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In its edition of today, Al Hayat newspaper published an article on Lebanese craving for food and their extensive participation in cooking festivals, with a special focus on ‘Suk el Akl’  held every Thursday in Downtown Beirut. Such activity, the newspaper wrote, is a smart way of marketing rural goods, traditional mouneh and veggies, in cooperation with ‘Suk el Tayyeb’ and ‘No Garlic No Onion’ hospitality portal, as well as the Lebanese chef, Wael Ladkani, and Solidere company. The food market opens at 5:00 pm until 11:00 pm to attract food lovers, including families. The event represents an occasion for the Lebanese people to walk around the commercial district of Beirut and taste new mouthwatering dishes, said Dany, a father of three. Al Hayat drew attention to the large crowds flocking to the souk, along with the participating sous-chefs who find in the marketplace a perfect venue to meet with their clientele and give them a bite of their good food recipes. In between the two regular gourmet dates, the Lebanese have something to look forward to every week and celebrate their love for life, the newspaper wrote. Such yearning does not unfold in ordinary diners or eateries, especially in not pocket-friendly posh restaurants, Al Hayat said. Food street markets and food festivals have become a habit in Lebanon that motivates households to go out and have fun at an affordable price. (Al Hayat, December 1, 2016)

 

Al Hayat daily highlighted in a special feature today a new aspect in the life of Syrian women who are venturing into the men’s workplace, especially after being left as sole breadwinners of their immediate and extended families. Displaced Syrian women, Al Hayat wrote, were driven to look for work anywhere and at minimal wage to provide for their children. And when they could not find their call in the jammed labor market due to high demand by their peers, they sought occupations that were not long ago restricted to men. They targeted vacant occupations (usually occupied by men) and at the same time wanted to prove to their community that they are not any less than men no matter how arduous or tough the job, Al Hayat said. There are too many examples out on the streets and all over the city, the newspaper wrote, portraying a brave woman who parks her bike mounted with children’s favorite snacks and pastries every day in front of schools. And in the afternoon, this same woman replaces the snacks with cleaning detergents and kitchen utensils to sell for women on the streets and in parks. For more on the subject, the newspaper interviewed a number of women, like Dalal, in her twenties, who works at a bakery to help with the family’s expenses. In the beginning, Dalal told the reporter, she found it awkward to be with a bunch of men workers, but later she felt comfortable and they got into the habit of her daily presence. Um Mohamad, another bold woman, who works in a cement factory, said that the job was very rough when she first started as it required stamina and physical aptness in summer and winter. After she ran out of her savings, she was forced to start work, Um Mohamad boasted, mentioning a colleague at the same factory who drives a truck loaded with cement blocks and sand. (Al Hayat, December 1, 2016)

 

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ABAAD non-profit organization staged a symbolic sit-in yesterday in front of the Parliament demanding the full annulment of Article 522 of the Penal Code, which provides for the end of all prosecution against a sexual assaulter if he marries his victim. (Section 7 of the Penal Code/ on crimes of obscene or abusive nature). The move coincides with the meeting of the Parliamentary Administration and Justice Committee to study a proposal submitted by MP Elie Kayruz to repeal the above article without amendment. Partaking in the protest, were a number of deputies, namely Samir Jissr, Ghassan Mkhaibir and Elie Kayruz. On the occasion, lawyer Danielle Howayek from Abaad explained that the basic demand is a complete eradication of the article which contains a text that is blatantly humiliating to women and vindicates the cruelty of perpetrators of rape crimes. Howayek categorically rejected any adjustment of the said article that facilitates the violation of women’s human rights. For his part, MP Mkhaibir revealed an initial approval by above committee members to abolish the article. To note, the move comes as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign. (The promotional video of the campaign: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-gKu9yw6eI). Commenting on the promo announcement, journalist Ahmad Mohsen wrote in Al Akhbar newspaper that the video which shows a shackled woman dressed in white, a symbol of marriage, who is harshly beaten, is in fact meaningless, and only justifes violence. The promo implores affection and compassion, thus supports patriarchy’s vision of women as weak  (To review the article of Ahmad Mohsen in “Al Akhbar” please check: http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/268917) . 

