04/01/2024
We have no words, only precious images and memories. We wanted to create a tribute to the oasis we love and remember rather than include before/after footage etc.
Lebanon is desperately in need of help, with 300,000 newly homeless and businesses closing left and right. One good place where you can make donations is to the DAFA campaign, حملة دفى, which provides food and clothing to people in need:
https://www.facebook.com/DafaCampaignLebanon/
For more information, suggested links for pictures and updates you can visit Cafe Em Nazih, Saifi Urban Gardens, Hamra Urban Gardens, Saifi Institute for Arabic Language, Coop D' Etat rooftop)
Camera - montage: Georgia Cartharis
Interview: Nicole Feied
Production: VR2 media collective / Eutopia
Music: Marcel Khalife - Ode to Homeland, Hello Psychaleppo هالو سايكلپو - Masafat (we have no claim to the music used only great appreciation.)
Following is a statement from the Saifi Urban Gardens establishment itself, following the
"We are all safe. Thank god, we are among the lucky who survived. The staff and guests of Café Em Nazih, Saifi Urban Gardens and Coop d’Etat are all accounted for and OK.
How are you? We all wish that you and your family are OK, and that you are surrounded by the people you love. That is the most important thing.
For those that have lost a loved one, our heart goes out to you. You are our family and we love you. That can never be stolen from us or destroyed.
Many of us have lost our house and our possessions, we know the pain, the disappointment, the anger, and the helplessness. Let us not forget the people who love us. We will help each other, and we will survive this. We can’t give up on ourselves, and we won’t give up on each other.
We will survive, but we all must ask ourselves, where do we go from here? We have decided that we will not go back to the petty corruptions of the police, the municipality and the ministries, and the bankers, businessmen and politicians who have sucked the life from every dream and sincere effort made by the people of our country and who two days ago took our city and lit it on fire, watched as flying glass shredded our loved ones and now think only about themselves and how they will escape blame. These are people who have repeatedly shown us that that they have no love, and people without love do not change. We are sad for them because their life is empty and filled with death and desire. And we are angry with ourselves for not honestly believing they were this heartless until now.
Out of love for those who have died, love for our children and our families, and love for ourselves, we have decided to not repeat the past. The thought of building again so they can extort us for bribes and taxes for which we get nothing in return, use the power of the government to support their friends and relatives at the expense of everyone else, take our money from the bank and then destroy and kill what is left makes us sick. We have decided not to build again for them, even if this government gives us the money to. We have no money left to do it on our own, but if we do build again it will be for us, and that means we must build a system outside of their control. A system in which we have the freedom to live and suffer our own mistakes and the misfortunes and happiness of a normal life with those who still have the capacity to love; and Lebanon, more than any other place we know, is full of those people.
Café Em Nazih, Coop d’Etat and Saifi Urban gardens are gone, but Bayt Em Nazih, Hamra Urban Gardens and Pool d’Etat were spared. We will all be in Hamra from now on. Please come visit. All are welcome. We love you all.
We trust your love, this is what is making us keep going in Hamra.
Mac Mcclenahan, Souheil Balkis, Nazih Dirani, Elie Fransawi and Najah (Em Nazih) Dirani"
