Blog Archives
The Monkey Experiment – Arab world
Unfortunately, this is where we are today in our Arab world. None of the current Arab regimes have ever been bombed or defeated by Israel. Nevertheless, no regime dares to defy the Zionist state. In fact, they cooperate together to prevent whichever regime decides to do it. And that it not only shameful, but greatly saddening.. I hope our Monkeys will awaken one day, actually I’m almost certain they will and I wish to witness that soon,very soon..
A. S. Janbein
22 – 4 – 2013
Photos of Children From Around the World With Their Most Prized Possessions
Chiwa – Mchinji, Malawi
Shot over a period of 18 months, Italian photographer Gabriele Galimberti’s project Toy Stories compiles photos of children from around the world with their prized possesions—their toys. Galimberti explores the universality of being a kid amidst the diversity of the countless corners of the world; saying, “at their age, they are pretty all much the same; they just want to play.”
But it’s how they play that seemed to differ from country to country. Galimberti found that children in richer countries were more possessive with their toys and that it took time before they allowed him to play with them (which is what he would do pre-shoot before arranging the toys), whereas in poorer countries he found it much easier to quickly interact, even if there were just two or three toys between them.
There were similarites too, especially in the functional and protective powers the toys represented for their proud owners. Across borders, the toys were reflective of the world each child was born into—economic status and daily life affecting the types of toys children found interest in. Toy Stories doesn’t just appeal in its cheerful demeanor, but it really becomes quite the anthropological study.
Stella – Montecchio, Italy
Pavel – Kiev, Ukraine
Arafa & Aisha – Bububu, Zanzibar
Cun Zi Yi – Chongqing, China
Bethsaida – Port au Prince, Haiti
Orly-Brownsville,Texas
Botlhe – Maun, Botswana
Watcharapom – Bangkok, Thailand
Alessia – Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Norden – Massa, Morocco
Julia – Tirana, Albania
Keynor – Cahuita, Costa Rica
Shaira – Mumbai, India
Tangawizi – Keekorok, Kenya
source: featureshoot
I love not Lebanese activists
Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced. – James Baldwin
Hello everybody, I actually forgot how to start these things, it’s been a really long time since I last wrote about something and while it was mainly because university and work, I had also decided to stay away from “trouble” lol.
Today, I write to pick up where I left last time, yes today I write also about activism. Lebanese activism to be precise *insert evil laugh*.
Of course since my decision of staying out of trouble was taken for me and not really mine, I will restrain from naming some individuals but instead use fake aliases just to be able to advance my opinions.
Lebanese activists… *sigh*
To me, this is the most ridiculous thing to say… ever. You cannot, just simply can NOT and under no circumstances describe a word by its antagonist, impossible…
You are either a Lebanese or an activist, it is the nature of our country, don’t get me wrong you could be playing the activist role perfectly, thus abiding by the IAE (international activist etiquette) but being Lebanese is enough to tag you depending on your religion and sect.
That said and since of course I wasn’t the 1st person to obtain these observations, in the following, I list you the top requirements in order to become an activist in Lebanon.
1- You must cuss at everyone and everything, even if 2 things are opposites, fuck both because you’re cool.
2- You must be an atheist, because “nya2… betssaleh la Allah? Ha-ha haram chou raj3e”
3- Offensive language and offensive language everywhere and every time you are making a statement because it shows you have balls and that you don’t care.
4- Everybody else is inferior, you are enlightened, you are the chosen one and you can see many things that others fail to see.
5- “خالف تعرف” when everyone else seem to agree on something, be the one to refuse and oppose! Not because of reason but because again “خالف تعرف”
6- You have to own a “مدونة” and btw a “مدونة” is not a blog, it’s only something for Lebanese activists to brag about especially if it’s shitty.
So yes mainly, if you meet the above requirements, you sir are eligible to become a Lebanese activist, Mabrouk 3Lek ^^
Moving on, in this next part I will describe some fictional Lebanese activists who are mainly the fruit of my imagination… not
A- Camion_gr *
The biggest (literally) most self-centric egoist son of a bitch you’ll ever meet. No one knows what he does for a living other than running his mouth and spreading his bullshit all over social media. A proud activist, racist and sectarian, Hariri’s bitch anti 8th of March. Calls everybody else but himself sectarian especially when his arguments are as bad as his double standards and his attention seeking whorism.
* 1 gr = 0.00220462262 lb
B- Green_safety
Egoist idiot with no principles also brags about his atheism and how he’s no follower of any Lebanese party despite the fact that the stupidest of us can tell he supports the 8th of March. Seemingly, nobody knows what he wants or how he wants it, him and camion_gr are best friends, they share more than disrespect for others and zero logic, they pretend to know it all, always…
So as you can see ladies and gentlemen, this personality disorder in not only common among Lebanese activists but inflicts those top rated stars activists of our dear country.
