Beyond Magazine Issue 25 Winter 2018

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Magazine

hope knows no boundaries

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con t e n t s

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E M OT I O N

Owner and General manager Pascale Choueiri Saad

18 A FORCE FOR GOOD 20 sORT IT OUT!

ESSENCE 36 KEEP CALM AND… DO SNOWGA! 40 WALK THIS WAY (TO HAPPINESS) 52 sHOOT TO THRILL

B E YO N D

TE A M

Co-owner Ronald Saad Editor-in-chief Pascale Choueiri Saad Chief Environmental Consultant Edgard Chehab Environmental Consultant Bassam AlKantar Copy Editor Layla Itani Art Director Lamia Maatouk Responsible Director Bassam AlKantar

H O R I ZO N s 66 WILD AT HEART 72 YOU’RE WELCOME, NATURALLY

Contributing Writers Tamara Batshon, Alia Fawaz, Bassam AlKantar, John Gray, Malek Hakim, Christina Dawson, Nour Masri Guest Photographers Phillippe Khoury, Marc Jabra, Mahdi Skafi, Karim Thoumy, Mary Blasten, Elsa Sattout, All Rights Reserved

82 A CURE OF HIGH HOPES

Advertising & Marketing FST, info@fivestarstourism.com

84 LIFE IS A CELEBRATION

Editorial enquiries mag.beyond@gmail.com

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Azarieh St. Azarieh Bldg.

Block 01 Beirut, Lebanon Tel: +961 1 994 006 Fax: +961 1 994 007

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Beyond magazine is a creative culture and sustainable living publication that takes the time to observe meaningful moments.

We cover subjects that matter, all of them deeply-rooted in nature and related to Mother Earth. We aim to be a source of inspiration for those who seek a responsible lifestyle, for now and for generations to come.

As we become ever more accustomed to the polluted cities of our "developed" world, we experience less and less of the essence of this amazing planet on which we live. Yet, as Fyodor Dostoyevsky once said, “Beauty will save the world,� and this is a concept in which Beyond magazine believes and aims to showcase in each and every publication.

S TA B I L I T Y

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E N V I R O N M E N TA L L O A N S

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KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY

www.bdl.gov.lb

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"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope." Martin Luther King, Jr. At times, you might feel that life has taken its toll on you and that the weight of the world has been placed on your shoulders. You begin to contemplate the difficulties of life, the complexity of problems, and the forces acting against you. Yet, no matter what, it is important to remember that life has its own way of teaching us valuable lessons. In essence, it is our values and traits that determine the outcomes of the concepts we are taught.

With this in mind, it is crucial to acknowledge certain situations that life imposes, when things are not so easy, and problems don’t have an instant solution. There will be situations that do not always turn out the way we want them to or the way they should. This does not mean we should stop and give up, though. In fact, we should continue moving forward.

Often, we possess the overlooked elements that the ambitious among us seek: courage, which consists of bravery and resilience, and faith in God and in oneself.

These elements are driving forces. Their presence is essential in making change. History has shown us how courage and faith have moved mountains. We can also be given a chance to move our own mountains and concretize our goals and dreams. We can get through thick and thin. We can be true to ourselves and work on bettering who we are and what we do. It takes courage and faith to replace thoughts of anxiety, problems, and

pessimism with those of confidence, harmony, and optimism.

With positive values comes hope. With hope comes a brighter outlook on life. Always have hope in new beginnings, new opportunities, and new endeavors, and, most importantly, always have hope and believe in yourself.

As the New Year approaches us with its own challenges, Beyond Magazine and I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful year ahead full of infinite hope, love, peace, new chances, and fresh starts.

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M A I N

C O N TRI B UTOR S

Bassam alKantar A seasoned Lebanese journalist, Bassam Al Kantar frequently writes about environment, information communication technology, and human rights. Beyond's environmental consultant, he is the managing editor for greenarea.me. He strongly believes that the free press can, of course, be good or bad, but, most certainly without freedom, the press will never be anything but bad.

Edgard Chehab With 17 years of experience in the environmental field, Edgard Chehab is a renowned name in local and regional green circles. He is the assistant resident representative and manager of the Energy and Environment Program of UNDP, Lebanon. He is also the advisor to the Ministry of the Environment. Beyond is lucky to have Mr. Chehab as its environmental consultant and dear friend.

alia fawaz Alia Fawaz is a freelance writer based in Beirut with a passion to see a greener, cleaner Lebanon. Can we influence others to be environmentally responsible? Trying to answer this question is both a challenge and the source of inspiration for her as a regular contributor to Beyond. She covers the increasing renewable energy projects and eco-initiatives in the country and shares snippets of natural wonders from around the globe.

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SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS Did you know that Middle East Airlines (MEA) has an in-house Training & Development Center? Established in 1960, it became the first professional Airline Training Institute in the Middle East. The Center even served as the hatching grounds for most Arab and African airlines during the sixties and seventies, where thousands were trained to become airline professionals in their countries. words alia fawaz

Training Center Logistics Today, this important aviation facility has been further developed with state of the art equipment and training programs adhering to the highest international standards. It has been developed on a plot of 13755 squared meters surface area (on a total built-up space of 43500 squared meters), which is spread across three basements levels and four upper floors. The Center offers pilot and cadet training while using four simulator bays, one of which is an Airbus A320 Full Flight Simulator. It also provides cabin crew training that covers safety, security, and hospitality using a real aircraft mock up. The crew gets to try the latest Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainer that simulates different emergency evacuation scenarios, including ditching into an actual swimming pool. The Center covers technical aircraft maintenance and training for all ground and administrative crews, as well.

The impressive MEA Training Center shall be open for all Arab and international airlines companies to contribute to Beirut’s pioneering regional role in culture and education.

Conference Center In addition to the Training Center, a Conference Center shall be open to all economic entities and private and public institutions in Lebanon and abroad. It has an indoor auditorium, known as The Dome, which can accommodate up to 300 people with a spacious reception hall. It also has the Olive Garden, an open area of 2350 squared meters, which can be used for receptions and special events, in addition to a ballroom, a multipurpose hall, and a spacious terrace.

Successes This marks yet another milestone for Middle East Airlines, which can be added to its notable list of achievements since its foundation in 1945.

Let’s hope our much-loved national airlines will keep pushing ahead to become an aviation leader in the region again, and maybe internationally….

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TOP OF THE CLASS Student classrooms are designed to prepare our children for life, which is why subject matters are crucial learning tools. Today, however, life is also about repercussions of climate change. Reality urges us to change our habits and live sustainably. Many schools in Lebanon have already started introducing green practices – from small environmentally friendly changes to larger-scale initiatives – creating a culture of green thinking and practices. BEYOND explores two Lebanese schools’ approaches on reducing the carbon footprint and inspiring students to be ecologically responsible. words alia fawaz

A Holistic Approach The International College (IC) believes that the power of a classroom can reach beyond its walls to address issues concerning the environment. They have already taken many measures, such as spreading awareness among their schools and creating practical green projects for students to implement in the construction of IC’s new buildings.

