Other news

Fair Trade Lebanon in collaboration with the Social Movement association and the Municipality of Mhaidtheh- Rashayya organized last Sunday a fair trade day. The event which attracted hundreds of inhabitants of Mhaidtheh and its neighboring villages included an exhibition showcasing products made by the Najmat Al Sobh Cooperative, in addition to handcrafts. Activities also included an ecological village luncheon and a trek to the archeological site in the outskirts of Kfar Abs. The head of Fair Trade Lebanon, Samir Abdel Malak, emphasized the significance of mainstreaming the FT concept which he clarified aims at raising public awareness to buy locally made products, support producers technically and in marketing, boost local eco-tourism, respect and protect environment and cultural traditions, as well as encouraging organic agriculture initiatives. (Al Mustaqbal, 16 June 2015)

Fani Baroudi was 18 years old when she applied in response to a newspaper recruitment advertisement posted by Middle East Airlines who was searching for trilingual, presentable and “good looking” air flight attendants. Luckily, Baroudi could speak five languages including, Italian, Greek, English, French and Arabic and was supported by her liberal milieu as she comes from an Italian father and a Greek mother, who lived in Istanbul before moving to Beirut. Back in 1946, MEA had to design specially for Barudi the first costume of an air flight attendant. She recalls walking in the streets of Beirut dressed like an army service-person and people wanted to take a picture with her or ask about the nature of her work. “‘Travel is good, but can you stay outside the house and every now and then be in a different country’? They used to ask me,” she said. To be noted, that Barudi chose to leave her work in MEA after she got married to a Lebanese man. (Al Mustaqbal, 15 June 2015)

The ecological Naas River area hosted last weekend the traditional cherry festival which was organized by the municipality of Ain Arab-Rashayya as part of the local eco-tourism development project. The event was planned in cooperation with the Women rural kitchen group and the local community under the auspices of the Federation of Municipalities of the Rashayya. Activities during the festival included a village dinner and an exhibition of cherry and other fruit products followed by a mass service headed by Father Mitri Hissan. Participants then trekked to the old windmills and Naas River where an eco-friendly luncheon was served followed by a donkey race. The weekend ended with a musical performance using traditional wind and cord instruments, mainly mijwiz, rababa and the traditional tabla. (Al Diyar, 13 June 2015)

Education Minister Elias Bu Saab visited various official exams centers yesterday among them one located in Baabda Women’s Prison. Minister Bu Saab met one inmate woman student who was sitting for the biology test, in what is considered a first in Lebanese history. Chatting with the prisoner H.N.A, the Minister lauded her determination to complete high school and to follow up higher education in engineering as soon as she is released from jail. The woman inmate stressed, for her part, that anyone who has a will has a way and no one can stop him or her from realizing his or her dreams. “Women prisoners have a lot of potential that need to be developed and prison conditions are rough,” she added. She also paid tribute to Dar Al Amal Association for helping her pursue her dreams and to retain hope. )An Nahar, 12 June 2015)

The Lebanese Association of University Women in cooperation with Hanna Wakim Institution organized a celebration in UNESCO Palace in honor of winner schools in its annual competition of ‘expression and innovation’. Coinciding on the World Environment Day, the theme for this year is ‘our environment is our country’. The event, held for the fifth consecutive year, included several cultural activities: film projections, plays, dances, songs, paintings and stereographs prepared by participating schools to simulate school activities related to tree planting, healthy diet, recycling and ecological clubs. Six of the participating schools received awards of appreciation. (Al Mustaqbal, 12 June 2015)

Philippines pride was on great display last Sunday, in the courtyard of the St. Joseph’s Church, which marked the 116th year since the Philippines gained its independence. It was a colorful afternoon in which national food was on offer and entertainment came from a wide variety of cultural performances. The lively and vibrant atmosphere surrounding the day was a true testimony to the strength and unity of the Filipino community in Lebanon, which – like most other migrant communities – is constantly faced with stark discrimination. Migrant workers in Lebanon are denied basic rights due to complexities of the current employer sponsorship system known as the ‘Kafala’ s. Filipino women are often treated slightly better than domestic workers of other nationalities as they have a good command of English, according to Philippines Ambassador to Lebanon Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz, who added that despite the earlier they still have to face the same general racist attitude. (The daily star, 8 June 2015)

Military Court Investigative Judge Hani Hajjar ordered yesterday the release of  police involved in the beating of lawyer Rania Ghaith for stopping at the red light in Kantari area of Beirut earlier this week and blocking the way of an alleged official car convey. The Judge did not ask for the coroner’s report which proves Gaith has been assaulted neither did he question her or summon witness Lawyer Nabil Younis, according to Al Akhbar daily. Sources present at the court session reported that Gaith was terrorized by the bodyguards who also appeared yesterday at the hearing. For his part, Wajis Masaad, representing Beirut Bar Association who accompanied Gaith to interrogation did not take a firm stand in support  because the BBA did not take the institution of civil action in the absence of its President and majority of Bar members who allegedly are away. Immediately after the release verdict was issued, a group of lawyers and civil activists headed to the BBA headquarters to meet with Masaad who advised them to wait for the return of the President but did not promise any serious action. It is to be recalled that the Lebanese Democratic Women Gathering issued a communiqué two days again in which it condemned the attack on lawyer Ghaith; (Women Democratic Gathering condemns assault on women lawyer and journalist). (Al Akhbar, 11 June 2015)

MP Walid Jumblat, represented by Progressive Socialist Party Secretary Zafer Nasser honored a number of women activists in the Party and in the Progressive Women Union (PWU), namely, Salma Sfeir, Nazha Sallum and Bdoor Zein Eddine Sayour. The ceremony was held at the National Library of the Chouf mountain town of Baaqline in the presence of the PSP’s vice presidents, Dureid Yaghi and Kamal Moawwad. Also attending were, General Director of the Ministry for the Displaced, Ahmad Mahmoud as well as Linda Matar and Yahya Khamis, and PWU president, Wafa Abed as well as other public figures. At the end of the ceremony, the honorees were presented the medal of Kamal Jumblat. (Al Mustaqbal, 9 June 2015)