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Inequalities impede the achievement of SDGs

17-9-2018

The World Social Science Report was launched by the AUB on September 13 and 14, under the title, ‘Challenging Inequalities – Pathways to a Just World’. The report warned that increasing inequalities could undermine the sustainability of economies, communities and societies by weakening efforts to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 20130. The report, published in Arabic in collaboration between the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Media Studies, the Arab Alternatives Forum and UNESCO, stressed the significant gaps in social science data with regard to inequalities in different parts of the world. It called for vigorous research into the relation between economic inequalities on the one hand, and disparities in gender, education and health, on the other. And while it showed a 5-fold increase in studies related to inequalities and social justice in academic publications between the years 1992-2013, the report mentioned that many studies don’t pay adequate attention to inequalities outside the areas of income and wealth, like for example, health, education and gender. The report also pointed to 7 interrelated dimensions of inequality: economic, political, social, cultural, environmental, spatial and knowledge-based. These dimensions, the report maintained, create vicious circles of inequalities that pass from one generation to the next. The report stressed that the focus of social science research into inequalities is generally seen in developed countries that keep reliable data, whereas developing states don’t have similar reliable data. According to the report, research has shown a rise in cases of inequalities, noting that 1% of the population owns half of the world’s wealth, and that the wealth of the richest individuals numbering 62 is equivalent to the wealth of the poorest half of humanity. (An Nahar, September 15, 2018)

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Lebanon ranks 80th globally in HDI

17-9-2018

Lebanon scored 0.757 in the Human Development Index HDI published by UNDP for2017, ranking 80th among 189 countries and regionally. Points recorded by Lebanon in the HDI for 2005-2017 have jumped from 0.732 to 0.757, at a 3.4% increase. According to the Index, the average life expectancy at birth in Lebanon has risen by 9.6 years between 1990 and 2017, the average years of schooling by 1.2 years and the average expected years of schooling by 0.8 years. Lebanon’s GNI per capita posted a 49.1% increase between 1990 and 2017. To note, the value of the Human Development Index for Lebanon 2017, which is 0.757, is equal to the value scored by the countries in the HDI and higher than the 0.699 rate scored in the Arab countries. Lebanon also scored 0.381 points in the gender inequality index ranking 85 out of 160 countries covered by the 2017 index. Also and according to the report, Lebanese women hold 3.1% of the seats in parliament; 53.0% of adult Lebanese women have completed their high school education compared to 55.4% of their male peers; the maternal mortality ratio reached 15 maternal deaths per 100 live births, and finally, the rate of women’s participation in the labor market in Lebanon stood at 23.2% compared to 71.1% for men. (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, September 15, 2018)

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Absence of classification deprives Tyre of tourism development

14-9-2018

In its issue of today, Al Akbar newspaper said that Lebanon lacks a clear classification of tourist cities, pointing to a sixty year old decree that covers what it calls ‘summer cities’, excluding the coastal ones. On the subject, Al Akhbar spoke to the minister of state for administrative development affairs, Inaya Izzedine, who clarified that said decree has shown partiality to these areas, including increasing their electricity rations and giving them an edge in infrastructure, road network, investment and development undertakings over other areas that remained neglected. Izzedine said she seeks amendment to the current legislation, in collaboration with the ministry of tourism that will include summer and touristic cities. As such, Tyre will receive official recognition for its distinctive touristic potentials and will be noted in any future development initiatives approved and endorsed by the government. Izzidine also stressed that the concepts of tourism and tour guide need to be revised. For his part, Tyre mayor, Hassan Dbouk, pointed out that the city has been passed over, marginalized and unknown by many Lebanese for years, noting that it is a touristic city par excellence hosting scores of visitors and tourists, particularly in the summer months. During the Fitr Holidays this past June, for example, Tyre received more than 50,000 tourists, Dbouk said. Similarly, the head of the Association for Protecting the Environment in Tyre, Ahmad Faraj, maintained that the city boasts all the nitty-gritties of a tourist city and historic ruins which classified it within UNESCO’s World Heritage Cities. (Al Akhbar, September 14, 2018)

