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Shweir's Future:  Industrial V. Environmental? 

Read official response from Mayor on Nov 4, 2008 and
Shweir.com open letter & proposal to create an advisory committee for New Master Plan

Shweir.com has received many inquiries about plan to Expand Industrial & Commercial Zone to 300% Shweir Size
between Shweir & Ain Sindyaneh in Nahr Bou Dawoude Valley from Al Sadd Restaurant to Mar Yohanna Monastery.
Important Questions by concerned Shweirys include:  Has Shweir benefited or been harmed by the existence of current Industries? 
IF Shweir's very weak to non existent infrastructure is beyond current capacity, how can it handle Huge Industrial Expansion?
Any studies about:  Roads?  Water & Wastewater?  Pollution?  Impact on Environment, Health & Economy, Tourism? Funding?
How can people learn more about these important issues?  What are the risks and rewards?  Who Benefits?  Who Loses?
What is best for Shweir?  Owners, Residents & those who love Shweir need facts to make informed decisions

In April, 2008, we posted link re: New Master Plan and asked for public comment to support Baladieh's efforts.
Proposed Study leading to New Master Plan - Municipality invites public Comment
Please visit that link and share your comments.  We invite Baladieh to share an update of their efforts.

Editorial Comment:  Information below reflect the overwhelming responses we are receiving from Shweir members and readers.  We will continue to update it as we get more feedback and we look forward to also include updates from the Municipality whenever they choose to share it with us/you. 

Industrial plants are usually built in least desired locations and as far away as practical from residential communities.  The most exclusive and successful communities are those with NO or least heavy industry impact, usually, no more than five 5%.  Values for entire towns & communities are affected:  The less heavy industry, the greater the value. 

Shweir should NOT have heavy industry because:

Lost Arouse al Masayef:  Shweir was famous as best tourism & resort town for 100 years.  Not any more.  Heavy Industry & tourism do not mix.
Setting:  Shweir is in a bowl shaped valley surrounded by hills from 3 sides = Poor Air Circulation will magnify pollution exponentially. 
Pollution:  Heavy industry is known to produce Air, Liquid, Solid, Toxic & Noise pollution that are harmful to environment and residents.
Roads:  Roads are NOT engineered to handle heavy trucks.  Annual damage from heavy trucks and repairs to roads would be far costlier than any benefits the town gets from all heavy industry revenue combined. 
Shortage of Water:  Current Residents do NOT have adequate water and have to buy water 2-3 times a week by the truck loads -
NO Water for Industry:  How can we provide more water for New industry to adequately wash away their waste when there is not enough water for residents?
Wastewater system that does NOT work:  Yes, Shweir has a new waste water system that does NOT work! 
Electric Power Shortage:  Brownouts & blackouts are common occurrences. Consider harvesting wind energy like Mike Sawaya proposes     
Future Growth:  There are currently over 1000 residences that are empty, damaged and/or NOT completed yet.  and if we factor in New construction for residences and/or businesses over the next 5, 10 and 20 years... that could be equivalent to 2000 - 4000 units. Would they get adequate basic infrastructure and services like Roads, Water, Wastewater and electric?  NO

Shweir does not have adequate basic service to current residents, Nor the unfinished units... Nor potential Growth.  Shweir residents would like to see realistic studies of how those who propose expansion of heavy industry plan to solve the failed infrastructure for the residents and businesses first before proposing any expansion of heavy industry.  Unless the intent of some is to put priority on heavy industry ahead of the need of the residents.  Then, we will definitely have a problem and we seriously doubt that the people of Shweir want to have a ghost town on their hands. 

The above are very basic factors... All of which do NOT support heavy industry for Shweir.  Look what a few existing heavy industries caused in harm beyond what Shweir can handle. To pursue more heavy industry, would further destroy the environment, increase pollution, make our town smell to high heaven, the health of residents would be adversely affected, most Emigrants would NOT want to spend their vacation in an industrial setting, and hotels and restaurants would lose lots of business. 

Heavy Industry would significantly reduce the value of land and homes and businesses in the entire region. Do the people of Shweir want to see their town to become an embarrassing example of failure and a town that squandered its unique resources?  Wake up and save Shweir before it is too late.   

The people of Lebanon and Shweir have endured many challenging circumstances over the past few decades including Civil & International Wars, Foreign Occupation, and Dirty Politics.  Majority of Shweirys are very upset about a handful of heavy industries that were allowed to be built or expand as a result of questionable circumstances, misrepresentations, lies or abuse of power over the past 10-20 years.  The people of Shweir want the current Administration to correct past mistakes and to mitigate those heavy industries that are operating beyond the scope or capacity of their licenses, causing significant harm to the environment and/or to the health of Shweir inhabitants who want these industries controlled, minimized and/or shut down. 

Shweir desperately needs to minimize existing heavy industries rather than expand them exponentially. 

We only have one Shweir with a unique setting, views and climate that cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the world*.  We do NOT want to repeat past mistakes.  Please DO NOT make major decisions about Shweir's Future that are likely to be devastating and irreversible without in depth and unbiased studies and full disclosure and public feedback to reflect Shweir's best interest. 

