LEBANON: Obesity, adultery and global warming

. BEIRUT, Lebanon / The Daily Star Arts & Culture / April 9, 2010 Ian McEwan’s latest novel, ‘Solar,’ lambasts preoccupations of contemporary society Review By Emily Holman Special to The Daily Star BEIRUT: Ian McEwan is known in the literary world for two things: An interest in the macabre verging on the grotesque, and a capacity for empathy that can be awesome, even humbling. “Solar,” his latest novel and first prolonged foray into farce, flings both darts right into the bulls-eye. The grotesque is well represented in both characterization and subject matter, but is tempered by McEwan’s extensive mental excavation of his protagonist, Michael Beard. Along the way, McEwan reveals the good, the bad and certainly the ugly of life today and the people living it. Beard is the winner of a Nobel Prize for his contribution to quantum theory, the “Beard-Einstein conflation.” Having his name attached to a theory has allowed Beard to languish on his laurels. Our first encounter with Beard sees him trapped in a cycle of lectures and appearances. His throwaway suggestion to the National Center for Renewable Energy that they install a wind-turbine has so far caused only trouble, but to turn his back on it would be still more humiliating. His personal life is similarly dissatisfying. Beard is embroiled during the opening of the novel in his eleventh affair during his fifth marriage, itself shortly to end. In fact, over the nine years covered by “Solar,” this fling is the last time we see of a Beard as a creature of passion. His sole reference later to that “dark summer” is to admit contemptuously that he “pined like a dog.” You wonder: Has he ever loved? The question isn’t really whether Beard is capable of love, but if anybody is at all, even of a meaningful friendship. Can empathy exist? Can one human ever really know or trust – and therefore truly like – another? This is McEwan’s subject. Global warming, a major part of the plot, is merely the framework. Beard’s relationships are cast as dishonest, seeped in etiquette and unspoken thoughts. Arriving back from a trip, for instance, he knows that he must adhere to a certain protocol upon being re-united with yet another squeeze, Melissa. In his own mind, Beard is “a monster of insincerity, cradling tenderly on his arm a woman who he thought he might leave one day soon, listening to her with a sensitive expression … when all he wanted was to make love to her without preliminaries, eat the meal she had cooked, drink a bottle of wine and then sleep – without blame, without guilt.” That she is to inform him of her pregnancy makes the episode a discomforting read. Melissa asks him, mid-sex, to assure her of his love and support. While verbally assenting, Beard is already framing an argument for abortion. He also finds himself mentally auditioning a string of fantasy women in order to reach climax. Orgasm seems to be Beard’s Achilles heel. Four years on, Melissa is in England with their daughter but Beard is engaged to be married to Darlene, his new American sweetheart, due to a weak-willed moment in the sack. Beard’s other love is food – as with women, he just cannot say no. Through the nine-year time-period, Beard balloons from sizeable to obese and is still growing. In one instance, having consumed lunch on the plane along with two packets of crisps, Beard gulps down nine salmon sandwiches – not a wise move, considering that he is just about to give a speech. Midway through his presentation Beard feels “an oily nausea at something monstrous and rotten from the sea, stranded on the tidal mud flats of a stagnant estuary, decaying gaseously in his gut and welling up.” Clearly, McEwan’s renowned delight in the disgusting (which has since his earliest work earned him the nickname Ian Macabre) has not faded with time. McEwan captures the essence of the 21st century Western world with its focus on excessive consumption of every type. This is accompanied by a depiction of dissatisfaction and restlessness that more optimistic novelists such as Paulo Coelho might seek to dispel. “Solar” doesn’t offer much reassurance. Instead, McEwan casts humanity as base animals, dominated by desires and instincts. No-one escapes McEwan’s acid pen – even environmental types trying to save the world from global warming are lambasted, in a hilarious account of Beard’s trip to the Arctic. Not the two-dimensional affair that some critics have described, “Solar” is darkly satirical and deeply thought provoking. To dismiss this novel is to miss the horrible realization McEwan might just awaken in your own consciousness. [rc] “Solar” is published by Jonathan Cape. Copyright © 2010, The Daily Star.

