Lifestyle

Strength and Vulnerability: Majd Zaher’s New Novel Looks Beyond the Veneer of Lebanese Society

Published

4 years ago

June 21, 2021

Your first book ‘Borderline Love in Beirut’ explores some challenging topics and complex characters. Can you explain the inspiration behind the story?

Growing up in a conservative family brought many challenges to my life. There was always something missing in every moment I spent living. There was a part of me that I wanted to discover and unleash yet I was afraid of judgments and backlash. Hence, I grew up as the loneliest kid in town as I had no friends and always found myself the weakest individual wherever I was. Moving out from my family’s house and starting an independent life was an eye-opening experience and the main motive that made me talk and write. I wanted this novel to be a celebration for everyone who doubted his own potential, who thought that other’s opinion would be able to dim his or her own light, and on a personal level I wanted to prove to all those who had ever bullied me that I was able to find success and peace after all.

One of the themes you deal with is marginalization and marginalized groups. Why did you decide to address this topic?

Writing has always been a way to pave the road towards a better world and an escape from the prisons we might be existing in. Talking about marginalized groups is based on my stance that everyone has the right to exist if they are not hurting or killing anyone else; and no one has the right to decide who is eligible to enjoy life and who is not. Unfortunately, in Lebanon, we have no laws to protect vulnerable or marginalized groups. These groups include immigrants, domestic labors, queer people, or any other category. In Borderline Love in Beirut, I was no longer Majd, I ascended to Joy and Adam’s soul to show the world how difficult living life becomes when no one likes you, when everyone avoids you, and when everyone judges you for what you look like and not for the real person you are. In Lebanon, we have laws that penalize love that does not protect women from harassment. In Lebanon, our system does not give any attention to the importance of mental health and does not help marginalized groups to engage in society.

What is the role of mental health in ‘Borderline Love’, and what are some lessons about dealing with or treating mental health issues from the story?

In Borderline Love in Beirut mental health is the crux of the story. I will not be able to say how this Borderline case will evolve yet I could tell you how it all started. Joy and Adam were the victims of a society that has never been able to embrace them the way they are. Experiencing death, upbringing challenges, and health concerns, Joy and Adam grew to become victims each in their own way. The takeaway is that offering mental health care and support for people who undergo a certain trauma, and even those who did not, is something critical. We can no longer sit still when almost every hour a Lebanese citizen ends his or her life. We cannot sit still when people still think seeking mental health care are mad. We should learn that the strongest of us can sometimes be the weakest and most vulnerable.

Is ‘Borderline’ a cautionary tale? Or is it intended as a reflection of another kind?

I see in Borderline Love in Beirut as many tales narrated at once. This novel carries in its pages a cautionary and reflective approach. At many parts of the story when I discussed Joys struggles with loneliness, self-hate and first love I was narrating many past incidents. However, in other pages, I detached myself from this reality and decide to go the extra mile and tell others how destructive it would be for anyone to fall in love before loving himself or herself, or how painful does it become when you don’t praise your uniqueness, or you don’t embrace yourself before listening to people’s judgments.

The book is set in contemporary Beirut and focuses primarily on young characters. How do you perceive your own society in Lebanon in terms of some of these issues, including marginalized groups and mental health issues? What would you hope for the future of Lebanon in terms of societal relations and acceptance?

In Lebanon, the lifestyle is not bearable anymore but I’m still hopeful of what is coming next because I believe one day my people will wake up to realize that coexisting and accepting the other is the only way to guarantee long-lasting peace and prosperity. It is difficult to find words to describe Lebanese society, but I will say that it is strange and paradoxical. For example, if you go to certain areas in Beirut, you’ll see people of different backgrounds enjoying their lives without the essence of discrimination and stigma. However, if you would leave the city for a less than five-minute drive, you will see the opposite. My wish and sincere hope for the future is to have a safe place for all people to live in Lebanon. To have laws that do guarantee the rights of the weak, and more laws to ensure gender equality. I do hope as well more effort will be done to abolish the rules that penalize love and strengthen the rifts in society.

The past year has been incredibly hard for Lebanon, and the world. What do you hope to impart, through ‘Borderline Love’ to young Lebanese who might have struggled through the August 4th explosion, COVID, and other major obstacles?

My message here is for those who have struggled and continue to struggle, for those who have lost and learned, for those who are still seeking to find a path to a safe shore, to all dreamers and seekers, to all lovers, to parents and youth. I want to tell them all that fighting can be exhausting but the end results will be rewarding. Let them all know that we will not rest, nor will we accept living in a place where our brothers and sisters are being killed. Not when the weak are always abused, and when all we want to do is love yet obstacles are placed in our way. Let them all know that we shall rise, and we will rise stronger than ever because after each storm there is always hope. Borderline Love in Beirut is the utmost manifestation of this idea.

Lifestyle

Commercial and Industrial Lighting Solutions: A Bright Future with LEDLightExpert

Published

3 days ago

March 20, 2025

Michelle Langton

Today, conserving the planet’s dwindling resources is more critical than ever, but many commercial buildings still waste approximately 30% of the energy they consume. Fortunately, the emergence of LED lighting equips these businesses with a powerful way to improve operations while reducing overhead costs.

