Mariam Hariri, Head of General Management Service and Quality Manager at the Regie, took part in the “Archives & Heritage for Palestine – Beirut x Palestine” seminar, held at Beit Beirut on Saturday, July 12. During her intervention, she stressed on the tobacco crop’s significance for the people of Southern Lebanon, saying that it represents “a living memory and a symbol of resilience and rootedness.”
This seminar marked the ninth installment of the “Archives & Heritage for Palestine” series, hosted by Dr. Jamila Ghaddar and Tam Rayan in commemoration of the 19th anniversary of the July 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon.
The seminar, which brought together “noted Lebanese archivists, cultural stewards and academics” shed light on archival initiatives in Southern Lebanon.
It was moderated by renowned Palestinian journalist and war correspondent Shatha Hanaysha. In addition to Hariri, the panel included Dr. Habib Sadek, Fatima el-Bazzal, and Amani Rammal.
Hariri focused on “the symbolic dimension of tobacco in the memory of the Southern Lebanese community,” adding that for them, “tobacco is not merely a crop; it is a living memory, a symbol of resilience, rootedness, and quiet defiance in the face of erasure attempts.”
Her intervention was accompanied by a film showcasing the resilience of tobacco farmers in Southern Lebanon.
The seminar also addressed the significance of Beit Beirut as a site of historical interest and announced the launch of a series of field activities as part of the project “Fighting Erasure: Digitizing Gaza’s Genocide and the War on Lebanon.”
A fundraising campaign was held during the event, in support of the Eyes on Heritage in Gaza foundation, along with a virtual presentation highlighting the foundation’s “efforts to preserve Gaza’s documentary heritage.”