LEBANON: Linda Matar honored for decades-long fight for women's rights

. BEIRUT, Lebanon / The Daily Star / Lebanon / March 20, 2010 By Evita Mouawad, Special to The Daily Star Linda Matar, one of Lebanon’s most influential women, was honored for her career of service in Lebanon and the Arab world, in a ceremony held by the League of Lebanese Women’s Rights. Matar has been president of the LLWR since 1953, the year Lebanese women finally obtained the right to vote. She has fought for women’s rights in Lebanon and the Arab world for the past half century, dedicating her life to this uneasy struggle. Her journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Throughout the years, she presided over the Lebanese Council of Women from 1996 until 2000 and oversaw reforms that saw the group become a vocal element of local civil society. She was also a member of the Social Economic Council of Lebanon, a position that allowed her to be one of the most effective advocates for women’s rights in the country. Matar was a leading campaigner for rectifying the woefully low percentage of women in Parliament, running unsuccessfully for the legislature in 1996 and 2000. She has taken part in over 50 Arab and international conferences, including the UN conference on women in Mexico in 1975, and the 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing. An array of public figures from Lebanon and the Arab world gathered at UNESCO Palace Thursday to honor Matar, who despite her long list of achievements, remains remarkably selfless. The event was presented by Aida Nasrallah Helwani, a close friend and colleague of Matar in the LLWR. First lady Wafaa Sleiman was joined by Dr. Hassan Musa, representing former Premier Salim Hoss, while representatives of women’s groups from Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Egypt and Cyprus were also on hand to support their long-time partner in the fight for women’s rights in the region. In his opening speech, Musa reminded the public that Matar was voted as one of the “100 Women Who are Moving the World” by the French magazine Marie Claire. “And she continues to change the world today,” he said. Matar had to leave school when she was 12 years old to work in a silk factory, an experience that opened her eyes to the injustices of Lebanese society at the time, especially toward female workers. Social Economic Council head Roger Nasnas stated that “despite growing up in difficult circumstances that didn’t allow her to pursue her high school education, Matar never gave up her fight for human rights and gender equality, because she didn’t want future generations to share the same fate.” Fadi Karam, the secretary of the National Commission for Lebanese Women, told the gathering that “if Lebanese women have come this far to being equal to Lebanese men, it is in great part because of Linda Matar and the women who have followed in her footsteps.” After the tributes, Matar thanked all the men and women who have contributed to her 57-year struggle for women. She humbly dedicated the award to her late husband and mother, who “both gave me all the tools I needed to persevere.” She thanked her children and apologized for her shortcomings as a mother who dedicated a big part of her life for the cause in which she passionately believed. She also paid tribute to Palestinian women who continue to fight for their rights everyday. “I dedicate this award to them in particular,” she said. [rc] Copyright © 2010, The Daily Star.

LEBANON: Dar al-Aman offers safe and dignified home to senior citizens in south

. BEIRUT, Lebabon / The Daily Star / Lebanon News / October 22, 2009 By Mohammed Zaatari, Daily Star staff ABBASSIEH: There are very few places that can make the elderly feel safe and at home when their family is no longer beside them. Even fewer places are ready to welcome senior citizens in the south of Lebanon where homes for the elderly houses are rare and often poorly equipped. The Dar al-Aman center for the elderly in the southern town of Abbasieh, near Tyre, is the first care center for senior citizens in the south to offer its residents full medical care and the sense of safety and belonging. “Here I don’t feel like I’ve been abandoned. Here I feel safe and respected,” says Hajj Abu Ahmad, a 75-year-old resident of the center. The Dar al-Aman center – Aman is Arabic for safety – is a place where elder citizens can benefit from health care and company, and just as its name indicates, it’s a place where they can feel respected and safe. The center is part of the Al-Zahraa Medical and Social Center that belongs to Al-Mabarat Association, a Muslim charitable association supervised by senior Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah. Dar al-Aman offers its residents the comfort of 40 beds distributed on eight floors and divided into two sections: one for men and another for women, in accordance with Muslim customs. Its 3,000 square-meters space includes a medical department, a physiotherapy department, a laboratory, a medical x-ray center, a garden, a beauty center for women and several other entertainment facilities. About 16 doctors provide the medical care and continuously check up on all the residents. “We currently have 40 beds to offer but we hope that we will be able to multiply this number soon,” says the director of the center Nabih Noureddine, noting that the Social Affairs Ministry donates LL4,000 to the center on a daily basis for every resident. “The expenses for each resident however exceed by far this amount,” he adds. Noureddine explains that Dar al-Aman center welcomes elder citizens above the age of 50 from all religions and sects. “Charity knows no religion,” he says. The center cares for all those suffering from chronic diseases and all those who no longer have anyone to turn to. “The center doesn’t ask for any fees but if the resident has a family that can help, then it is preferred that they offer their aid,” he adds. As for the residents at the center, they unanimously express their joy and relief that they now have a place they can consider a safe haven. “I have been here for eight months and I turned to Dar al-Aman after I lost my husband and had no children to help me,” says 76-year-old Maryam Hijazi. Nabila al-Baabaa is one of the survivors of the Qana massacre in 1996 when Israeli artillery hit a United Nations compound near the southern village. Baabaa is one of the civilians who had taken refuge in the compound. “I still suffer from the injuries caused by the massacre and I have chosen to receive care at the Dar al-Aman center after my brother travelled to the United States and I was left without anyone to look after me,” says Baabaa. “There is nothing more beautiful that to ease the suffering of an elderly person,” says Rana Dakhel a nurse working at the center. “I feel so happy to be able to help the residents. They are now as close to me as my own family,” she adds. [rc] Copyright © 2009, The Daily Star

