Decision details

Moved by Councillor Scully, seconded by the Chair (the Lord Mayor) –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         that on 4 August 2002, two explosions in the port of Beirut killed at least 220 people, injured at least 7,000, left hundreds of thousands homeless and caused at least US$10 billion in property damage;

(ii)        the disaster came on top of compounding crises in Lebanon, including an economic meltdown, political corruption and the Covid-19 pandemic;

(iii)      widespread political demonstrations in the wake of the explosions have prompted the resignation of Lebanon’s Prime Minister and Cabinet, with protesters calling for wholesale political, economic and structural reform;

(iv)      Beirut’s status as one of the oldest and greatest cities of the world, and a global centre of world history, religion, culture, architecture and commerce;

(v)       our valued Lebanese community and the long-standing and ongoing contribution of people of Lebanese heritage to Australian society, and the contribution of such figures as the late former Lord Mayor Nicholas Shehadie to the City of Sydney;

(vi)      the efforts of Australia’s Lebanese community to provide aid and support to Beirut throughout the current crisis, including the Lebanese Muslim Association, the Maronite Eparchy of Australia, and the Australian Lebanese Historical Society; and

(vii)     that Sydney Town Hall was lit in the Lebanese national colours of red, green and black on the night of Tuesday, 11 August 2020, the same night as the Lebanese Cedar was projected onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House as a message of solidarity with the people of Beirut; and

(B)      all present give one minute’s silence to honour those who have lost their lives, and all those affected by the disaster.

Carried unanimously.

Note – All those present at the meeting, held remotely, observed a minute’s silence to support the people of Beirut and Lebanese people in Australia.

S129264