In 2014, their Elementary School building earned the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) “Gold” Certification in Lebanon and the Middle East. This January, two more of their new facilities (Primary School and Middle School) are also lined up for the Gold LEED. LEED is a global green building rating system. Certified as silver, gold, or platinum is achieved through ratings proving that the standards for healthy, highly efficient, and costeffective green buildings are met.

IC appointed Richard Bampfylde, who holds a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Development, as the school’s fulltime Sustainability Coordinator. Under his guidance, the school took five of

the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to actively address during this school year. SDGs are, originally, 17 goals defined by the United Nations to tackle the world’s biggest problems by the year 2030. IC wishes to achieve those goals through outdoor campaigns, such as large SDGs banners strategically placed all around IC’s Beirut and Ain Aar campuses.

Learning about SDGs does not mean an extra course is being conducted; instead, the goals are being taught in creative and engaging ways. For example, clean water and sanitation (SDG #6) is addressed via the partnerships that philanthropic organizations have with public schools around the world. When one organization came to Lebanon, IC students were invited to visit local public schools to see how the clean water filtration projects are managed. Still, there are difficulties in implementing practical sustainable projects, like these, in a school setting. “It’s a challenge, even in the U.K where I am from, because these things are not yet integrated into the curriculum,” admits Bampfylde.

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Students also participated in the Azadea Foundation’s Envirothon Competition, where they made couches and tables from recyclables.

Soon, IC in Beirut will install its own Photovoltaic Solar Plants on the roof of the nearby Jaroudi Building. As a mutual initiative, students will be assisting engineers in gathering information and installing the actual plant. The amount of solar power and radiation collected from this project will be recorded and displayed in classrooms. This should reduce the school’s fossil fuel consumption by 10%. Plans are in place to roll out to more rooftops. Other projects include soot filters being placed in all their generators and rainwater being collected in large tanks to be reused in school.

Additionally, IC started an in-house project inspired by the American University of Beirut’s Vertical Green Wall Initiative for the Bekaa refugee camp. Bampfylde took us to see the students’ outdoor play area. We found rocca leaves sprouting neatly from rectangular potted crates, which hung vertically from a freestanding metal frame. Like a gardening project, students planted them and took care of them during their breaks.

“This project addresses the scarcity of land for agriculture in Lebanon and how to reduce water consumption,” explains Bampfylde.

Going Green in and out of Class In the outskirts of Beirut, Eastwood International School (EIS) is also actively green with numerous sustainable activities that have fully engaged the student body. Here, the seeds of change are often planted during lessons, and one such lec-

ture began inside the social studies class: “How can we help make the world a cleaner, more beautiful place?” Answers to this question culminated to construct a bio-wall, which became a yearlong effort drawing on all disciplines.

Through extensive research and expert consultations, students learned about plant life and ways to sustain it. They learned about environmentally sustainable methods, which are being applied to make use of wastewater from the school’s air conditioning system.

Students were also responsible community members. They managed to convince the City Center Mall to change all trash bins into recycling ones.

Other efforts have led to creating a filtering system that purifies tap water and makes it drinkable. This, later, became the first water fountain at the school. Students also participated in the Azadea Foundation’s Envirothon Competition, where they made couches and tables from recyclables. They came in third place!

These and many other exemplary efforts, being exerted around schools in Lebanon, show the importance of instilling green habits in the upcoming generation. Growing up with the notion of sustainability ingrained in education is vital, especially in Lebanon, where toxic air pollution and garbage is endemic. The good news is that tables can turn, and we can fix these problems if we combine our resources and knowledge. “And if you can change a country like Lebanon, you can change the world,” says Bampfylde with optimism.

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A FORCE FOR GOOD The Lebanese Armed Forces has earned national status for being trustworthy and an emblem of Lebanese pride. Through reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adopting cleaner technology, the army is spearheading the mitigation of climate change. It is also embracing renewable energy and implementing energy efficiency measures. words bassam al kantar

In addition to its role in defending Lebanon, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has always been a pioneer of innovative and groundbreaking ventures. The LAF, like modern armies worldwide, is increasingly conscious of the lasting effects that its carbon footprint will leave on the environment.

It is no surprise that the LAF have risen to the challenge of fighting climate change through the development of its Energy Sustainability Strategy. In fact, the Energy Sustainability of the Lebanese Armed Forces establishes a vision that ensures effective delivery of defense capability that is robust to climate and that does not of defense ca substantially contribute to its causes.

Under the EU-funded CEDRO IV project, the LAF, with support from UNDP, has conceived an innovative “Energy Sustainability Strategy.”

The strategy stands as an important pillar for ensuring the army’s long term efficiency]. Moreover increasing LAF’s energy security will bring immediate economic and financial benefits and enhance the daily well-being of its troops, thus contributing to better energy efficiency for the benefit of all citizens.

The Lebanese Ministry of Defense, the Lebanese Army, the European Union have entrusted and appointed the United Nations Development Program, CEDRO, to undertake a full energy assessment that has culminated in this Army Strategy Publication.

In terms of renewable energy, the LAF pledges

to reach 20% of its total electricity consumption from renewable energy sources by 2030. With respect to heat generation, the army pledges to reach a similar 20% renewable energy target by 2030. With respect to energy efficiency, the LAF pledges a 10% reduction in energy use by 2030 relative to 2015.

To achieve these targets, many measures and actions are required. These measures include building a solar hot water and Solar PV systems, Roof Insulation, Double Glazing, and Water Saving Devices. In total, the LAF requires a $23,329,880 budget. Over 13 years, this would entail an $1,794,606.15 annual investment.

These measures would allow an approximate and direct annual saving for the Lebanese Army of approximately $3 million in the current environment of low fuel prices. This leads to a payback period of 7.7 years. If oil prices were to reach the $100/barrel mark again, the saving will double, and the payback period will halve. With respect to greenhouse gas emissions, these measures will reduce a total of 17,348 tons of CO2 equivalent per annum (based on a 0.7 kg of CO2 per kWh and 2.65kg of CO2 per liter of diesel).

The LAF hopes to implement as much as possible within the next 5 years. The Lebanese Ministry of Defense and the Lebanese Army Command will guide, prioritize, and oversee the implementation of this Strategy.

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The LAF pledges to reach 20% of its total electricity consumption from renewable energy sources by 2030.

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SORT IT OUT! words bassam al kantar

Background Information In Lebanon, an ongoing dilemma on waste management is evident. Studies show that the amount of waste produced needs adequate management plans to ensure a healthier lifestyle and environment.

In 2016, the estimated Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated in Lebanon amounted to 2.04 million tons a year or 5600 tons a day, 77% of which went to landfills and dumpsites. Particularly, in Beirut, the estimated MSW generated amounted to 237250 tons a year or 650 tons a day. The solid waste composition is divided as follows: paper and cardboard accounting to 16%, plastics accounting to 11.5%, organic matter accounting to 52.5%, and others accounting to 20%. Others include 5.5% of metals, 3% of textiles, 3.5% of glass, 1% of wood, 3% of diapers, and 4% of others.

Decision makers agree that waste incineration could be a practical solution to implement.

However, its success incorporates a nationwide strategy. Furthermore, anti-incineration coalitions argue that adopting waste to energy solution is actually a step toward burning just about everything. Consequently, before burning or landfilling residue, the government needs to employ waste strategies that acknowledge the significance of sorting, recycling, composing, and biofuel generating.

