Lebanon – one year after the explosion in Beirut

Global Podd

One year has passed since the biggest non-nuclear explosion in the world exploded in Beirut. Still, no one has been held accountable. Victims are demanding justice. The reconstruction of the city has mainly been rebuild by private initiatives.

Global Podd is back in Beirut. The restaurant Mayrig was 300 meters from the explosion and severely hit with injured staff. Soon after the explosion, they decided to, dispite their own suffering, distribute thousands of meals to those in need. Remy, their communication manager tells us what happened.

The explosion took place at 18.07 and that is also the name given to Beirut 607.com that has documented all the people who have died and suffered from the explosion. With beautiful photos and storys in a book and on a website.

Ahmad Mroueh is behind this initiative. He describes that people of many nations died, but that there are still deaths that are not accounted for.

In the podcast, the sectarian system is discussed, run by a political corrupt elite of former warlords. As well as the systematic corruption among the government.

Daraj is an independent media that has investigated the governor for the central bank who is now under investigation for alleged embezzlement and money laundering worth hundreds of millions in Switzerland and France.

Alia Ibrahim also speaks of the international investigation that Daraj has been involved in of the Israeli spyware Pegasus that has suppressed freedom of expression and spied on journalists and human rights activists in the region.

Participants:

• Ramy Nehme, communication officer restaurant Mayrig, Beirut
• Ahmad Mroueh, founder of the socio-economic justice initiative: MAAN and Beirut607.com
• Alia Ibrahim, Co-founder and CEO of independent media Daraj.com
• Hosted by: Ylva Bergman, co-host of Global Podd.