Sometimes, it pays to express you ideals in the form of loads and loads of balloons – which is exactly what local NGO Nahwa al Muwatiniya is planning for this year’s Independence Day. The secular group, born out of the concern of a diverse group of young professionals about attitudes towards accountability, transparency, rule of law, and citizen participation in policy making, work to promote citizenship values in Lebanon.

Enthusiastic support for this work is evidenced by the presence of Minister of the Interior Ziad Baroud at the event, which will release 10,000 helium balloons (made of biodegradable latex, apparently) in the Lebanese colours into the air; as expressions of national unity go, at least this one is pretty.