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Shweir Environment

January 2008

Red Cross and Scouts Volunteers Replant Pine Trees - Read Samar's Report & See Slide Show

 

 

September 2007 - Correction: 
Recently I summarized on the BB what I understood to be the process for getting the license for one of the industries in Ain el Hanoote stating in part that the Ministry of Industries took precedence over the power of the Municipality.  

I have been informed that my summary statements were incorrect  and that the Ministry of Industry sends their recommendations to the Municipality which would have the local knowledge about these issues and that the Municipality has the power the approve or reject an application or license.  All we can do is share information that we are provided to facilitate better communication and decisions.  It would be helpful for the knowledgeable officials to share and educate the public about relevant laws and the rules so that everyone abide by them uniformly.  

Following are a couple of documents that are relevant to this matter. 

 

We have been informed that the above documents contradicts our summary below. 
As we mentioned earlier, we welcome educational feedback and dialogue in order to facilitate finding best solution for our town and to avoid future similar or potential mistakes. 

Webmaster
Site Admin


Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Posts: 57

 
PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 2:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Often, many of us, and especially people from regions like the Mediterranean, tend to write in generalities with a bit of drama and at times tend to stretch facts to get people's attention about an important issue. Even though they may have an excellent cause, the over dramatization sometimes backfire and casts doubt about the real and key issues. This seems to be the case here.

Sadly, there is much credibility to Overpeace's concern about the environmental impact on our town and its future. These concerns are shared by residents and even some council members. I know that our new Mayor, Naeem Sawaya, seems to be making great efforts to address these issues.

Nabil and I had a good discussion w Dr. Ghosn. AS best as I can summarize, He explained that some of the licensing of these factories were obtained from the Ministry of Industry which in some ways override the Municipality.

When some citizens expressed concerns and protested to the Ministry that these factories appear to be in violation of their licenses, officials at the Ministry sent some questionable messages that further muddied the water about the meaning or interpretation of some vague wording in documents that is being now used to allow factories to exceed capacity. Also at stake appears to be personal liability exposure to those who dare to challenge such officials and even personal exposure to council members.

As you can surmize, the brief summary above, if I understood it correctly, further clouds the issues... which makes me appreciate the reasons forOverPeace's annonymity. It would be very difficult for anyone to express themselves openly in the town on such important issues without being ostracized. I hope OverPeace and other concerened persons will continue to post factual information without the overdramatization.

There are some discussions about moving the stone and cement plants to a more isolated area to preserve the beauty of Ain el Hanoot of an upper scale residential area and the Gateway or Entrance to Shweir.

I invite Municipality to comment on this issue, correct my summary where appropriate and keep us updated on this important issue that affects the towns future.

More discussion on this topic on Shweir.com BB  

 

June 2007

Petition about the plastic bag printing factory and sad Environmental Condition in Ain Hanout
Any one cares to translate to English?

http://www.shweir.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=166

On a positive note,
Happy Spring 2006

Photo by Samar

******************

From: Shweir Municipality [mailto:shwair@idm.net.lb]
Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 3:18 AM
To:     Anwar

Referring to our official statement sent to you on Friday , we promised to send you detailed documents that has been sent to messieurs Abou Saab , owners of the cement plant . there are 8 pages , please confirm receiving them , and we leave it up to your discrepency to translate them into English in case you find it necessary.  Sincerely yours,

Dr. Nabil Ghosn

President of Shweir - Ain Sindyani Municipality

 *************

Below are copies of official Municipality documents regarding the cement plant. 
 

 

************************

Resolutions #s 1 thru 5 are below, click on each to enlarge

 

We received a link about pictures posted on another site that is not associated with Shweir.com. 
The anonymous writer has the following comments below:

The pictures that you will see, however shocking and dismaying, reflect what was done to the environment in Shweir. Why? Because those pictures are taken in the winter time where trees have no leaves. If the same pictures were taken in the spring season, you will see the trees covered with a film of white powder and that sheet of powder covers vast area. Before we go far .Please observe:
1- How close the school (to the left) is to the factories.
2- See how beautiful ALKHONSHARAH looks from this side and how ugly EIN ALHANOOT has become as a consequence.
3- See one house under construction behind the batching plant.
4- Other six houses within a close range are not shown in the pictures.

http://www.shweir.zoomshare.com  
 

*********************************

Samar Kiame



Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 84
Location: Shweir

 
PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 7:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had the chance to talk with the owner of the new plant, and we discussed what was written on our BB about his plant, and I asked him what they are building here;
he said: "we manufacture plastic – plastic bags and also we print on them"
And he showed me some of the licenses of the plant…

The owner who seemed to be a very nice person, openly asked me to visit his plant in Beirut and make sure that everything is secure and that he already welcomed people from Shweir whom he claimed that were satisfied that there is no harm to the community…

Reflecting back one year ago when this subject came up and when we discussed it in our BB, we received official statement from the municipality assuring everyone that this plant was only for printing and not to manufacture plastics here:

Author Topic: Official Statement for Ain El Hanout Region
municipality
Member
Member # 136

posted 03-10-2006 03:04 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Anwar,
1- I received your email-dated march 8, and had a full attention to all its contents, while thanking you for your efforts and concerns about Shweir and Ain EL Hanout especially.
(…)

6- Going back to the printing on plastic bags plant. There is nothing of polluting affairs as it was mentioned by those who are raising this question.

