News

As Safir published a report on the Nationality Campaign documentary, All for the Nation, directed by Carole Mansur, which shows the stories of Lebanon women married to non-nationals and their plights and that of their families.  The film was shown on Wednesday at that As Sabeel public library in Monot which is affiliated to the Beirut municipality.  The event was attended by a large number of women who are part of the Nationality Campaign and who came from different parts of Lebanon.

The newspaper reporter, Sa3ada Allaw, spoke of the suffering of children who lived all their lives in Lebanon but who are considered as foreigners and who were subjected to all forms of discrimination such as not being allowed to go to public school, or benefit from health care or obtain an entrance visa at the airport whilst many are deprived from inheriting their mothers.  The non-national spouses of Lebanese women are subjected to additional suffering as the implementation of the “complimentary residency” still faces many hurdles whilst some face deportation without any proper justification.

Allaw presented the cases shown in the film notably that of Dibeh from Baalbek who married her Egyptian sweetheart and had four children with him.  After her husband died, Dibeh could not register her children at the Egyptian embassy as her husband’s family wanted to take them away.  Dibeh registered her children as stateless.  Miriam married a British man and wanted to settle in Lebanon with her three children who are not allowed to be Lebanese.  Aline married an Egyptian lawyer and suffered from state violence as her family was mistreated and her husband was threatened with deportation when the film was been made.  Aline asks for her part “why do Lebanese men enjoy the right to transmit citizenship to their foreign wives and we as women are deprived from this right although we fulfill all our duties vis-à-vis our countries?  Each woman ended her talk by chanting the Lebanese national anthem along with her family.  Indeed, we are “All for the Nation but the Nation is for men only”.
After the film was shown, the participants had an open discussion with the film director, Carole Mansur, and with the Campaign coordinator, Lina Abou-Habib, who pledged to continue the struggle until all Lebanese women are able to transmit their nationality to their families.
Source: Al-Safir 6 June 2014

The media hectically covered yesterday the murder of 17 year old Wala2 from Bebnine who was shot dead by her father.  According to As Safir newspaper and the testimonials of the victim’s neighbors, Wala2’s father found out that his daughter was getting ready to elope with her fiancé.  Also according to the paper, the father disappeared right after the shooting whilst his victim was rushed to Youssef Hospital Center in Halba before being returned home whilst her family observed silence.  The newspaper quotes the forensic physicians, Moussa Haddad and Hussein Adawiyeh, who checked the victim first at home as the family refused to take her to the public hospital in Halba. The doctors noted that they were not able to do a full check of the victim but can say that she received four gun shots in her chest, stomach, head and right hand which led to her death. They also added that the victim did not have an autopsy as this cannot be performed except in a morgue.

Source: Assafir June 5, 2014

 

Ocean Spray just released into the Lebanese and Gulf markets a number of nutritious and health drinks which include the taste and nutritional benefits of blueberries such as the anti-oxidants ingredients which makes it perfect for local communities that are known to consume juices in high quantities.  These newly released high energy drinks come in many delicious flavors to suit all tastes.  Ocean Spray is a farmers’ cooperative with an 80 year experience in cultivating high quality fruits particularly blueberry which is used for these new juices.

Source: Al Mustaqbal June 5 2014

 

Al Akhbar newspaper published a report today on the law to protect consumers noting that despite various revisions on the law that was initially decreed in 2005, with the last amendments approved last April, many aspects of this law are still not applied.  This is particularly so since the consumers’ court has yet to have a official venue, the National Council to Protect Consumers does not convene meeting and the law enforcement mechanisms have yet to be issued. The newspaper also noted that the law still requires several legal implementation mechanisms to become operational.  The Ministry of Economy and Trade simply issued one organizational decree in 2011 regarding the setting up of a special register for consumers’ association.  Furthermore, , and despite the fact the announcement made by Minister Hakim, the Consumers’ Court remains inactive since its set up in 2005. The newspaper also adds that the National Council has met only once or twice since it was created in 2005.
Parallel to that, the department to protect consumers within the Ministry has put in place a number of communication tools supposedly accessible to consumers and which allow them to monitor the market, raise consumer awareness and inform them of their rights and responsibilities, notably using the hotline (1739), the social media and the Ministry’s website http://www.economy.gob.lb. However, and according to citizen Joe Gharib who called the hotline after discovering and reporting that a water gallon he bought contains bacteria, and despite the fact that his complain was registered and he was sent an acknowledgement of receipt from the relevant Ministry employee, no follow up act ever ensued. Gharib concluded that he should have opted for a judicial course to address his complaint rather then contact the department.