Waste management has also been attributed to politics in Lebanon. In the summer of 2015,

the government suspended trash collection due to the shutting down of the Naameh Landfill.

The decision incited protests in Beirut. In March 2016, authorities claimed that they have solved the issue. However, contractors were simply disposing the trash into two newly established coastal landfills instead of the Naameh one. In a bid to end this crisis, the Lebanese government announced a temporary four-year plan by adopting a sorting waste process from source, strengthening recycling industries, and establishing waste treatment facilities.

On a different note, in September 2015, the Lebanese government established guidelines on the Solid Domestic Waste (SDW) Treatment Plan.

They adopted the principle of treatment decentralization, whereby the municipalities and their union were held responsible for the SDW over a sustainable period, in accordance with implementation mechanisms set for this purpose, as an intrinsic part of the transitional SDW treatment period.

A Study within Beirut Even though collecting recyclable material is an active service, especially within the vicinity of Beirut, 50% of those materials are lost upon reaching the disposal phase due to the lack of sorting from the source. Moreover, landfill use is linked to land availability and the “not in my backyard – nimby� effect.

Early next year, the United Nations Development Program is planning to launch a new pro-

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The pilot project and awareness campaigns play a crucial role in initiating a culture of sustainable development in Lebanon.

A Brighter Outlook ject to help the Beirut Municipality in fulfilling its promise of collecting recyclable materials from the source as part of its domestic solid waste management plan. For this purpose, a study about the situation of recycling cardboard and paper in the Lebanese context, specifically in Beirut, is being conducted. The study addresses a desk review of the Lebanese paper industry and a mapping review of cardboard and paper recycling. Eventually, the study aims at introducing a business plan, called “Warak Beirut”, which is a pilot project that serves as a prototype for the recycling initiatives in the country.

After a series of workshops and debates and months of work on different projects, the governmental key-players, which include the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, OMSAR, and the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), will be able to compile “roadmaps” and “emergency plans”.

The maps and plans intend to give pointers to municipalities, NGOS, and homeowners on efficiently tackling the issue. These pointers include informative sets of dos and don’ts and an overview of the waste management options available in Lebanon. The roadmaps conclude that sorting cardboard and paper from the source is the most effective solution for an efficient recycling process.

The Project and awareness campaigns play a crucial role in initiating a culture of sustainable development in Lebanon, which offers innovative solutions to waste management. Even though the environmental cause was insufficient to motivate behavior change, the solidarity will prove to be a driving force. The Project launches a transition from a society, where waste is regarded as a source of pollution, unpleasant odors, and diseases, into a society, where waste is considered a valuable resource used for sustainable development.

Working with more than 200 organizations, including municipalities, schools, universities, companies, refugee camps, residential buildings, and other associations, Warak Beirut Project proves to be practical and successful. The solution is appealing for private organizations, as well, because it provides them with opportunities to contribute to social activities and environmental preservation through the simple act of paper and cardboard sorting. The process could be undertaken under their “Corporate Social Responsibility” and could improve their image in society. Moreover, associations could increase social engagement through encouraging waste sorting within their communities. Schools and universities could also use this solution as an educational tool for sustainable development.

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THE SOURCE OF THE TROUBLE words nour masri

Threats The Qaraoun Catchment feeds Lebanon’s biggest and longest river, the Litani. This catchment is a critical source of water for food production and urban use, and it provides habitats, including important forests and wetlands. The ability of the catchment to provide essential ecosystem services is being undermined by accelerating land degradation, which is resulting from deforestation, excessive firewood collection, overgrazing, inappropriately-placed infrastructure, unplanned expansion of urban and informal settlements, and loss of agricultural fields to competing land uses.

Qaraoun SLM Project To address, both, the causes and effects of land degradation in the Qaraoun Catchment, the Government of Lebanon has partnered with the UNDP to implement a GEF-financed Sustainable Land Management Project (Qaraoun SLM Project).

One of the root causes of land degradation in the Qaraoun catchment, and elsewhere in Lebanon, has

been the lack of an integrated approach to land-use planning and management. Although policies and plans, including land-use zonation plans, are in place, they still have a narrow sectoral focus and do not specifically take land degradation into account.

Weak coordination and overlapping mandates, across institutions, have also meant that application and enforcement of national plans and policies relating to land-use are problematic.

The Qaraoun SLM Project provides a strategic and integrated landscape approach to address these challenges, among others. They do so by strengthening the ‘master planning’ approach that is already operating within the country. The approach embeds sustainable land management principles into land-use planning and identifies methods of protecting resources. The local level forests, rangelands, and arable lands, which are currently weakly managed or degraded, will be prioritized in comprehensive land-use plans to ensure that sustainable land management measures are put in place. This maintains the flow of vital ecosystem services and averts local-level conflicts between land users. Furthermore, the Project

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photo credit. dr elsa sattout, undp slmq project

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The causes of land degradation operate at multiple scales and in many different places across Lebanon, particularly in the Qaraoun Catchment, where the large-scale movement of displaced people adds an extra layer of complexity to land-use patterns. Under these circumstances, it is difficult to monitor resource use and enforce compliance with existing land-use regulations. Added to this dilemma are the excessive use of harmful pesticides on commercial farms, the increase of polluted water-bodies, the unwise and unplanned urban settlement, and the increased incidence of drought and damaging wildfires. Therefore, the need for an integrated approach to land-use regulation becomes obvious. It is in this context that the improvement of local capacities and enforcement will engage land users in participatory planning processes. If people are directly involved in the development of land-use plans, they may be liable to comply with their provisions. The aim is to shift land stewardship mindsets from ‘deplete-abandon-migrate’ to ‘restore-sustain-protect’ in order to reduce pressures on forests, rangelands, and water resources while ensuring that the livelihood and security needs of the community are met in an equitable and sustainable manner. * UNDP, Project Manager, Sustainable Land Management in the Qaraoun Catchment

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Planting 10452 trees in beirut words alia fawaz

We always have to consider how our actions contribute to the greater good of society. It is with these acts of kindness, sympathy, awareness, and commitment that one can opt for a healthier world to live in.

Two green ladies, Pascale Choueiri Saad and Lara Hanna Debs, have taken on the responsibility of answering our ecosystem’s pleas. In doing so, they aim to combat deforestation, urbanization, quarries for stones and sand, and uncontrolled dumpsites.

From this stance, the ladies pledge to defy the man-made environmental hazards and increase green spaces within the vicinity of Beirut.

The Campaign, “To Make Cities Greener,” commits to planting 10452 trees over a ten-year period. The number of trees is representative of our beloved Lebanon’s surface area, and the trees rooted are 2 to 3 meters tall.

The campaign was launched at the Grand Serail under the precious presence of the Prime Minister Saad El Harriri and in collaboration with the Municipal Council of Beirut. The Project Manager of the UNDP, Edgar Chehab, was also present to give Green Cedars Lebanon his continuous support and encouragement.

A heartfelt thank you goes to those who contributed to this Campaign, especially to the Governor of the Banque du Liban, Riad Salame, for his patience and faith in the initiative.