This is situated in a light industrial zone in another area of Ain El Hanout. During the year 2002 a plastic bag printing press applied for a license, I formed a committee of two board councils composed of Engineer Habib Moujaes (Mechanical Engineer from the USA) and Engineer Imad Jerdak ( Water Engineer) to investigate the current plastic bag printing factory in Beirut and to be sure that it does not contaminate or pollute the area , the report was that its only a printing press and it has no pollution at all. That is why the Council Board Of The Municipality accepted their application and now it is in the process of being executed, they are going to employ around 150 employees of which the owner agreed to employ half of them at least from shweir. Keep in mind that this light industrial zone contains some old farms as well as an Aluminium Framing plant and all this region does not approach at all the Official Secondary School situated in ain El Hanout.


7- The municipal council is meeting this evening at 6 p.m. o' clock to discuss the cement industrial plant and I have prepared a full documentation for this case composed of eight pages to be distributed to the Municipality Council Members (15) so that you will be a connoisseur in this affair we will immediately scan them and email them to you so that you will be able to give copies to any person who is curious to know the details and satisfy the curiosity of others by asking you to translate them into english.

8-I do appreciate receiving any new inquisitions or concerns of any of the Shweirieh around the world to be put as tangible questions polite showing that a person Is seeking knowledge and not trying to accuse the municipality only with the purpose of criticizing.

9- Wishing you the best for Shweir.com to keep up with a high standard of respect to each other.

President of Shweir – Ain Sindyani Municipality
Dr. Nabil Ghosn


There seemed to be some contradiction and we would appreciate some clarification about such constructions

To read more and/or respond to the above, click here:  More discussion on this topic on Shweir.com BB  

The transformation
of a "Blooming Tree"
 
to a "Dead Tree"
 

Remembering beautiful spots in Ain el Hanout from 2004
       

Same location - March 2006:  Breaking new grounds in Ain el Hanout ...  
We received many communications expressing concerns about a large... what???

More pictures...

And the latest picture March 6, 2006

Some people think that this new construction is the future home
of a plastic factory, others think it is for a paint and thinner factory. 
Yet others claim that this is for a rich person who is building a big Villa. 

Please, before this gets out of hand and people rush to possibly wrong conclusions,
accusations and misjudgments, we urge you to instead, please give the courtesy and the
benefit of the doubt for the Municipality to educate us and provide official explanation.

We highly recommend for those who wish to communicate with us or on the BB to
PLEASE use good, positive, diplomatic and respectful approach.  We had to set aside or totally disregard some inappropriate language and accusatory communications.  We offer our apologies to those that we did not print their submitted messages the way they were written.  I do not mind if some people want to release their frustration in writing.
Please remember, it is always better to build bridges rather than burn them.  

Below I will share with you some of the more printable posts and an overview of the questions, requests, statements and the more realistic "wish list" that Shweir people want:

************************

March 2006  -  Waste water continue to overflow into open fields...
The smell is getting worse in that area. 
Any update about resolving  the wastewater blockage & treatment and the smell problem
due to sewer and discharges of byproducts from Khinshara that is affecting Ain el Hanout.
Also about Sahlat Laila in Dhour,

     


Waste Water, Solid Waste & Industrial Pollution in 2004 & 2005

Pollution scenes from the last couple of years...???  That is sad, a very sad sight.

Black discharge is from
byproducts of molasses
plant in Khinshara.
This attracts bugs and
causes bad smell. 
What can be done to
remedy problems caused by
discharge from another town?

        

We hope that the above pollution has been corrected.  However, allowing new industrial plants can magnify the problem.  

Below are some pictures about the waste water line overflowing about 200 meters before it reaches the holding tanks -  Note the force of the waste pushing past a large and heavy cement cover.  Correction could be as easy as releasing the possible blockage. 

Below are more from different time periods.  It is sad the effect. 
note that the saturation has killed trees and continued saturation can cause land slides and soil instability.

Note, this old tree
was standing

Because of waste
water saturation,
it died and fell.

We prefer to write nice and positive things about Shweir.  Unfortunately, when things like this are sent to us by caring people, we would become hypocrites and do Shweir a disservice if we do not acknowledge and face problems so that we can solve them.  How can any on us fix or correct something if we are in denial that a problem exists.  For those who do not want such information to come out in the open, it would be like putting their heads in the sand and pretend there is no problem.  The danger is that by doing so, the problems would escalate and the cost to fix them later would be far greater. 

Suffice it to say that several people said that they and/or their elders cried after seeing the sad state that the town is in now.

The success... or failure... of any community depends on the quality of its infra-structure or basic needs public works... such as:  Master Plan, Zoning, Water, Waste Water, Power (electric, fuel, generators), Roads, Schools, Environment, Health, Freedom, Job opportunities, Recreational Facilities, Art, Culture, Security, etc.

Before anyone rushes to judgment and be quick to point fingers, please be mindful that these problems did not happen overnight.  These bear the scars of a civil war, lack of a funds, lack of awareness, division among our people or lack of unity, lack of or twisted rules, hidden rules or lack of disclosure, poor or lack of judgment, outmoded customs and rules that have been more damaging than helpful, etc.  History have showed us that rushing to judgment and pointing fingers usually lead to conflict. 

Granted that many of you are going to say:  but all towns suffered during the war and had similar bad rules, yet they are thriving now.  So why is Shweir is falling further behind???   Perhaps we need a fresh approach. 

Many of you are aware of the story in the bible where a group of people were about to stone a woman for her sins.  Christ told them:   "Whoever is without a sin to cast the first stone".  No one threw that first stone.

What if we take that lesson, as simple as it is, and apply it in a positive way to help solve our problems? 
Some of you may wonder:  "Are you crazy?  It is not that simple".  

Well, if a fresh approach can lead to better results, are you willing to try it? 

Are you brave enough to take that finger that you are about to point at someone else and point it at...
...   yes,  - - - - point it at... ourselves?  That means, I, me, us, we...  NOT you, you, you accusations. 

Right there, this can help diffuse potential conflict and transform it to cooperation. 

