Latest news with #Baroudi
Al Markazia
08-02-2025
- Business
- Al Markazia
بارودي من أثينا: هكذا يمكن للحكومة الجديدة أن تفعِّل قطاع الطاقة خلال ٩٠ يوماً
Baroudi from Athens: Here's how the new government can revitalize the energy sector within 90 days Almarkazia - The incoming Lebanese government faces numerous challenges, perhaps the most pressing being the issue of securing electricity and eliminating neighbourhood generators, which cause significant pollution due to their use of fuel oil and sell electricity at a high price exceeding 50 cents per kilowatt. In this context, international energy expert Roudi Baroudi spoke on the sidelines of the Athens Energy Summit held on February 5th and 6th in Athens. During a conversation with journalist Alexia Tasouli about the recent US liquefied natural gas exports to Europe, she asked him about reforming and restructuring the electricity sector in Lebanon. He affirmed that with this new government, which has the ambition and will for reform and restructuring, the electricity sector in Lebanon can be put on the right track and achieve immediate accomplishments within 90 days. Baroudi pointed to a series of measures that could lead to the realization of the Lebanese people's aspirations for launching the electricity sector within a maximum of 90 days, as follows: Appointing the Electricity Regulatory Authority, which was stipulated in the Electricity Sector Regulation Law, a step hindered by political disputes for 23 years. Enacting decrees that stipulate the independence of each of the electricity generation, distribution, and transmission activities and the establishment of companies in preparation for partnership with the private sector. Amendments should also be made to the Electricity Sector Regulation Law concerning renewable energy and its connection to the Lebanese electricity grid. Appointing a new board of directors for Électricité du Liban (EDL) and a new director-general committed to implementing the government's plan. Activating the Accelerated Electricity Works Program Law for the production of 700 megawatts. Restructuring the Ministry of Energy and Water, especially since several laws have been issued in this regard, particularly concerning the minister's powers. This restructuring should be in line with the implementation of Law 462 regulating the electricity sector, and key vacancies should be filled by directors-general and their assistants with experience, competence, and an understanding of modern developments. Appointing members to the board of directors of the Petroleum Sector to keep pace with the major developments in this important national file. In conclusion, energy expert Roudi Baroudi stressed that the implementation of this roadmap, if adopted by the new minister and government, would be a strong and much-needed launch in a long-awaited file to achieve real success. He expressed his hope that President Joseph Aoun's term would achieve accomplishments in various sectors, especially since the will and determination exist and only require the right person (he or she) in the right place and implementable plans.
Observer
05-02-2025
- General
- Observer
Centuries-old Algerian indigenous tradition champions sharing
In a village nestled in the mountains of northeastern Algeria, locals and visitors gathered under a cold winter sky to celebrate Tamechrit, a centuries-old Berber tradition rooted in sharing. Seeking to preserve a practice that faded during the Algerian civil war of the 1990s, villagers marked Tamechrit with Berber music and food on the occasion coinciding in January with the Amazigh new year. The minority community of Berbers refer to themselves as the Amazigh, meaning "free people". They have long fought for recognition for their ancient culture and language in modern states across North Africa. Berbers are descendants of pre-Arab North Africans, whose historic homelands stretched from the Canary Isles and Morocco to the deserts of western Egypt. "We hope to perpetuate this tradition during cultural or religious festivals," bringing together different people from the village and even those who have left, Dahmane Barbacha, a 41-year-old from Ath Atig village, told AFP. Children wore temporary Amazigh face tattoos at the event that dates back to the 13th century, according to historian Saleh Ahmed Baroudi. People attend a Tamechrit gathering, part of Algeria's Amazigh New Year's traditions, in Bajaia, on January 11, 2025. Algerian villages are perpetuating, particularly in Kabylia, the centuries-old tradition of Tamechrit, based on mutual aid and suspended during the civil war of the 1990s. (Photo by AFP) Tamechrit means "offering" in Tamazight, the community's language recognised as an official language alongside Arabic in Algeria. It represents "an occasion for gathering, fraternity, and reconciliation between families" across Amazigh villages, said Baroudi, who teaches contemporary Algerian history. Different regions of the country use other names for the custom, he added. The merrymaking is also held to observe major Islamic events such as the fasting month of Ramadan, Prophet Mohammed's birthday, and Ashura. It is often held in Zawiyas, small places for worship and religious teaching, usually where a local saint or holy figure lived and was buried. Baroudi said most of those sites are in mountainous regions, adding to the "spiritual dimension" of Tamechrit. - Reconciliation - The festival begins days in advance, when men from the village collect donations to purchase cattle whose meat is later distributed equally among families. During the event a communal meal -- usually couscous prepared by village women -- is served to everyone, regardless of social standing. Ammar Benkherouf, a 36-year-old living in France, said he has been taking annual leaves in recent years to attend the ceremony. "I can't describe the happiness it brings me to help