LEBANON: Hanging In Hawka With Father Dario, 73, Hermit From Columbia

. Father Dario . Pasqual Gorriz Postcard from Hawka TIME Magazine / October 13, 2008 By Andrew Lee Butters I spent most of the hike down the rim of Qaddisha Valley worrying not so much what would happen if I slipped and fell down the mountain gorge, but about the social protocols of visiting with a hermit. After all, hermits, by definition have chosen solitude over company — particularly strangers popping in uninvited. But Our Lady of Hawka Monastery, a 13th century shrine built into the side of the valley's red sandstone cliffs and one of the region's last functioning hermitages, is considered something of a national treasure in Lebanon. Even if phoning ahead to arrange an audience is not an option, this treacherous trail is well traveled. When I arrived at the monastery grotto, the only sound to be heard is the cooing of two white doves overhead, as if to emphasize the sanctity of the setting. Since just a few centuries after the dawn of Christianity, holy men have come to the mountains of northern Lebanon in search of solitude, although the attraction of the ascetic life may have faded somewhat in the modern era. Father Dario, a 73 year-old Colombian priest, took up residence at Hawka eight years ago, becoming one of just three hermits left in Lebanon. That status certainly makes the visitor nervous about imposing. What if I stumbled into the monastery in middle of holy mass? Or interrupted the Father at some key moment in his contemplation of divine creation? Or more likely, what if the reason he renounced a life of earthly pleasures was to get away from the likes of foreign journalists for whom he is a fascinating curiosity? Surely someone who chooses the life of a hermit has what those of us who work in the urban corporate economy might call "people issues"? Despite my trepidation, it turns out that the only ritual required in requesting an audience with the hermit is a knock on the door. Father Dario emerges from his quarters wearing a black cowl and a warm smile. He explains that although he has many visitors — some of whom wake him in the middle of the night, or use his pencils to graffiti their names on the walls of his cell — all are welcome. It is the duty of Christian hermits, he explained, to serve both God and humanity through prayer and penitence, and that apparently includes suffering fools gladly. Indeed, hermitism in the Catholic Church and its eastern branches is not some kind of a primal escape to nature and freedom, but a role defined by canonical law and subject to the discipline and hierarchy of the Church. To become a hermit, one first has to be either a member of a monastic order, or to be consecrated by a bishop. Father Dario had been a Catholic priest living in Florida and making $200 an hour working as a psychologist when God told him to give up his worldly possessions and take on the contemplative life. But the Word of the Lord wasn't all it took to turn Father Dario into a hermit: Only ten years after moving to Lebanon and becoming a Maronite monk did he receive his bishop's blessing to take the next step. He moved out of the hectic life at the main monastery, where Lebanese monks enjoy their mobile phones and Mercedes Benz cars, and into the silence of the valley. Now, he spends his days on a tight schedule: 14 hours of prayer, 3 hours working in the vegetable garden, 2 hours studying mystical texts, and 5 hours sleeping on a wooden board with a stone under his head. "At the beginning it is difficult," he said, "But now I can't sleep with a pillow." Unfortunately, for all his trials in the proverbial desert, Father Dario has little in the way of gnostic wisdom to offer the passing hiker, though he does have a funny story about what it's like trying to get through Homeland Security onto a flight to the Middle East when you have the same last name — Escobar — and birthplace — Medellin — as a legendary narco trafficker. "Many people come here because they think I know the future," he says. "I only know one thing: that we all will die." Then he tells me to get married. © 2008 Time Inc.

LEBANON: Healthy diet choices can ease rigors of Ramadan fasting

. BEIRUT, Lebanon (The Daily Star), September 3, 2008: By Megan Bainbridge Special to The Daily Star With Ramadan now beginning in the summer months, Beirut's heat and humidity take a greater toll. According to Diet Center dietician Lama Lteif, the first few days of Ramadan are the hardest, as the body takes time to adjust to the new situation. The body gradually becomes more efficient and lowers its metabolic rate to cope with fasting. The act of fasting changes the body's metabolism. The brain and nervous system rely upon glucose drawn from food consumed throughout the day. During a period of fasting, the body instead draws more heavily upon internal stores of nutrients. "People feel a bit tired," Lteif says. "But the body has a great ability to adapt to any situation, and after a couple of days it becomes easier." Dehydration is a significant concern, particularly when Ramadan falls during the hot and humid summer months. Symptoms of dehydration include experiencing a dry mouth or eyes, muscle cramps, headaches or a feeling of dizziness or light-headed sensation. "People do not drink water during the day, but they are losing fluid through sweat, breathing and urine," Lteif says. "Because it is hot, people become dehydrated during fasting." There are measures that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of dehydration. Lteif suggests that Muslims who are fasting refrain from walking or spending long periods in the sun. She suggests that they remain in cool, air-conditioned places, either at home or in a workplace, and avoid strenuous physical activity. It is necessary to maintain a healthy diet during Ramadan, and to balance the important food groups following the evening iftar. While Muslims do not usually seek advice from dieticians, Lteif suggests that most people follow traditional dietary practices during Ramadan. "While many of the traditions are very healthy, people have to pay attention to what they eat," she continues. "Because the food is very tempting, people have to ensure they choose the healthy types." Lteif suggests that people begin their iftar meal according to the traditional practice of eating dates, which are rich in minerals such as potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. These should be followed by soup, which aids with re-hydration, and salads such as fattoush. It is also necessary to have one healthy main dish, which should include one source of carbohydrates and a source of protein, such as fish or meat. While Lteif acknowledges that it is tempting to opt for desserts that are high in sugar and fat, she advises people to choose healthy snacks, like fruit or yogurt, instead. "The most important thing is that people drink fluids during the night, especially water," says Lteif. Consuming a pre-dawn breakfast, or suhour, is also beneficial, although Lteif acknowledges that it can be difficult to sacrifice sleep ahead of a busy working day. Choosing whole-wheat breads, yoghurt and fruit over sweet foods, such as knefeh, for this meal help sustain the body until sunset. Even adhering to nutritional guidelines, obviously fasting is not appropriate for everyone. Diabetics, particularly those using insulin, children and pregnant women are all exempt from fasting during Ramadan. Copyright © 2008, The Daily Star.

