An “unbroken forest” of oaks and conifers blanketing the highlands of Iraq and Iran . . . The hills of Palestine and Lebanon, crowned with cedars and pines . . . “Dense forest growth” in arid North Africa . . . Juniper, fir and sycamore woodlands blanketing Syria, and oak groves dotting the Arabian peninsula.
"Hope floats! eternally light above these darker times. Hope floats! and gives cause to celebrate the small and large gestures we make individually and together towards one another. Hope floats! and gathers momentum, purpose and solidarity. Hope Floats and carries the human spirit higher as the work continues...."
The four-minute long footage showed a Western-looking man sitting on a chair surrounded by armed masked men. One of the men struck the captive's neck repeatedly with a sword, severing his head amid shouts of "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest).