An Update on the Land Sold in Dlebta, Keserwan to the Saudi Prince

A Separate State of Mind | A Blog by Elie Fares

Following up with my post from Tuesday about the land in Dlebta that was sold to a Saudi prince, Pierre Daher, the person who had shared the original picture which went viral on Facebook, had the following to say in order correct the information I had shared in my post about the sale:

This picture is not representing the Dlebta valley Sold. This is the very nearby area of Harissa Valley! The red line represents the Harissa valley and has NOT been sold. Dlebta is just in the top right corner of the picture outside the red frame.

For reference, you can check out the post in question here and the picture here. In the meantime, these are the facts regarding the land sale, according to this article by Annahar and other sources:

• The decree to authorize the sale of the land to the Saudi Prince was passed…

View original post 791 more words

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G-AZZI

LGBT bloggers, organizations and individuals are asked to share this letter, the signatories want ” AUB’s LGBTQ students know that there are many faculty and staff at AUB who are their allies and support them in their expression and would fight to ensure a safe and secure space for them to grow.”

(the letter below is to be re-blogged and shared):

To: AUB Faculty and Staff

 

Subject: Hate speech and bigotry on AUB campus

 

This letter is in response to the homophobic article published in Outlook titled “Please me at any price” (Issue #21, Wednesday, May 2^nd, 2012, http://issuu.com/outlook-aub/docs/issue_21_44/15)

 

As members of the AUB community, we are committed to meeting the highest standards of integrity and ethics and should ensure our students do the same. The article in Outlook goes against basic human values in general and those of AUB in particular.

 

A respectful, fact-based discussion…

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No h8 Lebanon

Cola W Calset

While going through one of the good and well-known Lebanese blogs; Beirut NTSC, I noticed one blog post. This post is a photo of a LEBIDAHO (Lebanon’s IDAHO | International Day Against Homophobia) poster that has been defaced (as the post stated). The campaign came after the infamous Mohamad Sibai article (it happened to be this way) and people (especially bloggers and activists) were still hyped about homophobia and such an [AUB] tragedy.

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Land sold in Lebanon ….

I read the post of Elie Yesterday, and if the story is true it is Outrageous, here is the link  I recommend it big time : Massive Land Sold in the Lebanese Keserwen Area, Near Harissa, To a Saudi Prince ;

The picture is impressive, and I am asking the government and our MPs, what have you done with the law detailing how can lands be sold in Lebanon??

if this news is verified, I understand why I needed to buy a small tiny appartment in the “banlieue” of Beyrouth at such a Big amount of money!

as for the formal news as it has been published by NNA سياسة – ابي نصر استغرب بيع احدى تلال حريصا لامير سعودي: آمل من “المالية” أن تعطينا الأرقام عن العقارات القابلة للاستثمار

Rita Chemaly

Land in Harrissa Kesrwan presumably sold to a Saudi Prince

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Gender and Development E-brief issue May 2012 is OUT

Dear Readers,

Kindly find below the latest issue of the Middle East & North Africa Gender and Development e-Brief (No 120)

Please note that the MENA Gender and Development e-Brief is posted on line on the following URLM: http://crtda.org.lb/node/14292

Best regards,
CRTD.A / IRIS

 

The Middle East &North Africa 
“Gender and Development E-Brief”
Issue #120
May 2012

NEWS & ARTICLES

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GENDER ACTIVISM
Women Continue to Show Power in Protests in Egypt

Stop Lowering Minimum Age of Girls for Marriage in Egypt Campaign

‘Women’s NGO takes pro-FGM Parliamentarian to court’ also in Egypt

Muslim Woman Defends Burqa at European Court

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE
Women Harassed for Not Wearing Full Face Veil in Yemen

