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Jan 23

Vandals Deface Lebanese Immigrant Statue in Australia

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Jad Aoun
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The Lebanese Immigrant Statue (apparently there are 12 around the world) has been defaced in a park in Australia:

A $60,000 Preston statue celebrating Lebanese immigration has been defaced with racist and sexually gratuitous graffiti. The statue, unveiled at Preston’s Ray Bramham Gardens in November, pays homage to the “thousands of Lebanese migrants that have settled in Victoria and, in particular, our Darebin community”.

Tony Yacoub, president of The World Lebanese Cultural Union Australia and New Zealand, said the graffiti was “terrible” and action was needed to stop it happening.

“(But) I don’t think it was against us, the Lebanese Australia people,” Mr Yacoub said.

“I was told by the cleaner that the garden is (graffitied) every week.”

However, according to one comment left on the article post, not everyone agrees:

The fact that people would be so close-minded and write “Lebo Dogs” is a racial attack on the lebanese people. I have seen graffiti on fences in my area with the same thing, and it shouldn’t be tolerated.

Lebanese immigrant statue defaced in 'disgusting' attack

Tony Yacoub was saddened by the attack on a Lebanese statue in Preston's Ray Bramham Gardens. Picture: ADAM ELWOOD -- via article website

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Jan 23

All Aboard Vancouver’s SkyTrain to Beirut

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Jad Aoun
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Vancouver, Canada

Shots were fired at Vancouver’s SkyTrain last week magically transporting the passenger-packed train from Canada’s Pacific coast all the way to the Lebanese capital:

One witness from the train told The Province he was dozing and listening to music on his headphones when the train abruptly stopped, at about 3:30 p.m.

He said he snapped awake and saw about 20 fellow passengers in a state of panic.

A window was completely shattered with what appeared to be two bullets trapped inside the protective glass. No one inside the train was hurt, he said.

“I looked closely and I saw two, metal, round small-calibre bullets,” said the man, who did not want his name published. It was shocking; I thought this isn’t possible. Everyone was on their phones and saying ‘those are bullets.’ I thought this is like Beirut or something.”

We may have our celebratory gunfire every now and then but I can honestly think of 10 cities off the top of my head where the sound of shots fired is a common as wind rustling through the trees.

The platform at Metrotown Station in Burnaby

The platform at Metrotown Station in Burnaby where gunshots hit a train as it approached the station -- via Wikipedia

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Jan 23

Christchurch Earthquake Aftermath Looks Like Beirut on a Bad Day

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Jad Aoun
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Christchurch, New Zealand

Having survived the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the Carson family defend their choice to leave the city behind for Nelson:

It’s a long road ahead, Mr Andrew Carson says, but they’re of an age where they’re not prepared to hang around waiting for a chance to revive their earthquake-shattered Mt Pleasant home.

“People might say we’ve run away, but do I choose unemployment in Nelson and a chance, or stay unemployed in Christchurch were the roads are shocking and it take ages to get anywhere. It looks like Beirut on a bad day. It’s not going to improve for 15 years and I’ve not got 15 years to wait around,” the 58 year-old says.

Fifteen years is a long time and I’m pretty sure that Beirut has witnessed improvements over the past decade and half (although you can probably count them on your fingers). Not enough to make out an address, so Andrew will need to download his own certificate.

Car stuck in sink holes and liquefaction on roads - North New Brighton in Christchurch, New Zealand

Aftermath of Christchurch quake -- leaving roads looking like Beirut on a Bad Day -- via flickr

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Jan 22

Fire-Bombed Cars Leave Area Looking Like Beirut

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Jad Aoun
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Lancashire, UK

Horror in the streets of Ormskirk following an attack by arsonists:

SHOCKED residents were woken up in the middle of the night to see their cars on fire.
The culprit set fire to a Peugeot van on Railway Path, Ormskirk.
The blaze then spread to five other vehicles on the street.
One of the residents, Phillip Shone, said: “It was like Beirut out there.
“We were all ringing each other up about what was happening.
“There were six cars burnt out on the street. I tried to salvage stuff from the bottom of my car later that morning.”

Yep, a typical Beirut night. While I couldn’t determine Phillip’s mailing address to send him a Looks Like Beirut certificate, a search online shows that he is quite happy to head to the press whenever bad things happen. Exactly two weeks before this incident, he was reported in the same paper to be complaining about localized flooding in the area and the poor response from the rail department which he blames for the flooding.

A coincidence or karma? I’ll leave that for you to decide.

Tottenham Riots

Roits in Tottenham earlier in August 2011 - not Beirut -- via flickr

 

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Jan 11

Protection Needed in Beirut-Like Neighborhood

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Jad Aoun
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Carmarthen, UK

According to these two Welsh locals, William Brewer and Mark Wayne, when packing for a trip to Beirut, make sure you bring money, sunscreen and knives for protection:

TWO Carmarthen men carried knives to the town’s Park Hall estate — described as being “like Beirut” — for protection, a court heard.

Brewer had a four-inch bladed kitchen knife and Wayne had a six-inch bladed knife when they were stopped by police in Park Hall.

Wayne, who turned around suddenly towards the officer, was put to the floor before his knife was recovered. When asked why he had a knife, Wayne said: “You’ve got to these days, especially going up to Park Hall.”

He then described the area as being “like Beirut”.

Their defense team is playing the crazy card to help see them cleared of any charges. I can vouch that anyone who makes a comment like that is clearly insane. Who needs knives when you can have tanks?

Safe in Beirut

Safe in Beirut -- via flickr

 

Posted in Looks Like Beirut | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments