since February 2020, and finally the nightmare of the Beirut Port explosion on August 4, 2020. The latter only made the industry lose an estimated US$1 billion, according to Mr. Tony Ramy, the President of the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Nightclubs, and Pastries (Carla, Bambi is thinking of you now… ). .

Mr. Ramy announced at a rally today that the tourism institutions decided to stop paying taxes to the government. They will not abide by the covid-19 current strict two-week lock down, as an act of civil disobedience.

As written in The 961 article above:

“One Lebanese company recently announced a similar act of defiance. Rather than paying taxes to the government, the Em Sherif restaurant, cafe, and sea café have been donating their tax money to NGOs helping Beirut.”

We also learn the following from this same article:

“The tourism sector is putting immense pressure on the county’s top civil servants to resign, echoing the demands of the October 17 Revolution.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CETvweOpXk2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_video_watch_again

Upon Bambi’s return home from Beirut in early January, 2020, she watched an inspiring news documentary, featuring Mr. Tony Ramy speaking to the Lebanese Parliament. What a clever man. If those politicians had any conscience left then, he may have helped in awakening it, at least temporarily during his short speech. He shared with them the agony of this sector. Mr. Ramy was so clever. His words were straight to the point. They did not target anyone in particular yet they were directed at everyone. Bambi cannot recall his precise words but only the impact of his powerful message, especially that tourism is a key sector of the Lebanese economy.

Anyhow, if this man and his syndicate got to this point of civil disobedience in the spirit of the October 17’s revolution, in the middle of a pandemic and with his moderate attitude, it tells you something. Yes, It tells us how much the Lebanese people (including the creative and hard-working entrepreneurs) have been impacted by the surrealistic explosion, on top of all the other tragedies hitting their country.

As one of Bambi’s friends in Beirut put it today: “Make no mistake. I may sound alive to you and I am grateful…. but I am dead inside. We are all dead alive“…. Bambi can only imagine… her own heart literally exploded with Beirut’s explosion.

According to Naharnet, the Lebanese Caretaker Interior Minister warned against defying the lockdown due to increased coranavirus cases. However, from the picture and video above and according to AFP (as reported by Naharnet): some demonstrators held signs that read “Tourism is the pulse of Lebanon” and “For us, the state vanished with the blast.”

On this dramatic note, to conclude this post with more joyful news from Beirut, an injured lady woke up from her coma today, three weeks post-explosion. Thank Goodness… and thanks to journalist Roula Douglas for sharing.

When is the turn of Lebanon’s “top public servants” to wake up from their 30-long political coma? Perhaps it would be more accurate to call them “Lebanon’s top public corrupt torturers” instead. Sadly, they have literally killed both their constitution and their own people (with their criminal negligence)… after having stolen their savings. Of course, in the middle of all this, there is the covid-19 pandemic… There is also famine around the corner (hyperinflation and now costs of reparation, etc.). Is there also the ghost of a border conflict (tonight, worrisome incidents occurred)? Regardless, once again, whether in a conflict or in the Beirut port catastrophe, one must look in his/her own accountability mirror first before rushing to blame others, even enemies. Justice for the victims must be served and lessons learned to prevent similar catastrophes.

OK, the Conservative party has a new leader, it seems, after a LONG messy voting night. His name is Mr. O’Toole. Congratulations to him:

Bambi was curious to see the reaction of Mr. Maxime Bernier (PPC) who ran against Mr. O’Toole and Mr. Scheer in the past. Mr. Scheer “cheated” in the past by drinking too much milk from Québec. As for Mr. O’Toole, he arrived third. Well, without being an expert voter of the Conservative party, Bambi wondered if the two men may consider an alliance ?. Well, obviously, this is not happening. Here the reaction of Mr. Maxime Bernier:

https://www.cpac.ca/en/programs/headline-politics/episodes/66252680/

Bambi got more curious about this Mr. O’Toole, after reading the above and listening to Bernier’s press conference too.

She went to read earlier articles about him and the three other defeated candidates. Here is one by CTV News:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/7-things-we-learned-during-the-english-conservative-leadership-debate-1.4990946

What was striking to her was how much the four candidates seemed to want to be perceived as being on the same page. They kept saying how much they agree with each other ?. Bambi’s reading of all this is that they, along with the Liberals (at least under Mr. Trudeau) all have the same common denominator: Political correctness, this insanity of our times. Another fancy term for lack of courage simply. In the end, perhaps “Mad Max” is not that off, after all. Perhaps his apparent craziness is simply courage that we no longer see in neither our public servants nor around us.

