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Traditional soap making in Iqlim al-Kharrub towards extinction

10-1-2018

Al Mustaqbal newspaper today shed light on the making of traditional handcrafted soap in Iqlim al-Kharrub and which had once flourished in the villages of the district for its multiple benefits and useful components based on pure olive oil. Today, the industry is waning with the diminishing number of craftspersons who inherited it from their ancestors, and with growing consumption of commercial soaps easily obtainable at shops and vendors, Al Mustaqbal wrote. This trade directly depends on the olive yield, according to Ali Fawwaz who makes ‘baladi’ soap (conventional). Fawwaz said he learned the skill from his mother but did not employ it as a means to secure his livelihood. He gave the reporter the unique recipe for making conventional soap. First, the water is boiled in a large metal cauldron after which olive oil and tar are added and stirred roughly for 6 hours for consistency. Then, the mixture is poured in a special wooden tray and placed on a smooth surface and left for one day to harden before it is ready to be cut into small equal pieces, Fawwaz boasted. Soap making is a simple and inexpensive trade but requires plenty of time and effort, Fawwaz explained, demanding government backing to this vanishing industry. Besides the numerous benefits of the traditional soap, Fawwaz revealed a sneaky tip followed by many women in Iqlim al-Kharrub, which is to sprinkle soap skin or rind on the carpet at the end of the winter season as a proven deodorizer and moth repellent. (Al Mustaqbal, January 10, 2018)

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....And Rawan Dakik climbs Mount Aconcagua

10-1-2018

The Lebanese mountain climber Rawan Dakik who holds a Tanzanian citizenship broke another record in conquering the highest peak in Latin America, Mount Aconcagua (6992 m), Argentina. Rawan started her trek on December 18, 2017 and reached the height of 6300 m in 8 days but was faced with very strong winds and extreme climate conditions which usually cause many an experienced climber to pull out from the expedition. Dakik was forced to retreat to the camp stationed at 4300m until the storm subsided. She then resumed her journey to the top and reached it on January 7, this year. Dakik hiked for 13 hours before she planted the Lebanese and Tanzanian flags as well as the rainbow peace flag atop the peak. Rawan, 17 years, has earlier climbed Mount Ararat, one of the world’s 7 summits at the age of 12 to be the youngest Lebanese and Arab climber and the first African and Tanzanian to accomplish this. She also participated in different treks here in Lebanon, notably climbing the Cedars and Faraya mountains, besides taking part in the Beirut Marathon and the Hermon Run. (Al Mustaqbal, January 10, 2018)

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Citizens are victims of disagreement among officials on toxic pesticides

9-1-2018

During the past week, a dispute arose between MP Wael Abu Faour and Agriculture Minister Ghazi Zuaiter, regarding the agricultural pesticides, and this after Zuaiter issued a decision last December involving the modification of the content of a joint dictate by both ministries issued on June 13, 2016, which banned the import of a large number of toxic agricultural pesticides which proved to be significantly linked to disruptive hazards on the health of pregnant women, while he excluded some 18 types of pesticides but later consented their importation. Abu Faour asked his colleague to repeal his decision, demanding the intervention of the Public Prosecution, and revealed that companies involved in importing pesticides have paid huge sums amounting to USD 500,000 to buy their entry into domestic markets. On its part, the ministry of agriculture presented documents issued by the health and agriculture ministries during Abu Faour and Akram Chehayeb’s terms, indicating that both ministries have conceded the use for one year of certain carcinogenic pesticides, while sources at the agriculture ministry said that Zuaiter has excepted only the pest control chemicals used in reference countries (European Union, Japan, USA…). Similarly, the Association of Importers and Distributors of Supplies for Agricultural Production, described as ‘imprecise and misleading’ Abu Faour’s statement especially that it lacks scientific background, refusing to be represented by non-specialists, as he put it. (Al Mustaqbal, December 30, 2017, January 8, 2018)

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Arab banking women to promote leadership

9-1-2018

The head of the Women’s Group at the World Union of Arab Bankers (WUAB), Nahla Khaddaj Bou Diab, said there is no such thing as rivalry in business between men and women, but that enterprises extensively need the expertise and aptitudes of both genders for they complement each other. Bou Diab pointed out that in light of changes in contemporary economy, business institutions require female leadership, as managers and ordinary staff, in order to positively impact the working environment and create the desired change. This, Bou Diab added, enables these institutions to compete and sustain their status in the economic sector to which they belong, and to strengthen similar notions in society where they become an integral part of it. Bou Diab concluded by saying that, understanding this reality is in the interest of these institutions, for when men and women acknowledge and accept each other, they empower their institutions that need their capacities equally. (AL Diyar, January 9, 2018)

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50 health inspectors trained in Tripoli

9-1-2018

In collaboration with the ministries of economy and health, the Municipality of Tripoli jointly with the Chamber of Commerce for the North distributed certificates on Friday to some 50 health inspectors who completed a training course on food safety and health inspection. On the occasion, Dr Rana Husseini, head of Tripoli Central Clinic, outlined the goals of the training workshop, including the activation of health monitoring to raise awareness among the health officers particularly in observing food safety standards, as well as, standardizing the norms and rules used to this end. For his part, the Caza doctor in charge, Bshara Eid, pressed the need to comply with health specifications and quality stipulations in food safety, pointing to the huge responsibility on part of the health inspector, particularly in challenging the systematic corruption that completely disregards food safety and public health provisions. Speeches during the ceremony stressed the significance of the training session in improving the health conditions in the Northern capital, especially among the butchers and poultry shop owners. To note, the 50 health beneficiaries belong to the Municipality and to the ministries of health and economy. (Al Diyar, January 9, 2018)