Source: Al-Akhbar June 5, 2014

 

The National Federation of Workers’ and Employees’ in Lebanon (South Lebanon branch), noted in its statement released yesterday that there are tens of thousands of families working in tobacco growing, as their sole source of livelihood, and surviving with 50 cents a day as they are burdened by significant debts to banks. The statement also notes that the Regie continues to ignore the rights of tobacco farmers whilst it accumulates profits from their labor and keeps its capitals safe in the Central Bank.  The statement asked about the absence of any lobbying action by the trade union of tobacco farmers aiming to protect the families of tobacco growers and workers who live in abysmal social conditions.
The Federation requested that the rights of tobacco growers be secured beginning with the compensation for losses during the 2006 war.  The Federation called in favor of: a) making sure that the tobacco growing license is given to actual users, b) adherence of farmers in the NSS; c) ensuring that the whole harvest is accepted and abolishing the mention of “useless”; d) increase the price of one kilogram to become 15,000 and e) providing subsidies for fertilizers and drugs and transforming the regie offices into offices for extension and awareness raising.
Source: Al-Safir 4 June 2014

Caritas Liban inaugurated yesterday the project entitled “Agricultural Service Centre” in Deir Mar Sarkis and Bakhos in Reyfun, Kesrwan.  The project is implemented in collaboration with the project to develop the productive sectors in Lebanon (LIVCD) which is financially supported by USAID.  Engineer Wajdi Khater stated in his intervention during the launch that LICVD seeks to improve economic stability in Lebanon, provide opportunities for small companies to increase their benefits and create job opportunities for residents in rural areas notably women and youth.
The director of the Agriculture Service Centre, Elie Khayat, presented the main activities and services offered by the Centre notably: a) Specialized training workshop; 2) regular field visits for extension and follow-up; c) technical assistance in grafting, weeding, lab tests, etc… d) linking farmers with suppliers of agricultural inputs and owners of sorting, packaging workshop, cooling units, traders, exporters and others. The opening event was followed by a workshop for farmers on good agricultural practices and managing apple and cheery plantations under the supervision of Engineer Ghassan Feghali.

Source: Al-Diyar 4 June 2014

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Tripoli and North Lebanon organized yesterday a graduation ceremony for students who participated in a training session organized by the Chamber on how to meet the needs and demands of the job market and how to access to access it.  The training was supervised by Dr. Walid Kodmani and Dr. Abdel Razzak Ismail in collaboration with Lubnani Association (LA), Francophone Digital Center, Lebanese French University and Al-Jinan University.
The president of the Chamber, Tufic Dabbussi, highlighted in his intervention the importance of partnering with civil society to create work opportunities for young women and men.  He commended the role played by Francophone Digital Center in orienting the students and he also acknowledged the efforts of the supervisors who organized the training.  This was followed by interventions by the president of LA, Dr. Fadi al Niser, the president of the Francophone Digital Center, Dr. Hassan Amoud, who presented what the centre offers in terms of facilities, job searches and training.  The Director of LA, Nadim Mansouri, explained for his part the objectives of the association and its programme for 2014 and how these can help accessing job markets.
Source: Al-Diyar 4 June 2014

The Ministry of Tourism organized yesterday under the auspices of Minister Michel Pharaon the graduation of the first batch of tourist guides including 18 Russian women married to Lebanese and who completed their three month training session.  The event was attended by the Russian Consul in Lebanon, Youssef Parkov, Tigran Nersiscian, and the representative of the Conquer Company, Shawki Fakih.  Pharaon noted during the ceremony that the launch of the Campaign “Live Lebanon”aims to brining back life to the tourism sector in Lebanon after a two years lull.  The event was followed by a meeting with a delegation of Russian travel agencies who toured a number of touristic and historical sites in many parts of the country.  They confirmed to the Minister that they will seek to place Lebanon on the map of Russian tourists.
Source: Al-Safir 4 June 2014

MP Bahiyya al Hariri headed the graduation of students from the Leadership and Moderation Academy.  The event was organized by the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development in partnership with the Lebanese American University with the participation of 300 students from the Hariri college and the LAU.
In her address during the event, Hariri noted that education is the main challenge facing communities and nations and hence the needs to continuously develop skills and capacities.  She added that that there are three objectives to building a leadership personality namely: a) strengthening autonomy and the ability to take on responsibility both in private and public life as well at the national level; b) moderation and the focus on humanity and interaction amongst humans as individuals cannot  grow unless their interact with others; and c) justice which is the system that determines rights and responsibilities in one’s relation with others and with their environment without have one party take over the other.
This was followed by a speech by the LAU president, Dr. Joseph Jabra, the project director, Elie Samya and addresses by graduating students on their impressions of what they learned especially in terms of exchanging experiences.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 2 June 2014

The Bader Group announced yesterday the launch of the second edition of its contest for emerging companies and youth entrepreneurs with financial support from Audi Bank.  The competition comprises an intensive training and counseling programme run by Lebanese business leaders who will act as coaches for the 12 competing candidates in the semi finals.  The coaches will provide technical support, an analysis of strengths and weaknesses, provision of necessary advice for overcoming possible obstacles whilst developing prototypes of their sustainable projects.  Only seven candidates will be selected for the finals and will be asked to present their projects to the jury who will select three winners based on their level of innovation, the chances of success of the project and its potential in creating new jobs.
The CEO of Audi Bank, Mark Audi, expressed his trust in the collaboration with Bader over the next 5 years.  He noted that this will increase the number of projects which will generate employments.  The President of Bader, Robert Fadel, wished the best to all the candidates in 2014.  He also expressed Bader’s pride to work with its partners in order to help exceptional entrepreneurs in increasing their chances to invest and succeed in their projects.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar, Al-Safir 3 June 2014