Jenny Walty

There is a tenous ceasefire in Lebanon today, and an international UN peacekeeping force being assembled. But the damage to the infrastructure remains grave and possibly crippling to this small democratic country in a region of kingdoms and military dictatorships. The 34-day-long conflict with Israel, which caused over 1,000 Lebanese and 157 Israeli casualties in addition to huge economic losses of both sides, came to a cease-fire on Aug. 14 with UN Resolution 1701, in which Lebanon agreed to send its army to the South and allow a UN force in return for Israel lifting the land and sea blockade of the country.

After 6 weeks of the Israeli blockade, Lebanese hospitals are running out of supplies, gas lines lengthen, and the last of reserve stocks of commercial goods are being put on the shelves of grocery stores in Beirut. Fisherman are not allowed to take their boats out and are losing their income for the entire year, as it is now the height of the fishing season.

The release of 15,000 tons of fuel oil from a Jiyyeh power plant after an Israeli bombing has contaminated approximately 150 km of the Lebanese seashore since July 13 spreading northwards and threatening the health of people, ecosystems and endangered animals like the monk seal and loggerhead turtle. The Minister of the Environment called on the UN and neighboring Mediteranean countries for help and on August 17 met in Athens to put together a plan for clean-up. Only 1% has been cleaned up so far and the fuel has sunk to the seabed, creating a need for new technology to remove it from the Mediteranean.

Kofi Annan is going to Lebanon and will survey the damage and try to speed implementation of the UN resolution, but no matter how long it will take, Lebanon will still need our help.

I'm working with a group of international artists, writers and students (Lebanese and Americans mostly with diverse backgrounds) to put together a benefit exhibition to raise awareness and funds and send a tangible message of support. A concurrent visibility campaign is going on called I [heart] Beirut.

If you'd like to be involved as an artist, collector, organizer or supporter, please email me at jenny@jennywalty.com. If you have an artwork you'd like to donate please send me a jpg or description. The show will be curated by all of those involved once we have a space confirmed.

Thank you!