Anyhow, from the article above, we learn that at least two, if not three of the candidates, including the winner and Dr. Lewis (and Mr. MacKay) use the term “equality of outcomes”. For example, Dr. Lewis said verbatim: “Conservatives are uniquely placed to be the party that champions equality of outcomes for all Canadians” (in a question on another widespread obsession, at least in the mainstream media, called “systemic racism”).

It is odd how so-called Conservative politicians and lawyers, specifically, use the term “outcomes” instead of “opportunities”. No one can, or should, control (or aim/pretend to aim) to control societal or familial or educational outcomes. We provide equal opportunities to our kids, students, society members. This is what we should aspire for fairness. However, out of fairness as well, we should leave individuals in families, societies, institutions free to live their own journey, learning curve, and make their own choices. Some will succeed (hopefully all, with hard work). Others may fail and re-try. It is called learning in life. It is a healthy competition.

Sadly, we are observing a scary trend in our actual society where radical views are pushing us all toward more authoritarianism. Because this trend is a socialist trendy wave, no one questions it (we only obsess with the USA’s Mr. Trump). Those who do question excesses are dismissed or… “cancelled”, meaning censored. This is odd, in Bambi’s mind, because Canada is already a socialist country (under Mr. Trudeau, it is so in both an excessive and corrupt way). Why push for more authoritarianism than a flexible (thus, smart) socialism. A successful example may be New Zealand and its clever socialism. It could also be an example of smart capitalism, tailored to a country’s needs. Of course, too much abuses or interventions in either a capitalist or a socialist direction can backfire on a society. Bambi may be biased but between too much socialism (without critical sense) or some capitalism (i.e., free market, not wild, not corrupt, with genuine green concerns, neither virtue signalling nor suicide), she prefers a healthy capitalism. In her mind, the latter is based on merit. The latter is supposed to be free and thus fair for anyone/all.  

In Bambi’s non-expert citizen opinion, an economy moving forward is what is badly needed in recovering from a traumatizing pandemic, not a so-called “green economy” as Trudeau/Freeland et al. keep telling us. We just need our economy… and with it our country back.

Not in the sense that some scholars or rather activists mean it. It is a whole functional country that is needed, not one part against the other, not one group or tribe over the other (despite historic abuses), not one community against the other… Unlike the Middle East or the USA nowadays, please let’s unite and strengthen our beloved Canada.

Who cares who will be the next Prime Minister!? Let’s keep loving or let’s learn to re-love Canada, with or without Mr. Trudeau or Mr. O’Toole or whomever. This is what matters the most, more than heads of governments that will eventually come and go, even when we feel that they have lasted for too long.

https://apnews.com/6e58b5742b36e3de53298cf73fbfdf48

In the article above, you can read the following:

« For years, Lebanon’s ruling political factions have divvied up positions at the port and handed them out to supporters — as they have ministries, public companies and other facilities nationwide».

February 21, 2014: This is the date of the first warning… That was six years ago! The apocalyptic explosion could have been prevented then. It could have been prevented later as well.

After reading this shocking yet not that surprising article, Bambi checked again on her loved ones (relatives and friends). Some had their stitches changed or removed. Others underwent their first or even second surgeries. A childhood friend walked her first few steps for the first time (just straight, no stairs yet, no shower yet). Yet others sadly lost their lives. She keeps thanking God because her immediate and extended family survived, despite their injuries, their hidden scars, and all the sad destruction of their homes, workplaces, and much needed hospitals.

Thankfully, generous people from within the country and from all over the world rushed to support Beirut citizens.

Thanks to everyone in Canada for their KIND thoughts, prayers, and/or donations.

Many thanks also to Minister François-Philippe Champagne who will be travelling soon all the way to Lebanon.

To end this post on a healing note, here is a beautiful message from Mika, the British singer who has Lebanese roots (see the short video at the end). He is raising funds for Lebanon through his “I love Beirut Concert“, https://www.gofundme.com/f/ilovebeirut).

Here is his earlier moving open letter to the “Lebanese People ‘Devastated by the Apocalypse‘” (as published in the Billboard two weeks ago):

https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/international/9431501/mika-beirut-lebanese-letter

“My dear Lebanon, My dear Beirut,

It’s still early in the morning on the other side of the Mediterranean and I feel so close and yet so far away from you. So close to you, as you lie devastated by the apocalypse, I can’t stop staring, transfixed, at the battered expressions of my brothers and sisters. In their eyes, I sense their fright, their tears. I shudder as I see a wounded person carried out through the rear window of an old car, a young girl covered in blood in her father’s arms, shell-shocked inhabitants running through streets littered with rubble, broken glass and shattered buildings… So far away from you, haunted by the desolation, I hear in my head the deafening noise of the two explosions that haunted the residents of Beirut. The screams of the grieving families and stunned victims merge in the middle of the night with the screeching sirens of ambulances. I’ve also been told of the silence in the early hours of this morning, of the smell of the smoking ruins.