On a final note,

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,

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they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, 13

they will flourish in the courts of our God. Psalm 92:1213-

So, let us combine our efforts and collaborate for a greener Lebanon, for a greener future, and for a greener us.

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pine tree

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THE DEADLY EFFECT OF HUNTING LONG AFTER THE SHOOTING IS DONE words bassam alkantar

The use of traditional plastic wad components in gun cartridges can have a devastating impact on wildlife and the environment. Each year, one million birds die from lead poisoning in Europe. Many iconic species, such as the Tundra Swan, the Whitetailed Eagle, and the Greater Flamingo, perish after ingesting lead shots from expended ammunition cartridges.

In Lebanon, the situation is much worse. Forty million cartridges are imported each year, 18 million of these are re-exported to neighboring countries and 19.5 million are used for hunting. The remaining number is used for target practice. Moreover, seven million cartridges are locally manufactured. The shooting success is estimated to be one per seven cartridges. Therefore, it is estimated that 2.79 million birds are shot per year.

Hunters leave 600 tons of lead and millions of empty plastic cartridges behind in forests, wetlands, rivers, and mountains.

Plastic-made components, used by the hunting community, are highly toxic. They can cause ecological damage to the environment and can kill animals that might eat them after the pellets have been fired.

To tackle this ecological issue, Live Lebanon UNDP,

Live Love Volunteer, and Live Love Beirut’s Volunteering Program organized a cleanup day, which was in collaboration with the National Commission For Lebanese Women in Eghbeh and Amaz, Keserwan area. They managed to collect thousands of empty shot cartridges that hunters left behind.

Lebanese Olympics Trap Shooting Champion, Ray Bassil, Head of the National Committee for Lebanese Women, Claudine Aoun Roukoz, Lebanese Champion, Silvio Chiha, as well as volunteers from Jordan, Libya, Germany, and Tunisia joined the initiative. All the cartridges are placed in a warehouse and will soon be recycled.

According to Rawad Rizk, Live Lebanon UNDP Project Manager, this initiative is just the beginning.

The Project supports proper hunting law enforcement through working with local communities, which aim at changing attitudes and behaviors toward hunting.

We need to reach an ideal situation, whereby all hunters pick up the cartridges during their hunting trips. Consequently, this initiative necessitates the development of a new hunting law decree.

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KEEP CALM AND… DO SNOWGA! Yoga’s immense popularity has spawned so many bizarre versions, ranging from karaoke yoga, laughter yoga, beer and yoga, and cats and yoga to silent disco yoga. The yoga craze carries on with what may be the strangest alliance until now, snow. That’s right, freezing weather and snow covered terrain instead of a sweltering indoor studio and floor mats. Any takers? But before you condemn this as yet another short-lived fad, it actually seems like a nice way to exercise and clear your mind while standing on a pristine blanket of white snow. It may also be here to stay… words tamara batshon

The Snowga Trend The inevitable name for this one is snowga, which is a combination of yoga stretches and winter sports, like skiing and snowshoeing. The hashtag #snowga has already surfaced on the social mediasphere, which quickly gained widespread popularity, featuring pictures of people posing in the snow in various yoga positions. While this has yet to pick up in Faraya and other Lebanese ski resorts, it has already become a popular trend in the United States. In Bozeman, Montana yoga and snowshoeing have become a regular activity.

First, the participants trek to a spot; then, they do a warm up followed by 30 minutes of yoga. Finally, they snowshoe the remainder of the way back.

Last year at the Windham Mountain Resort in the Catskills Mountains in New York, yoga movements were also incorporated into snowshoeing.

Skiing and Yoga Skiers also apply elements of yoga to improve their skills on the snow tracks. One example is skiers at Mohawk Mountain in Connecticut who find the long breathing exercises as useful as a calming

mechanism. They also practice yoga poses that challenge balance and strengthen the muscles beforehand, such as the Eagle and the Chair, which apparently help in obtaining a better downhill posture and in strengthening the overall ski performance.

Making the Best Out of the Experience Fans of snowga claim that it’s more challenging than doing standard in-studio moves. Overall, it is more interactive than a traditional yoga class, and it is just simply more fun to do it. Of course, Snowga does have its limitations, like getting stuck in the snow or getting a face full of freeze when attempting any sort of balance, but, overall, it is just another opportunity to practice yoga, and it can be pretty lively when done as a group – think of all the laughs!

Who knew that practicing yoga outside - in what seems as less than ideal conditions – is now becoming a highly sought winter activity?

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ON ‘YER BIKE! Studies continuously remind us that people with low activity are liable to develop heart disease and type two diabetes, in addition to a host of other health problems and extra stomach inches. With so many current demands, people find prioritizing exercise tiresome. Gym memberships are always made with good intentions, but how many times have you heard people admit that they have hardly made use of their membership? The truth is that many people view going to the gym as a boring and time-consuming routine. One answer to solve the problem is multi-tasking by walking or cycling to work. words john gray

Active Commuting

Benefits of Active Commuting

Cycling or walking to work, also known as active commuting, is uncommon in Lebanon. How many people that you know of cycle or walk to work? Your answer would probably be very few or none at all. People regard these activities as recreational ones that can be practiced on the weekends to unwind and in areas that are more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. For instance, in Copenhagen and in Amsterdam, people cycle because it is the easiest way to get around town.

Those cities are equipped with facilities that assist the cyclists on their journeys. While we do not have such facilities, clear bike routes and designated bike parking areas, sometimes we need to think out of the box to make things happen.

A study in the U.K. found that cycling to work is associated with a 41% lower risk of dying compared to commuting by car or through public transport. In addition, cycle commuters have 52% lower risk of dying from heart disease and 40% lower risk of dying from cancer. Those commuters also have 46% lower risk of developing heart disease and 45% lower risk of developing cancer.

Walking to work is not associated with a lower risk of dying from various causes. However, walkers do have 27% lower risk of heart disease and 36% lower risk of dying from it.

Ways to Get Around Instead of driving door to door, you can part bike.

Strap a bicycle onto your car, and partially, drive to work. Instead of parking right under your office, park an extra few blocks away and cycle the remaining kilometer or two. Walking works that way, too! On a clear day, park your car, wear a pair of sneakers, and finish your commute on foot. Anywhere from five to twenty minutes can give you the energy boost and the exercise you need.

Other than studies, people, who walk or ride bikes for transport, already know how good those activities make them feel. You should not forget other benefits, as well, such as reducing congestion and motor emissions. Plus, you will be saving on your petrol bills!

What You Need to Do Do not wait for others to start. Dust your bike (or buy a new one – you will not regret it). Be active Monday through Friday. Make exercising a part of your commute to work.

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WALK THIS WAY (TO HAPPINESS) words john gray

An Ongoing Dilemma Many of us find ourselves in a common scenario: sitting on the couch or behind a desk for long hours, either at work or at home. The only time we stand up, in the span of several hours, is to go to the bathroom or to open the fridge. This dilemma, on the long run, has negative consequences on our health. In fact, studies have shown that sitting still reduces blood flow to the legs, which increases the risk of atherosclerosis – the buildup of plaques in the arteries – not to mention, neck strain, sore shoulders, and back and joint pains on regular basis.

Okay, so perhaps you have a nine to five office job.