“Our mission is to provide sustainable lighting solutions that reduce energy consumption and lower the carbon footprint of commercial and industrial operations,” says Dara Greaney, CEO of LEDLightExpert.com. “LED lighting is a huge leap forward in technology. It offers outstanding benefits both for businesses and for the planet.”

Why LED lighting is the sustainable choice for commercial and industrial applications

Traditional lighting solutions like incandescent and halogen lamps convert much of the energy they consume into heat, making them hot to the touch. In contrast, LEDs generate minimal heat and use most of their energy to produce light, making them far more efficient and reducing a building’s cooling load.

Thanks to their efficiency, LEDs use approximately 75% less energy than their incandescent counterparts. For large commercial and industrial spaces requiring extensive lighting, energy efficiency translates into substantial cost savings. The energy bills of facilities operating on a 24/7 schedule, such as warehouses and manufacturing plants, stand to benefit the most.

A positive review from an LEDLightExpert customer states, “The 52-500, 100-watt LED flood lights we ordered were heavy-duty, sealed for exterior use, and had 50% more lumens than the 100-watt lights they replaced.”

LEDs also boast an impressive lifespan. Because LED bulbs last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, customers can expect fewer replacements and lower maintenance costs.

Whereas traditional lighting options might need to be replaced every few months or years, LED lights last for decades with minimal maintenance. This longevity is crucial in industrial environments where accessing light fixtures can be challenging and costly.

In a recent review, another satisfied LEDLightExpert customer reports, “We have used these 150w LEDs to retrofit 62 400w metal halide lights in our church parking lot. I just ordered the last [five] needed to complete this project. The original LED lights have been in for over a year with not one issue. Great product […] great customer service!”

LED bulbs are an all-around boon for the environment. By consuming less energy, they lower greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a smaller carbon footprint. Their long lifespan also reduces waste and the overall impact on landfills.

Finally, unlike fluorescent lighting, which contains hazardous substances like mercury, LEDs are non-toxic and do not require special disposal procedures. This makes them a safer and more eco-friendly option for businesses looking to enhance their sustainability practices.

LED lighting offers improved lighting quality

It turns out that LED bulbs benefit people as well as the planet. Advanced LED features such as dimming capabilities, smart controls, and motion sensors allow businesses to tailor lighting systems to a range of needs and conditions.

Additionally, the wide range of cool and warm lighting options available from LED bulbs enables businesses to optimize comfort with the most natural lighting possible. Studies confirm that well-lit workplaces lead to increased productivity, health, and job satisfaction for employees.

“The brightness, clarity, and consistency of LED lights ensure safer and more productive work environments,” Greaney notes. “At LEDLightExpert, we are dedicated to lighting solutions that enhance visibility and make the workplace a more enjoyable place to be.”

LEDLightExpert: Leading the way in commercial and industrial lighting

LEDLightExpert has made a name for itself in the realm of commercial and industrial lighting, and its commitment to quality and innovation is evident in its comprehensive product offerings. The brand’s high bay LED lights deliver bright and consistent lighting even in rooms with high ceilings and expansive spaces, making them ideal choices for warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and gymnasiums, providing powerful and efficient illumination. The high bay lights ensure every corner of the facility is well-lit, enhancing both safety and productivity.

For these unique applications, LEDLightExpert offers several options. First, named for their characteristic circular shape, UFO Style High Bay lights provide broad and efficient illumination. Designed for maximum efficiency and minimal maintenance, their innovative design ensures an even distribution of light across expansive areas such as factories and storage facilities.

Next, featuring long LED tubes, Linear Style High Bay lights are known for their energy efficiency and high lumen output. They are perfect for spaces with ceiling heights ranging from 15 to 30 feet.

Finally, for spaces that need 360-degree lighting, LED Corn Bulbs from LEDLightExpert present an ideal solution. These bulbs, shaped like an ear of corn with multiple LED chips installed on all sides, are excellent replacements for traditional metal halides, high-pressure sodium lamps, and CFL bulbs. They offer a cost-effective path to upgrade lighting systems by enabling businesses to retrofit current fixtures to LED without considerable infrastructure changes.

Safety and security are a top concern in industrial and outdoor commercial settings. LEDLightExpert offers commercial LED floodlights that illuminate vast areas such as parking lots, building façades, and construction sites with bright and consistent lighting that enhances visibility and deters potential security threats. Their durable design withstands harsh weather conditions while providing maximum visibility.

For outdoor perimeters, LEDLightExpert’s Industrial LED Wall Packs are another excellent lighting option. These fixtures provide powerful lighting that enhances security and aesthetics at the same time.

LEDLightExpert’s street and parking lot lights are well-suited for municipal and commercial applications, ensuring well-lit paths and parking areas. Their design focuses on both performance and energy savings, improving public safety with reliable, bright lighting.

“Our lineup of LED products meets the wide range of needs expressed by our commercial and industrial clients,” explains Greaney. “From high-wattage flood lights to customizable lighting solutions, we are constantly innovating to bring the latest LED technology to our customers. With LED, the benefits are clear, the products outstanding, and the future undeniably bright.”