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Lebanese wine to China, Aoun calls for increasing production

14-9-2018

President Michel Aoun met yesterday with the director general of the General Organization of Vineyards and Wine, Jean Marie Oran, on the head of a delegation visiting the country. Oran gave Aoun an overview of the activities by the Paris based organization founded in 1924 and embracing 46 wine producing countries. He explained its technical and scientific role and mission in setting high quality international standards for the production and processing of wine, in addition to the development of production and removal of obstacles impeding the exchange of expertise between member states and promoting a wine culture globally. Aoun in turn, welcomed the delegation reminding of the essential and ancient relation between Lebanon and wine, and underlining the importance of cooperation with the Organization, especially in the field of exchange of expertise. Increasing the quantity of production is fundamental for Lebanon at the present time, Aoun said, hoping his country will contribute to enhancing the quality of the product internationally. Oran recalled that Lebanon has been an active member in the organization since 1995, lauding the level of bilateral cooperation between the two sides. For his part, the general director of the ministry of agriculture, Louis Lahoud, revealed that China has opened its markets to receive Lebanese wine, disclosing that the ministry is coordinating with the Chinese embassy in Lebanon to market Lebanese wine. (Al Diyar, September 14, 2018)

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Return of Badaro farmers’ market

13-9-2018

The farmers’ market will return to Badaro neighborhood of Beirut on Sunday September 16 and every Sunday thereon from 9:00 am at Saint-Sauveur School, Museum Street, Al Akhbar reported. Local producers, individuals and rural coops will showcase their organic and chemical-free goods, in addition to traditional mooneh items. The market will also devote a space for children-targeted workshops aimed to raise awareness among kids on diverse environmental issues, and teach them how to recycle and upcycle. The event is organized by Badaro Urban Farmers association, a gathering of individuals involved with promoting green businesses. For more, kindly refer to link below: https://goo.gl/etBPJr . (Al Akhbar, September 13, 2018)

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Naya An Nahar: A section spotlighting talents, challenges of women

13-9-2018

An Nahar newspaper announced today that it is launching its new Naya section devoted to highlight the role of women in Lebanon. The aim is to support Lebanese women through focusing on their talents, innovations, challenges and their empowerment in the fields entrepreneurship, family, fashion, health and culture. The section is expected to tackle challenges women face in the absence of laws that protect female workers, mothers, students and activists and help them find conceivable and empowering solutions or initiatives. Naya will mainly target the women of Tripoli, Batroon, Beit Meri, Saida, Nabatiyeh, Deir el Qamar and Baalbaq who grew up in the Arab Gulf, Canada, Europe and the US. The editor of Naya section, Sally Farhat, said articles are not going to address the challenges in their traditional context, stressing that coverage will be exceptional. An Nahar will publish the Naya content on its social media platforms, namely, Instagram@nayabeirut, Twitter@Beirut Nayat and An Nahar’s English website: .https://en.annahar.com/section/699-naya. (An Nahar, September 13, 2018)

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“Jezzine Bikes” turns a stay-at-home mother into an entrepreneur

12-9-2018

In its issue of yesterday, Al Akhbar newspaper spotlighted the successful experience of Cherine Abu Rached who became an entrepreneur in her town with only 11,000 euros, two small wooden kiosks and a few bicycles. Abu Rashed, 30-year old mother of two from Jezzine, started her small business after she was introduced to Oxfam through the Jezzine Cultural Hub. Her proposal for the Jezzine Bikes project which she submitted to an ideas competition organized by the association was accepted. Marco Ricci from Oxfam coordinated the project and the EU funded it, the newspaper said, pointing out that Abu Rached has attended intensive management and creative marketing training sessions with a team from Oxfam. Today, she runs her own business, including accounting, with the help of one employee. In an interview with Al Akhbar, Abu Rached said she could not find anywhere more convenient to implement her undertaking, noting that the town lacks this type of sports and touristic ventures for more than 50 years. Besides, she added, not everyone can afford to buy a bicycle, therefore, whoever wants to take up this healthy sport can do that by renting a bike for LBP 8,000 per hour. (Al Akhbar, September 11, 2018)

