News

In its edition of today, An Nahar daily featured the revival of the soap making industry in the North after farmers failed to market this year’s production of olive oil. One olive farmer from Marh Kfarsghab, Zgharta, told the newspaper reporter that his village alone produces around 20 thousand barrels of olive oil and grieved that after years of production buildup, farmers resorted to the making of soap instead. The concentration of acid in stockpiled olive oil, he explained, increases every year, and all this, he added, is a result of the government’s slackness to protect domestic production. The farmer demanded the creation of new outlets to market the annual produce and put an end to smuggling and foreign competition. According to the Agricultural Center in Tripoli and Minyeh of the Ministry of Agriculture,  the total area of olive orchards in Lebanon is nearly 563 square km based on FAO 2010 figures. This figure is equivalent to 54% of the overall cultivated land and represents 8% of the country’s total surface area, with 41% of the olive tree grown areas located in the North. The number of olive growers in Lebanon exceeds 17 thousand farmers, An Nahar concluded. (An Nahar, June 15, 2016)

 

With the approaching touristic season and scheduled plans by the ministry to face the stagnation in the sector, An Nahar daily spoke to the minister of tourism, Michel Pharaon, who while boasting the successful rural tourism initiative launched two years ago by his ministry, pointed out to the new dimension offered by similar projects across the country which has to do with the provision of jobs for locals, especially women, in addition to reviving the development bustle in rural and remote areas. Pharaon also noted the high rate (100%) of occupancy at the various guest houses in Lebanon from the beginning of May until October. Pharaon also disclosed his ministry’s efforts to motivate the sustainable touristic trend of religious and cultural landmarks, alongside the tourism relying on the Diaspora. In this respect, Pharaon announced that he will invite travel agents from different countries that have Lebanese emigrants to design promotional packages catered exclusively to encourage expatriates to visit their homeland. Contrary to concerned people in the tourism sector, Pharaon seemed optimistic in anticipating a 15% rise in the sector, and proposed a so-called ‘Safe Summer’ slogan to encourage Arab Gulf tourists to visit the country and outlined a number of projects to be implemented to this effect. 

In the same vein, the USAID-funded Lebanon Industry Value Chain Development LIVCD program inaugurated last week a rock climbing and mountaineering site in Tanourine Tahta, Batroun area in the North, with the aim to boost rural economy through attracting tourists and creating jobs. The event was attended by minister Pharaon, mayors and concerned figures. Pharaon described the site as the biggest one in the country and a basic component in the national rural tourism strategy.

An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, June 13 and 14, 2016

 

The representation rate of women participation in the 2016 municipal elections has reportedly risen by 1% compared to the 2010 elections, according to Al Mustaqbal daily which based its information on the results published by the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) and the CEDAW Report on Women Status. Exploring some factors that impede the actual participation of women in public life, the newspaper pointed out to deliberate attempts to obliterate the achievements by women and discourage them from running for or voting in the elections. It drew attention to the reluctance of Lebanese political parties to nominate women for decision making positions. Al Mustaqbal pressed for the need to raise community awareness in this direction through the development of the concepts of equality and citizenship, and backing the women representation quota in the municipal or parliamentary electoral laws, as well as in state jobs. For his part, the President of the Mabarat Charity Association, Sayyid Ali Fadlallah, stressed the important role of women who have proved their competence and distinctiveness in all realms. Fadlallah who was speaking during an Iftar banquet held by the Mabarat Women’s Committee, warned that society becomes weaker when it ignores or demotivates its women, whether in the political or development fields. He lamented women’s unnoticeable presence as ministers, or members in Parliaments or municipal boards, or even in women advocate groups. “We do not want a women’s quota, rather we want a true and effective partnership with women,” Fadlallah maintained, adding, “We need legislations that protect women from the hegemony of men and society, and we support every law that contributes to this protection.” There is a need to differentiate between traditions and religion and to stand against traditions that infringe on the essence of religion, Fadlallah explained. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, June 10 and 14, 2016)

 