Yes, what if WE ask ourselves questions like:  How can we succeed when...:

*  Polluting plants are allowed to open and operate in or around Shweir. 
*  More questionable projects that could harm Shweir are being allowed to be built. 
*  Many of our Springs that made Shweir famous decades ago are now polluted and non drinkable. 
*  Residents now pay to have water delivered to them by tanker truck every couple of weeks for their every day needs. 
*  Waste water system that was recently built is not working and waste water is backing and overflowing onto adjacent land before it reaches the holding tanks.

So why WE remained so silent for so long? 
Why WE avoid identifying and discussing major problems?
Do WE want to continue in the same old broken down system or do WE want to get a fresh and dynamic start?
What can WE do as a community to not only correct problems AND also look for a brighter future?

Once WE begin to understand these basic yet critical issues, WE realize that with good and respectful communication we can achieve a brighter future for this community.

Following is a sample of comments, questions and communications we received of what Shweiries would like leadership and Municipality to PLEASE DO:

1.  Make available to the public all rules and guidelines so that the public can abide by them.  
2.  Provide full report disclosure to the public surrounding each of the controversies listed above - provide specifics.
3.  What effort has been made to clear the sewer blockage and to fix the waste water system?  When will it be fixed?
4.  Are the existing industrial plants in compliance now?  If not, what needs to be done so they will be in compliance?
5.  How are the industrial plants monitored and by whom?  Who keeps the data?  Is data available for inspection?
6.  Describe the anatomy or requirements of obtaining permits especially for major industrial operation.
7.  Are there studies made about the impact of industrial pollution to the health and wellbeing of residents?
8.  Are there studies made about the impact of industrial pollution on wildlife, plant life and infrastructure? 
9.  What happens when or if any industrial operation is in violation of their license? 
10.  Does Municipality welcome and encourage independent consultants to review questionable data?
11.  Is there a short and long term (2-5 years and 10-15-20 years Master Plan in effect?  If not, does Municipality intend to create one?  If so, what is the time table for first draft?  Do you need expert help or even books?

Above all, they/WE urge the Municipality to make these controversies major priority and take bold measures fix them.
Many Shweiries including architects, land planners and engineers are prepared to volunteer their time even during their vacation to help the Municipality on these challenging issues.  Let US take the opportunity and utilize these resources offered for the greater good.

**************************

A copy of communications about important Shweir issues:

 -----Original Message-----
From: Anwar Kenicer [mailto:Anwar2 at shweir. com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 6:05 AM
To: Municipality; Baladieh
Subject: FW: FW: Important message about Shweir future 

Dear Dr. Ghosn,

 As the webmaster for Shweir.com, I have received many communications about the Ain el Hanout pollution, industrial buildings and problems.  I ignored some because they were accusatory and invited conflict.  By now, perhaps you may have seen the email discussing same topic.  If not, a copy is below.

This one is presentable and they are appealing to the Municipality in a respectful way for important information about correcting the problems there and to ameliorate situation before another industrial plant is built without much notice.  At least that is what is being stated. 

We do not know much of the facts.  We welcome your responding to the specific details and questions and to sharing relevant information so that the leadership and the people would be more united especially in these trying times for Shweir and its people. 

 The reason that I am taking time to write this is because I have received lots of complaints about these issues.  I do not know what else to do but share at least the civil or presentable data with you. I will spare you the others. I wrote a toned down version on the web.  People were getting upset with me because I chose not to publish whatever they sent.  I wanted to avoid or at least minimize potential problems.   

 Considering the foregoing, do you think it would be prudent for the Municipality to give order to stop or at least delay the construction of the new industrial plant, (unless it is a villa), before they pour cement foundations and scar the landscape.  If such delay gives the people of Shweir and especially residents living nearby the courtesy to respond to their concerns, give proper and adequate notice, provide the requested information and hear their comments and feedback.  Perhaps the information, specification, procedures and studies that the Municipality has already done about the new construction would put people's minds at ease, once they become aware of facts.  And if that is the case, the construction can continue and everyone will be happy, hopefully. 

 I have copied some people on the spur of the moment whom I believe can be helpful in their divergent expertise.  I welcome Dr. Ghosn's and your comments on these important issues.  I do not want to overstep my boundaries and wish to avoid a potential conflict if proper disclosure is not observed.

Many of us are prepared to help or know others who can volunteer at no cost in order to help in the evaluation, studies, data and monitoring of the industrial factories and hopefully come up with a short and long term master plan to help solve these problems and make Shweir flourish.

Working together, we can take big challenges and transform them into successes. 

 I need and respect your opinions.  What do you all think? 

 Best regards,

Anwar

 Below is copy of one communication:   

 *************************************

 To everyone who cares about better future for Shweir,

 Please look on information on www.shweir.com  click on Ain hanooot picture and look on environment web page.

 We talked with expert.   He said that pollution can make people that are near the factories ill and if they use bad material like asbestos.  It will cause cancer.  Maybe not now but in future.  Like the people who lived near the Chekka factory, now many have cancer. 

 There is Shweir school 200 meters from cement factory.  The students, teachers and neighbors feel sick from the bad pollution and bad air.  Who wants to poison the students with bad air.  But the factory is getting bigger.

 Also another big factory for paint or plastic starting to destroy beautiful land.  There was no notice about this new factory.  No one know what kind of pollution the new factory will make.

Also there is more pollute from stone cutting and bad sewer pipes.  Also from molasses factory in Khinshara. 

 We beg the Municipality to stop or delay new factory before they put cement foundation and make bigger distructions in areas that Dr. Ghosn said was zoned for villas.  Do anybody know what kind of pollution the new factory will make?  We also beg Municipality give explanation about this new factory getting licese without notice to people and to answer the questions that were asked on BB and on the environment web page. 