keep this heritage alive," he told AFP. By midday, the communal couscous is served to villagers and visitors while volunteers distribute the portioned meat around the village's households. Men prepare portions of meat as part of Algeria's Tamechrit, based on the Amazigh New Year's traditions, in Bajaia, on January 11, 2025. Algerian villages are perpetuating, particularly in Kabylia, the centuries-old tradition of Tamechrit, based on mutual aid and suspended during the civil war of the 1990s. (Photo by AFP) Tamechrit had also been a tool for fostering solidarity during Algeria's Independence War against French colonial rule from 1954-1962, according to Baroudi. The ritual then faded during the country's civil war between 1992 and 2002, a conflict between authorities and Islamist groups that claimed the lives of around 200,000 after the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) party won municipal and legislative elections. Tamechrit then "made a comeback in the early 2000s" with the end of the civil war, said Baroudi. Today, Tamechrit continues to bring together villagers and resolve conflicts between them. Farhat Medhous, a 31-year-old who heads a cultural association in Ath Atig, said his group now looks to "restore women's participation in these traditions inherited from their ancestors". He said that, traditionally, women held their own gatherings in a separate area from the men's, but their involvement diminished even after the civil war. In addition, he added, the association aims at teaching the younger generations Tamechrit values, meaning sharing and reconciliation. He said this year's festivity was organised by villagers aged 18 to 40. "We have held activities for children to teach them the values of volunteerism and community," said Medhous. "This prepares them to preserve these traditions as they grow older." —AFP
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Centuries-old Algerian indigenous tradition champions sharing
In a village nestled in the mountains of northeastern Algeria, locals and visitors gathered under a cold winter sky to celebrate Tamechrit, a centuries-old Berber tradition rooted in sharing. Seeking to preserve a practice that faded during the Algerian civil war of the 1990s, villagers marked Tamechrit with Berber music and food on the occasion coinciding in January with the Amazigh new year. The minority community of Berbers refer to themselves as the Amazigh, meaning "free people". They have long fought for recognition for their ancient culture and language in modern states across North Africa. Berbers are descendants of pre-Arab North Africans, whose historic homelands stretched from the Canary Isles and Morocco to the deserts of western Egypt. "We hope to perpetuate this tradition during cultural or religious festivals," bringing together different people from the village and even those who have left, Dahmane Barbacha, a 41-year-old from Ath Atig village, told AFP. Children wore temporary Amazigh face tattoos at the event that dates back to the 13th century, according to historian Saleh Ahmed Baroudi. Tamechrit means "offering" in Tamazight, the community's language recognised as an official language alongside Arabic in Algeria. It represents "an occasion for gathering, fraternity, and reconciliation between families" across Amazigh villages, said Baroudi, who teaches contemporary Algerian history. Different regions of the country use other names for the custom, he added. The merrymaking is also held to observe major Islamic events such as the fasting month of Ramadan, Prophet Mohammed's birthday, and Ashura. It is often held in Zawiyas, small places for worship and religious teaching, usually where a local saint or holy figure lived and was buried. Baroudi said most of those sites are in mountainous regions, adding to the "spiritual dimension" of Tamechrit. - Reconciliation - The festival begins days in advance, when men from the village collect donations to purchase cattle whose meat is later distributed equally among families. During the event a communal meal -- usually couscous prepared by village women -- is served to everyone, regardless of social standing. Ammar Benkherouf, a 36-year-old living in France, said he has been taking annual leaves in recent years to attend the ceremony. "I can't describe the happiness it brings me to help keep this heritage alive," he told AFP. By midday, the communal couscous is served to villagers and visitors while volunteers distribute the portioned meat around the village's households. Tamechrit had also been a tool for fostering solidarity during Algeria's Independence War against French colonial rule from 1954-1962, according to Baroudi. The ritual then faded during the country's civil war between 1992 and 2002, a conflict between authorities and Islamist groups that claimed the lives of around 200,000 after the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) party won municipal and legislative elections. Tamechrit then "made a comeback in the early 2000s" with the end of the civil war, said Baroudi. Today, Tamechrit continues to bring together villagers and resolve conflicts between them. Farhat Medhous, a 31-year-old who heads a cultural association in Ath Atig, said his group now looks to "restore women's participation in these traditions inherited from their ancestors". He said that, traditionally, women held their own gatherings in a separate area from the men's, but their involvement diminished even after the civil war. In addition, he added, the association aims at teaching the younger generations Tamechrit values, meaning sharing and reconciliation. He said this year's festivity was organised by villagers aged 18 to 40. "We have held activities for children to teach them the values of volunteerism and community," said Medhous. "This prepares them to preserve these traditions as they grow older." yb-bur/fka/bou/it