Al Safadi Foundation concluded yesterday its ‘Socio-Economic Empowerment and Training on Work and Life Skills for Youth in Tripoli’ program, implemented in collaboration with UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut. A ceremony was held on the occasion at ‘Shababuna’ social association center in Suweika, in the presence of the Center’s director, Khaled Hanouf and the program team and trainers. Certificates were distributed to some 65 trainees who completed the vocational and technical workshops specialized in the repair of cell phones and industrial embroidery. It should be noted that the participants have enrolled in  three-month training courses on the various personal and administrative skills, individual and collective empowerment and social awareness, as well as motivation and leadership techniques provided by a team of trained experts from the Safadi Foundation. Speaking at the ceremony, the head of Shababuna Social Development Sector, Samar Bulos, emphasized the significance of the socio-economic approach on which the project is based, particularly in terms of empowerment of the least advantaged community members, like young people and women, in marginalized neighborhoods of Old Tripoli. Such approach, she maintained, is in line with the main objectives of the Safadi Foundation in the field of sustainable development. (Al Mustaqbal, June 14, 2016)

 

On the World Day Against Child Labor which falls on June 12 of each year, As Safir daily published a feature, with special emphasis on the provisions of the labor law which, despite Lebanon’s ratification of the international convention banning the work of children under 15 years, still excludes agricultural jobs and housework. Outlining the commendable efforts exerted by local and global organizations fighting child labor, As Safir highlighted the fate of Syrian children working in the Bekaa and Akkar regions. While children under 10 years make nearly 60% of agricultural workers, the newspaper wrote, no one in their direct environ seem disturbed by their early and arduous labor. Some believe it is an old habit deep-rooted in Syria and among the Arab Gypsies of Lebanon, the newspaper went on to say, pointing out to the physical, economic, social and psychological harms inflicted to children as a result. As Safir concluded by saying that the efforts of international organizations remain insufficient, particularly with the determination of the parents of those children to exploit the whole family in order to alleviate the dreadful economic conditions and the meagre allocations given them in the form of aid. It should be noted, that the wage of each child does not exceed LBP 5 thousand or sometimes one box of veggies. (As Safir, June 13, 2016)

 

After the discovery of the human trafficking mafia inside Chez Maurice and Silver super night clubs east of Beirut, ( http://www.lkdg.org/ar/node/14941), and the liberation of 75 Syrian girls, a squad from the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau at the Judiciary Police Unit, arrested last Saturday a new network in Kesrwan area of Safra. The network is said to exploit Syrian refugee girls with coordination and facilitation by their spouses. The above Bureau detained some11 felons, including three women and their husbands, two other women and three men who are accomplices with the primary suspect in the first case who is still at large. Furthermore, As Safir newspaper disclosed today that the Anti-Trafficking Bureau has acted upon a call it received from a civil activist and following a post on social media mentioning the Safra network. (As Safir, Al Diyar, An Nahr, June 12 and 13, 2016)

 

In its issue of Saturday, An Nahar daily shed light on the work of Nivine Maktabi, the daughter of the legendary carpet family, who has sought to restore and revive the old craft. Recalling her beginnings, Nivine told the newspaper that following the death of her father, and being the eldest in the family, she decided to carry on with her dream in the world of men. She headed to London to major in business administration, social affairs and women empowerment, besides her study of the history of carpets and textiles at the Sothebys World Auctions House. This, Nivine expounded, introduced her to local and international associations in Lebanon working in the field of women empowerment, while at the same time she continued to work and expand the family carpet business. To this end, Nivine opened a workshop in the Bekaa region of Arsal.  The workshop is run by women who also weave shawls with designs reflecting the beauty and magic of the Orient. Nivine wanted to present quality carpets which are also affordable, and selected for that reason herbal colors for a final modern artistic craft, An Nahar wrote. Maktabi chose to collaborate with Fakha and Arsal women because they are skilled in loom knitting like the carpet weavers from Iran, India, Pakistan and Turkey. She explained to the newspaper how she designs the carpet and finishes it with silk and wool. “Encouraged by the United Nations refugee aid program, I had the chance to visit Arsal two months back and closely witnessed and supervised the work of some 11 women aged between 20 to 50 years in order to implement any design or graphic,” Nivine boasted. To recall, that on the 10th anniversary of the opening of her shop in the heart of Downtown Saifi Village district, Nivine Maktabi showcased a collection of made-in-Arsal items, noting that each one two-meter carpet takes around a month to complete. On the occasion, one woman weaver from the Bekaa town gave a live hand loom performance. (An Nahar, June 11, 2016)

 