Kurdish Female Migrants Find Isolation in Istanbul

Media’s treatment of women damages self-esteem

GENDER & HUMAN RIGHTS
Women See Worrisome Shift in Turkey

Saudi Feminism: Between Mama Amreeka and Baba Abdullah

In Yemen, eating is a luxury millions struggle to afford

RESOURCES & CALLS

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

CRTD.A launches its improved website

G8 – Women’s Human Rights Agenda

BOOKS and REPORTS
Rural Women & Migration

ILO World of Work Report 2012 – Crisis Impacts on Women

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The MENA Gender and Development e-Brief receives material from various sources for its publication. Should you wish to refer to these sources/ sites directly, the list includes publications from: AVIVA, www.aviva.org, AWID: www.awid.org, Democracy Digest: www.freedomhouse.org, Development Gateway: www.developmentgatway.org, Dignity: www.dignity.org, e-Civicus: www.civicus.org, Eldis: www.eldis.org, ESCWA: www.escwa.org.lb, GDB: www.developmentex.com, Global Knowledge Partnership: www.globalknowledge.org, IGTN: www.IGTN.org, ILO: www.ilo.org One World: www.oneworld.net, Siyanda: www.siyanda.org, The Daily Star: www.dailystar.com.lb, The Drum Beat: www.comminit.com, The Soul Beat: www.comminit.com, The World Bank: www.worldbank.org, UNDP: www.undp.org, Wicejilist: www.wicej.addr.com, WLP: www.learningpartnership.org; WIDE: www.wide-network.org; IRIN News: www.irinnews.org, Women’s UN Report Network: www.wunrn.com, Women Living Under Muslim Laws: www.wluml.org
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The MENA Gender And Development E-Brief is published by CRTD.A.

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Shame in a Country that do not respect Artistique expression in a Movie… Tannoura Maxi has been banned

I watched the first show of Lil Nasher, I usually like to watch the show, but 2 weeks ago, Tony Khalifeh had angered me big time.

He was “Fulminating” against a movie he didn’t even watch.

he was “protecting” a religion in a way that made me say ” kaffarratouni“;

directly after watching the show of Tony, and hearing priests asking to ban the movie, that has sexual content, and sexual “iihaa2”,

we went to watch the movie… I liked the pictures, the colors, I felt I was watching an “arte” movie… and for me it was a “nice movie”… with some great “jeu d’acteurs”!

During the entire show I was waiting to see what the “hell” made this big “polemique” against the movie, me a “religious person” couldn’t find anything to say… the priest in the Khalifeh show, said, “I stayed more than 3 minutes because of Tony”, euh….  the first 3 minutes and more of the movie are about a family going to the south in a car, hearing on the radio the war news of Lebanon…. are those 3 minutes offending ya priest??

the priest was asking “reclaiming” from the biggest authority in Lebanon to stop the movie, this priest, I am sorry he is a priest, was outraged, angry,

Dear sir, for me you are not a priest, you are a “pathetic pantin” who is frustrated sexually, you can’t even see a women dressed in “hafer ” way….

this “pathetic pantin” even dragged with tony khalifeh the other priest, Pere Fady Tabet, to say that the movie is “mousi2” for the church dogma… even though another priest abou kasm or abdo kasm or something… said, it contains harmful pictures, but it is not “mousi2 for the church dogma”…. cool hein??? they havent watched the movie and they want to CENSOR IT!?!!!! sorry to say what the F…!?!!??!

No to CENSORSHIP!!! Yes for the freedom of expression!! yes for the freedom of artistic expression!!!!

you could have asked for a special mention, such as the ones E begins its program with ” no for sensitive viewers” or “16 years old” … but asking for BANNING IT?!!!! we are LEBANON, the country of artistic creation, production!!! not the country of censorship and Banning!!!!

I am outraged by the “Church” reaction, I am sorry for the “small minds” of those who didnt even watch the movie and talk about him that way.

a fellow blogger , Elie, in ” a separate state of mind” a blog that I encourage you to read and follow,  expressed what I feel greatly!

here is a part of what I feel!! “This is pitiful. This is a disgrace. This is an insult to our intelligence and our freedom. This is an insult to Christianity, an insult to the Bible and an insult to anything Jesus Christ stood for.

Christian priests, are you happy? I am a Christian and I’m telling you – you are disgusting. You are so narrow-minded that if I tried to look through the hole that is your mind, the only thing I can see is emptiness. Is that what they teach you at whatever school you go through to become priests? To close in your mind and get offended at anything that touches on your religion in a way you find unfavorable?

