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28.2%ANMag Issue 21 Editorial
Mr. President and the Knights of the Round Table
By Shadi Tabbara, Editor-in-Chief
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – While every Lebanese, Syrian, Iranian, American, French and the rest of the neighboring and Arab countries are awaiting the Lebanese presidential elections, both Lebanese coalitions (pro-Seniora government and pro-Syrian allies) are working hard at disregarding the basic needs of their deprived followers, whilst focusing on whose candidate will soon sit on the big chair.
Some three decades ago, socio-political polarization among Lebanese increased due to rising inflation and high cost of living1. Back then, Lebanon’s political system was lacking efficiency; it was known for providing unequal advantages for its citizens, leading to problems in political accountability and political responsibility of officials and institutions.
With the increasing tensions, since the assassination of the Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri on February 14, 2005, till date, and the consequent decreasing economic figures, will the Lebanese citizens engage in a new war against each other? Or will a new Lebanese president introduce us to a new era and change the political and social status of the country?
The Numbers
The Human Development Index (HDI) Report, published on a yearly basis by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), looks beyond the normal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides a “broader definition of well-being.” The HDI combines three dimensions of human development: Living a long and healthy life, having the average standards of education, and having a decent standard of living.
The latest Human Development Report published in 2006 with the 2004 figures, shows that Lebanon is number 78 out of the 177 [counted] countries with an HDI of 0.774, slightly between Ukraine’s (0.774) and Kazakhstan’s (0.774) HDI. This number breaks down to having a life expectancy of 72.2 years at birth (number 70, between Tonga and Saudi Arabia), a combined primary, secondary and tertiary gross enrolment ratio of 44% (number 44, between Ukraine and Dominica) and a GDP per capita amounting to USA 5,837 (number 90, between China and Cape Verde).
While the HDI measures the average progress of a country in human development, the Human Poverty Index for developing countries (HPI-1), focuses on the proportion of people below a threshold level in the same dimensions of human development as the human development index. By looking beyond income deprivation, the HPI-1 represents a multi-dimensional alternative to the $1 a day poverty measure.2
The HPI-1 value for Lebanon is 9.6 (2004), ranking twentieth among 102 developing countries, mainly between Thailand (9.3) and Turkey (9.8). This number breaks down to having the probability of not surviving past the age of 40 at 5.7% (number 61, between Estonia and Saudi Arabia), and Children underweight for age zero to five at 3% (number 7, between Hungary and Georgia).
The Material of “The Numbers” is taken from the United Nations Development Program Report
The Other Numbers
Although there is an increase in Gross National Income (from USD 17.3 billion to USD 22.3 billion between 2000 and 2006), and an increase in GDP (from USD 16.8 billion in 2000 to USD 22.7 billion in 2006), the GDP annual growth rate regressed dramatically (from 1.7% in 2000 to 1.0% in 2005 to an actual 0.0% in 2006). Moreover, the annual inflation, or GDP deflator, increased from a -2.8% in 2000, to a -0.7% in 2005 and reached 5.6% in 2006), marking the highest inflation rate in Lebanese history.
More importantly, Lebanon became heavily indebted with over 180% of its GDP. According to Merrill Lynch, the firm believes the situation has “deteriorated considerably” and with no solution around the corner, Lebanon is heading towards bankruptcy.
The Material of “The Other Numbers” is taken from the World Bank Report (2006)
The Knights of the Round Table
The last time our political leaders fought for a seat; we had a ruined Lebanon. Instead of trying to win the seat for their own survival, our “knights” should put up-front the candidates that can and are willing to make a change by increasing both our HDI and GDP, by securing good governing of all the constitutional institutions, and by being Lebanese - solely Lebanese.
We need that change.
2 UNDP (2006). Human Development Report 2006. Available electronically at: http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/statistics/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_LBN.html (2006)
ANMag Issue 21
In this issue, ANMag investigates Osama Bin Laden’s change in course, studies the Lebanese traditional match-making process, explores the status of the Palestinians after the Nahr el-Bared war, reports on the United Nations and its effects on stability in the Middle East, reveals the story of Turkey’s Gul, and finally unveils the secret of franchising and nouveau-consumerism in the Middle East, all in the Public Surveillance section. In the Global Awareness section, ANMag examines the planets and the tropics of Capricorn and Cancer, sheds the light on the study of acupuncture, calls to action on the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, and finally publishes a press release on the public awareness campaign on the preservation of the ozone layer lead by the EHS (Environment, Health and Safety regulatory arm of Dubai). In the Personal Maintenance section, ANMag reveals the second part of society (of dogs), and deals with isolation, states of mind and a final article about Lebanon. In the Entertainment section, ANMag interviews Janin D., reviews three novels by Chuck Palahniuk, and Emily King’s debut album, East Side Story. In the Arabic section, ANMag discusses the Saudi law regarding women’s right at work, examines the tensions between Lebanon and Syria, and ends it with a poem on childhood. Lastly, in the ANMag Series section, ANMag publishes the first part of chapter four of the Revelation, titled "Description of used termsgod’s laws."