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Summer festivals in Habbariyeh and Dhur Shuwayer

13-8-2018

Within the framework of economic and development activities across the country, the Annual Habariyeh Festivals Committee, in coordination with Al Habariyeh-Marjeyoun municipality, launched this year’s festival on August 10th at the ancient Roman temple of Baal Gad. The committee maintained that the occasion sought to be a reunion between town residents and the diaspora, is the outcome of joint work with the municipality and the local community. The two-day festival included an exhibition for traditional mouneh, heritage and artisan items as well as, folk dances and plays. In a related event, the municipality of Dhur Shuwayer-Ain Sindyaneh organized on August 11 the ‘Nights of Wine’ in Dhour Shweir, as part of the Expatriates Festival under the patronage of President Michel Aoun and the participation of a large number of pubs and wine producers, in addition to food pavilions. The mayor of the town, Habib Mjais, said the aim of the two-day event is to promote the area and highlight it as a main summer landmark on the tourist map. For his part, the director general of the ministry of agriculture, Louis Lahoud, stressed the consistent efforts by the ministry to sponsor and endorse the Lebanese wine in the various Lebanese regions and globally, disclosing that it will be available in the Chinese and Japanese outlets by 2019 after Europe and the US. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, August 11, 13, 2018)

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Qartaba Festival kicks off August 25

9-8-2018

Within the framework of this year’s summer festivities, the minister of tourism in the caretaker government, Avedis Guidanian, held a press conference yesterday to launch the Qartaba (Byblos) Festival which will kick off on August 25. The festival, to note, is enlisted among rural tourism activities sponsored by the ministry with the aim to revive rural neighborhoods and villages that host such festivities. Qartaba, Guidanian stated, deserves to be on top of these festivals due to its illustrious nature and proximity, which is key to promote internal tourism and create opportunities for the Lebanese to learn about and identify with the different regions in their country. In turn, the mayor of Qartaba praised the uniqueness of this tourist month on the diverse environmental, natural, sportive, artistic and heritage levels, while the head of Qartaba Festivals Committee, Michel Darazi, disclosed that the event will include a heritage parade and sideline art activities. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, August 9, 2018)

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Lebanon not ready yet to legalize cannabis

7-8-2018

In an article published in Al Akhbar, an agriculture engineer and rural development specialist anticipated that the legalization of cannabis cultivation in Lebanon will contribute to reducing extreme poverty in the Beqaa through the creation of jobs and increasing public finance revenues, yet it should be well prepared through raising public awareness on the risks of personal use of marijuana. This, again, should be accompanied by an increase in living standards, a balanced and equitable distribution of natural resources and poverty control, the expert said. Regarding the medicinal use of hashish, the expert explained that medical research has not finally determined the benefits of the medicinal use of marijuana, stating that in comparison to international experience in this respect, Lebanon’s decision seems to be hasty because the foundation to set off a legalized cultivation and production of cannabis is not complete. The institutional and regulatory body, as well as the governance system in general, suffers structural imbalance which makes it difficult to deal with serious and sensitive matters, like security, judiciary, agriculture, poverty control and income distribution, the expert concluded. Meanwhile, on the front of traditional agriculture in Lebanon, Al Mustaqbal newspaper reported that with the beginning of the harvest of prickly pears, the orchards are gradually recuperating especially after the identification and control of the pest which infected four consecutive seasons of the fruit, destroying nearly 80% of the produce in the areas of Arkoob, Hasbayya and Marjey3oon. Al Mustaqbal wrote that, until recently, prickly pears were planted as a protective fence for cattle, but that now a large number of area residents are growing the crop as a reliable source of livelihood during summer. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Akhbar, August 4, 6, 2018)

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CGTL campaigning against foreign workers

7-8-2018

The head of the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers (CGTL), Bshara Asmar, claimed yesterday that the country is going through an economic and social turmoil that has affected all production sectors and taken its toll on the domestic laborers working in these industries. Asmar who was speaking during a press conference with the theme, ‘To protect the Lebanese labor force’, warned that the slackness of the government in regulating the presence of Syrian refugees and the absence of monitoring and inspection at the various public departments, has made foreign competition hard to manage. Asmar called for tougher applications of laws by relevant ministries to guarantee the priority of work for Lebanese citizens and to punish violating parties by very large fines or by closure of their institutions. Asmar further stressed CGTL readiness to cooperate in order to reach decisions that safeguard the rights of Lebanese workers, preserve the continuity of local establishments and prevent illegal competition. Similarly, the head of Syndicates of Owners of Restaurants in Lebanon, Toni Rami, sustained that the labor law in effect needs updating to adapt to the workers and employers’ needs. On the other hand, MP Ayoub Hmayid, called for setting up an emergency unit headed by the prime minister to this end. (An Nahar, August 7, 2018)