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Future women of Beirut and political participation

9-1-2018

The Future Movement’s Women’s Sector in Beirut honored in a gathering on Saturday Beiruti women in recognition of their dynamic services. The event witnessed the presence of Beirut general coordinator, Walid Dimashkieh, the Sector’s coordinator, May Tabbal, and the Sector’s officer for Beirut, Iman Karout, in addition to a crowd of dignitaries. Dimashkieh praised efforts by the Women’s Sector, stressing a priority for female participation in the Future Movement and lauding the competencies women in the capital boast which allow them to have greater political involvement. For her part, Tabbal commended Hariri’s staunch support to women which has been translated in the recent diplomatic appointments, the amendment of chauvinistic legislations against women, the inauguration of a ministry for women’s affairs, his seeking to achieve a women’s representation quota and to have women on the Movement’s electoral list. In her address to women, Tabbal stimulated them to participate extensively in the political arena through joining the Future Movement. Similarly, Karout called for the activation of female membership, noting that the upcoming period requires rigorous action in preparation for a powerful participation in elections. (Al Mustaqbal, January 9, 2018)

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Capital punishment for husband murder of Sarah Amin and arrest of a suspect in another case

9-1-2018

Two years and eight months after the dreadful murder of Sarah Amin who was shot with 17 bullets from her husband’s assault rifle (http://bit.ly/1LE0FO2), the Accusatory Commission of Mount Lebanon headed by Judge Rabi’ Hussami, issued a decision on December 20, 2017 charging the husband with premeditated murder which is faced with death sentence and with the offense of illegal possession of weapons according to Article 72 of the illegal Use of Weapons and Ammunition. To recall, the Investigative Judge of Mount Lebanon, Muhamad Badran, had earlier on August 11, 2015, issued an indictment asking for the death penalty (first degree murder) for the perpetrator, in line with Article 549 of the Penal Code and transferring the case to the Accusatory Commission pending the proceedings by the Mount Lebanon Criminal Court, which has not happened to date, as per Leila Awada, activist lawyer with Kafa organization. Awada expressed fear of further procrastination, especially that domestic violence crimes have been piling up in the courts for years. Al Akhbar newspaper cited concerned parties as calling for the acceleration of the proceedings and rulings in order to establish a ‘deterrent justice’ for such felons. On the other hand, L’Orient Le Jour, briefly reported that, security forces have last Sunday arrested the suspect convicted of killing his wife, Dalia Hijazi in August 2017 in Hermel, Beqaa. (Al-Akhbar, L’orient le Jour 9 January 2018)

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Cabinet buys local olive oil and apples for the army

8-1-2018

In an attempt to alleviate the crisis of olive and apple growers, the council of ministers in its first session held this year on January 4th and chaired by President Michel Aoun, approved a request by the ministry of defense to this effect. The request required conclusion of agreements by mutual consent with agricultural cooperatives to buy a part of the olive oil and apple production in coordination with the agriculture ministry. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Akhbar, January 5, 2018)
 
Previous related news:
Bottlenecks of Lebanese olive industry
Exporting Lebanese apples to Russia to help farmers
More recommendations to revive the ailing agricultural sector
Back to square one concerning citrus and apple marketing

 

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CDR: USD 14 billion contracts over 24 years

8-1-2018

The total of contracts signed with the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) in the period extending between 1992 and 2016 amounted to USD 14 billion, 44 thousand and 16 million, Al Mustaqbal newspaper reported on Saturday. Contracts worth of USD 8,243,24,000 were executed whereby others worth of USD 5,800,92 are still under execution. Al Mustaqbal added that while CDR activities cover various economic sectors, yet its intervention in implementing these activities vary from one sector to another as directed by the government and in view of the nature of the Lebanese free economy system, where the government’s role in productive sectors is more of a catalyst than a competitive party. The newspaper went on to say that, CDR collaborates with different ministries involved in carrying out investment undertakings, as well as, provides technical assistance. However, the tasks of operating and maintaining the implemented infrastructure are the responsibility of the competent ministries, hence, the CDR manages and executes the required operational and maintenance functions as asked by the Government, Al Mustaqbal explained. Accordingly, CDR activities focused on the following key sectors as such: transportation (24%), solid waste (20%), drinking water and sewers networks (17%), electricity (11%), education (9%), landline phone and postal services (6%), public health (3%) and other industries (10%). For more on contracts signed between January 1, 1992 and December 13, 2016, kindly visit the following link: https://goo.gl/eg2ARG. (Al Mustaqbal, January 6, 2018)

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Two new social master’s degrees at USJ

8-1-2018

The Lebanese School for Social Training at St Joseph University (USJ) has introduced two new Social Work master’s degrees, namely, family and socio-educational counseling and social engineering. On the subject, L’Orient Le Jour spoke to Rima Mouawad, the School’s program officer, who made clear that the new courses aim at training specialists in developing a comprehensive vision of balanced development in people. Mouawad noted that the engineering of social development embraces also socio-cultural engineering and citizenship that has been launched earlier with the purpose to train specialists to become change actors in the process aimed at promoting social and societal wellbeing in the long term. As for the counselling discipline, Mouawad said it trains students to keep up with life projects at the level of social, professional and educations relations, besides training them on conflict resolution in the family and in marital and parental disputes as well as enhancing communication skills. Mouawad also pointed out that students in the above two majors will find jobs in public and private institutions, as well as in international and community NGOs, noting that the instructors are experts and university professors holding PhD in social work, with a long experience in the field. Each degree program is 2 years and requires 120 credits. (L’Orient Le Jour, Janaury 6, 2018)

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