(Al Akhbar, Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, December 1, 2016)

 

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The Lebanese Businessmen Association (RDCL) led by Dr. Fuad Zmokhal held yesterday a lunch/dialogue banquet at Four Seasons Hotel in Beirut for the occasion of the official launch of the Lebanese Businessmen and Businesswomen in the World Association (RDCL World) in the presence of founding members and dignitaries. On the occasion, Zmokhal stressed that the new global gathering is an independent authorized entity that will encompass prominent women and men in business from Lebanon and the world. It will also embrace liberal professions and private companies, not only individuals, Zmokhal said, hoping to open branches in every country with extensive presence of Lebanese nationals. The gathering will seek collaboration and camaraderie and will “sign cooperation agreements with Lebanese international alliances to make team efforts more efficient and productive,” he said. “We have faith in the solidarity of the Lebanese business bodies around the world who are keen to help their national counterparts access world markets or venture together into new ones, as well as establish trade exchange protocols to finance tripartite operations and productive partnerships,” Zmokhal added. He finally advised transcending narrow individualist approaches in business, which the Lebanese boast, into wider collective work. The founding members are as follows: Elie Aoun, Mona Bawarshi, Emile Shawi, Farid Dahdah, Elias Dumit, George Gharib, Toni Ghrayib, Nassib Nasr, Riad Abji, Fuad Zmohkal, Elie Abu Jawdeh and Karim Farsoon. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, An Nahar, December 1, 2016)

 

Contemporary Muslim women suffer from several predicaments and challenges, probably more than their counterparts around the world, wrote researcher Al Amjad Salameh in Al Akhbar newspaper today. He drew attention to two kinds of problems, internal ordained by the prevalent laws, traditions and local institutions (countries with Muslim majority), and external, brought about by racial profiling unfolding around the West. Salameh argued that feminist organizations (local and western) contribute to the major setbacks in the lives of Muslim women, noting that while such associations initially advocate women’s rights, yet, for certain reasons, they create hurdles instead of presenting solutions to alleviate the pressure. To date, Salameh wrote, neither these associations nor the Muslim communities have been able to identify the source of the dysfunction governing the relation between them. On the one hand, while feminist groups throw accusatory labels (like patriarchal and male chauvinistic) at local communities, the latter, largely conservative, describe women’s associations as copycats of the West, according to Salameh. The status of the Muslim woman cannot be tackled outside the context of her role or level of income in the labor market of states with Muslim majority, Salameh said, giving Lebanese working women as an example, especially for what Lebanon stands for as a leading supporter of the “liberation” of women. A woman wearing hijab in Lebanon, Salameh explained, faces discrimination in employment, and most employers in the private sector and recruiting institutions refuse to hire her. Despite this alarming fact, feminist groups in Lebanon act indifferently without even mentioning similar cases, Salameh said. “Unfortunately, the majority of feminist organizations in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon, are funded by Western donors, and therefore have to develop their agendas and goals in the context of Western feminism,” Salameh concluded. He went on to generalize by saying that “western feminists only see in the veiled woman, an oppressed person and that she has to get rid of the veil, before considering it a women and help her in her fight against injustice”. For the complete article, kindly visit the following link: http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/268858. (Al Akhbar, November 30, 2016)

 

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) warned in its report issued on Tuesday that the continuous marginalization of the Arab youth threatens to undermine development efforts in the region. The UN Arab Human Development report for 2016, ‘Youth and Prospects for Human Development in a Changing Reality’ has shown a brazen absence of genuine dialogue or partnership between the youth and the ruling authorities to the end of devising new policies that meet youth aspirations. According to the report which was launched at the American University of Beirut (AUB), the young generation (between 15 and 29 years) represents about 30% of the population of the Arab world. In the Lebanese section, UNDP Resident Representative, Philippe Lazzarini, pointed out that Lebanon embraces nearly 1.1 million young people (aged between 15-24 years) who are of Palestinian or Syrian origin, adding that economic and security instability has great impact on the youth in the country. Lazzarini drew attention to the rate of unemployment, 26% of which is among the group of young people, linking the current crisis to the unresolved Syrian refuge dilemma. The latest statistics, he said, have shown that one third of displaced Syrians (between 19 and 24 years) have returned to their homes after being exposed to forms of violence and due to jobs scarcity. For his part, the head of the research team contributing to the above report, Dr. Jad Shaaban, conveyed to An Nahar newspaper an alarming fact, which is that nearly 50% of college graduates opt to leave the country for work in the Arab Gulf, as first choice, or to Europe, as a second option. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, November 30, 2016)

