Sunday, June 12, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Development in Barja
These pictures show the increased number of building in a part of Barja. The difference between the years 2005 and 2010 is striking, and highlights the decrease in size of agricultural land.
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| In 2005 (Click to enlarge) |
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| In 2010 (Click to enlarge) |
July 2006 War
During the 2006 war Barja did not suffer directly from bombing. But still, like most other Lebanese villages, the war had an impact on it. The main effects of the war are the destruction of the 2 main bridges that link Saida city to Barja. Picture 1 shows the destruction of the Awali Bridge and picture two shows the destruction of the Wadi El Zainy bridge.
The second big impact that the war had on Barja was caused by the destruction of the Jiyeh fuel tanks, which caused huge fires for more than 30 days. Beside the destruction of the shore line, the smoke coming out of the fire had a huge impact on the health of the residents and on the environment in the area. Pictures 3 and 4 and the video below show a part of the impact that the fire had on the village. And picture 5 shows the location of the destroyed tanks relative to the village.
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| Pic.1 (Click to enlarge) |
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| Pic. 2 (Click to enlarge) |
The second big impact that the war had on Barja was caused by the destruction of the Jiyeh fuel tanks, which caused huge fires for more than 30 days. Beside the destruction of the shore line, the smoke coming out of the fire had a huge impact on the health of the residents and on the environment in the area. Pictures 3 and 4 and the video below show a part of the impact that the fire had on the village. And picture 5 shows the location of the destroyed tanks relative to the village.
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| Pic. 4 (Click to enlarge) |
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| Pic.3 (Click to enlarge) |
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| Pic. 5 (Click to enlarge) |
Sibline Query
This video, shot at the edges of Barja village, shows the level of noise and aesthetic damage caused by the Sibline query.
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| Location where the video was shot. (Click to enlarge) |
Queries Problem in Barja: Causes and Effects
Causes of the queries problem:
• Apparently no proper studies conducted before starting excavations
• Owners of the facility no responsible
• Nature of land in the area
• People in the area used to be poor
• Air pollution
• Huge land affected by the quarries is damaged and unusable
• Large amounts of money required to rehabilitate the land
• Underground water and surface water in the vicinity of the query is damages beyond usability
• Land lost its potential
• Apparently no proper studies conducted before starting excavations
• Owners of the facility no responsible
- Ignore environmental issues
- Ignore rules and regulations
- Ignore people's demands
• Nature of land in the area
- Large empty lands
- Geology suitable for these activities
- Land not suitable for agriculture
- Have the power to escape punishments
- Pressing power to change laws and regulations
- Control over the population in that area
• People in the area used to be poor
- Didn't have the power to object
- New factory provided lots of jobs
- New facility provided support for the surrounding community
• Air pollution
- Harming agricultural lands and crops in nearby and far lands
- Endangering people’s health in the Kazaa
- People spending large sums of money on health care and medications
- Due to aesthetic damage, and destruction of vegetative cover
- Due to noise
• Huge land affected by the quarries is damaged and unusable
• Large amounts of money required to rehabilitate the land
• Underground water and surface water in the vicinity of the query is damages beyond usability
• Land lost its potential
- As a possible touristic site
- Other nearby areas were chosen for building hotels
- Other areas were chosen for agricultural projects
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| Satellite image of the area (Click to enlarge) |
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| Bassir query (Click to enlarge) |
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| Sibline query (Click to enlarge) |
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Project Preview
Barja is a village in the Iklime of Carob, located west of the Shouf in Mount Lebanon, 32km to the south of Beirut and 13 km north of Sidon, rising 173 to 405 meters above sea level. Mild Mediterranean climate in summer and winter, and the rate of temperature is between 13 and 27 degrees Celsius. Its area is 3950 hectares, with 22000 inhabitants. Mostly hills with narrow valleys endings, which are its natural border with the neighboring villages. Springs on its borders erupt in fountains of water flush walls, soil is not fertile, rich in limestone rock layers.
In the beginning the town was a farm where families used to raise livestock, poultry and silkworms, and work the ground. Crops were rainfed, notably berries, olives and carob trees, a little fruit and vegetables.
In the first half of the last century, industrial crops developed, mainly almond and vine and fig. Then the output declined gradually as a result of the needs of population growth and age requirements, which forced farmers and artisanal to face the crisis of rising standard of living after World War II. This rushed parents to the institutes of science and the fields of employment, in jobs and services and different crafts. Consequently apartment buildings replaced agricultural land, and the town is today is not self-satisfied.
In the second half of the twentieth century, bee-keeping activities were wildly spread, and reached its peak in the last quarter of the century.
A project aims to establish a nursery on an area of 5000 square meters for the production of native local plants (trees, shrubs, herbs) that are subject to extinction in the area of barja
Project Activities:
- The plant nursery will be established on a private land offered for 3 years to the Barja Tourath association.
- The land is situated in Barja in the area of Zarout. It is 150 meters above sea level. It is now not suitable for agriculture. It needs rehabilitation. A deputy of the area will provide a contribution. The municipality will build fences and a door around the nursery.
- The association will establish a committee including farmers, local people, a representative of the environmental committee at the municipality and volunteers.
- The Project will produce 5000 seedlings of native local plants per year.
- The trees will be distributed to the population for free or for a minimal fee.
- An agricultural expert will follow-up on the Project and provide support to the farmers.
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