The decision by agriculture minister on Wednesday to ban the entry to Lebanon ‎until next February of trucks loaded with Syrian fruits and vegetables has ‎prompted conflicting reactions from both Lebanon and Syria. The Syrian minister ‎of economy, Human Jazairi, described the decision by his Lebanese counterpart ‎Akram Shehayeb as “sudden and untimely aimed to harm the Syrian harvest and ‎the Lebanese traders.” Jazairi reminded Lebanon of the international trade ‎exchange provisions that, he stressed, are continually and traditionally associated ‎with a timeline prior to the actual implementation, in order to guarantee the ‎commercial parties on both sides and avoid complications related to export, import ‎and payment procedures. Jazairi also drew attention to damages incurred on ‎Lebanese merchants and trade circles as a result of the inopportune and swift ‎decision by their government. Such decision in its present form, the Syrian ‎minister warned, entails unjustified financial burdens on both sides and has ‎negative repercussions on the interests of two old neighboring countries. Jazairi ‎recalled that early this year, Syria has received a delegation of Lebanese exporters ‎and famers to discuss difficulties in the marketing of Lebanese bananas, and that ‎the Syrian government has exempted them from customs duties as an encouraging ‎and supportive gesture. On the other hand, while the President of the Bekaa ‎farmers, Ibrahim Tarshishi, praised the “positive and correct” decision by ‎Shehayeb, while the president of the Lebanese Farmers Association, Antoine ‎Howayek, said the double-edged ban decision negatively impacts the local ‎farmers, for it benefits some products and harms others. Similarly, the head of the ‎National Gathering for Agricultural Committees in Lebanon, Jihad Balouk, ‎criticized Chehayeb’s unilateral measure describing it as flawed in form and ‎content. (As Safir, An Nahar, Al Akhbar, Al Diyar, June 10, 2016)‎

 

The Minister of Industry, Hussein Haj Hassan, the Minister of Energy and Water ‎Resources, Arthur Nazarian and the General Director of the Industrial Research ‎Institute (IRI), Bassam Faran, inaugurated last Tuesday the new integrated solar ‎power project at the IRI premises, as part of the European Union FOSTER in ‎MED program. The launched project, Faran explained, seeks to promote the ‎adoption of solar photovoltaic technologies in Mediterranean countries and has a ‎multi-phased strategic approach in partnership with the private sector. It ensures a ‎multiplier effect on the Mediterranean basin level, in terms of census results, ‎publishing and mainstreaming their benefits and expanding them beyond the ‎scope of partnership. Similarly, Nazarian disclosed in his intervention that the IRI ‎is currently completing the second phase of the solar power plant. The latter, he ‎pointed out, is a vital innovation aimed at realizing self-sufficiency in terms of ‎generating energy for individual use through exploiting the sustainable and ‎renewable energy modes. Also, Minister Haj Hassan underlined the efficacy of ‎dependence on water, air or solar energy to ensure a reduction of the consumption ‎bill expended by the government and by the productive, industrial, agricultural, ‎health and household sectors. “In a first reading of the results,” the minister said, ‎‎“and given the estimated annual state oil bill (USD 7 billion), if we achieved the ‎desired ratio of 12%, targeted by the government through the increasing reliance ‎on alternative energy, we could save around USD 500 million a year,” he added. ‎‎(Al Diyar, As Safir, Al Mustaqbal, June 8, 2016)‎

 

The president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Tripoli ‎and the North (CCIA-T), Tufic Dabbussi reiterated last Wednesday his ‎determination to support the distinctive role played by the Club for Women in ‎Business in Lebanon (CWB) especially that it complements the efforts of the ‎Chamber in empowering local women to seize Arab and global presence. Daboussi ‎who was speaking during his meeting with a delegation of the Club headed by ‎Carmen Zgheib underlined the need to facilitate women’s access to the productive ‎circles by easing the challenges they face in everyday business world. He pledged ‎to cooperate and coordinate whether in partnership to help succeed the ‎forthcoming international conference under preparation by the Club, or in any ‎other relevant undertaking that places Lebanese business women centrally on the ‎world map. For her part, Zgheib outlined the different activities planned for ‎launching next fall, and emphasized the significance of holding an international ‎forum that gather around 500 women from the Arab and foreign countries. (Al ‎Diyar, June 10, 2016)‎