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A study released by the Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology scientific journal on May 31, has recorded the prevalence of mental and behavioral disorders amongst adolescents  in Lebanon at a  level higher than that registered in other Arab countries. The study which targeted some 510 teenagers aged between 11 to 17 years indicated that nearly 26.1% of youngsters in the greater Beirut district suffer from one type of disorder or the other, while noting that the required medical services are inaccessible, and with only 6% of patients receiving specialized care. In the findings, 14% of the respondents suffer one type of mental or behavioral illness, 8% are diagnosed with two disorders, 3% with three and 0.8% have experienced four or more disorders. The types and prevalence of these disorder are as follows: mood swings (at a rate of 6.7%); anxiety (13.1%); attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD (10.2%) and behavioral disorders (4.7%). The survey recommended in conclusion the following: understand the absence of coverage of the necessary medical treatment for similar patients; identify the financial and moral obstacles impeding proper access to psychotherapy; observe and control school bullying and its detrimental effects, as well as, promote awareness regarding the diagnosis of mental and psychological disorders in teens who suffer health problems. (As Safir, July 5, 2016)

 

In its edition of July 3, Al Mustaqbal newspaper shed light on the challenges facing pine growers in the regions of Hasbayya and Arqoob, the land of some 100 thousands pine trees. Pine woods stretching across the towns of Rashayya al Fukhar, Kfar Hamam, Habariyeh, Fardiss, Ain Qania, Mimes, Kefir and al Khalwat are mostly state-owned, owned by municipalities or are private property. In this respect, Amin Ibrahim, a pine guarantor for the government, municipalities and small landowners told Al Mustaqbal that pine growing generates remarkable proceeds to tens of households that benefit from pruning and gathering the kernels. He pointed out that one kilogramme of peeled white pine is being sold at more than LBP 60 thousand after reaching nearly LBP 85 thousand last year, attributing the price fall to the invasion of domestic markets by relatively cheap imported Chinese and Turkish pines. Moreover, Ibrahim added, pine growing requires great care, a skill most landowners lack and the authorities disregard, especially fighting sandalwood worm, which began to hit the pine this year, and constitute a factor of fear to farmers in the region. Besides, the daily wage of the pine laborer could reach around LBP 100 thousand due to the risky and physically demanding job involved, Ibrahim said, while noting that the majority of those workers are Syrians. For his part, Ghattas Ghareeb, the mayor of Rashayya Al Fukhar which embraces some ten thousand pine trees, appealed to the agriculture and environment ministries to support this cultivation and assist the municipalities in the pruning and cleaning up of conifers and protecting them against forest fires, which should be mandatory. Ghareeb highlighted the significance of this agriculture in the creation of jobs for rural inhabitants and in raising funds for the municipalities. (Al Mustaqbal, July 3, 2016)

 

The Lebanese Labor Ministry said it has received complaints about a number of beach resorts ‎who are banning entry of migrant domestic workers, with or without the company of their ‎employer households. Accordingly, the ministry issued a statement describing this action as a ‎clear infringement on human rights, stressing that it will take the necessary legal procedures ‎against them. The ministry also asked owners of similar resorts to undo their disrespectful ‎measures against individuals, notwithstanding their color, race or ethnicity, threatening to take ‎appropriate action against violators. Moreover, the statement went on to say, the ministry “is ‎serious in providing legal protection to migrant workers, as part of its conviction and recognition ‎of the human nature of this category of workers, and on the basis of fighting all forms of human ‎trafficking and discrimination as observed in the international human rights conventions”. (Al ‎Diyar, An Nahar, July 5, 2016)‎

 

As Safir reported today that after months of strain and suffering by the Sweidan couple to see their children who have been taken to the custody of the Anglican House of Hope, the father won a 10-day custody of his children by virtue of a court ruling to this effect. In the details, the story started back in March 2015, when the father filed a grievance before the Appeals Public Prosecutor of Mount Lebanon against his wife and her brother after he returned home and could not find her or the kids. He accused his wife of kidnapping the children to exploit them in illegal forms of work. After a few days, As Safir went on to say, the husband discovered that his wife, who has resorted to the civil association, Abaad, (which protects survivors of gender based and domestic violence) through an office affiliated with the Ministry of Social Affairs in the southern suburb of Shiyya7 stating that she has been exposed to abuse by her husband. Abaad took the children and their mom from place to place whenever the father got wind of their location, and thus hid them for six months without reverting to the court. On 26/11/2015, Abaad seized a court ruling by Judge Dima Deeb which temporarily places the mother and her children at its premises. On 11/1/2016, Deeb issued another decision releasing the mother and her daughters provided she declares the new place of residence. Later, on January 21, Deeb delivered a new verdict requesting a letter in writing to be sent to the Appeals Court in the North advising the competent authorities to write a directive of investigation and inquiry against the mother for taking her daughters to an unknown destination. The verdict ordered delivery and placement of the children at the above association. On 28/1/2016, Judge Deeb issued a new ruling asking the ‘deceased’ grandfather to take temporary custody of his grandchildren! The newspaper pointed out that after a strenuous and unhappy journey, the wife has decided to return home hoping to reunite and reconcile with her family. The file, it should be noted, has been transferred to the Jurisdiction of Saida in the South, which decided that the children stay away from their parents and accordingly be placed at the Anglican House of Hope in Ka7aleh, Mount Lebanon, where they are now. (As Safir, July 4 and 5, 2016)