We pray that the Municipality has done all the proper studies and will provide all information that protects to calm people. Until that happens, they and we need to do the rights thing. 

Who want to close their eyes and take a chance that the heavy pollution in Ain el Hanout can poison the students and give them cancer?

Time is critical.  Municipality need to order planned factory to stop work before they put cement foundation and make big scars in grounds.

To contact the Municipality, send to these two emails: ; or Shwair at idm.net.lb If you want to send a copy to Shweir.com, send to these two emails: anwar2 at shweir.com or read or post on Bullittin Baord:

 We beg all who care and love Shweir to please read the information and forward this email to all people who care about Shweir and its future. 

Please Write in your own words and Forward to those who care aobut  Shweir.

 Thank you.  

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Habib Moujaes [mailto:hmoujaes at destination. com.lb]
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 11:46 PM
To: 'Anwar2'; 'Municipality'; 'Baladieh'

Dear Anwar

Thank you for your concern and effort in maintaining this forum in a civilized form.

I want to address the New "Paint and Plastic" Factory issue.

3 Years Ago we (The Previous Municipality Board) studied and approved a small light industrial Zone in the area of Ain Al Hanout, where the old farms and a couple of existing factories (Aluminium framing and Munitions), This zone did not extend to the school area nor to the contested Central Cement Mixer station. And a second one at the outskirts of Ain Sindiany.

A Plastic Bag Manufacturer (Including Plastic Bag Printing Presses) applied for a License to move his factory from Beirut to Shweir (Thus bringing with it 40 to 50 job opportunities to our town).  Dr. Ghosen (Previous and current Mayor) Formed a committee (Myself and Imad Jerdak Board Counsels at the time) to investigate the current operation of the Plastic Bag and printing 

We visited their premises and spent few hours with the owner checking the operation to insure that no polluting elements existed in his operation.  We then reported our findings to the City counsel and Mayor and the counsel voted to approved the permit.

 I am no longer a member of the counsel so I cannot add anything more other than I was a supporter of having light industry move to our area (Regulated and under constant surveillance by the municipality).

 Habib Khalil Moujaes

 

-----Original Message-----
From: A G Kenicer [mailto:Kenicer at comcast. net]
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 2:04 AM
To: 'Habib Moujaes'; 'Anwar2'; Municipality
Subject: RE: FW: Important message about Shweir future

Thank you Habib very much for your informative explanation. 

 Apparently, when people are not informed about something, they/we assume the worst. That is not only a Shweiry trait.  It is an international human nature.   Like many others, I admit that I have fallen in the same trap in the past and sometimes for good reason.

If or when announcements are made about an issue, it neutralizes the situation.  Not knowing or without that knowledge, we have a healthy and amazing imagination.  : ) 

So, it is always a good idea to have some basic information about important issues readily available before creative imaginations run wild. 

 There is a big difference between paint manufacturing and printing.  Making Paint is usually toxic and a cause for concern. Printing is far less toxic except when they clean ink with other chemicals that are possibly toxic. I am not familiar of the extent of pollution with regards to manufacturing plastic bags, smell and resulting discards on the environment.

 I trust that there would be strict guidelines to their license about how and where they discard their byproducts.  Like they should not overload the trash area with their stuff or dump printing or cleaning fluids nearby.  It sounds much better already especially where there will be strict monitoring of any potentially polluting entity. 

Hope we can have similar successes with the other issues mentioned. 

 Again it would be very helpful to give status reports on the waste water system, water supply, cement, stone cutting, cleaning up the river, molasses pollution from Khinshara plus new and creative concepts that are being worked on that the public would enjoy and welcome knowing about.  

 I will be happy to post these reports on the web and it would be easier for Municipality staff so that they do not have to respond about the same questions to so many people and will have more time to do creative and dynamic things. 

It helps for people to know the terms and restrictions of each of the major permits are.  Also it would be helpful to print a copy of the zoning map.  The more information we can provide or publish, the smoother the operation would be.

 I understand that Dr. Ghosn and the council will meet soon to discuss the issues raised and give their official response.

 Thanks again for your prompt and informative explanation about the new factory.

Best regards,

 Anwar

 

From: Samar kiame [mailto:kiamesamar at hotmail. com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 5:29 AM

Dear all,

I would like to say thank you to Anwar for his concern about this issue for the best of the town.

And thank you to Habib Moujaes for presenting clarifications on this real project, we appreciate that.

As a neighbor of this new future industry, I would like to present the concerns of my family and the people who are close to it and ask for your assurance;

We have a long experience with the Lebanese government in leaving industries irresponsible for their contamination of environment and human health,

To all of you addressing this problem none of you are living here, it is me and my parents and uncles and cousins who will be a victim of any accident or negligence of any residue may be through from this industry.

People have the right to a scientific independent study of the impact of this industry. I would like the municipality to assure if this industry emits gazes that laws enforce the use of antipollution systems like filters.

The municipality should assure a law that makes the industry responsible of cleaning and compensating the area if a problem accurse.

Many questions have been raised because of the fact that this project has been kept secret until the work started.

I would have confidence if this industry was built by a person like Habib Moujaes because we know that he truly has concerns for the wellbeing of the community, but I wish to know who will be the owner of the new industry.

Why would this industry want to move, removing 40 to 50 jobs from Beirut to Shweir and spread the cost of relocating?

I am with you that this may give chances to people to work, We all know that machines replace humans these days, will these 40 or 50 jobs promised, be all year round? Or do these numbers include the construction of the industry?

Will the people of Shweir be the ones who work for this industry? Or will the people chosen, work for lower salaries?

Will traffic increases with this industry?

Why did they choose to build on a land that was all natural and good for culture when in the same area other locations of abandoned old farms (now zoned for industry) could have been reused sparing this field? Was it possible to leave the landscape nice to the eye?

