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English

New Zealand authorizes marijuana for medical ussage

12-12-2018

While Lebanon studies a draft bill related to the legalization of medicinal cannabis (c.f: https://bit.ly/2vw5wjS), the Guardian daily reported yesterday that New Zealand has passed a law that will make medicinal marijuana available for thousands of patients. This comes after years of campaigning by chronically ill citizens who believe the drug eases their pain. The legislation, according to the Guardian, will also allow terminally ill patients to smoke the substance immediately without being prosecuted. To this end, New Zealand health minister, David Clark, said thousands of New Zealanders were living with chronic and life threatening pain and the evidence that marijuana could help ease their suffering was reliable. The new bill will reportedly pave the way for local companies to manufacture medicinal cannabis for both the domestic and international markets, raising the hopes of transforming the illicit industry into a thriving legal one. (The Guardian, December 11, 2018)
 

Previous related news:
Further consultations on legalizing cannabis and tobacco farmers protest prices
Committee dwells on legalization of cannabis for medical use
McKinsey Plan for Lebanon: endorse agriculture, legalize cannabis
 

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Economic cooperation agreement with China

12-12-2018

Following Lebanon’s expressed desire to join the new Silk Road initiative (refer to below links), the head of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon, Mohamad Shucair, signed on Tuesday an agreement with the head of the Arab Chinese Cooperation and Development Association, Qassem Tufeili, to boost economic ties between Lebanon and China. The agreement aims specifically to increase Lebanese exports, benefit from the Silk Road programs and expand the exchange of expertise and information between companies in both countries. Following the signing the bureaucracy, Shucair disclosed that there are many prospects yet to be explored, pointing out that China is in need of made-in-Lebanon products and is ready to invest billions of dollars in our country. Shucair also underlined the importance of increasing Lebanon’s food and agricultural exports to Chinese markets, benefit from Silk Road investment programs and activate collaboration between the private sector in the two countries. For his part, Tufeili stressed that his association seeks through above agreement to follow up on commercial and economic matters of interest for Lebanon and China. (Al Mustaqbal, December 12, 2018)


Related news: 
Chinese interested in connecting Lebanon to the Silk Road via Iraq, Syria
Tripoli slowly progress economically on the silk road
A modest step for Lebanon along China’s new silk road
Tripoli linking with New Silk Road
 Lebanon starts the process of accession to the Silk Road Chinese initiative
 

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Made-in-Israel tahini infected

11-12-2018

Israel not only occupied Palestinian land but has also sought to appropriate Arab culture and identity, including famous heritage culinary products, (like falafel, hummus, tabbuleh, etc), with which it overran European and American markets. In this respect, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on November 28 warned of two Israeli brands associated with Achva tahini and seven other brands, in addition to the organic tahini product by S&F. These products were reportedly sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec and probably other states, according to CFIA. The latter confirmed the outbreak of identified foodborne diseases associated with consumption of above products that have been recalled from the markets, but did not mention how many, cautioning citizens to discard them or return them to the stores. Pregnant women, young children and immunodeficient patients, the agency concluded, could be at serious or fatal health risks, including high fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea if they eat from the said items. ( https://theprovince.com/ November 28, 2018)

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Gender equality assessment in Arab region

11-12-2018

During a conference on gender justice and law held in Beirut yesterday, ESCWA, UNFPA and UNIFEM released an assessment study of the laws influencing gender equality in 18 Arab countries. The assessment was based on the position of each country vis-a-vis CEDAW agreement, as well as, the text of the Constitution, the nationality law, criminal laws, personal status and labor laws of said countries. Participants in the study concluded that Arab states are moving towards gender equality, but that additional legislative contributions are needed to this end and to protect women from violence, according to L’Orient Le Jour newspaper. The assessment found out that reforms in many Arab states focused on domestic violence and sexual harassment, while much remains to be done, pointing to legal and constitutional gaps that overlook gender equality. The study also noted that not one single country covered by the survey explicitly criminalized marital rape, and that family laws did not observe equal rights of women with their partners in matters of marriage, divorce, guardianship and children custody. (L’Orient Le Jour, December 11, 2018)

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‘Thank you Soma’, documentary on migrant domestic workers

11-12-2018

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper highlighted a new documentary by Lebanese film director Carole Mansour about migrant women domestic workers in Lebanon entitled, ‘Thank you Soma’. Mansour portrays the relationship of Lebanese woman ‘Nour’ with the migrant worker Soma who played a big role in her education. A film to remind us to not lay down our arms but instead, continue to contemplate and question the inherent complexity and injustice in the treatment of MWDWs, according to the director. The first screening of the documentary will be on December 18, 2018, 8:30 pm, at Metropolis, Empire Sofil Cinema (Ashrafieh, Beirut), open invitation, to be followed by Q&A discussion with the director. For more information, kindly call: 01-204080. (Al Akhbar, December 11, 2018)

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Ban on Ethiopian domestic workers’ traveling to Lebanon for protective reasons