This means that, with the exception of a lunch break or meetings, which mostly involve sitting too, your typical workdays include sitting down in the same place for several hours at a time.

Take Regular Short Walking Breaks Fortunately, a new study is proving that walking around for 5 minutes every hour could make a significant impact on your health. A short walking break can enhance your mood, combat lethargy without reducing focus and attention, and reduce hunger pangs.

A recent study, funded primarily by Johnson & Johnson, was published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.

For the purposes of the study, a group of 30 sedentary office workers were asked to do three sets of workday practices. Their health and performance were recorded, accordingly. During one visit, the volunteers sat for the whole time with no interruptions except for bathroom breaks. During another

visit, they walked moderately for 30 minutes at the start of the experimental day. They, then, sat for the next five and a half hours with no additional scheduled breaks. Finally, during their third visit, the participants sat for six hours with 5 minutes of moderate walking every hour on the clinic’s treadmills.

Participants had their blood taken to check for levels of stress hormones. They were also asked to rate their moods, energy, fatigue, and appetites throughout the day. The data exhibited remarkable results for those who incorporated walking in their routine. They communicated that they felt much more energetic due to the activities completed, which were single long walks at the beginning of the day or multiple brief walks during the day.

With reference to other measures, the five-minute walks were more potent than the concentrated 30-minute version. When the workers rose most often, they reported greater happiness, less fatigue, and, considerably less, food craves than on other days.

Their energy levels increased throughout the day, peaking by the early afternoon after walking only once in the morning. The study also showed that the frequent walks did not change the participants’ ability to focus, which, in theory, should not affect one’s productivity at work.

While this small-scale study is not entirely representative of the general population, it does give us some useful insights about the benefits of walking and how it correlates to better health and well being. So wherever you are, whether at work, at home, or stuck in the airplane, just get up, walk frequently, and make it a habit for life.

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IT’S COOL TO STEP OUT

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People often think that hiking is best left for warmer seasons, but they could not be more mistaken. Winter adventures do not necessarily mean dangerous ice climbs and slippery slopes. Of course, it does depend on where you go, but there are plenty of destinations that are ideal in winter and offer unparalleled views. The sight of winter snow can be breathtaking, and you often have more peace and quiet during this time of the year. Just imagine the sight of a waterfall frozen in blue ice, elegant barren trees, or a blanket of snow with no tracks. Make a winter hike your new adventure this year. Here are some superb hiking trails from around the world that are perfect for the chilly season. words tamara batshon

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tokai nature train, japan

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Tokai Nature Trail, Japan

One of Japan's longest complete trails (1697 kilometers), Tokai offers a glimpse of the natural side in the most populated region of Japan. The route starts in Tokyo, near Mount Takao, and passes temples on mountain summits, including the 16th century Hachioji Castle and one of Japan's most famous landmarks, Mount Fuji. The Tokai, then, moves through rural prefectures before reaching Kyoto and, finally, the Osaka region. You can rest assured that only a little snow accumulates at Mt. Takao, and it usually melts in a couple of days, which makes this trek ideal and safe for winter.

Kilimanjaro Climb, Tanzania

Don’t get put off by this famous summit because it is Africa’s highest peak at 5895 meters and the world's tallest freestanding mountain. It’s actually not that technically difficult, but it takes long to make it due to the elevation. While it is possible to climb Kilimanjaro all year round, it is recommended to climb it when there is a lower possibility of rain. The dry seasons extend from the beginning of December to the beginning of March and from late June to the end of October. Once you are on the ascent, you will pass through some incredible natural wonders, such as heather moors, lava formations, rainforests, and glaciers.

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Fitz Roy Trek, Argentina

At 3359 meters, Mount Fitz Roy is the highest spire in a compact range of granite peaks in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, Argentine Patagonia, which borders Chile.

Declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, Fitz Roy offers stunning diverse scenery, such as panoramas of glaciers, towering granite spires, lakes, and the Patagonian forest. Hikes are suitable to all ability and experience levels, and you can even day hike. The best time to go is between November and April.

It is, however, a wild remote area, and the wind can get quite intense at times.

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the vosges mountains, eastern france

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The Vosges Mountains, Eastern France The Vosges is a popular destination in France close to Germany. The highest altitude is about 1400 meters, which makes it quite manageable for beginners. Here, you are in for a picturesque and a relaxing hike, where your setting is lush green round mountain peaks and pine trees.

Explore the Peak Route and discover its passes, lakes, peat bogs (wetlands), and waterfalls. It can be a relaxing hike, depending on the trail you choose. The best of all, you have excellent places to dine and stay along the way in the region’s many farm inns.

Cinque Terre, Italy Okay, so this one is not a serious hike, but it’s definitely picturesque as you are walking along the delightful Italian Riviera. The longest hike is approximately 12 kilometers, and maybe one to do after a scrumptious meal of pasta and panna cotta. This trek takes you through five cities, each with its own unique character.

Winter is a good time to go as the weather gets cooler, and you see fewer tourists invading this gorgeous medieval coastal town. The best-known trail is Trail #2, also known as the Blue Trail (Sentiero Azzurro).

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Te Araroa, New Zealand

Te Araroa, The Long Pathway, is a long trail stretching 3000 kilometers along New Zealand’s two main islands, from Cape Reinga to Bluff. Doing the entire stretch could take three to six months, but you will be able to see everything that New Zealand’s stunning natural landscape has to offer. To do a condensed hike, start at Cape Reinga in the north and finish at Stirling Point, or, simply, do shorter hikes to suit your time and stamina. Along the way, you will see gorgeous beaches, seals, penguins, rich rainforests, volcanoes (some even active), and glacial lakes.

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SHOOT TO THRILL The

innovative

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documentary film producer, Mahdi Skafi (www.mahdiskafi.com), introduces his photos, which are natural companions to his passion for light. His early beginnings with photography were in 2001. He is keen on having photographs that can instantly mesmerize the viewers.

Skafi would show you the true beauty of

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THE ART OF MAHDI SKAFI nature around us and help you discover new destinations. In Mahdi’s own words, the best awards and medals he receives are the appreciation and enjoyment of his photographs by the people.

In this issue, Skafi would like to share with Beyond Readers five absolutely inspiring landscape photos from the Bekaa Valley in Eastern Lebanon. words bassam alkantar

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h o r i z o n s

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WILD AT HEART Edin Krnic roams the world as though the whole universe belongs to him. He goes from one country to another often taking the roads less traveled by. Krnic’s travel bucket list is always long, and he hopes to reach his goal of visiting 196 nations in the next five years. He has been to 107, so far! His travel itinerary, typically, includes hanging out with wild cats, swimming in glacial waters, or having sleepovers with indigenous tribes. Wherever he goes, Krnic always dodges the tour guide and manages to break the rules. words alia fawaz

In person, Krnic is crackling with energy. He speaks in rapid-fire, heavily accented English rolling out stories of one travel experience after another. He takes no pauses in between, as if time is too short, and he needs to narrate his adventures to as many people as possible. Perhaps, the deep desire in experiencing other cultures and landscapes is attributed to his background.

Growing up in the former Yugoslavia during the brutal Balkan war years (1991-2001) was a grim experience, explains Krnic. “It was like living in an open prison. I was in the middle of Europe, yet I couldn’t go anywhere.” Then, there was the tragic loss of his wife and mother of his three children in a car accident nineteen years ago.