*  Three places that we know of that come close to Shweir in topography & climate: 
1.  Tomazina in Central Brazil  where there are a large concentration of Choueris, Shweirys some from Merhege and Bouzaid families 
2.  A town in New Zealand where the Corbans and Atayas started their wine industry
3.  "Trois es Pixs" sp?  The three peaks in France near the German border, again in the wine region. 

None of these beautiful places have in their midst the kind heavy industry that Shweir has and propose to expand exponentially. 

There are better alternatives:
IF the proposed plan is about another type of Industry, light industry like WINE Industry, Hotels, Restaurant, Resort and Hospitality industry, cottage industries (home grown businesses), these are ideal for Shweir, then that is a Welcome breath of fresh air.  Yes, with Shweiry engineering, water pumps, we can transform Nahr Abu Dawoude valley into a beautiful area with running water and cascading water falls that would rival al Bardowney.  Add to it Old Souk, Old Tahouneh, Old bridge, to highlight our history and heritage, maintain and bring them to their old glory, add walkways, trails, destination resort, health club... and you will have heaven on earth where people from around the world would want to come visit and stay.  That is the kind of industry Shweir desperately needs. 

Those land owners in that area would benefit far greater, possibly over 1000% greater, by taking the light industry described above that would get overwhelming support than the heavy industry that will be devastating to the town and will be far less profitable for them.  

We urge Shweir leaders and council members to give serious consideration to conduct studies as per recommendations of experts from around the world, share their findings with the public, to reduce and hopefully eliminate as much of the heavy industry and to focus on light industry described above and take steps that would protect the environment, beautify and enhance future success of our treasured town.

Related links:    BB Posts:                  Industrial v. Environment    Recent posts @ Master Plan 
                         Web Pages:              Baladieh                        Mater Plan                     Environment

Let us take a proactive approach, set excellent examples of positive Change and Forward Thinking to make the best of our resources and make Shweir Shine again.  

To what extent Shweiry Emigrants love Shweir?  Here are two examples from Brazil:  << Look at what Jorge Choueire, originally of Bou Zaid family, painted on his car and >>  A rock from Shweir is treasured in a beautiful case at the home of Sami and Beatriz Tabsharani in Sao Paulo, Brazil
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2001 Reunion

Alfred Moujaes' Beach House was totally  wiped out, courtesy of IKE.  It was Birthplace of Shweir on the Beach Reunions and inspiration of the Founding of Shweir.com and the 1st Shweir Library Thank God all are safe. Read Al Mukhtar report and link to past Texas Shweir Reunions.

2000 Shweir  Reunion

Village Day Al Yaoum Al Karawi

Musical Evening by National Conservatory At Saydeh Church August 14
 

Miss Emigrants 2008, Noor Beshara,
19, University student from Batroune

Serene Abd el Noor and Zein el Omr enchant capacity crowd and Light up the skies

Program, Click here  +  Opening Night On BB With links to Photo Albums	Miss Teenage "Sweet 16" Lara Dabani"

   Thanks for Great Team:  Editor, Photographer & Team Leader: Samar Kiamé ***  Writer: Rima Beshara el Rihbany    
Photographers &/or photo editors: Therese Corban Kiamé, Ghinwa, Diala, William & Nagham Moujaes, Youmna Slaybeh, Rami Shallita & Nabila Halaby

An evening with Carol Samaha, click here  

 

Kids Day, August 4 - Report on BB and slide show  
  

A Report on Emigrants Fest On BB With links to Photo Albums  
For more pictures, visit Emigrants Fest Album by Samar 
 

 
Congrats Joe Nohra and your Al Anwar Team - You make us proud.  Click here to visit Al Anwar New web page

Song/Poem written by Rida Hammam ... > > >
the Story of our Town's Road - Issat Tareek Dayaatna -
OK, Nawbeh, (Shweir Music Band)... how about transforming this into a song in memory of Mrs. Hammam?

< < < Shweir Honors Mrs. Rida Hammam naming Ain Hanoote Road in her Memory

Article about Shweir courtesy of Sally Zgheib in Paris, Samih Baaklini in TX and Joseph Zeidan in Ohio

Postcards for Shweir to benefit Community - Sample photos below - Need your input on BB  

Announcing New Restaurant by Shweiry Bishara AbuNakhle: > >
Soy, Best Chinese Cuisine in Middle East in Ain Saadeh 18 minutes by car.
New Website:    www.soychineserestaurant.com 

Mothers' Day Celebration Photo Album by Riad  Peak below

Happy Spring:  Read Samar's article about Spring on BB and see full slide show

Read about the snow storm on the BB and See slide show on Photo Bucket by Samar

 
 
Early February Snow Storm Click her or on picture  Courtesy of Riad

Meeting descendants of Shweir Emigrants in Brazil

To see a complete list of recent updates, click on this Shweir picture below V V V.

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