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Tok Tok vehicles now in Lebanon

6-8-2018

In a special feature on means of transportation in the country, Al Akhbar daily drew attention to the tok tok cars that are widely used in South Asian and other densely populated nations, like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sudan, but that are now up-and-coming in Lebanon’s poor neighborhoods. The motorcycle dealers introduced the tok tok to the Lebanese markets two years ago and they are now seen largely in Beirut’s outskirts of Bir Hassan, Old Airport Road, Ozai, Rihab and Dora, as well as, in Tripoli’s disadvantages areas of Tabbaneh, Old Souk, Haddadin area, Al Akhbar wrote. The newspaper said that this vehicle which largely relates to chaos and deprivation, has developed its presence in these neighborhoods as a source of livelihood to counter unemployment and housing inadequacy. Mohammad, the Kaak vendor in Rehab area of Sabra in Beirut, boasted to Al Akhbar reporter that all what an auto rickshaw require to set off is USD 1,600. Hamed who was fired from work a year ago agreed with Mohammad, recounting that he bought a tok tok and turned it into an express coffee car in the old souk of Tripoli. “It is hassle-free. I make LBP 40,000 a day which is enough to provide for a family of 5 when I could not get another job,” Hamed said. In the southern suburbs of the capital, Al Akhbar said, the tok tok is becoming a new form of transport. It is faster and cheaper by LBP1,000 compared to a regular cab, Sumaya, who uses the rickshaw for her daily shopping, said. Hassan, the tok tok driver, 19 years, while boasting that he makes LBP 40 thousand every day, said he is in constant fear of the security checkpoints, as there is no official classification for this electric vehicle yet. (Al Akhbar, August 4, 2018)

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Marijuana dealers ask government to hand them management, sale of the crop!?

3-8-2018

After the Speaker of the House Nabih Berri commissioned a committee of experts to prepare a draft law to regulate the cultivation of marijuana, (c.f:https://bit.ly/2vw5wjS), the Maronite bishops Council warned in a statement on Wednesday of the social and ethical dangers of said measure. They said it requires a thorough and objective study to assess the negative and positive impact of cannabis and to determine if the Lebanese State is really capable of managing this file without harming!citizens. In a special feature on the subject, An Nahar daily reported that land proprietors in Yamooneh boast huge profits generated form this agriculture, especially after the failure of all attempts by the government over the years to annihilate it. The newspaper cited concerns by Yamooneh residents over the projected mechanism of implementation, stating that selling to dealers to make drugs is something and selling for medicinal purposes and according to specific criteria and in assigned areas is another thing. Deputy mayor of Yamooneh, Hussein Sherif, told AFP: “We are all under the law… we are generally against this cultivation, though we were not successful at any other kind of agriculture.” “The ordinary farmer should be the primary beneficiary from the legalization of cannabis and hence should make profits not less than what he used to make from smuggling the marijuana,” Cherif added. For his part, Yamooneh mukhtar, Jamal Sherif, said he was pessimistic about the anticipated legalization of hashish amidst the rampant corruption in the public administration and institutions. “They looted the country. All we have left is the cannabis, and they want to plunder it" Sherif lamented. “If you are willing to legitimize marijuana literally, let me plant and export the crop…. Marijuana traffickers are able to pay off the national debt in one year.” (An Nahar, August 2, 2018)

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Summery festivals in Sawfar, Qubayat

2-8-2018

Al Shaya Women’s Association in Saoufar inaugurated yesterday the Corniche Sawfar craft and mooneh fair for the fourth consecutive year. Sponsored by the municipality, this year’s exhibition carried the theme, ‘Sawfar for All’ and will run till Sunday. Shop owners, coops and local associations from the town and environs participated, showcasing their products, including clothing items, food and ceramics. The event which is part of efforts by the municipality to promote tourism in the area, includes sideline art performances, a play, music and songs as well as entertainment for children. On the other hand, the Qubayat International Festival kicked off with a touristic-environmental event par excellence aimed to spotlight the natural treasures and scenic landscapes of Akkar, as said the president of the festival, Cynthia Hbeish. The festival, she explained, is divided into two parts: the first is an eco-heritage-tourism two-day event, and the second embraces an art performance for three days starting August 10. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Akhbar, August 1, 2, 2018)