The immense loss and hardship may have made him more curious about life outside the boundaries of Tuzi, his small hometown in the capital of Podgorica, Montenegro.

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Mursi Tribe of Ethiopia

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Serial Travels Krnic is in Lebanon for a quick three-day tour and had just been to Baalbeck the day before.

“It was awesome,” he says commenting on the colossal Imperial Roman ruins. “Do you know it’s a thousand times better than the Acropolis?”

He had also just come from Palestine, where the plight of the people, living under occupation, he tells me, has left an indelible mark on him. He strongly stands with the Palestinians in solidarity. The following day, he is meant to embark on Saudi Arabia, followed by Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, Comoros, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia before heading back to Montenegro.

When not jetting off to new terrain as a hobby (his trips are all self-funded), Krnic runs a family rent a car business and a car body workshop comanaged by his father and his eldest child Ammar in Montenegro.

Discovering Latin American Heritage In February, he will be going to South America, which is when the Carnival season is in full swing. He tells me that carnivals take place, not only in Rio de Janeiro, but also in all countries of the continent. The Rio Carnival has become one massive tourist attraction, but the ones in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Bolivia, and Peru, for example, are more authentic in his opinion.

“They celebrate 200 to 500 years of their native tribal traditions – Inca, Maya, and Imara,” he explains. When asked about his favorite place in this region, he tells me it is Machu Picchu, the 15th

century Incan citadel situated high in the Andes Mountains (2430 meters) of Peru. He recalls how he struggled to get around by foot, as the architecture of the ruins required constant ascending and descending, like walking in a ‘’wok shaped rock’’.

While there, he had the locally grown coca, which is 100% pure cocaine. In Peru, the possession of up to 2 grams of cocaine is legal for personal use. He explains how he felt when he tried the drug for the first time, “I felt like I was born again. I had so much power and no longer had any pain in my legs.”

African Charms While he has visited the Latin countries many times over, his favorite continent by far is Africa. He covered 40% of Africa and spent up to three months in one trip. At a national park on the border of Botswana and Zimbabwe, he bravely hung out and sat among cheetahs and lions. In Namibia, he managed to coax his way into the village of the Himba tribe and spend the night there even though tourists are only allowed 30 minutes to buy their souvenirs.

He reveals that the head of the tribe took a liking to him, so he offered Krnic a tiny chamber to sleep in.

To his surprise, the chief’s wife and her sister slept alongside him cramped in a 2x2 meter room. “It was such a weird experience and just platonic,” he stresses to hint that no physical contact took place.

He explains how water in the Namibian dessert is scarce, so the natives only shower few times a year.

To stay clean, they cover their bodies with a red colored concoction made of natural butter and dirt, which gives them immunity against illnesses, as well.

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It is not material possessions that make him a rich man but these incredible life-changing encounters.

Inspiring Others Krnic has also spent time with, both, the Zulu and Xhosa tribes in South Africa. He began to understand how they communicate using clicking sounds, whereby a click can mean one word.

He found this language to be uncannily similar to the way animals communicate with each other.

He, then, asks me if I knew why they tend to wear brightly colored clothes, like red, orange, and yellow. I had no clue and assumed it was related to taste. Before I can give him my best guess, he goes off to tell me how seven years ago, in Thailand, a tiger near a temple bit him. His left hand was badly injured in the attack. A monk, who was draped in the typical Buddhist orange robe, came in time to ward off the animal. The accident could have been much worse. I managed to connect the dots and understand that wild cats fear the reddish orange colors. This is why, Buddhist monks in Asian countries, where wild cats are prevalent, and many tribes in Africa chose this bright hue for their costume.

Krnic is definitely a thrill seeker who is ready to try almost everything out of the ordinary and mostly dangerous. Once in Iceland, where the temperature was -4 degrees C, he jumped in the glacial waters and went for a swim. He also tells me how he casually waited outside the royal palace in Indonesia and managed to talk his way inside by befriending the guards and ending up being the special guest at the coronation of Paku Alam X, the ruler of Pakualaman. “I was treated like a dignitary and chatted with the new ruler,” he tells me incredulously.

Krnic’s curiosity, wanderlust, and profound interest in other cultures motivate him to discover as much as possible during his lifetime. These admirable traits, coupled with his humility and charisma, have allowed him to access places many will never see or experience. It is not material possessions that make him a rich man but these incredible life-changing encounters. Krnic is also a master storyteller who always documents his trips by writing journal entries or taking videos.

He, then, posts some of them on his blog and on his YouTube channel. Few years ago, he held an exhibition titled “The World is Mine”, which featured compelling photographs from his travels. Recently, he has presented TEDx Talks, and he, regularly, sends videos of his adventures to the local Montenegro TV station for broadcast.

The remarkable stories Krnic brings back home entertain, educate, and inspire others. They also remind us that our Earth is an incredible planet. If possible, we should venture out to remote corners and see how ancient traditions still hold true, how people live happily without modern amenities and social media, and how we can find moments of peace and ecstasy in the midst of nature. There is nothing wrong with a 5 star luxury holiday of course, but will it profoundly awaken our senses and take us out of our comfort zone? These are just things I began to ponder after hearing the exhilarating stories of a seasoned adventure traveller. Maybe it’s time to prepare my own bucket list of places to visit before I get too old….

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Machu Pichu

HIMBA TRIBE

YOU’RE WELCOME, NATURALLY

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Being eco-friendly does not have to be put on hold once we leave our homes to go on holidays. These days, many hotels are taking part in a sustainable tourism trend, which is equipped with everything from organic menus and cotton linens to solar panels, green roofs, and beehives on their premises. We look into eight European hotels with a green conscience that also happen to be superb places to stay in. words john gray

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Dublin Ireland

Ireland’s bustling capital with its rich heritage and abundance of pubs and eateries is a great place for holidaymakers. If in town, stay at the Sandymount Hotel, a green hotel that actually uses ladybirds instead of chemicals to control the pests in their gorgeous rose garden. This charming family-run place is ideal for sports fans and concertgoers, too! It is just a short walk from the Aviva Stadium. At the hotel, they use Irish turf, a natural, sustainable fuel, to light up their beautiful and historic Victorian fireplace. Irish turf is a much more environmentally friendly way to heat the building.

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Bern, Switzerland Bern, a town that dates back to the 12th century, is renowned for its medieval architecture. Among the town’s charming historic structures, you will find Hotel Allegro Bern, which is known for its progressive approach to conserving energy. Here, a clever waste heat recovery system is used that captures heat from the machinery in the hotel to warm the building. Furthermore, the entire laundry is done using environmentally friendly methods. The hotel even recycles most of its mattresses and furniture.

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Amsterdam, Netherlands This lively European city has no shortage of museums, festivals, clubs, and delightful restaurants making it a hotspot for tourism. After a busy day touring the town, you can rest assured that your host for the night is being eco-friendly – that’s if you stay at the Conscious Vodelpark Hotel. At this stylish hotel, which boasts close proximity to green parks, all the beer served is brewed locally. They even have their own eco-roof with hives for wild bees.