LEBANON: Lebanese women still vulnerable to violence

By Sarah Clark Special to The Daily Star BEIRUT, Lebanon (The Daily Star), June 9, 2008: Violence against women remains a problem around the world and Lebanon is no exception. Experts say Lebanon's existing legal framework violates international human rights law because it fails to protect women from domestic violence, and encouraging MPs to pass more progressive legislation is only half the battle. Equally challenging is the matter of implementation - changing conventional attitudes within the family and society generally. Among organizations at the forefront in dealing with such issues is KAFA (Enough Violence and Exploitation), which is campaigning for change at both the parliamentary and social levels. KAFA describes itself as a non-profit, non-political, non-confessional civil society organization that seeks to mitigate the causes and results of violence and exploitation of women and children through advocacy and lobbying, raising awareness, and by offering social and legal services. The campaign is funded by the European Union under the Afkar II project for the strengthening of Lebanese civil society. The project will receive funding of $155,244 over a period of 24 months. On June 27, KAFA will hold its final roundtable to debate a draft law on violence against women with ministers, lawyers, MPs and judges. The meeting will play a crucial role in harvesting support from key decision-makers for the adoption of the law by Parliament and, eventually, Lebanese society. The meeting is a follow-up to another roundtable KAFA held with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on May 2, the second stage of a campaign officially launched on March 5. They invited civil society organizations to comment on and review the proposed legislation to protect women. "There is no current legislation to protect women from domestic violence and therefore this form of abuse becomes normalized and women find themselves banging their heads against a legal brick wall," Rasha Moumneh, co-coordinator of the KAFA campaign, told The Daily Star. According to KAFA and other NGOs advocating women's rights, although Lebanese Law does criminalize acts of violence, it does not protect women from violence within the family. The rights to life and bodily integrity are sanctioned under international law. As a signatory to the the UN's Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Lebanon is required to introduce legislation that will protect women against domestic violence and hold perpetrators accountable. In the 40th session of CEDAW, held between January 14 and February 1, the committee stated that "violence against women is a form of discrimination against women and thus constitutes a violation of their human rights under the convention." The committee called upon Lebanon "to enact without delay, legislation on violence against women, including domestic violence, so as to ensure that violence against women constitutes a criminal offense, that women and girls who are victims of violence have access to immediate means of redress and protection that perpetrators are prosecuted and punished." The body also aired concerns about three articles of the Lebanese Penal Code: Article 562, which mitigates guilt in the case of so-called "honor crimes;" Article 503, which tolerates marital rape; and Article 522, which allows for charges to be dropped in cases of rape. The first Afkar II roundtable, held on February 7, noted that previously women's networks and associations have experienced difficulties in working and co-coordinating with the relevant state institutions for the promotion of draft legislation they have devised. Accordingly, the groups reported a great need to improve communication, unite efforts and promote strong lobbying. A steering committee of experts headed up by KAFA drew up a draft law in late 2007. The legal framework is based on the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women. It is designed to pressure the state into fulfilling its obligation under international law to protect all Lebanese citizens without discrimination. "The proposed law is not just protective, but advocates criminalization and gives women some leverage because issues of custody of children and financial dependence amongst other things keep women in a position in which they continue to be abused," Moumneh said. Women's rights literature has it that the creation of a social milieu that promotes women's status is paramount in instigating change. The image of women depicted in educational programs and the media needs to be reviewed and amended in order for progress to occur. KAFA says the attitude of Lebanese society is crucial to this issue that any state intervention in familial matters constitutes a violation of the sanctity of the home. Generally, discussing family violence is taboo in Lebanon as it is seen as part of the private rather than public sphere. This, combined with factors such as traditional gender roles, economic hardship, poor education and religious practices, all serve to impede change. As violence is deeply embedded in social (particularly familial) culture, many Lebanese women finding themselves without legal protection continue to suffer in silence. Although there are no accurate, up-to-date statistics about domestic violence in Lebanon, a 2006 study entitled "Domestic Violence: The Lebanese Experience" reported that the rate of domestic violence is high among Lebanese women and is a significant health issue. A cross-sectional survey of women presented to four primary healthcare centers between September and October 2002 revealed that out of 1,418 participants, 494 (35 percent) experienced domestic violence. Three hundred and seven women (22 percent) knew of family members who had been abused within the family. However, some leading figures openly condemn violence against women and advocate the need for change. Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, a senior Shiite cleric, called for the elimination of violence against women in 2007. He issued a number of fatwas reaffirming women's rights and he clearly stated that Islam forbids men from exercising any form of violence against women. "Physical violence in which women are beaten proves that these men are weak," he said, "for only the weak are in need of unjust violence." Once the draft law is finalized KAFA intends to begin a grassroots campaign. Copyright © 2008, The Daily Star.