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Minister Zeaiter: All previous governments have given up on agriculture

31-7-2018

In the absence of concrete official backing to the sector, the agriculture minister in the caretaker government Ghazi Zeaiter, stressed the need to support agriculture, noting that successive governments have regrettably excluded farmers from their plans. Zeaiter who was speaking during the distribution of cow milking machines to some 40 cattle farmers in Baalbaq, said that agricultural policies employed in Lebanon do not allow the country to compete, demanding the adoption of measures that reduce costs. On the other hand, IDAL chairperson Nabil Itani, revealed on Friday during his meeting with a delegation of South Farmers Congregation, that competition of made-in-Lebanon goods has picked up pace in international markets, which “requires us to maximize the empowerment of local farmers, producers and exporters to increase their power to compete and face the high cost of production.” Itani said domestic agriculture boasts plenty of opportunities and advantages, particularly in areas that are not invested as required. Meanwhile, the Agriculture and Tourism Committee held its first meeting yesterday headed by MP Ayub Homayed in the presence of all its members. Homayed said that the Lebanese agriculture and tourism did not receive the necessary attention from the governments for a long time, hoping that the seriousness reflected in today’s meeting will lead to the discussion and adoption of proposals to improve the two sectors. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, July 23, 28, 31, 2018)

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New summery economic initiatives in the regions

31-7-2018

Within the framework of boosting development activities in the Lebanese regions, the municipality and Federation of Municipalities of Baalbaq inaugurated on Sunday the 7th Agriculture Fair in Baalbaq, July 29-August 12. The fair comes as part of the 20th Shopping and Tourism Festival in the Beqaa held under the patronage of agriculture minister in the caretaker government, Ghazi Zeaiter, represented by MP Ali Mokdad. The latter said that the trade, economic, sports, recreational, cultural and art events present a possibility to galvanize the economic cycle and attract visitors and tourists to learn about the local production, besides lending them the opportunity to relish the touristic sites, ruins and religious landmarks. Concurrently, Tanburit Municipality in the district of Saida, opened yesterday the Tanburit Summer Festival 2018, from July 28 till September first. On the occasion, the president of the National Committee for Sidon International Festivals, Nadine Kaine, who represented MP Bahiya Hariri, said the launch of the event is now linked to the town’s heritage and memory and corresponds in its diverse activities to other festivities celebrated this summer in the many towns and cities of the South. (Al Diyar, July 31, 2018)

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Local economic initiatives in Bint Jbeil, Saida and in Rashaya el Fukhar

30-7-2018

As part of efforts aimed to boost local economic activities, the minister of industry in the caretaker government, Hussein Haj Hassan, inaugurated yesterday the first Khan el Saboun exhibition in Bint Jbeil organized by Eco-Village Bader Hasoun. Haj Hassan hoped on the occasion that the conditions of agriculture and industry will improve under the new government, pointing specially to the unfavorable foreign competition and internal hindrances that have faced the industry sector during the successive governments. The minister demanded setting up an integrated and comprehensive economic strategy and a long term economic program dedicated to agriculture and industry. Haj Hassan further maintained that Lebanon’s economy depends generally on cross border transactions between neighboring countries, namely Syria, stressing the need to strengthen relations with Syria, Iraq and Jordan. On the other hand, Future MP Bahiya Hariri, sponsored on Friday the Saida Food Festival organized by La Salle Venue, Rmeileh for the second year (July 26- 29) with the participation of over 30 culinary establishments, eateries and associations showcasing their food, confections, juices, ice cream and frozen desserts. Hariri lauded the festival, noting the diverse activities the city will be celebrating next month, including sports, cultural and heritage events with the aim to revive life in the southern capital. Meanwhile, the Professional Cooperative for Producing and Marketing Pottery in Rashaya el Fukhar organized its annual summer festival this past weekend which commenced this year with a training workshop on how to make handmade pottery, a craft form famous in the area. To note, the above cooperative was founded three year ago with the aim to preserve the endangered pottery craft and encourage emerging artisans and young people to acquire it and invest in it as a collective heritage and an income generating trade. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Akhbar, July 29, 30, 2018)

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