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Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

4 This mesmerizing European city is steeped in history with stunning medieval castles and striking architecture to impress any visitor. However, what is most remarkable is that nearly a third of the city is dedicated to beautiful spaces, from private gardens to public parks. If you choose a beverage at the Melia Luxembourg Hotel, chances are it is organic. All the bedrooms, at this hotel, are also temperature controlled with sensors, when not in use, to save on energy. This luxurious eco-label designer hotel is situated in Kirchberg, which happens to be an ideal place for shopping, city trips, and sightseeing.

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As a perfect holiday destination, Lisbon is a city that exudes an old fashioned charm. Peppered with clattering trams, cafĂŠ-lined boulevards, and magnificent monuments, you would be in Europe with a glorious year-round climate and a more laid back pace than the rest of the continent. If you are into Feng Shui, you may be highly impressed with Inspira Marta Hotel, which has been designed around its principles.

This boutique hotel offers a wide range of spa treatments and a solar heated pool. It also boasts a wasteheat recovery system that is used to store heat from the machinery to warm the building.

Lisbon, Portugal

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Brussels, Belgium

If you love your French fries, waffles, chocolates, and beer, then Brussels would be your ideal gastronomic destination. The Belgian capital is also Europe’s greenest city with 27 square miles of parks, gardens, and forests. If you stay at the city’s Leopold Hotel Brussels, you will get a free drink at the hotel bar when you reuse your room towels. All the cleaning products used at this family-run hotel are eco-certified. Furthermore, their carpets are recycled, and infrared and low wattage heating is installed throughout.

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Oslo, Norway

The city of Oslo offers a unique combination of nature expeditions and city life. It has an abundance of attractions, shopping options, and a flourishing cultural life and choice of restaurants, which is almost unparalleled in Scandinavia.

When in town, stay at the Voksenasen AS Hotel, which takes the top prize for eco-friendliness in Norway. Over a quarter of its roof is planted with vegetation for wildlife habitats. The hotel is also built using a geothermal system that is used to regulate the hotel’s heating and cooling.

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8 Vienna, Austria Austria’s oldest city and capital, Vienna, is culturally and historically rich. From elegant Kaffeehäusers (coffee houses) and contemporary art museums to breathtaking architecture, Vienna has an abundance of sights to enjoy. Vienna is also famous for its beautiful music, boasting historical geniuses, such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss. When in town, make it a point to stay in the Boutique Hotel Stadhalle. This eco-friendly accommodation gives guests green bonus awards for traveling by bike or train. The hotel also features over 130 squared meters of solar panels and has Vienna’s largest lavender field on its very own roof garden!

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A CURE OF HIGH HOPES Marijuana, hashish, weed, pot, ganga, reefer, doobie, Mary Jane, joint, and brew are just some words, out of nearly 1000, used to describe cannabis, one of the oldest plant medicines known to man. Clearly, the amount of words used is a testament to its immense popularity but also to keep it hidden from authorities. Possessing or manufacturing cannabis and/or cannabis extracts is illegal in most parts of the world, yet it has been used by traditional cultures for thousands of years to treat health conditions. Archeologists have even been able to trace cannabis to China in the Neolithic period, circa 4000 B.C.E. Recently, cannabis oil has been getting loads of attention with many claiming that it can cure cancer and a number of other conditions. words tamara batshon

Cannabis Oil Cannabis is known to have two active chemicals that offer medicinal benefits, tetrahydrocannabinol (TCH) and cannabidiol (CBD). The former, which is responsible for the euphoric high, has painrelieving properties. The latter, however, impacts the brain without the high-feeling effects and has plenty of health and medical benefits. Cannabis oil is the most potent and concentrated of three main cannabis products, which are the actual cannabis flower (marijuana), resin (hashish), and oil (cannabis oil). The thick and sticky oil is the resinous substance derived from the cannabis plant. In countries, where cannabis is legal, many places to access high-quality cannabis oil exist.

Heaps of Benefits For the best healing properties, it is important to get pure oil of high quality.

There are various types of cannabis essential oils, and they range from the TCH heavy to the CBD dominant. The oil can be administered orally or applied topically. It can also be mixed with regular oil, creams for beauty treatments, and other external products. The oil has a wide range of benefits on health and general wellbeing.

The CBD dominant oil can do wonders for the skin. It can protect against eczema and psoriasis acne and prevent wrinkles. If you already have healthy skin, the oil can speed up the re-growth of your skin, which leaves you glowing. Researchers have also found that CBD oil could be used to treat a vast number of health conditions, namely epilepsy, chronic pain, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and PTSD. Moreover, the New England Journal of Medicine published a recent study, which found that the oil helps kids with epilepsy to experience fewer and shorter seizures.

Additionally, you can apply the cannabis oil on the temples or on the area of the headache, which can effectively relief pain. At the end of the day, the THC oils, in small doses, can help release tension and produce pleasurable, relaxing feelings. Being psychoactive, THC oils tend to be used for sleep issues, stress problems, and other mood disorders.

While cannabis oil is still illegal in many countries, there is plenty of research being conducted on its medical applications. A number of reputable sources have guidelines regarding the positive use of cannabis oil in treating various diseases.

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LIFE IS A CELEBRATION

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The vibrant open-air festival, which is also known as a carnival, dates back to hundreds of years ago.

Catholics in Italy started the tradition of holding a wild costume celebration right before the first day of Lent to mark the last chance of celebrating with abandon before a period of restraint. Some claim that the word carnival comes from the Italian phrase carne levare, which translates to removing meat, as meat is prohibited during the 40 days of Lent. Soon the practice spread to France, Spain, and all the Catholic countries in Europe. Eventually, as the French, Spanish, and Portuguese began to take control of the Americas and other parts of the world, the outdoor celebration went global.

Today, South Americans host some of the most inspiring cultural festivals in the world, starting in late January until early March of every year. The most famous of them all is, undisputedly, the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro with two million people attending per day. While Rio may be getting more tourists and media attention, some lesser-known carnivals of South America have their own unique charm showcasing their own rich traditions and talents.

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Quebrada de Humahuaca, Argentina

Quebrada de Humahuaca (Jujuy province) Carnival is one of the most famous and oldest celebrations in Northwest Argentinian Andes. This region is steeped in ancient traditions and has a strong culture linked to land and fertility. The Carnival celebrates the inherited pagan rituals practiced by the indigenous tribes. The celebration begins on the Saturday before the carnival with the unearthing of the “devil� made with rags, which was actually buried at the end of the last carnival. Once unearthed, there are firecrackers, along with dancers, singers, and musicians, known as the comparasas, who are often disguised in devil costumes. Most villagers invite the comparasas to their homes for a drink. The carnival ends with the burial of the devil, the doll, along with offerings, such as alcohol, coca leaves, and cigarettes.

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Quebrada de Humahuaca, Argentina

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Carnival de Barranquilla, Colombia

This lively folklore festival was actually declared by UNESCO as a "World Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”. The traditions and culture of Columbia are spectacularly displayed during this four-day festival bringing people from all over the country to join in. The colorful parade accompanied by dancing and music – salsa, cumbia, and folk – reflects the traditions of the Americas, Spain, and the African Congo. People party hard and are often disguised with masks, face paints, and costumes. The festival kicks off with a gigantic six-hour parade called La Batalla de Flores (The Battle of Flowers), which sees the crowning of the Carnival King and Queen amid flamboyant floats, costumes, and plenty of dancing. Barranquilla's Carnival slogan is “Quien lo vive, es quien lo goza!” or “Those who live it are those who enjoy it!”