LEBANON: Grandma, Grandpa Club Opens In Tyre

TYRE, Lebanon (The Daily Star), February 8, 2008: "The Grandmother and Grandfather Club" has opened in Tyre earlier this week, Caritas Lebanon, an NGO, has announced. The club is the place where the region's elderly are offered free food, leisure, outings and medical services. The club opens its doors every Monday and Wednesday and offers its visitors the opportunity to meet, interact with each other and enjoy their time. While some spend the day relating old stories and sharing problems, others enjoy playing backgammon or reading books in the club's library. A dietician is on hand to advise seniors with an appropriate nutritional program. A woman identified as Umm Elias Shammas told The Daily Star that she takes pleasure in spending her time at the club. "I talk with my fellow citizens about the past, hoping to relive our youth," she said, regretfully. "Our past days are much more beautiful than the present ones." Naamat Shour, another visitor, expressed content to be a member of the club. "The situation here is excellent. We have everything we need to ease our sufferings. And most of all, we have a physician who takes care of our health." Doris Ghafari, supervisor of the club, said the elderly "have the right to live in psychological and social security. We are doing this work since we believe that humans, particularly grandmothers and grandfathers, have the right to live in dignity," she said. "We should provide them with the care they need. The rights of the elderly ought to be sacred. We are glad to carry out such a humanitarian mission that responds to our ethical and social values as well as our religious doctrines," she added. By Mohammed Zaatari, Daily Star staff Copyright © 2008, The Daily Star.

LEBANON: Beirut's Old Are Frequent Users of Public Library

BEIRUT (THE DAILY STAR), November 20, 2004:

Reading just got more fun for the aged in Beirut, with the opening of the second municipal library in Achrafieh, in the middle of a public garden.

Assabil, a non-governmental association promoting public libraries in Lebanon, and the municipality of Beirut, have together promoted the library.

It costs LL10,000 to get a membership for life at the library and up to two books can be borrowed for 21 days.

The opening ceremony was attended by the mayor of Beirut, Abdel-Monem Aris, who promised a library in each of Beirut's 12 districts.

By Rym Ghazal The Daily Star Copyright (c) 2004

LEBANON: NGOs Deliver Elderly Services Once Provided By Families

Shifting attitudes have left a vacuum in certain types of care BEIRUT (Daily Star), November 1, 2004: With the elderly community in Lebanon growing to represent an even greater part of the population in the coming years, the number of residential institutions expanding or simply opening is increasing. Despite a lack of accurate statistics, as no clear assessment of the Lebanese population is available in the first place, experts agree that around 10 percent of the locals are over 65, and is set to reach at least 13 percent in the next two decades. "Considering the health improvements that guarantee a longer life, and the fact that the average number children in each family is closer to two or three (as opposed to) when it was seven or eight a few decades ago, the age pyramid is larger on top," said Azzam Houri, director of Dar al-Ajaza al-Islamiyya, a residential institution in southern Beirut sheltering around 400 Lebanese seniors. "And while it was still unacceptable a few years ago, all religious communities have their own homes for the elderly now. We already count 40, and others are still opening," Houri said. In that same spirit, he noted that "most of our private donations are received during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan." Except for two institutions run privately, all others are the work of non governmental organizations. Arslan Baydoun, a 90-year-old man, has been a resident of Dar al-Ajaza for 12 years. "My wife died 20 years ago; I have two daughters but I don't want to be a burden on them. This is my home now," he said. When Maha Abou Chawareb, director of Foyer Saint Georges - a 60-bed residential home in Beirut - started working in 1997, sending an old person to an institution was taboo, a reality that has since changed. "Considering the current economic situation, old people are seen as non-productive, and the family can't support them anymore. No matter what we say in Lebanon, the consideration shown old people has changed for the worse, and is not really flattering," she said. "Another curse is the migration of young people that, in turn, leaves old people all alone," Abou Chawareb said. In the absence of an official government plan, a national committee for the elderly was established in 1999, in which public, private, and non-governmental organizations and experts have been included. As members, Abou Chawareb and Houri explained that aside from following up on the legal aspect, the committee is also trying to create a more welcoming environment for elderly citizens within society. "Thirty-three clubs for the elderly, or day care centers, were opened across the country with social activities offered," said Houri. Playing cards, watching movies or simply discussing issues are activities that can enliven the daily routine of any participating member. These same activities are offered by the new social center for elderly Palestinian refugees that opened recently in the Bourj al-Barajneh camp in Beirut. Recently inaugurated by the Women's Humanitarian Organization and Caritas Austria - together with project partner Caritas Lebanon Migrants Center - this project is supported by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office and aims to provide health care services and activities to elderly Palestinians. "Social activities like outings or clubs are mainly dedicated to children and young people," said Olfat Mahmoud, the center's director. "We are just trying to divert them from the worry in their lives." Besides basic social activities including outings, meeting Palestinian children is part of the program. "We are trying to rebuild connections; they will teach them songs they used to sing and tell them about their life as children in Palestine," said Mahmoud, adding that these seniors were a symbol. "Each time one of them dies, we feel that the Palestinian nation has lost another pillar." By teaching people how to take care for the elderly, the project also intends to raise awareness of their needs, through public education in Bourj al-Barajneh, Dbayeh, Mar Elias and Shatila camps. On the occasion of the International Day for the Elderly, October 1, Foyer Saint Georges, under rehabilitation and expansion, celebrated its occupants. "The International Day for the Elderly is a great day," said Aida Torbey, 70. "Having all those people around us lifts up our state of mind, I almost forgot my suffering," she said. Nadia Hannouche, 45, has been working as a practical nurse in Foyer Saint Georges for the past six years: "These people are a treasure for us. We should respect them and love them much more than that. It is nice to have an International Day for them, but what about the other 364 days?" By Linda Dahdah Daily Star staff

