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Section Report 2002
Description of The Country’s
Situation
A – The
dark side
Lebanon
is currently suffering from an economic crisis accentuated by
the Israeli encroachments on the Palestinian government, villages
and civilias.
Consequently:
a/ the Palestinians
in
Lebanon
were stirred up.
b/ the reconstruction
process of
South Lebanon
– decided and planed after the withdrawal of the Israeli
army in may 2002 – was delayed because of the following factors:
1
the incomplete withdrawal from Shebaa Farms.
2 the refusal
of Israel to hand in the maps which were planted in our land causing
so many misfortunes to the inhabitants and preventing investors
from investing in areas which have been put out of the development
track for more then twenty years.
Recently, a map showing where 4000 landmines have been
planted was forced to be delivered to the chairman of the Parliament,
Speaker Nabih Berri while
Lebanon
is still having a water dispute with
Israel
over the Wazzani Springs.
UN peace envoy Terje – Roed Larsen helped draw a Blue line between
Lebanon
and
Israel
in the aftermath of the Israeli withdrawal in May 2000. Although
the Blue line was regarded as temporary until the two countries
drew the borders themselves,
Lebanon
expressed strong reservations about the UN demarcation, arguing
that Lebanese land remained under Israeli occupation, namely the Shebaa Farms and the
Kfar
Shuba
Heights
.
That explains why Lebanon rejected few days ago the good
offices of the United States offering to mediate between Beirut
and Tel-Aviv over Lebanon’s use of the Wazzani Springs and insisted on the United Nations (and “not any
other party”) drawing a “water blue line” for Lebanon
and Israel.
On the other hand, some national parties are urging the
Economy Ministry to adopt swift measures activating the Lebanese
bureau for the boycott of firms affiliated with or supporting
the Israeli enemy, and so in order to implement the decisions
issued by conferences held by liaison officers at Arab regional
bureaus. Activating the boycott is an economic and national mission
that protects the Lebanese economy from aggressive violations
and is complementary to the political stand supporting
Lebanon
’s
Arabism, the resistance and the country’s legal right to
complete the liberation of the land and defend
Lebanon
on all levels. But, it should not be forgotten that boycott needs
a culture based on conviction, because any act based on terrorism
(such as targeting fast-food restaurants locally owned and operated)
can abolish the boycott process.
In terms of Development, Democracy and Freedoms, The
Social Economic Council and the UN Development program have sponsored
the third session aiming at assessing the 2002 Arab Human Development
Report:
- which began in September and will wind
up in December 2002
- during which the importance of young
people as a social asset and the development of the public and
private sectors and their cooperation were highlighted;
- while the chairman of the Council’s
Human Development and Rights Committee criticized the Lebanese
political system, blaming the inefficiency of Lebanese democracy
on the continual change of electoral laws, the increasing politicization
of the judicial system, the increasing role of money in politics,
the political control of feudal lords and sectarian institutions
over the media and the increasing intervention of religious leaders
in state affairs.
B - The bright side
1 - The
Litani
River
.
For years, the
Litani
River
has been a contentious area.
From the Israeli invasion in 1978
to recent headlines concerning the waters of the Wazzani,
the river has always been the site of tension between
Israel
and
Lebanon
,
a tension exacerbated by a lack of water in this agricultural
area.
But the liberation of the South two years ago (May 25,
2000) unveiled a new and peaceful dimension to the river –
one with rich environmental potential, through the same waters
which were once surrounded by bombs and the blood of fallen fighters
now:
1 – pipes are about to
transport badly needed water to more than 300 000 people, drawing
more back to the land and boosting agriculture.
2 – glide the serene canoe
paddles of nature lovers.
A – The
Litani
River
Project in
South Lebanon
.
The project, which is known as Canal 800, got its name
because its main water source is 800 meters above see level.
It covers the areas from the foot of the Qaraoun Dam to the borders in the South, including the heights
and foothills, Nabatieh and the
Western Bekaa
and stretching
in areas of elevation between 400 to 800 meters above sea level.
The cost of the first phase of the project is 217 million.
The Kuwait Fund for Economic Development has contributed $65 million
and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development has allotted
$100 million for this phase. The remaining $ 52 million is coming
from the government and the implementation of the project is taken
up by the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR).
