On the surface it is an interview about Tom’s work with Arabic Script. But really, it is about world culture and the effects of the war in Lebanon. I spent a good part of a saturday at his home in Amsterdam where we recorded this program with the focus being on how his interest in Arabic developed.  However don’t let the title or my words here fool you, the information and stories contained here go far beyond arabic script and into topics such as the War in Lebanon, Armenians seeking asylum in the Netherlands, writing an Arabic manual for the Dutch military, the orgin of Middle Eastern hospitality, and oh-so much more. Towards the end of the program we mention the Decotype website where you can click on the presentation and see what we’re talking about. Music: The Clash - Armagideon Time Billy Bragg and Wilco - Unwelcome Guest Download Standard Podcast Less

In the great tradition of stream-of-consciousness podcasters, I’m breaking out of the usual format for this edition.  Instead I’m in the kitchen, making a snack, and discussing the issues for the coming months, as well as a quick summary of how my talk went at the Hope conference, and some other notes for you the listeners.  So perhaps not my usual thought provoking way, but I wanted to record some thoughts and explain what is going on (and why there haven’t been podcasts in a few weeks!) Topics Discussed – Soy West Africa Lebanon Guests Talking to Corporations (the trouble with) HOPE Gay Pride Amsterdam and more. Music: Conor Oberst - Milk Thistle Johnny Cash - Mercy Seat Download Standard Podcast Less

To attack? or not to attack Israel? That is the question that may well determine the future of Hezbollah and its status in Lebanon. A look at the fractures within the Shiite movement. Less

Hezbollah and media commentators alike are treating the July 16 prisoner swap with Israel — which has received only the remains of slain soldiers in return for five living prisoners — as an unmitigated victory for the Shiite militant group. But less public events indicate that the walls are closing in on Hezbollah. Less

Syria’s government reportedly is ready to reconsider its relationship with Iran — another positive sign along the road toward a peace deal with Israel. Less

Hezbollah appears to come out the winner in Lebanon following a power-sharing agreement reached this week. But in reality, the Shiite group may be getting set up for a fall, as record oil prices reshape the geopolitics of the Middle East. Less

Government and opposition negotiators have agreed to new power-sharing arrangements meant to end Lebanon’s violent political crisis. Less

I was in Beirut a couple weeks ago just before the last flare-up. How strange to have just returned from this beautiful city with its great restaurants, fun bars, nice coast and true-to-name “Paris of the Middle East” neighbourhoods, only to hear that Hezbollah guerrillas were now occupying buildings around the hotel we were [...] Less

The American president’s tour of the Middle East throws a new spotlight on domestic crises and wider conflicts in Israel, Lebanon and beyond. Less

The USS Cole is off the coast of Lebanon as negotiators seek to persuade Syria to end political crisis in Beirut. Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Amahdinejad’s hand appears strengthened as he prepares for an historic visit to Baghdad. Less

Les mots refusent absolument d’en finir dans Paysage avec palmiers, livre totémique, écrit par Bernard Wallet en 1992 et publié par les éditions Gallimard dans la collection L’Infini de Philippe Sollers. La capacité de résistance de cet ouvrage aux temps d’inerties vaut particulièrement pour le souvenir, dont le dépôt apaisé est défié à chaque stance jaillie du pourpoint de l’auteur. Sans clefs, sans traces autres que ce qui s’écrit sur les corps et au milieu de leurs peurs, sans résidus anecdotiques, le squelette livré par Wallet dans son Paysage avec palmiers demeure aussi mutique et vertigineux qu’une pièce de poterie pompéienne, arrachée par quelque archéologue à son terreau de cendres et de sangs. Il devient aujourd’hui Répétition générale. Mélopée aride et douce, la chanson de geste de Bernard Wallet est d’abord dédiée au Liban et aux multiples voyages que ce grand lecteur – pas encore éditeur mais sur le point de l’être – y fit, par temps de guerre, pour le compte de quelques maisons d’édition parisiennes conservant leurs entrées chez les libraires par le fait de cet envoyé très spécial, sans cesse perdu et rené à lui-même dans un pays qu’il chante infiniment, d’amour et de haute lutte. Ce livre fétiche est un paysage qui assume tous les paysages, dont notre présent de fer, forgé dans l’égarement amer de ce que nous sommes et croyons, en juin 2006. Les amateurs de légendes funèbres et d’héroïsme bon teint ne trouveront pas là le moindre suc pour leur limonade, pas plus que les anciens combattants guerriers. Les lecteurs épris de poésie (de vie agie) trouveront aux racines de ces palmiers l’axe vertical et porteur par lequel ils reconnaîtront la marque de Bernard Wallet et celle de son totem. Manifeste brûlant, ce texte qui ne meurt jamais est enfin reincarné par son auteur, qui le lira avec force à Toulouse lors du Marathon des mots, sous son titre contemporain Répétition générale, le samedi 17 juin à 21h30, au cloître des Jacobins, en compagnie d’A. Cathrine, d’E. Zenone et de J. El Costa. topo vous donne sa propre répétition générale grâce à l’enregistrement réalisé lors de la rencontre avec Bernard Wallet au Lieu unique, à Nantes, en mars dernier. Lecture de Répétition générale par Bernard Wallet sur musique de Serge Tessot-Gay – Zone Libre et dialogue avec Isabelle Rabineau, rédactrice en chef de topolivres, enregistrés le 23 mars 2006. Less

  Lina Abou-Habib, Executive Director of CRTD.A, Lebanon presents the Regional Campaign in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, and Lebanon at the panel discussion on Women as Equal Citizens: Advocating for Change in Muslim-Majority Societies. This panel discussion launched Claiming Equal Citizenship: The International Campaign for Arab Women’s Right to Nationality on Sep 6, 2006. To the Claiming Equal Citizenship campaign blog article. Less

Kevin Cook explains what World Vision is doing in Lebanon - Youth.SG’s first contribution to “My Global Neighbourhood” (part of The September Project) Less

Kevin Cook from World Vision tells us why he’s in Beirut. - Youth.SG’s first contribution to “My Global Neighbourhood” (part of The September Project) Less

Kevin Cook from World Vision tells us what it’s like working in a warzone. - Youth.SG’s first contribution to “My Global Neighbourhood” (part of The September Project) Less

What happens when you see so much suffering on a regular basis? Kevin Cook from World Vision tells us. - Youth.SG’s first contribution to “My Global Neighbourhood” (part of The September Project) Less

Kevin Cook from World Vision’s Crisis Response Team talks about the victims of war. - Youth.SG’s first contribution to “My Global Neighbourhood” (part of The September Project) Less

Kevin Cook from World Vision’s Crisis Response Team talks about what it’s like in Beirut with the Ceasefire in place. - Youth.SG’s first contribution to “My Global Neighbourhood” (part of The September Project) Less

Conferencia de la periodista espanola Pilar Rahola organizada en Buenos Aires, Argentina. El titulo de la misma era que sucedera luego de la reciente guerra entre Israel & Hezbolah Less