LEBANON: Experts Address Plight of the Elderly

New retirement law may not do enough Current system to cover only a fraction of those in need BEIRUT, Lebanon (The Daily Star), August 16, 2004: Although the Lebanese government passed a new retirement law earlier this month, its main concern was not to create a system capable of answering the needs of the country's elderly, according to one hospital head, who called the measure inadequate. Indeed, some politicians fear the new law will undermine the existing social security system, while some say it may never be passed by Parliament. Some social activists say that even if it is implemented the measure would only cover employees who benefit from the current security system, leaving the majority of the unemployed, uncovered workers and the self-employed out in the cold. "The purpose of a retirement system should be to target the elderly population in the country as a special group, in order to improve the quality life of senior citizens," said Azzam Houri, the head of Beirut's Dar al-Ajaza al-Islamiya Hospital. "The retirement system would cover less than 16 percent of the elderly, or 38,947 senior citizens, offering them just 60 percent of their original wages, an amount that might not cover the minimum requirements to live in dignity." Based on an estimated official count conducted in July 2001, there are 243,423 people aged 65 and over, with 68,158 of them living under the poverty line. The country's poor economy also makes it harder for those supporting seniors at home, in private institutions or nongovernmental facilities to provide them with basic needs. A 1997 survey by the Social Affairs Ministry said the number of elderly will roughly double within the next two decades, rising to 13 percent of the country's population from the current 6.7 percent. This is due to the fact that life expectancy at birth was 66 years in 1970 but climbed to 71 as of in 1997. Combined with declining fertility and mortality rates, this means that the country's third-largest age group is undergoing a widening of its role in society. According to Houri, "the drafted retirement law cannot deal with the reality of Lebanon's aging population, nor can it respond to a potential economic and social backlash." In 2002, the various concerned ministries theoretically complied with an international strategy and recommendations that were set by the World Assembly on Aging and aimed at responding to the challenges and needs of the elderly in the 21st century. However, "the ministries conducted surveys, studies and research that cost millions of dollars without actually contributing in the field in facing the challenge," said Houri, in reference to the government's establishment of a Permanent National Commission on the Elderly (PNCE) in 2002. He acknowledged that the various ministries do provide some assistance, but added: "Facing the aging problem needs a plan that tackles the problem from all aspects, based on a comprehensive strategy." Such a strategy, he continued, should work to safeguard the dignity and safety of the elderly, and reinforce a society for all ages where individuals grow older while still remaining active and productive members of society, he added. The three sectors working in the field coordinate their steps through the PNCE. Nine delegates from different ministries and public administrative bodies represent the public sector, three delegates represent the NGOs, and three expert academics represent the private sector, according to the World Assembly plan. The task of the PNCE is to conduct several surveys before deciding on practical plans. "We need to establish a sound database on the status of the elderly people in Lebanon and to obtain a preliminary profile on the major health, social and economic problems they face," said Hussein Majed, the head of the delegation to the World Assembly, at the time. However, in Lebanon, this task still remains unfinished: The commission still does not know where the elderly live, what their medico-social status is or which institutions are dealing with them. "Meanwhile, most of the retired or elderly citizens find they are suddenly homebound and cannot generally afford the luxury of joining private institutions for leisure time," Houri said. "This growing portion of the Lebanese society must be at the highest priority on the country's agenda." By Adnan El-Ghoul Daily Star staff

LEBANON: First military old-age home opens doors

BEIRUT (THE DAILY STAR), July 31, 2004:

President Emile Lahoud inaugurated the first military old- age home in Kaslik on Friday; the first step in an endeavor which he had initiated when he was army commander.