The long awaited
Litani
River
project aims at:
- supplying water for irrigation and drinking purposes to southern towns and
villages in the next few years. Towns and villages benefiting
from this project include 23 from the qada of Bint Jbeil, 27 from Marjayoun, 22 from Tyre, two from Hasbaya and two from the Western Bekaa. Not
all of these villages were part of the fromer occupation zone, such as the Bint Jbeil
village
of
Tibnine
and the
Tyre
town of
Jwayya
.
The number of registered residents in this area is around 335,000
people. By 2030, the number of people who will benefit from the Litani project’s drinking water
will be around 518,000 people.
- Increasing agricultural produce, since
12 sectors will benefit from the project, encompassing an area
of 14,700 hectares
- Rejuvenating the economy and finding
job opportunities; since agriculture is important in the South,
the project would allow southerners who were forced to leave their
villages during the Israeli occupation – which lasted more
than 22 years – to return to their land. Consequently, it
will help stop migration from rural areas to the city.
- Achieving the return of 11.3 percent
on the original cost.
Officials have similar high hopes for Wazzani Springs project if
Lebanon
manages to solve the water question with
Israel
through the implementation of the UN resolutions pertaining to
this River.
B- Discovering
the heart of the South.
Navigating the Litani River
is today a journey into the country’s soul thanks to the
founder and President of Sport Nature, championship Kayaker and
founder of the Lebanese Canoe – Kayak Federation (LCKF) who
first came up with the idea of introduction the sport to Lebanon
in 1990 while canoeing on the Bordogne River in France.
Having left
Lebanon
in 1970, and deeply affected by the human coast of the civil war, Awada was eager to bring something back to the country that
would unite and reconcile the people. Since the Lebanese people
did not know what canoes and Kayak were, he though this would
be a magnificent way to discover their country.
“I want to unite the Lebanese people by introducing Beirutis to the
Litani
River
,
he says. For Litani people to get to known those of the
Ibrahim
River
, and from those of Hermel,
for example. I want to transform an area of war to one of warmth
and welcome by bringing people closer to each other, and uniting
them around the simple things, like the love of nature and the
environment instead of politics elections and unemployment. I
want to reinforce Lebanese nationalism with this river. It is
our river. It starts in
Lebanon
.
It ends in
Lebanon
”.
The self-funded group (LCKF) oversees the equipment supply
and administration of its various canoe – Kayak and rafting clubs. There is a club for each of four
rivers: Assi, Kalb, Kbir and Litani. The clubs leads group of
20 – 50 people on adventure filled one and two day expeditions.
Since the club’s founding, 13.000 canoers,
Kayakers and rafters have been trained by Awada.
The economic situation: A controversial issue.
According to a statement released by the Central Bank,
Lebanon
recorded a $ 554 million surplus in its balance of payments in
October, upping the total surplus accumulated during the first
ten months of the year to $ 318 million.
The surplus, the highest this year is mainly due to a
strong demand for the Lebanese pound that lifted foreign currency
reserves by $ 487 million.
The surplus in the first 10 months of the year is a far
cry from the $1.36 billion deficit in the balance of payments
for the same period of last year, which had ended with a $ 1.17
billion deficit in the balance of payments.
Bankers and government officials have attributed the
accumulated surplus to the hosting of highly publicized summits
(such as the Arab Summit in March 2002 and the Summit held in
October 2002 by 54 french – speaking countries), a robust tourist season
and optimism over the meeting of donor rations later this month,
dubbed Paris II. Bankers and financial analysts are forecasting
the impact of $ 3 billion or $ 5 billion in soft loans expected
from the meet on debt servicing, the economy and interest rates.
There is a general agreement amoung bankers that the soft loans, which are
aimed at replacing some of the short-term and high-yield bonds
with lower yield, longer maturity bonds, will definitely change
the structure of interest rates in
Lebanon
next year. According to International investment Bank Meryll Lynch, “over the next three or six months, we expect to see
increased official bilateral support, significant inflows from
securitization and better fiscal policy”. However if these
developments are necessary, they are not sufficient to extricate
Lebanon
from a deep fiscal hole. Economist stress that
the government will have a grace period of less than two years
to put its finances in order. In other words, the government
must speed up privatization, securitization and reduce spending
next year to take full advantage of the grace period.