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Carnival de Barranquilla, Colombia

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Festival de la Candelaria Bolivia & Peru

The Virgen de la Candelaria, Patron Saint of Copacabana (Bolivia), is the most revered saint in, both, Peru and Bolivia. To honor her, an elaborate twoweek event takes place in these two nations replete with parades, music, traditional dance, and dazzling costumes. In Peru, the event takes place in Puno on the Peruvian shores of Lake Titicaca. A typically quiet town, Puno, comes to life with forty thousand people dancing and performing music in the streets. In Bolivia, the festival takes place on the shores of Lake Titicaca in the fishing village of Copacabana. Of all the cultural festivals in South America, this is considered the most authentic and inspiring with an eclectic mix of pagan and Catholic rituals.

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Festival de la Candelaria – Bolivia & Peru

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THE BEAUTY OF SURVIVAL African tribal traditions are, both, a mystery and a fascination for most of the modern world. One of the most intriguing tribes, captured through the lens of countless photographers, is the Himba population of North Western Africa. The beautiful Himba women, marked by their luminous red skin and veneered striking hairstyle, have become well known far beyond the Kunene region in Namibia. words john gray

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According to the elderly, back during the great droughts, only men were allowedaccess to water for washing purposes.

For years, Himba, the ancient tribe of seminomadic herders, has drawn photographers and tourists to Namibia’s remote and dry mountainous northwest. Today, the Himba have become open to outsiders coming to witness their way of life with a contribution in return; it could be food supply, donations, or having tourists purchase their handmade jewelry and other crafts. Currently, the Himba population is about 50000, and they continue to lead a traditional lifestyle that has remained unchanged for generations having survived wars and droughts.

During the last two decades, the Himba have managed to maintain control of their lands. Many of them, now, live on nature conservancies that give them better control of their livestock and a way to live off tourism. There are many tours, where you can meet the Himba people, see how they live, take photos, and try to communicate with them. Recently, the Namibian Government have brought in new laws, and the children have begun to go to school.

History of Hardships

The sight of traditional Himba women with red skin and glossy dread like locks has become an iconic image of Africa. The reason for this is otjize, a paste of butter, fat, and red ochre scented with aromatic resin that the Himba women apply each morning to their skin and hair. While it is mostly for aesthetic reasons, as in make-up, the otjize also serves to protect their skin from the scorching sun while keeping it clean and moist. It also helps in repelling insects. The red ochre cream, used in otjize, is made by pounding the ochre stone, Hematite, into small fragments. The broken pieces are mixed with butter, slightly heated by means of smoke, and applied on the skin. The otjize may have also been invented as a means to keep the body clean since water to bath is extremely scarce in the region. According to the elderly, back during the great droughts, only men were allowed access to water for washing purposes, which may also explain why only women use otjize.

The early settlements of the resilient Himba people can be traced back to the early 16th century when they crossed the Angolan border and came to Kaokoland, their new home, which is known today as the Kunene region. At that time, they were still part of the Herero tribe. Around the end of the 18th century, a severe bovine epidemic swept through the region killing most of the cattle that the Herero depended on. In order to survive, the tribe, later, moved to the south and other regions to get better livelihood. However, some members opted to remain and preferred to struggle for survival in familiar territory. This marked separation between those who remained and those who left could be said as the real start and identity of the Himba people. Then again, in the 1980s, the Himba way of life was threatened.

This time, a severe drought killed 90% of their livestock. Many gave up their herds and became refugees in the town of Opuwo living in slums on international relief. Others joined the Koevoet, which was the South African paramilitary police that managed South West Africa and was active during the Namibian War of Independence from 1979 to 1990.

Unique Female Grooming Practice

You will also notice that on the top of the women’s head is the Himba crown, the Erembe. This crown is made of cow or goat leather and is placed on the head once a girl reaches puberty. The red ochre, however, is applied when the girls are old enough to look after themselves hygienically.

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NO WHALE OF A TIME In 1986, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) officially banned whaling – the practice of killing whales for their oil, meat, and whalebone.

Even though the demand on their products has dramatically decreased, whaling is still practiced today, mainly in Iceland, Norway, and Japan under the guise of scientific whaling. words alia fawaz

The mighty whale has long been referred to as the gentle giant roaming its way through the world’s ocean. It often travels in groups or pods and “talks” via a myriad of loud noises, ranging from whistles and clicks to pulsated calls. These social creatures are remarkable in size - the blue whale can reach up to 30 meters in length – and have inspired many tales over the years, such as the 19th century American classic “Moby Dick” and the famous Bible story “Jonah and the Whale.” Sadly, many whale species were being hunted to the brink of extinction. An estimated three million whales were killed in the twentieth century.

cosmetics, and perfume. Their bones were also used to make a range of consumer goods before the invention of plastic, such as carriage springs, corsets, umbrellas, and fishing hooks. Hundreds of ships from North America and Europe embarked in search of sperm and other whales. By the mid 1800s, around 5000 sperm whales were being killed each year. It could be said that the purpose of whaling during this era was twofold, (1) for the products and (2) for the (sick) thrill of capturing these defenseless animals as a sport.

By the end of the 1880s, once petroleum, natural gas, and electricity were discovered, the need for whale oil decreased.

Whale hunting during So, why are we still the Industrial Revolution whaling?

As early as 6000 B.C.E., immemorial coastal communities have, both, hunted and harvested beached whales. However, the actual mass exploitation of these sea mammals began during the Industrial Revolution. Oil from the sperm whale was highly coveted during this period, which was used to fuel lamps and to make candles, soaps,

Today, commercial whaling is effectively banned, and trade in whale products is strictly forbidden. Despite these measures, between Norway, Iceland, and Japan, 1500 whales are still being slaughtered each year for their meat with Japan accounting for the biggest share. Most recently, it has been reported that, in June 2017, Japan sent

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Records from ancient traditions in Japan show hand thrown harpoons dating back to the 12th century. After World War II, whaling was re-introduced as a cheap source of protein when food was scarce. Because it was widely consumed during the tough postwar years, today, whale meat is hardly eaten by the local population who regard it as a nostalgic food. While there is very little demand for whale sushi and cooked whales, the Japan Fisheries Agency keeps hunting whales. In fact, according to the Japan Times Newspaper, earlier this year, the agency submitted a detailed plan for the IWC to capture a total of 304 whales per year, along its coast and offshore waters in the northwestern Pacific between 2017 and 2028.

They claim that they are attempting to prove that the whale populations are large enough to reintroduce whale hunting for food; therefore, catching them is purely for scientific reasons.

To diminish the whale population, in aims of proving its sufficiency for future mass consumption when there is no demand for it, is paradoxical and immoral. Let’s hope there is enough pressure from the IWC, the whaling watchdogs, and the international community to put an end to this barbaric practice.

By the mid 1800s, around 5000 sperm whales were being killed each year.

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