"It is yet another step in the path toward providing social welfare and a safe, dignified life for the elderly," he said. Lahoud also said another step would be taken in that direction during the next Cabinet session, which is due to examine the retirement funds project law.

The rest house in Kaslik is the first in a series of military retirement homes which the army hopes to open. The idea for the centers was reportedly initiated by Lahoud several years ago, in an effort to provide help to officers and soldiers after their retirement.

Also attending the inauguration ceremony were Defense Minister Mahmoud Hammoud and Army Commander Michel Sleiman. Copyright (c) 2005 The Daily Star

LEBANON: Seniors Face Twilight Years Without State Help

An aging population means the issue cannot be ignored BEIRUT (Daily Star), June 29, 2004: Senior citizenship is an international idea, yet it remains an alien one to Lebanese society. "In all the countries of the world, people whose age has reached a certain point, generally 64 or 65, are treated as senior citizens," said Azzam Houri, chairman of Dar al-Ajaza al-Islamiya, one of 40 local residential institutions known as elderly homes. Being a senior citizen, Houri said, meant enjoying certain privileges like complete medical coverage, discounts on public and private transportation fees, tax reductions and cultural entertainment packages. "In this country, however, there isn't a single law regarding the status of aging people," Houri said, "not only are the elderly not treated as 'senior citizens,' but they are often deprived of their basic rights as citizens and 'thrown away' in some home for the aged." Old people, he said, are simply forgotten. In 1997, Houri explained, a national committee for the elderly was established. A study of old people's status in Lebanon is planned in an attempt to improve some of the long-lost dignity of the aged. Up till now, Houri said, the committee's work has been satisfactory, although, he said, "more than a lot still needs to be done." The committee's most recent and important achievement, he said, was the inauguration of 33 "clubs" for elderly people in 2003 in various areas all over Lebanon. These clubs, he said, were more like elderly day care centers where old people come in to spend the day and then go back home to their family in the evening. According to Houri, there are currently 40 residential institutions for the elderly, with some 3,200 beds all told. "Among these, only two are private, none are governmental, while the rest are all (owned and run by) nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)," Houri said, adding that the government still had to come out with a proper insurance plan for the elderly. "Free and full medical coverage among the elderly for instance, is only given to those who were governmental employees," Houri said, "which only constitutes a minor portion of the population." Maha Abu Chawareb, chairperson of Foyer Saint Georges, another NGO residential home for the elderly, told The Daily Star the Health Ministry granted each residential home for the aged a mere LL15,600 per day per resident, while the Social Affairs Ministry granted some LL4,100. "But in our center, for instance, it takes us some LL53,000 per day to properly care for an old person, be it regarding his or her hygiene, meals, entertainment activities ... etc." "Of course," she said, "if one of our residents falls ill or has to undergo surgery, we also incur the entire expenses." "The Health Ministry allocated a certain number of beds in every hospital for elderly patients," Abu Chawareb said, "but most of the time, these beds are fully occupied, and since an elderly person's admission to hospital is usually urgent, we take it upon ourselves to pay the expenses." Furthermore, she said, even though the Health Ministry "theoretically" provides the residential elderly homes with "free" or "discounted" medication, "most of the chronic diseases medications we need for our residents are seldom available." Neemat Kanaan, general director at the Social Affairs Ministry, told The Daily Star that "the government was not supposed to have residential institutions for the elderly." It was the duty of NGOs, she said, to ensure a proper living for the country's elderly. "Such organizations have the proper infrastructure to do it," Kanaan said, "and by helping the elderly in having a decent life, they will also be helping their government by relieving it of another economic burden." In a press conference regarding "how to provide the elderly with the proper governmental and social support," Social Affairs Minister Asaad Diab said "the nongovernmental sector should be the government's first and most faithful ally in providing the elderly with the quality of life they deserve." Diab pointed out recent statistics showed Lebanese society's age demographic was dramatically changing, featuring many more aging people than ever before. "If we don't work together as public, private and nongovernmental institutions to face this challenge, then this situation will soon become a serious threat for our society," Diab said. "That's why it is imperative to provide an improved quality of life for our elderly." Representing Mufti Mohammed Rashid Qabbani, Sheikh Marwan Qabbani highlighted the importance of providing elderly people with love and affection. "An old person should never be looked at as a burden," Qabbani said, "They should be cherished and respected above all." By Jessy Chahine Senior Writer THE DAILY STAR Copyright (c) 2005