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Lebanese Film Festival in tribute to women

12-9-2018

The Lebanese Film Festival is expected to kick off its 13th edition next Monday paying tribute to Lebanese women with a selection of films, seminars and workshops. Festival director, Wafaa Halawi, said during a press conference that the new round will open on September 17th with Nadine Labaki’s latest Cannes award-winning Capharnaum movie and will close on September 21st with widely acclaimed film, ‘The Hour of Liberation’ by Heini Srour, the first Lebanese woman director to have her film screened at Cannes International Film Festival in 1974. Halawi told Reuters that this year’s festival will feature around 65 films, including 60 Lebanese films, mostly by women. The festival’s committee, she explained, has chosen Labaki’s and Srour’s films respectively for the opening and the closing ceremonies to underline the important role played by Lebanese women in cinema and art, tackling social, political and philosophical issues. For her part, the director of Bande a Part Productions, Carole Mizher, announced a new partnership between her foundation and the Lebanese Film Festival aimed at organizing an intensive workshop for Francophone women in the Mediterranean concurrently with the festival. Beneficiaries will be offered full accommodation during the workshop which will teach them how to develop their cinematic and script writing skills. (An Nahar, September 11, 2018)

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Canadian gold medal to Lebanese woman for academic excellence

12-9-2018

Nadia Nafi, Lebanese assistant professor at Concordia University, Montreal, received the Governor General’s Gold Medal in recognition for her academic excellence in the human and society category, L’Orient Le Jour reported. Nafi, the newspaper said, has acquired the highest cumulative grade for her doctorate degree in educational technology for the year 2018, noting that the medal is awarded to outstanding scholastic achievements of students at the university and has been conferred to prominent figures in art, journalism, politicians and scientists. On the occasion, Nafi stressed that the medal is of great value to her, especially as an immigrant, non-English speaking woman and mother. This again proves to the world the strength and determination of Lebanese women, she maintained, sending a message to Lebanese mothers who are not bold enough to invest in their capacities outside the comfort zone of their homes. “Don’t underestimate your abilities, find a support system and you shall give a wonderful role model to your children,” Nafi said. Nafi, to recall, graduated as an interior designer from LAU in 1995. Her graduation project ‘the modern prison’ was designed to help young inmates comprehend their criminal behavior and empower them to become indispensable citizens to their nation. In 2008, she traveled to Canada for post graduate studies and enrolled in Concordia University to specialize in educational technology. Her doctoral thesis focused on studying the impact of media and social media on the young people’s rationale in accepting or rejecting the other and the effect of this on social integration. (L’Orient Le Jour, September 8, 2018)

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The case of Nader Saab: President of Order of Physicians accused of leaking report

10-9-2018

After the public prosecutor charged plastic surgeon Nader Saab with causing the death of Farah Qassab (c.f: http://www.lkdg.org/ar/node/16732), the case resurfaced in September 6 when the solicitor general of Mount Lebanon charged the president of the Order of Physicians, Dr. Raymond Sayegh, the head of the former Investigations Committee, Dr. Claude Semaan, and member of the Order, Dr. Joe Haddad, with leaking the Committee’s report based on a complaint submitted by Sayegh against an unkown party and a similar complaint submitted by Saab. According to the information, the prosecutor listened to over 25 physicians mentioned by Sayegh and hence found that the three defendants, while they were on duty at the Order premises, leaked the report which is considered a confidential investigation document. The prosecutor referred them to the Single Judge for trial based on criminal offenses stipulated in the Penal Code that could reach up to one-year imprisonment. Over a phone call with Al Akhbar daily, Sayegh completely denied all charges against him, stressing his capacity as a plaintiff for being the first to file charges against unknown parties for leaking the report. (Al Akhbar, An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, September 7, 2018)

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