 

The National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) held a meeting on Friday to discuss the ‎data on the recent participation of women in municipal elections based on a survey study carried ‎out by Information International. The said survey showed similarities in results between the 2010 ‎and 2016 municipal elections figures, whereby the number of women candidates (in all Lebanon) ‎has risen from 1346 to 1485 women nominees, and the share of women winners has increased ‎from 4.7% in 2010 to 5.6% in 2016. During the meeting, NCLW vice president, Randa Assi ‎Berri, underlined the following: “If the result of the increase in the rate of participation in ‎municipal elections which occurs every six years barely reaches 1 to 2%, this means that we need ‎some 250 years to realize the sought justice or parity between men and women.” The shortest ‎solution to this sad reality, Berri added, is the adoption of a women’s representation quota as a ‎temporary and transitional answer to the inadequate participation of women in public and ‎political life. (Al Mustaqbal, July 2, 2016)‎

 

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No real participation of women in public life in the absence of political will

 

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Tripoli and the North, organized yesterday a workshop in the framework of joint efforts between the Chamber and the International Labor Organization ILO aimed at development of value chains in the potato and leafy vegetables sectors. The event was held at the Conferences Hall under the patronage of the Chamber’s president, Tufic Dabbussi, and in collaboration with ILO and the Business Incubation Association in Tripoli (BIAT). On the occasion, Dabbussi underlined the importance of the integrated role of all involved parties in the success of development programs in the various economic industries, primarily in agriculture, like the production of potato. He also noted the critical significance of coordination between the private and public sectors as well as international partners. “The recovery of the agricultural sector is a vital issue which centers on the principle of partnership as well as on the strict observation of international specifications and food safety standards,” Dabbussi said. For her part, the project’s senior technical advisor at the ILO Arab Regional Office, Anabela Scoff, pointed out that the agricultural development initiative has achieved substantial successes to this effect. Likewise, BIAT general director, Fawaz Hamdi, outlined the role of the incubator in launching a wide range of undertakings in the different productive sectors, in addition to small and medium enterprises. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, July 4, 2016)

 

In a special feature published today, Al Akhbar newspaper portrayed the struggle of the Beqaa ‎cannabis growers to protect their summer harvest, noting that after four seasons, crops remained ‎intact. Nowadays, these farmers are resuming the cultivation of thousands of acres with this ‎banned crop, hopeful to receive attention from their government. To expound on the subject, the ‎newspaper spoke to one cannabis grower who confirmed that such precious plantations are a ‎support and assurance for hundreds of Beqaa farmers and their families. “The Lebanese ‎government does not get it, that we are growers and not dealers. He who grows the crop is ‎originally destitute and no one cares about him. The grower wants to provide for his household ‎and see his children educated and married,” he said. Another cannabis farmer, Hassan, in his ‎fifties, praised the flowering crop that “never loses” as he described it, contrary to other ‎conventional plants which face many challenges, in the forefront, water scarcity. This, Hassan ‎explained, has caused a high demand and an increase in the rent cost of water-rich lands, coupled ‎with a rise in labor cost and a monopoly by traders, in the absence of marketing outlets and ‎government backing. Likewise, a fellow marijuana grower, lamented through Al Akhbar the lies ‎and false promises of the government about an alternative agriculture project. “They lied to us ‎even after the formal visit by former interior minister, Marwan Sharbel, to Yamooneh town back ‎in 2012 after the promises he made to this effect”. In conclusion, the newspaper called attention ‎to the fact that cannabis farmers are hopeful of legalizing the crop, similar to the tobacco crop, ‎which once was illegal. “Why does the government authorize the cultivation of tobacco which is ‎very detrimental to the health of citizens, while it continues to ban cannabis which essentially ‎contains medicinal and industrial benefits” they wondered. (Al Akhbar, July 4, 2016)‎

