According to the Naharnet, MP Foud Saniora has given out a statement calling Aoun’s call for
protest an insult. He also accuses Aoun’s protest purpose is to aid his son in law Bassil as well as accuses him rejecting funds for electricity projects. (click here to read the article)
Many would agree with Saniora’s statement, at the same time, many would disagree. And so begins the cycle of finger pointing on who really stopped the funding for the projects, who really started this electrical crises in the first place and so on so forth. Then after a couple days later when the situation cools down; one of the politicians will accuse the other and the finger pointing start from all over again.
In order to break this vicious and unproductive cycle, politicians should learn not to criticize but become critics. In other words, don’t attack your opponent by calling them “idiots”; attack your opponent by giving a better alternative plan. So a better way for Saniora to reply to Aoun’s call for protest would be saying that Aoun’s protest for the 1.2 billion plan is meaningless and his plan (which Saniora has none) to solve the crises is the right steps forward.
Many would agree with Saniora’s statement, at the same time, many would disagree. And so begins the cycle of finger pointing on who really stopped the funding for the projects, who really started this electrical crises in the first place and so on so forth. Then after a couple days later when the situation cools down; one of the politicians will accuse the other and the finger pointing start from all over again.
In order to break this vicious and unproductive cycle, politicians should learn not to criticize but become critics. In other words, don’t attack your opponent by calling them “idiots”; attack your opponent by giving a better alternative plan. So a better way for Saniora to reply to Aoun’s call for protest would be saying that Aoun’s protest for the 1.2 billion plan is meaningless and his plan (which Saniora has none) to solve the crises is the right steps forward.
A good plan for Saniora to consider is the install Run-of-the-river (ROR) turbine. ROR turbines are good alternative to construction of dams. As the Daily Star article (click here to read article) talk about how dams could help Lebanon to increase electrical output as well as solve Lebanon water shortage. At the same time, dam are considered “bad” because they have a negative impact on the environment and tend to go over budget. ROR turbines are cheap to install and have low environmental impact due to the fact they do not require the blocking a river. Also, ROR are could be installed into smaller rivers and streams where dams can not be constructed.
Either way, to construct a dam or to install a ROR turbine there must a extensive data collection or a census about consumption of several racecourses such as electricity and water. This data is needed to better manage any project. As quoted in the article “you cannot manage what you cannot measure”.
ROR turbines are yet another project that is not studied by the government or any high officials in Lebanon. MP Foud Saniora should stop wasting time going around and round the vicious circle of finger pointing but rather supporting the formation of experts to work on ROR turbines and to make a national census. However as Lebanese, we can not way for Saniora or any official to wake up. So the call of the people of Lebanon to voice support to projects, such as mentioned above, and force politicians to go through the project whether they like it or not.
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