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Kataeb MP and former Minister Salim Sayegh emplasized the importance of wome's human, political, economic and social rights especially their right to work.  He considered that women’s main role is to maintain their families but this does not contradict with the necessity of their participation in the job market on equal footing with men.  Sayegh was speaking at a seminar yesterday entitled "Women's mission: family and work" organised to celebrate the launch of a women parish commitee within the Maronite parish of Sarba.  Sayegh also noted that laws should strengthen women's role and give them “special” treatment.  He also emphasized that international treaties commit Lebanon to give women their full right so that they can contribute to the development of their community.  He called for operationalising protection measures to allow home-based work which is in line with technological advances and IT communication. Sayegh concluded by calling for more flexible small loans for women so that they become entrepreneurs within their environments.  He also suggested the need to change traditional mindsets which challenge women's participation and considered that women can alleviate unemployment and poverty through allowing them to generate income and improve livelihoods.
(Source: Al-Mustaqbal 30 December, 2014)

 

 The deficit in the balance of trade until October of 2014 recorded an accrued deficit of USD 14.660 billion thus scoring an increase in deficit of USD 1.432 billion USD compared with the same period last year and this according to Lebanon's official data.  As a result, Lebanon's imports bill skyrocketed to USD 17.452 billion whereas exports did not exceed USD 2.792 billion.  To be noted that the Lebanese balance of trade suffers from a historical structural deficit due to the nature of domestic industry which cannot meet all internal demands, the poor competitiveness of a number of Lebanese products in regional and international markets except for the case of food processing and manufactured goods.  According to An Nahar newspaper, it is possible to address these handicaps by offering incentives to Lebanese investors and producers, raising awareness on improving quality, decreasing costs, raising competitiveness and opening new and sustainable external markets for Lebanese products.

With regards to agriculture and food security, agricultural cooperatives in the Beqaa organised a general meeting last Saturday at the Chamber of Trade, Industry and Agriculture to focus on the stagnation of the agriculture sector, poor export records and unfair competition from external sources.  Participants in the meeting asked the state to interfere in protecting and supporting Lebanese products especially potatoes.  During the meeting, the president of the Coalition of Farmers in the Beqaa, Ibrahim Tarshishi, noted that 2014 was a bad year for farmers especially for potato farmers.  He added that the responsibility stems from poor organisation of import as 40000 tons of seeds were imported leading to an increase in planted areas and an increase in potato production to well beyond local demand.  Other circumstances that negatively affected farmers include climate change, and the deteriorated security situation.  Potato farmers asked for a halt in importation of Egyptian potatoes as of the first of February and until the end of March 2015 so that they are able to sell their harvest. Further North, and despite the recent relative improvement in pricing and marketing due to the improvement f the security situation in that geographical area, citrus farmers in Akkar noted that their plight remained the same and called on the relevant Ministries to protect their harvest through concluding economic agreements with Arab and European countries to facilitate the marketing of Lebanese produce which is considered to be the best in the region.

 (Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al- Nahar, Al-Diyarm and As-Safir 29 December 2014)

 

 A ceremony was organised at the Hicha Social Theatre in Wadi Khaled to mark the graduation of 40 men and women trainees who completed a vocational training course organised by UNHCR, Technical Collaboration Agency and Akkaruna. The activity was held within the framework of a programme to support the social sector which secured funding from the French foreign ministry. According to the president of Akkaruna organisation, Ezzah Mu3een al Merhbi, the aim of the training was to assist Lebanese and Syrian trainees in finding work opportunities in carpentry, make up artistry, hotel management, and pastry making.  Merhbi also added that by the end of the training, nine of the trainees were able to find jobs in hotels and restaurants located in Beirut and in a number of carpentry workshop.  She also added that some of women graduates started their own hair dressing shops in Wadi Khaled.
 (Source: Al-Mustaqbal 29 December 2014)

 

 The Cultural Bureau and the Southern Beqaa branch of Women Progressive Union (WPU) organised a seminar on Food Safety at Home.  The event was held at the Kamal Joumblat Cultural and Social Center in Rashayya under the auspices of the Minister of Public Health, Wael Abou Faour.  Nutrition expert, Hitaf Jamil Zuwayn, introduced food safety and food pollution and spoke about the most common biological, physical and chemical pollutants and the standards set by the WHO regarding food safety and how to prepare and store food.  In conclusion, Zuwayn advised participants to use honey, cinnamon and certain herbs and other products like mint, ginger, cumin, and garlic for food poisoning patients.
(Source: Al-Mustaqbal 29 December 2014)

 

The Minister of Agriculture, Akram Chehayeb, confirmed that that the food safety campaign shall continue and will be indifferent to any form of denigration.   The Minister was speaking in a press conference convened yesterday with the participation of representatives of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture as well as industrialists, farmers, as well as importers of drugs and fertilizers.  He added that the livelihoods of agricultural producers is sacrosanct and is a “red line” and clarified that he has issued a memorandum reference 5/1 regarding the distribution of fresh milk from farmers and in which he asked all dairy factories to abide by the decision to receive this fresh milk.  Chehayeb also spoke about non licensed agricultural drugs and the contraband from Syria and noted that he has addressed a detailed dossier to the current Minister of Interior and Municipalities asking him to halt these practices and hold those responsible liable.  Chehayeb spoke also about the owners of non complying food factories and added that his Ministries has given them a deadline to secure a needed commercial registration lest the Ministry will take action against them.

(Source: Al-Diyar & Al-Nahar 24 december 2014)