BBC World Questions: Lebanon
On September 5th, BBC World Questions comes to Beirut. A panel of senior politicians and thinkers will join the BBC's Jonny Dymond at the Issam Fares Lecture Hall - AUBMC at 18.00 to debate questions from a public audience on Lebanon’s social, political and international future.
The BBC World Service is holding a series of debates across the world in a time of change. BBC World Questions - an international series of English language events created with the British Council - allows the public to question their politicians, leaders and opinion formers directly face to face. The debates are led entirely by questions from the audience who are able to have their points heard around the world.
Panel includes:
Deputy Prime Minister, Ghassan Hasbani MP.
Preservation activist for Beit Beirut, Beirut Madinati member and AUB Neighborhood Initiative Director, Mona El Hallack.
Former Health Minister, Wael Abu Faour MP
Vice President of the Free Patriotic Movement Nicolas Sehnaoui
Kamel Wazne, economist and political analyst
No one on the panel knows what will be asked until the night itself. Be part of the audience and have your say in a debate that will be heard around the world. Your question may be one of 10 selected for the members of the panel to answer. Register now for free to join the debate when BBC World Questions comes to Lebanon!
Lebanon has experienced at least two occupations and one devastating civil war in the last 40 years. More than 20% of the current population are refugees from conflict in the region. Lebanon has been a sanctuary from persecution for centuries and has a uniquely diverse population of Shia and Sunni Muslims, Catholic and Orthodox Christians, Druze and other groups as well. Governance means balancing the rights of these different minorities, and it is sometimes hard to get things done: for two years communities could not agree on a President of the Republic, so there was none; failure to agree on electoral law means general elections have been postponed twice in a row; a garbage crisis led to mass demonstrations on the streets and raised important questions about the viability of Lebanon's democratic system. Is the current support for refugees sustainable? Where should this small country look to for support? How should Lebanon face its future?
BBC World Questions is an English language event, staged in partnership with the British Council and will be recorded for radio broadcast worldwide. If you would like to join the debate as part of the audience please register here: http://www.eventsforce.net/britishcouncil/1007/register
The public in Lebanon can register for free tickets and have their say in a debate that will be heard around the world.
The event starts at 18.00 and will consist of a drinks reception, an artistic performance and the debate. The guests are kindly requested to arrive on time. For organisational reasons we cannot guarantee entry after 18.45.
BBC World Questions is a series of events delivered in partnership with the British Council. As a cultural relations and educational organisation and partner of the BBC World Service, the British Council helps to enable a platform where the general public can join in on democratic debate on a global forum.
BBC World Service delivers news content around the world in English and 28 other language services, on radio, TV and digital, reaching a weekly audience of 246 million. As part of BBC World Service, BBC Learning English teaches English to global audiences. For more information, visit bbc.com/worldservice. The BBC attracts a weekly global news audience of 320 million people to its international news services including BBC World Service, BBC World News television channel and bbc.com/news.