Shweir as all of you know is attractive for its beautiful environment. I hear complains from people about the transformation of this part of Shweir, where they like the pleasure of walking morning and evening and breathing the nice fresh air and enjoying the calmness of this area.

Should we take in consideration first of all the environment in the choices that we make for developing other kind of investment?  Sincerely,

Samar

From: Matar, Nabil [mailto:Nabil.Matar at valero. com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 7:01 AM
Subject: RE: FW: Important message about Shweir future

I liked what Anwar, Habeeb and of course Samar's comments on this issue. I am not against bringing small industries that provide jobs to our town. I live and work in an area  that is surrounded by petrochemical plants so I am used to the pluses and the minuses. My concern is not the plant it self but how the wastes will be handled.  For example I know that plants like that required lots of cooling water which could get contaminated, I also know that plants like that produces wastes that need to be disposed safely and what about the smell. We brag about the pine trees smell in our town. Are we going to replace that with paper mils smell in the future? I hope that our officials will do the right thing to keep our town clean and beautiful 


From: Matar, George E (S & B) [mailto:George.Matar at bp. com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 9:00 AM
Subject: RE: FW: Important message about Shweir future

Lets have the plans and process diagrams for this facility, I’ll be willing to audit it and maybe come out with at least some recommendation on environment issue

George


From: Jamil Bou-Saab, P.E. [mailto:jbousaab at terraengineering. com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 9:16 AM

I will be more than happy to help George on this issue.  I second Nabil and Samar concerns.  I could have my staff evaluate all the environmental issues and comments on the findings if we could obtain the plans of the plant process.

We should all be concern.  Jobs are important to our community but clean environment is more important.

Ready to help.

Jamil Bou-Saab, P.E. VP
TERRA ENGINEERING, LTD.

Chicago, IL 60610     Peoria, IL 61606

*************************

From: Samih Baaklini [mailto:sabaaklini at sbcglobal. net]
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 8:44 AM
Subject: RE: FW: Important message about Shweir future

Jamil,  Good to hear from you and I am glad we are taking this issue seriously. we can not have our kids breath asbestos while they are sitting in their classrooms. Cancer rates are the highest in SHEKA because of the asbestos plant they have there and we do not want this in Shweir.  Another issue we should tackle is to declassify AIN-HANOUT from an industrial zone to a recreational, educational or parks zone we can figure out a way of attracting businesses to Dhour while maintaining a clean environment.  

Anwar thank you for addressing this issue.  Nabil we all share your dreams.

Samih


From: Matar, Nabil [
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 8:11 AM

Jamil, Nice to here from you and Habib . I know and I am full  confidence that Shweir have many people who have the talent and experience to tackle such issues. I wish for our officials to have the wisdom to utilize these individuals. 

I am not trying to be selfish here, but as a mechanical engineer who deals with machinery I spent half my life in petrochemical plants, I saw the good the bad and the ugly. 

 on June I decided to give up this type of work and retire.  My future plan is to spend six month of a year in god's country which we call Dhour Shweir. All these years I have been dreaming for that  moment where every day I will have the chance to walk all over these magnificent hills and smell the aroma of our Snouber.  So I plead our officials to take the necessary steps to assure  the residents, the mughtaribeen and I that Dhour Shweir will always be  the place for people who seeks clean environment.

Finally please don't deprive me and others from that dream and I second what Jamil said  "Jobs are important to our community but clean environment is more important".


From: Anwar
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 12:46 PM

This is such a healthy and positive dialogue. 

We had the opportunity to get valuable and varied perspectives.

Habib, your overview and background about the new factory was very helpful.

Samar, as a resident who is directly affected by the existing and potential problems, your input is important.  You stated facts and summarized the concerns of your neighbors, and possibly the majority of the town, in a mature, respectful and progressive manner.  

Thanks to all for your positive responses and valuable comments.  Also thanks for volunteering your expert knowledge to help, that is a fantastic positive sign in the right direction.

We sincerely hope, better yet, trust that the Shweir leadership will welcome and encourage this momentum.  

Unless any of you have an objection, I feel that this dialogue is worthy to be shared by all of those who care about Shweir and would be available for them on the web.  We do not want to leave anyone out. 

This is a good example of how good communication is transforming what could be a potential conflict about the new factory to cooperative and positive dialogue. 

Yes, we still have challenges to resolve the sewer lines and its treatment, and the other pollution issue.

We look forward to the day that when these are resolved, we can work on more rewarding things like enhancing the natural beauty, building lakes and reservoirs with reclaimed water and planting flowers and reviving the old souk.

I respect your privacy and emails, as such, I will delete emails and present only basic content.

Anwar

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Author Topic: Official Statement for Ain El Hanout Region
municipality
Member
Member # 136

 
posted 03-10-2006 03:04 AM      Profile for municipality        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Dear Anwar,
1- I received your email-dated march 8, and had a full attention to all its contents, while thanking you for your efforts and concerns about Shweir and Ain EL Hanout especially. I would like to give an official statement like I usually do in such cases because we do not enter into un-useful discussions that sometimes appear on the website or accusations of people who do not know facts about things and do not take the effort to contact Shweir- Ain El Sindyani Municipality on any specific topic they would like to discuss or acquire knowledge.

