The unlicensed protest - or how license plates became a call for reform

Fed up with corruption, exorbitant fees, and extended closures at the Lebanese vehicle registration department (“Nafaa”)—which have forced many to drive without license plates—citizens across Lebanon have transformed their empty license plate holders into powerful symbols of protest. In a country lacking efficient public transport, cars are essential for daily survival; yet many drivers remain unable to register their vehicles, risking hefty fines and impoundment at checkpoints.

Introducing: The Unlicensed Protest—a citizens’ movement launched in collaboration with Transparency International Lebanon to compel government bodies like “Nafaa” to resume operations transparently and efficiently. Rather than using standard license plates, protesters display messages such as “Bring back the state,” “Until the thievery stops,” and “Until Nafaa employees get back to work.” By refusing to allow corruption to immobilize vital public services any longer, this initiative exemplifies a collective stance against systemic failings.

As part of the movement, car convoys rolled down major highways from the country’s northern to southern regions, voicing public frustration with widespread inefficiency and corruption. By taking to the streets in unity, protesters aimed not only to reignite dialogue around systemic reform but also to encourage renewed adherence to lawful procedures—once the system itself is set right.
The “Unlicensed Protest” underscores an urgent national need: to restore functional, trustworthy government services. Organizers hope these efforts will spark long-overdue reforms in Lebanon, ensuring that every citizen has fair access to the vital institutions meant to serve them.

Fifty Fifty wants a government in Lebanon which is half female ministers. Yes, but...

Why is it always that I see the flip side of good news. Heck, I was a feminist before it was cool to be so! But here we go. Fifty Fifty which tirelessly fights for the representation of women in the political spheres - sometimes much more effectively in terms of tone of voice than others (compare here to here) has launched a campaign whereby there'd be a government composed of 50% women ministers. 

Do note, I am all for it, and I am sure there are a lot of women worthy of the positions (of which Fifty Fifty found quite a bunch). If you want to find some of their choices please head here.

As usual, I have a "but"....

To soften the blow I'd say "yes, but..."

A lot of these women suggested by Fifty Fifty are already direct descendants of the usual political families (Chamoun, Gemayel, Yafi) or are close - as in very close - to established political figures (Kaskas, Ekmekji). Please note, I am writing this while trying not to throw shade at these women's achievements, talents and political expertise.

But the fact that these women and others (I am trying not to single these women out of the ones mentioned in the Fifty Fifty ad) were suggested leaves me wondering if at any one point we can actually leave the old political nomenclature already established in Lebanon.

But, come to think of it, a female from a certain political family/party in Lebanon at this point, is not capable of doing a worse job that a male member of her family/party.

So heck, I am all for these women!

Charbel Nahas will hold a Zoom meeting on April 9th.

Time to make up your choice!

This from the media directorate of Mouwatinoun wa Mouwatinat fi dawla:

The collapse has accelerated in the past months in an unprecedented way, is a warning that the situation will slide into tragic paths that push this society to war or disintegration. The collapse is still seen by many, either lightly or arrogantly. The authorities are still arrogant and wasting resources, as well as waiting for an external decision and financial aid. Meanwhile, the conflicting powers, regionally and internationally, do not view Lebanon as a priority in the midst of all open conflicts in the region. As for the opposition, it still refuses to assume any kind of responsibility at this stage, waiting for its demands to be fulfilled automatically or hoping for a great victory in the so-called parliamentary elections next year.

Today, more than ever, we need to join hands with all of us to enhance the chances of our proposal by imposing a peaceful transfer of power laying different foundations from all previous decades. Today we are at a distant juncture similar to danger, as we are on days of painful remembrance, the anniversary of the start of the sectarian war on April 13th. In its fifteen years, this joint established the system that we know today, which is based on clientelism, nepotism and sectarianism. Some may think that the events that preceded April 13 are radically different from what is happening today, but we are actually passing through a similar phase, with its headings of impotence of power, dependence on outside forces, surrender and popular despair.

And because the time has come for everyone to decide which side they are on, the movement launches an electronic campaign under the slogan "A time to make up your mind," stressing that we have decided our choice by peace as an alternative to the war option, which we are sliding towards helplessness and escaping responsibility. We will provide you with the details of the campaign in an extraordinary session on Friday, April 9, at 8:30 pm. In it, Secretary-General Charbel Nahas will talk about the latest political developments and the movement’s directions and initiatives in the next phase. The Movement’s Media Directorate will also present the campaign’s details and the importance of the participation of comrades as well as supporters in the production, presence, and participation of the campaign’s activities.

In addition to your necessary presence for this session, we invite you to invite your friends who are interested in presenting the movement, especially those who have come close to making their choices at this critical and critical stage.

In order to receive the session link, it is necessary that you register through the following link

Government confidence vote: Slacktivism at its worst

Source

So everyone is changing their Facebook avatar to "la thika" (no confidence) in reference to the confidence vote session of the government (the joke of course is that phonetically it resembles Lecico the sanitary wares company). This reminds me of  "liking isn't helping" - the Crisis Relief Singapore ad which illustrated that liking something online has no implication on the actual situation, ergo a mere act of slacktivism (slack-activism). I am not being a defeatist, but how such a move online will get translated on the ground is beyond me.