 

The Prime Minister Designate, Saad Hariri, stressed yesterday that education and knowledge are the only way to build human capacities and achieve a paradigm shift in the latent potentials of the local economy and maintain Lebanon’s distinctive presence in the region. Hariri was speaking during the inauguration in Downtown Beirut of the Outreach and Leadership Academy of the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development (OLA) in the framework of partnership with the Lebanese American University (LAU). “Currently, a key responsibility of the State is to create jobs for young men and women and reinstate a climate of optimism and confidence, to encourage the generation of the future”, Hariri said. He further underlined the importance of the initiative as a model for cooperation between the private sector and civil society. Hariri stressed that the project boosts the skills of youth in schools, universities and workplace, and therefore, enhances opportunities of success for students in finding the right jobs after graduation and for young employees in terms of individual initiative. To recall, the Beirut center for OLA, a twin of the Saida-based center, is built on the trilogy ‘educate, empower, engage’. It is aimed to provide civil society organisations, as well as, educational and state-run institutions with training courses on a sustainable basis. The main aim is the development of leadership and management skills as well as raising the awareness of civil society to community issues, in addition to the empowerment of youth and the working and productive forces. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, Novebmer 30, 2016)

 

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The ministry of labor announced in a statement yesterday that it has suspended the licenses of some 171 agencies recruiting migrant domestic workers for violating required regulations. The ministry has also deactivated the licenses of another 33 offices giving them one-month ultimatum to redress their conditions, the statement said. This leaves some 441 active legalized agencies out of a total of 700 recently operational ones. This step, the statement explained, comes after arduous work by a senior staff ministry committee which studied the cases of agencies on an individual basis. The labor ministry also advised households to deal only with legal offices, otherwise they shall be accountable for aiding violating recruiters. Furthermore, the ministry urged the families who have live-in migrant help to “respect their human, personal, social and financial rights and treat them fairly”. On the other hand, Al Mustaqbal newspaper reported yesterday the death of an Ethiopian domestic worker who threw herself from the ninth floor of her employer’s residence in the Shiya7h suburb of the capital. As per usual, security squads rushed to the scene for investigation. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, November 30, 2016)

 

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The Gathering of Women Associations in Mount Lebanon issued a statement yesterday responding to former minister Wi’am Wahhab, without naming him, who mentioned in a televised program the absence of a role for institutions, particularly women bodies, in the mountain area. The statement pointed out that the Gathering is the umbrella of over 50 women associations, that work “for sustainable welfare, revival of the state and service of citizens in the various social, health, educational, development, services and environmental arenas.” The Gathering is “keen on preserving internal stability and civil peace, refusing to be trapped in trivial talk show blather,” the statement said, stressing that such talk about absence of institutions in fact undermines the achievements, accomplishments and struggles of dozens of bodies in the service of the community. “This is totally inacceptable and aims to create turbulence,” the statement warned. “Voices advocating the narrow rights of confessional groups in fact divide rather than unite, and jeopardise national unity….”, the statement added. (Al Mustaqbal, November 29, 2016)

 

In its edition of today, As Safir newspaper portrayed the historic comeback of the traditional copper trade which is flourishing in the southern markets. Copper goods, As Safir wrote, are highly demanded among Lebanese consumers as they are showcased during touristic festivals, and in antique shops and village banquets across Lebanon. Copper has also become an essential part of the local cookware and kitchen tool set, in addition to its acclaimed decorative function both indoors and outdoors, the newspaper added. In the popular Suk el Khan in Hasbaya and similar traditional markets, street stalls are festooned with copper pots and pans that often capture the attention of market goers, As Safir went on to say. For more insight, the newspaper talked to one merchant, Samer, who described the metal as the ‘chief in command of the marketplace’, mostly because of its affordable price. The main clientele of the bazaar are Lebanese or foreigners who work within the UNIFIL forces in the South, and who opt to take home with them copper gadgets as gifts to their families, Samer boasted. For his part, Omar who works in organizing local summer festivals in the borderline area, said that different assortments of copperware that were displayed during the festivities have grabbed the attention of passersby. Old copper utensils and crafts are being collected for restoration through the conventional ‘whitening’ technique by specialists, who are almost extinct, Omar lamented. (As Safir, November 29, 2016)