2- In this case and especially about Ain El Hanout Region, I would like to refer everybody to the 2 official statements that we sent you before
A- posted on the BB on 6/2/2006
B- posted on the BB on 24/1/2006

3-Going Back to some of the questions you picked up, specifically about the Cement Industrial Plant, this plant has been licensed by the MOHAFEZ of Mount Lebanon in 1983 where it was at that time the responsibility of the MOHAFEZ to issue the industrial licenses for different kinds of industries. He has a health committee that studies applications, and those who fill the requirements would be licensed. Concerning the license that was granted to Mr Asad Abou Saab, it is a permanent license.
The addition to the existing plant of Mr. Abou Saab , I took a decision to stop working in it until they bring an official certificate from the ministry of industry who are now the ministry responsible for industrial plants stating very clearly that the addition they are making at the moment is a part of the plant they have been licensed long ago. Otherwise they will have to stop with the addition and remove what they have done.
They have been given a time of grace until they can bring the official certificate required by the municipality.

4- A certain part of the area of ain EL Hanout in the zoning of Shweir had been designated for villas. Let everybody be at ease that this same sector will never have neither now nor in the future anymore industrial plants or anything that could spoil the area which is designated for only villas.

5-Concerning the open-air garage for instruments owned by Mr Salim Katoul we are negotiating with them to remove it to another place the same thing goes for Mr. Rabih Abou Samra where he is keeping his stocks of sand and stones. This will be completed and liberated in a coming short time.

6- Going back to the printing on plastic bags plant. There is nothing of polluting affairs as it was mentioned by those who are raising this question.

This is situated in a light industrial zone in another area of Ain El Hanout. During the year 2002 a plastic bag printing press applied for a license, I formed a committee of two board councils composed of Engineer Habib Moujaes (Mechanical Engineer from the USA) and Engineer Imad Jerdak ( Water Engineer) to investigate the current plastic bag printing factory in Beirut and to be sure that it does not contaminate or pollute the area , the report was that its only a printing press and it has no pollution at all. That is why the Council Board Of The Municipality accepted their application and now it is in the process of being executed, they are going to employ around 150 employees of which the owner agreed to employ half of them at least from shweir. Keep in mind that this light industrial zone contains some old farms as well as an Aluminium Framing plant and all this region does not approach at all the Official Secondary School situated in ain El Hanout.

7- The municipal council is meeting this evening at 6 p.m. o' clock to discuss the cement industrial plant and I have prepared a full documentation for this case composed of eight pages to be distributed to the Municipality Council Members (15) so that you will be a connoisseur in this affair we will immediately scan them and email them to you so that you will be able to give copies to any person who is curious to know the details and satisfy the curiosity of others by asking you to translate them into english.

8-I do appreciate receiving any new inquisitions or concerns of any of the Shweirieh around the world to be put as tangible questions polite showing that a person Is seeking knowledge and not trying to accuse the municipality only with the purpose of criticizing.

9- Wishing you the best for Shweir.com to keep up with a high standard of respect to each other.

President of Shweir – Ain Sindyani Municipality
Dr. Nabil Ghosn

[ 03-10-2006, 03:10 AM: Message edited by: municipality ]

Posts: 36 | From: shweir | Registered: Aug 2002  |  IP: Logged
Shweir
Administrator
Member # 3

 
posted 03-10-2006 04:54 AM      Profile for Shweir   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Thank you Dr. Ghosn for your response and providing important details about these issues.

Looking at the bright side, it is heartwarming to see a sample of professional engineers and architects prepared to volunteer their time, even during their vacation to help. I think Shweir is blessed with more engineers per capita than anywhere else on this planet.

It looks like quite a bit of progress has been or is now in motion. That is very encouraging.

As I mentioned before, I am only the messenger. In a way, I filter as much communication going thru this website to make the language and concerns presentable in an informative and positive manner rather than accusatory fashion in order to minimize potential conflict. I know very little, possibly less than 10%, of the details or specifics of these issues. I merely relay some of the most relevant questions, statements and concerns I receive. I do my very best to remove the personal and emotional drama and focus on relevant facts.

It is very healthy for the community to want to take an active role in understanding rules, regulations and guidelines so that they can follow up and abide by them. If no one provide the rules to them, there would be plenty of frustration, confusion, suspicion and accusations. We look up to the leadership and Municipality to set a model role in promoting such progressive interaction.

In the case of the issues and questions raised in previous posts, it would be helpful for the public to be provided with the necessary notices and specifications about these establishments so that they will have the opportunity to comment or at least understand that the Municipality is doing the necessary studies and evaluations and put the residents minds at ease.

I am sure everyone would be relieved to learn, as you, Dr. Ghosn, stated about the "plastic bag printing factory": "...and to be sure that it does not contaminate or pollute the area , the report was that its only a printing press and it has no pollution at all".

To put residents minds at ease, can copies of the application and the evaluations be available for those concerned to see them and possibly get a copy?

When would someone give us further update about the remaining questions raised about issues including waste water, river pollution from the molasses factory from Khinshara and the questions about licenses, procedures to get permit, monitoring and what happens when someone violates their license guidelines?

New questions just came in:
1. If an industry causes excessive pollution, what regulatory agency can make them clean up the mess they make? Would they be in violation of their license? And who enforces the violation?
2. If students and or neighbors of polluting plants get sick because of the pollution, would the causing entity pay for their medical bills?
3. When roads go bad because of the heavy loads to and from the industrial plants, should these causing plants pay to repair the road damage?

Thanks for your offer to scan relevant data and forward it to us to post. We would be happy to be part of this important effort to save public documents and make them readily accessible. Considering the tragic loss of so many important documents that were lost during the war, this is a way to preserve such important records while making them easily accessible.

In summary, we are very much in support of business successes. That is why we have a program to promote every business in town including the conforming existing plants as long as it is not at the expense of harming the environment and its people.

Many thanks for every effort to educate and keep the public informed and safe.

