Annahar Bloodline Edition: End The Bleed

Lebanese newspaper Annahar has a track record of leveraging creativity to make bold political statements. And this Valentine’s Day they released a special front page printed with ink mixed with real blood to make a statement about love, remembrance and resistance. The Bloodline Edition depicts a cedar tree (a symbol of Lebanon that features on the national flag) growing out of an anatomically accurate heart. It draws a line between the assassination of prime minister Rafic Hariri, who was murdered on Valentine’s Day 2005, and current injustices, political strife and social breakdown. Devised by agency Impact BBDO, the front page of the Bloodline Edition is the centrepiece of a movement urging Lebanese people to ‘End the Bleed’ and to pay tribute to those who fight for justice. People can add their voice to the chorus via an online platform too. In a synopsis of the project, the creators say: “Lebanon is a bleeding country. Even our Valentine’s day is stained with blood as the brutal assassination of Prime Minister Rafic Hariri happened on that same date. But this will not stop us from expressing our love to our country even in the toughest of times.