Why? Why am I writing this… reaching this point of reading, you must have asked yourself this question…
Because sadly… many of the young Lebanese are getting dragged towards similar behaviors… towards this sickness, whether intentionally or unintentionally in an attempt to imitate these fake lifeless individuals for the underserved fame they obtained, instead of actually and truly acting up, interfering and doing something for and in the coummunity.
To conclude, a good active activist is not judged by likes on his FB status neither by number of followers on his twitter, the real activists are benevolent, anonymous, they work day and night in the shadows helping and aiding requesting nothing in return but the thrill of knowing they’re making the world a better place.
Love,
Ali
Before I Die project
Before I Die
It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and forget what really matters to you. With help from friends and neighbors, Candy turned the side of an abandoned house in her neighborhood in New Orleans into a giant chalkboard where residents can write on the wall and remember what is important to them. Before I Die is an interactive public art project that invites people to share their hopes and dreams in public space. Painted with chalkboard paint and stenciled with the sentence “Before I die I want to _______”, the wall became an enlightening way to get to know your neighbors and discover the hopes and aspirations of the people around you. It’s about improving our physical spaces and our personal well-being. It’s a question that changed Candy after she lost someone she loved very much, and she believes the design of our public spaces can better reflect what matters to us as a community and as individuals.
The responses have ranged from the funny and creative to the thoughtful and heartbreaking: Before I die I want to… sing for millions, see my daughter graduate, eat a salad with an alien, see the leaves change many times, be someone’s cavalry, straddle the International Date Line, cook a souffle, hold her one more time, make it in the hip hop, help numerous children, see what I’m like as an old man, tell my mother I love her, make peace with Ohio, abandon all insecurities, be completely myself, evaporate into the light… The project was featured in Oprah Magazine and NBC’s Rock Center with Brian Williams, and The Atlantic called it “one of the most creative community projects ever.”
After receiving many requests from people around the world, she and her Civic Center colleagues created a Before I Die Toolkit to help you create a wall with your community! Thanks to your passion, this wall is turning into a global participatory art project and expanding to cities around the world, including Amsterdam, Portsmouth, Querétaro, Almaty, San Diego, Lisbon, Brooklyn, and beyond – see other walls on the project site! You can also take a piece of the dream home with you with a limited edition painting and submit your dreams on the project site. We are currently developing a new website to provide more resources and help people showcase their walls around the world – stay tuned! The project is growing every day and together we can make public spaces that encourage us to reflect and, through our collective wisdom, help us lead better lives.
2011, 41′ x 8′, Chalkboard paint, stencils, spray paint. New Orleans, LA. Self-initiated with permission from the property owner, residents of the block, the neighborhood association’s blight committee, the Historic District Landmarks Commission, the Arts Council, and the City Planning Commission. Installation assistance: Kristina Kassem, Alan Williams, Cory Klemmer, Anamaria Vizcaino, James Reeves, Alex Vialou, Sean Knowlton, Carolina Caballero, Earl Carlson, and Gary Hustwit. Concurrently installed in East/West Galleries. With support from the Black Rock Arts Foundation.
After one day – completely filled out!
Once the wall is filled, we wash the board with water and start with a clean slate again. We are documenting all responses and some will be included in a book.
Update March 16, 2011 – This out-of-pocket project now has a pocket thanks to the Black Rock Arts Foundation!
Update July 6, 2011: Take a piece of the dream home with you with a limited edition painting! More here.
Update Sept 22, 2011: “Our thoughts are to the individual as our art is to the community” More here
Update Sept 22, 2011: Make a wall with your community with the Before I Die toolkit!
Thanks to your passion, this participatory public art project is currently expanding to cities around the world, including Amsterdam, Portsmouth, Querétaro, Almaty, San Diego, Lisbon, Brooklyn, and beyond – see other walls on the project site!
Selected press:
“They’re the stuff of everyday life from people of all walks of life… Young or old, rich or poor, the [Before I Die] wall does make you think as you walk by.” —NBC’s Rock Center with Brian Williams
“Before I Die is merely one of the most creative community projects ever.” —The Atlantic
“Through a series of large-scale projects that combine installation art with social activism, Chang has encouraged people to engage with public spaces to let their voices be heard.” —O, The Oprah Magazine
“Death can inspire life. Especially in New Orleans, on the corner of Marigny and Burgundy, where the Before I Dieproject has used the specter of urban decay and death to create art and inspire. Using a boarded up house as a canvas, artist Candy Chang transformed a haunting reminder of blight and divestment into a powerful affirmation of human life and imagination.” – Life and Times
“The notion of turning a neglected space into an active invitation to engage with your community and get to know your neighbors is a wonderful embodiment of enlightened urbanism. What’s more, it’s a reminder that not all meaningful social platforms are accessed through a screen — an inspired antidote to the Foursquarification of urban social quasi-interaction.” – Brain Pickings
You have permission to use above photos for publicity about the project. All photos by Civic Center. If you are a publication and would like a press kit with high-res photos, please contact us.
Finally
Before I Die
I’d like to see Free Palestine