Attention should be drawn to the fact that Lebanese banks
are the largest subscribers of sovereign T-bills and eurobonds.
Interest rates on the outstanding eurobonds range 9 percent to 10.5 percent and the two years T-bills earn
16.14 percent.
The interest rates would drop if the government succeeded
in securing soft loans from
Europe
,
in gathering Arab states and some Asian countries at the Paris
II meeting, in addition to privatization and securitization.
A drop in interest rate would stimulate the economy and
encourage direct investment. Interests rates on loans will automatically fall, prompting investors to
seek new credit lines to finance their business.
Finally, the renewed confidence in the economy has probably
been boosted by
US
acquiescence to turning a blind eye and allowing
Lebanon
to host the Paris II meeting with participation from the World
Bank and International Monetary Fund.
Organizational status
In
Lebanon
,
we are members of two non-governmental, non-profit and non-secular
organizations founded by MS. Anissa Najjar.
1 - The Village Welfare Society (VWS), established in
1951
2 - The Lebanese section of WILPF, established in 1962
under the following designation: Lebanese Committee for Peace
and Freedom (LCPF).
The two organizations are cooperating closely, have the
same president and many of the same members. However, the two
organizations are independent, and there are fundamental differences
between the two, reflected in their different roles.
1- VWS is a national Lebanese welfare
organization and runs community development programs for rural
women and school for rural children. The aim is improving the
situation for rural women in selected villages, through capacity
building and income generating activities, in order to promote
development and prevent exodus to the cities. Their aim is therefore
mainly economic capacity building and empowerment, i.e. practical
and material changes.
The VWS welfare
activities are closely linked to the Lebanese local traditions.
The activities for rural women are based on local structures,
knowledge and traditions, as described by the founder of the VWS,
Ms. Anissa Najjar in her book: “ The literacy of the
Mind.” The aim behind it is to combat illiteracy and to eradicate
ignorance through “enlightening the mind” and making
use of the rural women’s potentials in order to avoid socio-economic
crisis and prevent rural exodus to the cities. Moreover, it calls
for the preservation of culture and the creation of a specific
rural culture that is distinct from the urban culture. The book
underlines women’s ability to increase family income. It
also underlines the importance of positive traditions. This is
important as many Lebanese women are linked to negative traditions
that constitute “barriers to freedom”, such as the veil
that women are forced to wear in the name of morality, the general
discrimination between the sexes and particularly the limited
years of schooling for girls. Last, the book underlines the history
of prominent women in
Lebanon
that is taught to develop ambition and respect to woman’s
ability.
2- WILPF Lebanon is a Lebanese section
of an international women’s peace organization. The aim is
peace, freedom, social and economic justice; i.e. political empowerment
of women, i.e. fundamental strategic changes in the position of
women that goes beyond individual economic and practical changes.
This implies that WILPF has a wider scope, and is more radical
and academic in its perspectives than VWS.
3- This difference between the two organizations
constitutes an advantage because it may lead to a positive symbiosis.
This is the current situation as the two organizations have been
cooperating for almost 45 years. VWS forms the basis and represent
the link to Lebanese women’s welfare traditions, while WILPF
Lebanon represents political empowerment and strategic change.
Both elements are important in the present situation for women
in
Lebanon
.
Both organizations represent some common positive traits:
4- both organizations are multi-confessional. This is an important aspect
in
Lebanon
as the country is strongly dominated by confessions, 60% of the
populations belong to Moslem confessions – Sunni, Shiite
and Druze – 40% to Christian ones. The founder and president
of the two organizations is Druze, but there are also Sunni Moslems,
Roman Catholics and Maronite Christians
among the members.
5- Both organizations represent members
of different social classes, with different professional and educational
background and representing different geographic parts of the
country.
6- The members have been conducting social
welfare projects for rural women for 50 years.
7- Last but not least, both organizations
are genuine non-governmental organizations based on voluntary
membership and unpaid activities.
ACTIVITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH WILPF PROGRAMME 2001
- 2002
A - In Peace And Culture Of Peace.