Faced with this chaos, I recall a line from the Lebanese poet Kahlil Gibran: “one can only reach dawn by taking the path of night.” For some months now, you have once again been sinking into the path of night. There are divisions, echoes of conflicts at your borders, corruption, the powerlessness of your leaders, the monetary crisis which has plunged your families into misery and then the surge of the coronavirus epidemic. The carefree Lebanese nature, the answer to dramas in the past, was replaced by anger and fear. I became more anxious each passing day, as if my wounds, the roots which I’d left behind at the age of only one and a half were finally catching up with me.

And then, suddenly, at 6:10pm on Tuesday, a tragic grey cloud rose up from your port, mowing down your exhausted people. The thick orange smoke drowned the skies of Beirut and replaced the distant memory, so often recounted by my mother, of the yellow light which bathed our fourth-floor, sea-facing apartment on the Corniche. I cannot but think of these two explosions as a symbol of a system which is shattering. The crash of bombs, wreaking death in streets still marked by the scars of war, cannot be unheard. The Lebanese Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, promises that the persons responsible will “be held accountable.” But those responsible for whom? For what? Those responsible for 30 years of agony which have turned the land of cedars into the land of ashes. It’s said that a catastrophe is a tragic outcome, the end of a series of misfortunes.

After darkness comes the dawn. I know your resilience, your strength and your solidarity, nurtured by your mix of cultures, by this special place you occupy, halfway between the Arab world and Europe. Tomorrow, you will rise up as you have always done before. Music will pour once again from your windows. People will dance on your terraces and perfumes will waft from your kitchens. I will be there.

Mika“.

Thank you Mika!

First, here is Mr. Facal’s clever article published in the Journal de Montréal yesterday:

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/08/22/le-spectacle-de-merde-de-justin-t

Second, here is a quick translation for you…

“Sorry, but “spectacle de merde” is the only way to translate “shit show”.

This is the adjective used by Michelle Kovacevic, Assistant Deputy Minister of Finance in Ottawa, to qualify WE Charity, in emails which show that the version of events told by Trudeau is a fabrication.

Suppose, dear reader, that you are among those who voted for Justin in 2015.

Anyone can be fooled.

You found him cute, refreshing, and you thought those who said bad things were nasty “separatists” or nasty conservatives.

Did you vote for him again in 2019? It’s already harder to defend.

Open bar

Now let’s bring the movie to this day.

Trudeau has been blamed twice for serious ethical faults: family vacations paid for by a friend of the regime and interference in a legal process.

His justice minister foolishly felt that criminal charges should be laid against SNC-Lavalin.

It was too much for Justin.

WE Charity will certainly earn him a third blame.

Worse, the RCMP are examining the contract he wanted to give the Kielburgers to keep paying his mother, brother, etc.

Not a good sign at all.

WE Charity, by the way, has finally just entered the Lobbyists Registry after 18 of its representatives contacted 19 federal agencies 65 times in 2019 and 2020.

Obviously, a scapegoat was needed.

Morneau could not be fired for ethical reasons: how could Justin pose as an example of probity?

So we make it up that Morneau was not spending enough to Justin’s taste!

Have you ever felt the slightest budgetary restraint at Morneau, which put us in debt even when the economy was doing well?

If that wasn’t enough to Justin’s taste yet, what does that tell us about his future intentions, do you think?

Its economic plan will be unveiled on September 23. As he has promised not to raise taxes, the new spending orgy will be made with borrowed money.

Justin, you see, thinks he hasn’t owed us enough debt yet.

And to avoid facing the grape-shot of the opposition parties, he is shutting down Parliament like a banana republic potentate.

The vote of confidence in Parliament will take place at the end of September. Each party does its calculations.

Broken like a beggar, the NDP could save Justin by letting themselves be bought for cheap.

Justin could throw [“garrocher” in French] a few billion in an NDP fad [“lubie” in French], like a pan-Canadian dental insurance program (oops, a provincial jurisdiction).

Principles

So, I come back to you, dear reader who voted for Justin in the past.

Between us, admit he had you good, eh?

But if you told me that you would vote for him again, then you have to explain.

Do you really, really want four more years of this shit show?

What do you have left as an argument? That you don’t like other people? Seriously…

What if we voted on principles? Justin doesn’t. You do.”