Lebanon Herbal Collective Response
Donation protected
Warm greetings,
My name is Paul Saad - I am a member of a collective of Earth workers in Lebanon, on the ground, and student of herbalism. I am raising money on behalf of this ever-growing and deepening collective. Decisions for how the money will be used will be on a consensus basis, between members both on the ground in Lebanon and those with supportive roles internationally with experience in disaster response. Please see the following description:
Who We Are
We are group of healers, herbalists, local medicine makers, activists, and educators, on the ground in Lebanon. With international support, we are constructing an herbal response to the Beirut explosion.
Goals
We will use plant medicine to meet the acute, short-term needs from the explosion, while also developing a sustained approach through presence, education and actions. Plant allies can help us sew the seeds of physical and mental resilience, providing guidance and support to heal our bodies and heal our traumas; move beyond religious dogma, political corruption, and collective frustration. This response is important both locally and globally in resurgence against consciousness that has caused these disasters, and in support of healing, organizing, and creating.
Known Chemical Effects of Explosion
2750 tons of ammonium nitrate were released into the plume of the explosion.
While most of the detectable compounds in the air dissipated several hours after the explosion, they reached a radius of 5-10 kilometers around the port before doing so. These particles of NO2 and ammonium nitrate then deposed as particles on our streets, among the shattered glass, on our balconies, and in our houses. The current warnings from local scientists have been targeted to all who have been helping clean the last several days in homes and on the streets. The masks that most are seen wearing are not sufficient to protect dangerous particles being inhaled, damaging the skin, and irritating the eyes.
Source - Université St. Joseph:
https://www.usj.edu.lb/news.php?id=9317&fbclid=IwAR28kWESgjTonP4VhOi0IXAV3TNhlKeABZzxRsBNYlPWJgdV_ZSflrUmclY
Trauma Relief
The magnitude of this disaster is echoing stories of violence, memories of unhealed pain and anger, exposing as such deeply rooted wounds (on an individual and a collective level) that need to be healed. We aim to provide a caring space, accompanied by plant allies and the potions they facilitate, to move through this pain.
Activities
We are setting up a tent in a Martyr’s Square in Downtown Beirut (a response center established since the beginning days of revolution in October, 2019). We will begin brewing large batches of tea blends with the intentions of trauma care / relief, respiratory health, easing the nervous system, tending to the heart space, and boosting our immune systems - presence, care, and raising awareness.
From the money raised, we will support local medicine makers in sourcing tinctures, dried herbs, topical solutions, etc and distribute. All herbs and medicines used will be sourced locally. A bi-product will be the creation of a local network of herb workers to sustain stock of needed herbs.
Fund-Raising Goal - $10,000
Grounding is needed in these days of aftermath of the explosion because we know that this disaster is only a chapter in the ongoing struggle for the Lebanese people - economic devastation, exponential resurgence of COVID-19 cases, and political unreliability. The powerful, community-centered, mutual aid responses arising from the revolution beginning in October have invited a different path from the war-like mentality that has plagued this land. Our work is carried out with the intention of harnessing and moving through our grief, re-collectivizing, and grokking [to merge, blend, intermarry, lose identity in group experience] responsibility for our well-being and rising beyond victimhood into the continuation of collective co-creation.
With your help, we are together finding reconciliation with ourselves, our land, and our present circumstances to move forward with intentionality and health.
My name is Paul Saad - I am a member of a collective of Earth workers in Lebanon, on the ground, and student of herbalism. I am raising money on behalf of this ever-growing and deepening collective. Decisions for how the money will be used will be on a consensus basis, between members both on the ground in Lebanon and those with supportive roles internationally with experience in disaster response. Please see the following description:
Who We Are
We are group of healers, herbalists, local medicine makers, activists, and educators, on the ground in Lebanon. With international support, we are constructing an herbal response to the Beirut explosion.
Goals
We will use plant medicine to meet the acute, short-term needs from the explosion, while also developing a sustained approach through presence, education and actions. Plant allies can help us sew the seeds of physical and mental resilience, providing guidance and support to heal our bodies and heal our traumas; move beyond religious dogma, political corruption, and collective frustration. This response is important both locally and globally in resurgence against consciousness that has caused these disasters, and in support of healing, organizing, and creating.
Known Chemical Effects of Explosion
2750 tons of ammonium nitrate were released into the plume of the explosion.
While most of the detectable compounds in the air dissipated several hours after the explosion, they reached a radius of 5-10 kilometers around the port before doing so. These particles of NO2 and ammonium nitrate then deposed as particles on our streets, among the shattered glass, on our balconies, and in our houses. The current warnings from local scientists have been targeted to all who have been helping clean the last several days in homes and on the streets. The masks that most are seen wearing are not sufficient to protect dangerous particles being inhaled, damaging the skin, and irritating the eyes.
Source - Université St. Joseph:
https://www.usj.edu.lb/news.php?id=9317&fbclid=IwAR28kWESgjTonP4VhOi0IXAV3TNhlKeABZzxRsBNYlPWJgdV_ZSflrUmclY
Trauma Relief
The magnitude of this disaster is echoing stories of violence, memories of unhealed pain and anger, exposing as such deeply rooted wounds (on an individual and a collective level) that need to be healed. We aim to provide a caring space, accompanied by plant allies and the potions they facilitate, to move through this pain.
Activities
We are setting up a tent in a Martyr’s Square in Downtown Beirut (a response center established since the beginning days of revolution in October, 2019). We will begin brewing large batches of tea blends with the intentions of trauma care / relief, respiratory health, easing the nervous system, tending to the heart space, and boosting our immune systems - presence, care, and raising awareness.
From the money raised, we will support local medicine makers in sourcing tinctures, dried herbs, topical solutions, etc and distribute. All herbs and medicines used will be sourced locally. A bi-product will be the creation of a local network of herb workers to sustain stock of needed herbs.
Fund-Raising Goal - $10,000
Grounding is needed in these days of aftermath of the explosion because we know that this disaster is only a chapter in the ongoing struggle for the Lebanese people - economic devastation, exponential resurgence of COVID-19 cases, and political unreliability. The powerful, community-centered, mutual aid responses arising from the revolution beginning in October have invited a different path from the war-like mentality that has plagued this land. Our work is carried out with the intention of harnessing and moving through our grief, re-collectivizing, and grokking [to merge, blend, intermarry, lose identity in group experience] responsibility for our well-being and rising beyond victimhood into the continuation of collective co-creation.
With your help, we are together finding reconciliation with ourselves, our land, and our present circumstances to move forward with intentionality and health.
Organizer
Paul Saad
Organizer
Houston, TX