This year was very dramatic for the Arab region, particularly
for
Palestine
– the Intifada and
Iraq
– the blockade - , and their drastic consequences on women
and children.
We attended several meeting on how to solve the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict and were faced by
Sharon
’s
refusal of any logical and viable solution, such as a gathering
of the mothers of prisoners or martyrs, which was held by Arab
Women Solidarity Association at the Arab Cultural Club where Mrs. Najjar was asked to address the audience.
Previously we visited with the representative of WILPF International,
Vice-President Mrs. Liss Schanke the prison of Al-khyam in
South-Lebanon and witnessed the atrocities with which the prisoners,
whether Lebanese or Palestinians, were treated.
Our committee participated actively in numerous activities
for peace and Justice and against War, in addition to other activities
pertaining to women’s issues in
Lebanon
and the Arab region.
Following are some of the main activities:
· commemoration of the Sabra and Shatila massacres…honoring the mothers of the victims…sit-in
in the cemetery.
· Nasyo International conference on violations of the Human Rights of
the Child, (
Baghdad
).
Presentation of a paper on violations of Children’s human
rights in
Palestine
.
· Steering committee in the Lebanese
Women’s Council for support of justice and human rights for
the Intifdada, and participation in sit-ins and drafting statements
presented to:
a. The UN.
b. The International Red Cross
c. The American Ambassador
d. Membership in the parliamentary
e. Committee for Human Rights for Palestinians.
f. Various radio, television and newspaper
interviews on the national issues, women’s issues, and our
particular activities.
· Participation in the Arab National
Forum Conference on the Iraqi Lebanese relationships and future
developments.
· Participation in conferences for the
support of human rights for the Iraqi people, and on the tragic
effects of the war – depleted uranium – and the blockade
on the Iraqis, especially children.
· Signing various petitions against war
crimes in Jenin camp, and against the
siege of Palestinian cities and villages.
· Membership in the ad-hoc committee
for freedom and justice for the Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli
occupation prisons, and for implementation of the
Geneva
conventions.
· Participation to the Arab congress
in Solidarity with
Iraq
including a solidarity trip to
Baghdad
.
Special Women’s Issues:
Participation
in the Lebanese Women’s Council activities on the occasions
of:
· Arab Woman’s Day.
· International Woman’s Day.
· Workshop for the empowerment of women
politically.
· Workshop for the reactivating of the
council’s committees.
· Workshop for the appointment of women
in key-positions in the government.
Special Village Welfare Society activities:
· The 50th anniversary Gala
dinner (golden Jubilee)
· The Cocoon Harvest Day…with two
lectures on the importance of Lebanese silk production… participation
of foreign embassy ladies.
· Poetry evening honoring the pioneer
Arab Lebanese poet: Rasheed Saleem el Khoury.
· International Women’s Day with
a lecture by the famous chef Antoine on modern home economics
and healthy meals.
· Rural lunch with very traditional Lebanese
dishes.
In Economic and Social Justice
Our main work was the twinning between LCPF and WILPF
Norway. The project is designated in English as follows: Economic
and political capacity building and empowerment for women in
Lebanon
through institutional cooperation between WILPF Norway and WILPF
Lebanon.
The aims are:
A – Economic capacity building and empowerment in
collaboration with the members of VWS, the instrumental field
of WILPF Lebanon, WILPF and students from the
Lebanese
University
– aimed at practical and material changes in the living conditions
situation for rural women in selected villages.
B – Political capacity building and empowerment
in collaboration with WILPF and other women – aimed at strategic
changes in the position for women in Lebanese society in general,
e.g. through increased political and civil society influence.
C – Increased competence and understanding in
Norway
of the situation of women in Arab and Muslim countries.
The project bases itself on the following local human
resources:
WILPF
Lebanon
The Village
Welfare Society (VWS)
The
School
of
Education
at the
Lebanese
University
and the students.
The project target groups are:
Rural women
Members of
VWS
Students at
the University
The first training session comprised theory and practice.