 

Notwithstanding the security perils following Al Qa3 blasts early this week and the  BLOM bank bomb and the surfacing of information about planned terrorist attacks against specific recreational and commercial neighborhoods, yet, touristic circles seemed buoyant and optimistic in their attempts to play down above threats. To this effect, the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Night Clubs and Pastries in Lebanon, issued yesterday a statement urging customers of such venues not to panic but “restrictively follow the directives released by competent security departments.” The statement confirmed that all touristic establishments are on guard and have taken maximum precautionary measures in this direction. Likewise, the minister of tourism, Michel Pharaon, while pointing out that it is difficult to predict the security situation in the days of Eid, reiterated the placating announcement by Pierre Ashkar, President of the Lebanese Federation of Tourism Industries, that hotel and flight bookings for the summer have not been affected to date. Pharaon also denied reports of possible attacks targeting summer festivals. For its part, An Nahar newspaper noted that that professionals are working through promotional campaigns and activities to attract tourists from abroad, and indicated that the rate of occupancy during the Fitr Eid season is still expected to reach a high of 70% to 80% in the regions and 90% in the capital, Beirut, and that is according to industry sources. (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, July 1, 2016)

 

In collaboration with German Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), the Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST) organized yesterday in Baalbaq an event, entitled, ‘Promoting the Role of Women in Public Affairs in Baalbaq - Achievements and Challenges’, and in order draw attention to their common efforts to raise the levels of public and political participation of women and develop their capacities. LOST founder, Rami Lakkis pointed out during the occasion that the precarious political situation at the national level prevents the young generation and women from participating in political life. “In order to boost women’s engagement on the public scene, efforts should be employed along two axis,” Lakkis said. The first should be based on strengthening women’s self-confidence and esteem, improving their potentials and developing skills that enable them to better communicate and manage themselves and others as well, Lakkis explained. The second axis, should work on reducing social obstacles that impede their participatory action in this regard. For his part, KAS representative, Peter Rimmele gave a summary of the training which was implemented in the context of the collaborative project in Baalbaq and Hermel. “Beneficiaries have partaken in political campaigning, expressed their opinions and communicated with others,” Rimmele said. They also learned about the art of public speaking and the nature of municipal work, he added, disclosing that some even nominated themselves for municipal councils. And in a direct address to the participants, Rimmele said encouragingly, “this is just the beginning, keep it up.” At the end of the conference, the women candidates to Baalbaq municipal council, namely Hadeel Rifai’, Yumna Tofaili and Mirvat Wehbeh, presented their assessment of the training project and the underlying challenges. (Al Mustaqbal, July 1, 2016)

 

In a special feature on the recent decision of the Ministry of Agriculture to halt the entry of Syrian fruits and vegetables into Lebanon, As Safir daily reported that the prices and marketing of such products have remained unchanged. This development largely dissipates earlier fears of consumers and merchants in this regard, according to the owner one vegetable shop on the Hasbani main road. Likewise, Rabi’ Harfush from Marjeyoon, expressed his satisfaction with the minister’s “right” decision to protect domestic production, as he described it, and its positive implication on the agricultural sector. The newspaper carried similar reactions from heads of agricultural cooperatives, notably the olive and olive oil producers, who considered that theses measure by putting an end to unlawful foreign competition will surely offer protection to the sector, and urged the ministry not to back down under any pressure. For his part, the head of the Syndicate of Apple and Fruit Tree Growers in Lebanon, Fuad Nasr, criticized what he termed “the media campaign launched against Shehayeb by some political circles under the so-called National Gathering of Agricultural Committees.” This campaign, Nasr alleged, serves the interests of a few Lebanese and Syrian traders who seek to drown the local market with Syrian made goods. He appealed to agricultural unions to be more supportive of the interests of farmers and candidly offer proposals and practical solutions to the crisis of agriculture. “Our only criticism of Shehayeb’s move is not its boldness, rather it is his holding back from asking agricultural bodies to adjust the decision in order to gain the trust of citizens,” Nasr explained. He called for further measures namely: modify the present Lebanese-Syrian trade agreement; develop an exceptional agricultural calendar that will regulate trade exchange between the two neighboring countries; take all necessary steps to control the open borders, put an end to smuggling activities and close illegal crossings; and finally activate the role of quarantine health centers on the border to ensure the safety of agricultural goods entering Lebanon. (As Safir, Al Mustaqbal, June 22 and 23, 2016)