Sincerely,

Anwar

[ 03-10-2006, 02:20 PM: Message edited by: Shweir ]

Posts: 3 | From: Shweir, Lebanon | Registered: Sep 2000  |  IP: Logged

 

Author Topic: Is it a villa or is it a plant?
Habeeb M. Nacol
Member
Member # 15

 
posted 03-08-2006 07:31 AM      Profile for Habeeb M. Nacol     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I really should not get involved in issues that in no way impact me--me who is living thousands of miles away from 3ain el Hannoot. But the place holds for me some of the dearest memories. Forty somewhat years ago we spent many good days exploring the once pristine place, frolicking near nahr abu dawood and visiting the beautiful deir mar Youhanna. I wonder if kids enjoy this place as much as we used to. I guess that alone should give me a tiny right to speak about the issue that has been on the minds of everyone who visited this web page lately.

Apparently the answer to the above question is that it is a plant and not a villa. A job producing plant and this is excellent. God knows we need more of that in our stagnant little town. Also, from all indications is that this printing plant will be a good neighbor and will not be an eye sore or a pollutant. I sincerely pray and hope that this will be the case after everything is said and done and that there will be no unpleasant surprises when it is too late to do anything about them.

But the thing that I am writing about this morning is not so much about this project as about the process. Why should anyone be asking the question posed on the cover of our webpage in this late hour. It is sad to read the concerns of some of the citizenry who live next door who had so little input or even knowledge about what is going on.

I might ruffle some feathers here, but in today's age of information there is no excuse for either lack of transparency or for lack of keeping the citizenry informed step by step as projects like this one are being considered. A well publicized presentation in a general public hearing (a town meeting) would have been very proper. One would be surprised how much could be learned from such meetings. It should have been held BEFORE any decisions where made to inform the people and to air any concerns that they may have had. This question should never have been asked in the first place if proper democratic protocols such as having a town meeting were in place.

I, for one, would love to see our town be a shining star-- a beacon for democracy in Lebanon where the people are the true and only power. God knows that the rudder of the ship of state in our beloved country is broken and is in dire need of repair. Cleaning up our act might just be the first tiny step in that direction.

[ 03-08-2006, 07:39 AM: Message edited by: Habeeb M. Nacol ]

Posts: 994 | From: Beaumont, Texas, U.S.A. | Registered: Feb 2001  |  IP: Logged

 *************************************

 

The following is a sample communication about Ain el Hanoot from the Bulletin Board, BB, to read more or post
Click here:  http://www.shweir.com/cgi-bin/bboard/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001731#000028

Author Topic: EIN ALHANOOT misery
wledelday3a
Member
Member # 346

 
posted 01-14-2006 03:31 AM      Profile for wledelday3a   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
To All SHWEIRIEH all ower the world.

We wish to advice you that a new concrete batching plant with two cement silos has been installed with no licence of course that would add to the mess and misery of the old beautiful EIN ALHANOOT area. All that took place with the blessing of the BALADIYYEH. We call upon all voices to denounce this barbaric act and the silence that covers it, and if we send you a picture of how AIN ALHANOOT looks like now, you will not believe this could happen in Shweir - But it did happen. The building law in Lebanon for similar industrial type of plants requires zones classified for heavy industry like in Naher El-Mott or Zouk Mosbeh industrial areas and requires a procedure of approvals from several ministies and the approval of the local Municipality. All this has not been applied in our beautiful and unfortunate village.
Shweir for Polutant Free SHWEIR,

Posts: 1 | From: shweir | Registered: Jan 2006  |  IP: Logged
Habeeb M. Nacol
Member
Member # 15

 
posted 01-14-2006 07:15 AM      Profile for Habeeb M. Nacol     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
This is a very serious problem that our once beautiful city has been facing for many years--lack of propper planning and zoning. For us that visit occasionally the damage is so apparent. I for one was shocked by some of the monstorous structures that have been built, an by the ecological damage that has ravaged the city during the past four decades or so.

Those who are in power must have a clearer and better vision of the future. They must excercise diligence and care to insure the long term welfare of the city because once the damage is done it is very difficult to turn back. Shweir does not need to be like the "bsaine yalle 3am tilka7 el mabrad." Instant gratification is not what this is all about-- We are smarter than that__I hope.

There is a slogan that is used very often to promote Texas ecological welfare of our state here. It says "DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS!" So please don't mess with our beautiful Shweir!

Posts: 991 | From: Beaumont, Texas, U.S.A. | Registered: Feb 2001  |  IP: Logged
George Matar
Administrator
Member # 4

 
posted 01-16-2006 07:06 AM      Profile for George Matar     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Ya Ibn al Day3a, it sounds to me that this concrete batching plant and Silos popped out of the ground, never heard about them before how come no one mentioned anything?

Are these the plants that generate dust and spread it all over creation? similar to Shikka?
It is probably too late to do something about it, so who owns this plant and who operates it? Are the workers from Shweir? Is it bringing revenues to the Shweir? These are the question we need to ask..... and SADLY, after the fact

Posts: 2053 | From: Houston, Texas USA | Registered: Sep 2000  |  IP: Logged
gilbert
Member
Member # 214

 
posted 01-20-2006 08:11 AM      Profile for gilbert     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Hi everyone , i didn't post since a long time ,
i hope that all the shweirieh all over the world are fine and in a good health , best regards for all
i'm posting on this topic because i can't read or hear about injustice, well i need to ask the shweirieh in shweir to put this issue in public if it is right that they build the structure without any lisence and with the approvel of the baladieh i think every lebanese broadcast or news paper will be intrested in the storie , when the story will be in public the baladieh will have to give some answers and if their is any corruption behind the scene the baladieh or the person who allowed to ruin ain al hanoot should be dismissed imidietly
I know that we have it in the caracter as lebanese to let go because it's not our land it's not our buisness but if we keep it this way SILENCE not only ain al hanout will be an awfull view to look at but all the country
I hope someone will give some answers otherwise i will writte bymyself to some of the news papers and see if their intrested in the story

