<>Posted on Sep 2010 Ahmad F Al-Shagra, Imagine a group of highly motivated Arab developers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists and more in a 54 hour event that builds communities, companies and projects. That’s what Beirut is hosting and this is why you need to be there…
 

First let us tell you about the event. It’s going to be a 3 day event in Beirut that will allow creative people with backgrounds in Business, Development, and Design to form teams to come up with ideas (Day1), develop a mockup (Day2), then design and present a prototype (Day3) all within 3 days.

The guys behind YallaStartup Weekend are the real deal, Sami Shalabi of Zingku (currently working for Google), Habib Haddad of Yamli and Elie Khoury co-founder of Woopra. So not only are they cool, but they know what MENA Entrepreneurs need. Them and others will be providing help to teams throughout the creation process.

Beirut – Around 150 Lebanese men and women marched late Saturday in Beirut’s downtown area to pay homage to the memory of the old buildings and houses that used to represent Beirut’s heritage and protest against further destruction.

‘We are walking today holding candles hopefully to shine light on the damage being done to Beirut’s old heritage,’ said Alfred Cochrane, one of the participants. His family owns several Ottoman-era mansions in Beirut.

The march took place in the old neighborhood of Gemmazyeh, where old houses are being destroyed to make way for modern buildings.

According to the organizers ‘every one of those houses which are being destroyed has a story to tell.’

‘By demolishing those old houses they are destroying our memories,’ Cochrane said.

The Association for Protecting Natural Sites and Old Buildings in Lebanon, APSAD, is waging a campaign to create awareness about the city’s fading architectural heritage, which is being destroyed and replaced by Dubai-style skyscrapers.

By Lisa Grainger
Published: 10:58AM BST 02 Sep 2010

David Samel from huffington post, 

 In Beirut, a recent event, under-reported in the United States, provides a dramatic contrast with the New York controversy over Park51, an Islamic cultural center planned for lower Manhattan. According to Ha’aretz, Lebanon’s largest Jewish synagogue has been saved from the wrecking ball and beautifully restored to its past glory.

The Magen Avraham synagogue had fallen into disrepair during the Lebanese Civil War of the 1970’s and 1980’s. Located in the city center, the synagogue was in danger of being demolished in favor of urban renewal. However, Beirut’s tiny Jewish population decided to save and renovate the structure, and received the approval not only of the Lebanese government but specifically of Hezbollah. The Islamic party, announcing its support, proclaimed: "We respect divine religions, including the Jewish religion."

David Samel from huffington post, 

 In Beirut, a recent event, under-reported in the United States, provides a dramatic contrast with the New York controversy over Park51, an Islamic cultural center planned for lower Manhattan. According to Ha’aretz, Lebanon’s largest Jewish synagogue has been saved from the wrecking ball and beautifully restored to its past glory.

The Magen Avraham synagogue had fallen into disrepair during the Lebanese Civil War of the 1970’s and 1980’s. Located in the city center, the synagogue was in danger of being demolished in favor of urban renewal. However, Beirut’s tiny Jewish population decided to save and renovate the structure, and received the approval not only of the Lebanese government but specifically of Hezbollah. The Islamic party, announcing its support, proclaimed: "We respect divine religions, including the Jewish religion."