An apartment square meter on the cost is varying from 1000 Dollars minium (in jounieh) to 2500 dollars in Beirut. The need for affordable real estate prices couldn't be more important. Yet as we all know real estate is the one commodity that can't increase. Or can it?
How about living in the villages. Prices there are still affordable. But the main problem is that people need to commute every day to their in beirut and its suburds.
The solution:
- A train line that passes across the coast.
A train is the fastest land transport available. It could get you from batroun to beirut in less than 30 minutes. It is never congested. Once there you could take a service.
But why stop there. With global warming, rising fuel prices, high car prices, congestion. Why not have a reliable bus system. A bus system that can get you around the city, to the suburbs - anywhere in lebanon- and take little time and little money.
Both these ideas are not far fetches. Both are applied in Europe and work well. But they need government subsidies, as they should. But the benefits are huge.
In fact why stop there.
If we want to go all the way, why not have telepheriques (arial tramway) that take you over to more mountains on the cost. Houses are cheaper there, and with telepherique they could become a good alternative to a house on the coast.
And how to fund these projects. Oh I don't know, what does the government do with all those taxes they levy on us. How about they stop stealing it and start giving it to the people.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Renewable Energy and water
Solar water at every roof, reusing gray water, black water treatment plants. Using salt water to clean cars and the street. Osmotic energy.
Plenty of measures that we can take in lebanon to mitigate climate change
Plenty of measures that we can take in lebanon to mitigate climate change
Hot Flat and crowded by Thomas Fiedman
A book that I have enjoyed more than his more popular "The World is flat". Some about reading about renewable energy and being a computer engineer( with and educational background in electricity). This book made me turn off my TV when I am not using it, and made me think about pursuing a Masters degree in Renewable energy ( M.Eng EE).
But mostly this book is about why it is important to preserve our ecosystem ( http://www.newsweek.com/2010/11/21/why-scientists-are-searching-for-cures-underwater.html). Why it is important to develop a taxation policy to encourage investment in green energy.
Even though targeted at American and covering to some extend chinese policy the appeal of the book is global. Anyone interested in the environment will find this book interesting.
But mostly this book is about why it is important to preserve our ecosystem ( http://www.newsweek.com/2010/11/21/why-scientists-are-searching-for-cures-underwater.html). Why it is important to develop a taxation policy to encourage investment in green energy.
Even though targeted at American and covering to some extend chinese policy the appeal of the book is global. Anyone interested in the environment will find this book interesting.
WikiLeaks and US government
Anyone thinking the information was a leak by the American government. People could have been monitoring private's Manning internet usage or were familiar to his affinity for Wikileaks. The information that he was privy to was not relevant to his job.
Another thought, the information leaks doesn't seem to cause as much damage tot he united states as it does some foreign governments. Could it be that the American government were sick and tired of being told one thing in private by world leaders and then hearing them say something else in public. Maybe they wanted to out their hypocrisy.
The maybe again the information wasn't important enough to be kept safe, and the story of the leak is more important than the leak itself.
Anyway here's a time magazine article about it's impact:
http://www.time.com/time/world/artic...034284,00.html
Originally Posted by Time Magazine
I understand that these revelations embarrass the Arab regimes, which publicly speak only of the Palestinian cause but privately plot against Iran. But why is that bad for the U.S.? The WikiLeaks data powerfully confirms the central American argument against Iran's programs: that they are a threat to regional stability and order, not merely to Washington's narrow interests. (Israel's Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu quickly pointed this out.) In fact, the simplest confirmation of the fallout can be found in Tehran's reaction to WikiLeaks. Alone among world leaders, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims that the documents were actually leaked by Washington. After all, they expose as an utter lie Ahmadinejad's constant claim that he has befriended all Arab states and that, if not for Washington, Iran would be beloved by all in the region.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/artic...#ixzz17RhyiSGR
Another thought, the information leaks doesn't seem to cause as much damage tot he united states as it does some foreign governments. Could it be that the American government were sick and tired of being told one thing in private by world leaders and then hearing them say something else in public. Maybe they wanted to out their hypocrisy.
The maybe again the information wasn't important enough to be kept safe, and the story of the leak is more important than the leak itself.
Anyway here's a time magazine article about it's impact:
http://www.time.com/time/world/artic...034284,00.html
Originally Posted by Time Magazine
I understand that these revelations embarrass the Arab regimes, which publicly speak only of the Palestinian cause but privately plot against Iran. But why is that bad for the U.S.? The WikiLeaks data powerfully confirms the central American argument against Iran's programs: that they are a threat to regional stability and order, not merely to Washington's narrow interests. (Israel's Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu quickly pointed this out.) In fact, the simplest confirmation of the fallout can be found in Tehran's reaction to WikiLeaks. Alone among world leaders, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims that the documents were actually leaked by Washington. After all, they expose as an utter lie Ahmadinejad's constant claim that he has befriended all Arab states and that, if not for Washington, Iran would be beloved by all in the region.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/artic...#ixzz17RhyiSGR
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Are we incapable of evolving
I can't help but think that we as a people are incapable of evolving. I grew up in a conservative christian environment and I always rejected its political dogmas. I always thought that the principles of liberalism freedom and democracy would triumph in our land. Then came 2005 and for a while my beliefs were validated. I saw muslims and christian unite around a common goal that of freedom and democracy. However the cedar revolution of 2005 was a very brief illusion, we saw how muslims with the 4 way alliance sidelined the main christian political representative.
Now, if that wasn't enough the worse was yet to come. This christian representative who claimed to represent secular aspiration of all the lebanese went and struck a politically motivated sectarian deal with the worse possible enemy to our internal coexistance. He made friends with Mr. Nasrallah a year after the latter had dragged us into a war with israel. He reneged his principles and the policies that got him elected in 2005 for the dream of becoming president of this country.
So, I became a march 14 supporter again and voted for the alliance in the 2009 election, only to find ( to my disapointment) that they too have abandoned their principles. They who have lost so much to syria have went and made peace with this criminal state. They who have lost so much on account of hizballah went and embraced the party.
I find myself deeply disappointed with all the political parties in this country, yet I am stuck. I can't find a way to leave and staying here I can't find any glimmer of hope in our ability to progress.
Now, if that wasn't enough the worse was yet to come. This christian representative who claimed to represent secular aspiration of all the lebanese went and struck a politically motivated sectarian deal with the worse possible enemy to our internal coexistance. He made friends with Mr. Nasrallah a year after the latter had dragged us into a war with israel. He reneged his principles and the policies that got him elected in 2005 for the dream of becoming president of this country.
So, I became a march 14 supporter again and voted for the alliance in the 2009 election, only to find ( to my disapointment) that they too have abandoned their principles. They who have lost so much to syria have went and made peace with this criminal state. They who have lost so much on account of hizballah went and embraced the party.
I find myself deeply disappointed with all the political parties in this country, yet I am stuck. I can't find a way to leave and staying here I can't find any glimmer of hope in our ability to progress.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Plan Dalet
A Racist plan by the state of Israel to ethnically cleanse post 1948 palestine of the native Palestinian population so that the jews can become a majority in the land. Ilan pappe's ( The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine) work is a must read.
Summary of the world is flat
http://www.wikisummaries.org/The_World_Is_Flat
yes summaries are difficult :)
yes summaries are difficult :)
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