Gilbert

Posts: 64 | From: Rome | Registered: Mar 2004  |  IP: Logged
Habeeb M. Nacol
Member
Member # 15

 
posted 01-20-2006 08:21 AM      Profile for Habeeb M. Nacol     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Gilbert you are so right. Important issue like this should be aired because it affects everyone that lives and cares for Shweir. It would be a good jesture by the baladieh to hold a public hearing so that grievances and input could come forth. This is what democracy is all about. I recall recently hearing Metropolitan Audi of Beirut saying "ni7na mannash wlad zghar" we know what is best for us--How about it baladieh?
Posts: 991 | From: Beaumont, Texas, U.S.A. | Registered: Feb 2001  |  IP: Logged
municipality
Member
Member # 136

 
posted 01-24-2006 02:58 AM      Profile for municipality        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Official statement:
Ain El Hanout Topic

While reading your comments on the Bulletin Board of shweir.com, I was really astonished how this topic is being dealt with individuals which appears to me do not know anything about Ain El Hanout or they didn't visit Shweir for more than 25 years ago. So we will take the liberty of explaining the whole Ain El Hanout issue very clearly and wish at the same time to ask all Shweirieh all over the world when they find themselves wanting verification about any subject that they are concerned about to address directly to Shweir municipality and they will get immediately official answers to all their worries or concerns about their town.
Entering into the Subject, This answer is to those that have risen the question of Ain El Hanout on your Bulletin board during the month of January 2006.
1- Before accusing your Baladieh Council Members that are elected by the people and by a complete majority, we don't point fingers of accusation to a council that represents the town without having on hand valuable information.
2- 1) When we talk about Ain EL Hanout we talk about two factories, one owned by Mr. Simon Baaklini, specialized in cutting stones from rocks and the other factory owned by Mr. Assad Abou Saab specialized in all what is concrete. Both of these factories are licensed with a permanent license by the Lebanese Ministry of Industry in a very legal way since at least 20 to 25 years ago.
2- 2) There are other small institutions, a warehouse in the
open air for heavy and light machinery owned by Mr. Salim Katul member of the Shweir Baladieh Council and the second one is for storing Quantities of sand owned by Mr. Rabih Abou Samra.

3) The Municipality Council has been working on this special issue since so many years dealing with the owners of these institutions to ameliorate their situation into a better one and clearing the main road around them; planting trees, stopping any pollution that could be caused. In this field the council was successful in ameliorating the situation to a better one. The Council is still working very efficiently on this subject and the last meeting was held especially for dealing with this issue in an exceptional meeting on Friday 20th, instant.
4- 1) The alternatives that you may be thinking of , closing down these factories would result in a financial compensation that the municipality would have to pay amounting at least 2 to 3 million American Dollars. This is impossible to consider in the present financial capacity of the municipality.
4- 2) we have to take into consideration that the financial income of the municipality is at its lowest standard because if you may know or not, please note that we have no more hotels while Dhour Shweir before the war had 14 hotels; Now we have only the Hotel Central that has a capacity of 30 beds and the New Dhour Shweir Hotel Owned by Hanna and Remond Abed el Ahad in the center of the town that so far is loosing lots of money instead of making profits.

4- 3) In surplus to the above something that we don't announce in public because it is contradictory to the public interest, we have 600 apartments that are not fit for living, i.e. they need repairs to be able to bring them back to their good shape in order to be used.
5- At the moment I feel that I have given enough explanation about Ain El Hanout problem that was the concern of several Shweirieh on the Shweir.com bulletin.
We are ready to answer any Question that may come to your minds concerning tangible issues.
Wishing that you will all visit Dhour el Shweir so that you will see in person the achievements that were made by the municipal council during the last few years, so that the municipality would receive you as VIP's in the municipality palace that has been offered to the municipality by the top emigrant Shweire Family in Brazil Mr. Jafeth.

President of Shweir and Ain el sindyani Municipality
Dr.Nabil Ghosn

[ 01-24-2006, 03:01 AM: Message edited by: municipality ]

Posts: 34 | From: shweir | Registered: Aug 2002  |  IP: Logged
Habeeb M. Nacol
Member
Member # 15

 
posted 01-24-2006 07:16 AM      Profile for Habeeb M. Nacol     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Dear Dr. Ghosn, You do not know how much I personally appreciated your answer. Your devotion to our city is unparalleled.

But so that I may not have been understood, what had happened in the past is difficult if not next to impossible to change, but my personal concern was for the future. I personally hate to see the town being built without any regard to the environment, aesthetics and most importantly public health. This goes for all the town and not just 3ain el 7anoot. May be the tough times dictated what had happened in the past, but now I am very opitmistic that under your leadership the future growth will be according to a well thought of laid out plan.

[ 01-24-2006, 07:17 AM: Message edited by: Habeeb M. Nacol ]

Posts: 993 | From: Beaumont, Texas, U.S.A. | Registered: Feb 2001  |  IP: Logged
Abu Jihad
Member
Member # 90

 
posted 01-24-2006 02:39 PM      Profile for Abu Jihad     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Where is the location of Ain el Hanout?
Posts: 1226 | From: Wash. DC area | Registered: Dec 2001  |  IP: Logged
Frankie Goodson
Member
Member # 111

 
posted 01-24-2006 04:09 PM      Profile for Frankie Goodson     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
My comment is how Mr. Salim Katul being a member of the Shweir Baladieh Council, which is elected by the people by a complete majority as you stated, can profit from this business! Is that not a conflict of interest? I feel that should not be allowed. In fact it would be illegal in the United States. Therefore, I do not understand why you have responded so indignantly.

Frankie Goodson