10-12-2018

In its issue of December 8, Al Akhbar newspaper brought to light last month’s decision by the Ethiopian government to ban the travel of its nationals to Lebanon after the Lebanese labor minister refused to sign a memorandum of understanding to improve the conditions and rights of female migrant domestic workers (https://bit.ly/2QmNIF6). On the subject, the director of FENASOL, Castro Abdallah, explained that the MoU entails many provisions, notably, raising the salary of the MWDW, limiting working hours, and ensuring the right to a day off per week, but did not clarify if the memo required an annulment of the sponsorship (kafala) system. For his part, the member of the Syndicate of Recruiting Agencies, Hisham Bourji, said that the MoU was submitted to the labor ministry three years ago, but was not given priority and was delayed by bureaucratic processes which prevented its immediate approval in signing. In a related vein, some human rights jurists have voiced their concern over the enactment of the travel ban. ILO’s FAIRWAY/Work in Freedom project coordinator, Zeina Mezher, pointed out that although the ban is a means of pressure to improve working conditions in the country of destination, however, studies have shown that it increases the risk of exploitation and trafficking in persons. In her turn, Kafa lawyer, Joanna Isaac, said Lebanon’s failure to sign the agreement could increase the cost on Lebanese employers and the worker herself who often bears the high costs even before her arrival to Lebanon and during her first three months of stay. (Al Akhbar, December 8, 2018)

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Additional Syrian fees on Lebanese transit

10-12-2018

In its issue of December 8, An Nahar newspaper reminded readers of the decision by Syrian transportation ministry on September 10 to raise the transit fees (c.f: https://goo.gl/wy8dBS), pointing to decreased number of Lebanese trucks entering neighboring Syrian to Arab Gulf states due to another enforced raise on fees, according to the head of the Bekaa Farmers’ Association Ibrahim Tarshishi. The latter pointed out that the Union of Customs Brokers in Syria has imposed yet an additional tariff (equivalent to USD 300) on Lebanese trucks. Tarshishi clarified that the September directive has included a fee on the freight tonnage by distance and dimensions on trucks in violation of Syrian ministry instructions to this end (USD 30 for each extra ton and USD 300 for over the limit dimensions). Such added taxes, Tarshishi explained, prompted many exporters to return to the maritime bridge program. Meanwhile, the situation on the Jordanian borders is not better, An Nahar wrote. While Lebanese trailers are forced to pay as high as USD 140 per ton, Jordanian trucks enter Lebanese territory exempt from fees, the newspaper said. On the same subject, vice president of Lebanese Industrialists Association, Ziad Bekdash, disclosed that the industrialists are still awaiting the outcome of negotiations by concerned Lebanese sides to adjust the fees, adding that exporters still use sea transport which remains less costly, yet longer in duration, than land transport. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, December 4, 8, 2018)

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EU-supported conference on cooperative development

10-12-2018

Around 53 agricultural cooperatives from the areas of Akkar, Hasbaya, Marjey3oon and Tyre took part in the ‘The role of the ideal cooperative’ conference held on Friday at the invitation of ACTED. The event is part of the ‘Support of olive and bee-keeping cooperatives in Lebanon’ project funded by the EU, in partnership with SHEILD and Akkar Development Network. Innovative solutions that could push the role of cooperatives beyond the delivery of traditional services were discussed during this event. Participating experts gave important information and tips on the key laws and regulations governing the cooperative sector in the country. They underlined the need to adopt lessons learnt and best practices from other coops, including proper short and long-term planning and re-evaluation of the market and consumer behavior, hence contributing to a sustainable use of the coops’ financial and human resources. Experts also stressed that enhancing the democratic structures within cooperatives enable coop members to collaborate in economic and social undertakings that pave the way for improved livelihood prospects and the creation of ties with local and international markets. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, December 8, 2018)

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Law against early marriage hostage of confessional bodies

7-12-2018

The Parliament Secretariat, the Lebanese Democratic Women’s Gathering and the National Alliance for the Protection of Children from Early Marriage held a consultative meeting on December 4 under the banner, ‘Legal arguments on early marriage of children in Lebanon, and its relationship with international agreements’. On the occasion, NCLW president, Claudine Aoun, reminded of the draft bill submitted to the parliament which sets the minimum age for marriage at 18 for boys and girls with no exceptions until after the completion of 16 years and after the legal guardian receives consent of the juvenile court judge. Aoun pointed out that given the fact that all faiths reject and condemn violence, the marriage of children is considered one of many forms of violence against girls. She explained that the capacity the Lebanese State kept to the confessional and spiritual authorities in personal status matters does not mean that the State should relinquish its role in protecting its citizens and defending their rights. For his part, the minister of state for women’s affairs in the caretaker government, Jean Ogassapian, questioned the possibility of enacting a law outside the framework established and recognized by the various religious sects in the country? On the other hand, L’Orient Le Jour newspaper reported that while representatives of the FPM, PSP, Kataeb and LF parties have supported the minimum age of 18 without exceptions, Hizbullah MP Nawwaf Mousawi, reiterated that determining the age of marriage is the responsibility of spiritual authorities. The Future Movement did not participate in the meeting, according to the newspaper. (L’Orient Le Jour, December 5, 2018)

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Lebanon imports of carpets stand at USD 30 million

7-12-2018

Lebanon’s total imports of carpets amounted to 9,830 tons at USD 30 million during 2017, compared to its exports of 235 tons at USD 1,300,000 during the same period; Al Akhbar daily reported citing customs figures. Turkey, the newspaper said, is the leading supplier of carpets to Lebanon, with imports reaching around 4,000 tons’ worth of USD 9,200,000, followed by Iran (514 tons at USD 2,850,000) and Belgium (503 tons at USD 2,120,000). Lebanon also imports carpets from some 84 other countries, including, China, Russia, Ethiopia, Argentina, Jordan, Spain, Australia, Estonia, South Africa and Afghanistan. (Al Akhbar, December 7, 2018)

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