The programme’s outlines were:
1 - THEORY
a- The literacy of the Mind’s philosophy
b- The Women’s International League
for Peace and Freedom. The main subjects expounded in French were:
History –
emphasizing on main figures and events
Policy –
especially that was decided for the years 2002 –2004
Constitution
+ WILPF sections
Achievements
Perspectives
for the future.
c- The work of the Brazilian educationalist
Paulo Freire, and that of John Dewey
as well.
d- Varied lectures given by members of
LCPF and other specialists in order to develop the international
vision of the new members and the old ones who are in a retraining
process. The subjects expounded were:
Corruption
Conflict resolution
Gender perspectives
of Empowerment
Emergencies
and disasters relief
Peace education,
such as teaching children to be peacemakers
Prevention
and medical care
Ecology
and pollution.
e- Teaching English to both new and old
members.
2 - PRACTICE
Living in the
rural areas, either buried by the snow or by transport’s
difficulties, it is incumbent on women to forsee the yearly provisions. In order to habilitate them to provision’s
preparation, our new along with our old and retrained development
agents will teach them several and efficient ways including:
a- Traditional food, for example:
a. Kichk (made out of yogurt and broken wheat)
b. Cand-meat
(made out of meat and lard that lasts for a year)
c. Treacle or molasses
d. Cereals
e. Canning (for vegetables and fruits)
b- Traditional meals to be measured for
economical sake
c- Artisanal crafts, such as:
a. Toy making.
b. Ceramics
c. Silk wearing
d- Agricultural and Farming competences:
a. Planting
b. Poultry farming
c. Silkworm breading
d. Bee-raising.
The first training session lasted 8 weeks. The theoretical
part took place in our office in
Beirut
while the practical one took place in our training school in Deir Koucheh,
Mount
Lebanon
. By the end of it, we gave a ceremony during which
certificates were distributed to five young women who became members
of both organizations. Soon we will start the second training
section in another village, Behamdoun,
were the population is Christian and Druze, before heading to Bekaa, and
South
Lebanon
.
In addition to all these activities:
1- We offered help in the form of books
and stationary to 58 needy students and repaired the playground
of the
VWS
School
.
2- On the international level, we attended
the IEC meeting which was held in
Geneva
in July – August 2001 and our suggestions aimed at resolving
the Arab-Israeli conflict in it’s Lebanese part were adopted in WILPF Resolutions. We also attended
the International Seminar which was held at the Palais Des Nations in Geneva and focused on “Terrorism,
The Global Order, Arms and Missile Defense” (6-8 March 2002),
in order to mark the International Women’s Day. One of our
members Roula Zoubiane who is an IEC member represented WILPF in the International
Congress for Peace and Solidarity, which was held in
Algeria
between 3 and
6 July 2002
.
She was also asked, as an international consultant for WILPF program
in a training period, to prepare the program report which will
be submitted to the IEC in
New Zealand
.
RESOLUTION (DRAFT)
The Lebanese Committee for Peace and Freedom in the last
meeting 2001- 2002 decided to take the following stand:
1 – the Shubaa Farms are Lebanese and
Israel
knows this and hides the evidences she posses. Mr. Robert Risk
has declared these arguments after visiting the Shubaa Farms. They should be returned to
Lebanon
2 – The Palestinian refugees in
Lebanon
live in a deplorable state of residence and infrastructure. According
to U.N 224, to humanity, to law, they should go back home to
Palestine
.
3 –
Israel
must abide by the U.N resolutions just as other states or else
to be treated like
Iraq
:
the economic sanctions. Nothing else can stop her abominable aggression
on the Palestinians.
4 –
Israel
should, according to U.N conventions, stop using the Lebanese
skies without
Lebanon
’s
agreement.
5 – LCPF is against the attack by U.S on
Iraq
,
at the same time contradicting Mr.Bush’s theme: change the way of life of the Iraqians.
6 –
Israel
is not a member of N.P.T, posses all sort of destructive weapons.
In there double standards, the U.S accuses Iraq of possessing
destructive weapons and is blind to the Damona,
nuclear reservoir or nuclear army, that murder the Palestinians
daily or destroys their houses over their heads.
7 – LCPF wonders how can a State
like
Israel
eliminate another State (
Palestine
)
by insistance upon destroying Arafat,
head of the Palestinian state recognized by the U.S and the U.N
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