How does this reflect on us, Christians, when your narrow-mindedness if the only thing people can see of us? Have you perhaps wondered that if some people decided to convert from Christianity because of a movie like Tannoura Maxi, however unlikely that may be, it’s not the movie’s fault but it’s your own? Or it’s perhaps because you don’t want the reality of having so many people with so little faith on your hands that you are panicking about anything and everything?” Source: Tannoura Maxi is Banned in Lebanon a post by the blog a separate state of mind http://stateofmind13.com/2012/05/21/tannoura-maxi-is-banned-in-lebanon/

dear Church men… do open your mind for the love that is the pilar of our religion.

As the great priest (I think Catholique) at ste Rita Church said yesterday evening during his “homelie”, God do not need us to “ternish” his image, your reaction, is ternishing his image.

Love between a man and a women is NORMAL, stop changing it and transforming it to something people should be guilty for and stop dramatizing it….

for those interested in reading the great reactions written here and there, I luved what Pierre wrote in al Akhbar about the same issue,

and again, bravo for the producer, director and all the crue of the movie, I luved it, especially my old school comrade role, you were astonishing in it, my friend from the church, you played your role magnificently too…

voila!!

Rita Chemaly

• الحملة على «تنورة » جو بو عيد… مكارثيّة MAXI
• round of reading here and there: tannoura maxi,  Zogheib new adv,  article on Homosexuality and religions in Kif el Chabeb
• … وانتصر الإكليروس على الدولة المدنيّة! … وانتصر الإكليروس على الدولة المدنيّة!

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Job Vacancy announcement for Policy Dialogue Coordinator Post

Sustainable Economic Opportunities for Women – Phase Two A regional initiative

Vacancy announcement for  Policy Dialogue Coordinator Post
Immediate recruitment 1 year post- Full-time- With possibility of extension

May 2012

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In early 2011, CRTD.A launched the second phase of the Sustainable Economic Opportunities for Women initiative in Lebanon and three other Arab countries (Egypt, Jordan and Morocco).

This regional initiative aims at contributing to the setting up of local and regional monitoring of processes for the formulation of socio-economic policies and strategies as well as mobilizing and engaging civil society organizations and relevant social institutions to engage in policy dialogue on engendering socioeconomic policies and strategies.  This is based on engagement in dialogue on women’s economic contribution, the enjoyment of economic rights and what constitutes a comprehensive definition for women’s work.

The initiative includes three inter-related strategies namely knowledge production and dissemination, capacity building and awareness raising as well as policy dialogue.

To date, the implementation of the project has advanced significantly with various research and capacity building activities taking place in addition to launching the project communication and social media tools.

 

 

Policy Dialogue Coordinator Post

CRTD.A is seeking to recruit a Policy Dialogue Coordinator to undertake the following:

● Engage positively and constructively with the project partners in Lebanon and in the region
● Organise local and regional activities
● Develop papers, documents, briefs and research reports
● Operate and populate the project blog and other communication and social media tool
● Support the project team and external consultants and consultants
● Write up monthly progress and narrative reports

 

► Key Competencies

Education:
● University degree in social sciences or related field especially economy and/or public policy
● Good knowledge of gender equality and gender analytical frameworks (with emphasis on institutional analysis)
● Demonstrable experience in policy dialogue

Experience:
At least 3 years of experience in a policy and/or research and/or advocacy related field and preferably within the NGOs sector

Expertise and skills:
● Understanding of gender and economy issues in the Arab region
● Familiarity with and understanding of policy dialogue processes
● Understanding of issues related to gender and public policy in the Arab region
● Ability to provide training in policy dialogue
● Able to work independently and as part of a team
● Demonstrates good judgment and effective decision making skills

Languages: Excellent knowledge of English and Arabic. French is a plus.

Interpersonal skills, ethos and values:

● Commitment to work ethics and to adhering to CRTD.A work policies

● High sense of responsibility and engagement

● Excellent written and verbal communication skills

● Commitment to gender equality and social justice

● Ability to meet multiple deadline

● Willing to learn

● Ability to work smoothly and successfully with groups with multiple interests, objectives and perspectives

● Willing to travel within the region

 

Interested candidates should send a CV, three references and a letter of motivation to vacancy@crtda.org.lb.

 

Deadline for application: 1 June 2012

Applications will be processed on a rolling basis.
Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
No phone calls please.

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