LEBANON: Lebanese woman could be 127 years old

TYRE (Daily Star), June 17, 2004: Hamida Musulmani is old and wrinkled. Lebanese official records count her among the dead as she was born in 1877. But her memory seems intact and she looks very much alive, leaning on her cane, surrounded by her family in her home in Tyre. Indeed if Musulmani's birth certificate is authentic, she could be 127 years old, or the oldest woman on earth, beating her nearest rival, a French woman who died a few years ago at the officially documented age of 122, Reuters reported Tuesday. But her real age could be much lower as her youngest son is in his 60s, which means she would have been at least 57 the last time she became pregnant. In any case, Musulmani, who lives in her home in Shaitiya near Tyre, has become a living legend. She belongs to a family known for its members' longevity of life. It is said her mother died at 130. Some of her brothers and sisters are now past 90. Musulmani herself has survived four of her eight children. At her home, which overlooks the Tyre shore, Hamida sits surrounded by her children, their wives and her grand-children and great-grand children numbering 65 in all. She looks like a patriarch with her followers surrounding her as she keeps an eye on her children's wives doing their chores in the tobacco field. "When I was young, there was no tobacco industry and we did not know these things, she said. "All I can remember is that we used to grow wheat and barley. But I have distributed this land to my children and they used it to grow tobacco." As she was speaking, one of her sons, Hussein, handed her a cup of natural juice to drink. But she would not drink it until she made sure there were no additives in the liquid. "Thank God I have preserved my health. I am careful to drink only natural juice coming from fruit grown on my own land," said Hamida, who looks like a 90-year-old. She said she had been following a stringent food program. She was holding one of her great-grand-children, Qassem, who is 5 months old. "He reminds me of my yesteryears," she said. Her son, Abu Mahmoud, said his mother became famous during last month's municipal elections. Her name had been crossed out of the voters roster. When her children tried to make a correction, they were told that the officials preparing the rolls could not believe that she was still alive at that age. But she did not get to vote, because no elections took place after the outgoing municipality returned to office unopposed. "I remember old days when the country was under foreign occupation," she recalled. "We had some hard times and many people went hungry under the Ottoman empire," she said. She added that men were then forced to serve in the jandurma (Turkish Army.) "I hid my father in the house so he would not be taken away. But when drinking water ran out, we had to drink sea water. Her eyes welled with tears as she recalled her children who had died. "Only four remained - Hassan, Hussein, May and Leila," she said. By Mohammed Zaatari DAILY STAR Staff Copyright © 2004, The Daily Star.

LEBANON: Youssef Magid Saad has been Mayor for almost 60 years

CHOUF (Daily Star), May 14, 2004: This is a love story between one man and a village - a story that has endured for what even the most reasonable observer would say is an extraordinarily long time. For almost 60 years now, Youssef Magid Saad has been the mukhtar of Kneiseh in the Chouf qada of Mount Lebanon. According to an official statement of the Interior Ministry, he is the longest-serving mayor in Lebanon. Elected mukhtar in 1948, Saad has never faced an opponent and always enjoyed unanimous support. "I was born in Brazil in 1914," said the 90-year-old patriarch, who still speaks with the eloquence and coherence of a 40 year-old-man. "I came back to my native village of Kneiseh in 1922 where I continued my study of French and Arabic." Back then, Saad said, the village "school" was an oak-tree beneath which "classes" were taught by a single teacher. At the age of 30, Saad moved from Kneiseh to Beirut, where he studied for three years before taking the Brevet - the official government exams held at the end of intermediate classes. "At that time," Saad said proudly, "holding a Brevet degree was regarded as a respectful academic achievement." Holders of such a degree, the mayor said, were allowed to teach in public schools. And so he did. "I taught primary classes in a school in Beirut for four years before going back to Kneiseh where I assisted my uncle, who was mukhtar at the time." At his uncle's death, Saad's father was elected mukhtar. "But my father was a merchant, a very busy man," he said, "and he didn't have much time to dedicate to his activities as a mukhtar, so I offered my assistance and represented him in most of his public work." Seven years later, at 44 years of age, Saad officially became Kneiseh's mukhtar. And with that, his long reign began. "I've constantly been re-elected since then, unopposed," said Saad, who won another six-year term in the recent 2004 Mount Lebanon elections. "To be honest, I was not eager to be re-elected this year," he said, "I wanted to rest, but the people in my village refused. They wanted no one else but me to be their mukhtar." Again, that sweet mixture of pride and modesty quivered in the old man's voice. Since Saad has been mukhtar, he has undertaken many development projects, transforming his native village from an abandoned rural area to one of the most beautiful and visited country areas. "To begin with, my village lacked every kind of proper infrastructure," Saad said, "no roads, no electricity or mains water supplies." Gathering the necessary funds, Saad obtained the Interior Ministry's help - and blessing - to construct proper asphalt roads and water channels all over Kneiseh, an accomplishment which led to other improvements in the area. With a dynasty of four sons, three daughters, 17 grandsons, seven granddaughters and five great-grandchildren, Saad's complete control of his faculties at his advanced age seem to have been developed by his ongoing effort to satisfy his village's needs. "Throughout his 60 years of service, my father strived to be fair, equitable, and caring," Abdo, one of Saad's sons, told The Daily Star. "He has steered his village through the years with love, perseverance, tireless effort and dedication, all while maintaining excellent relations with neighboring villages." Not surprisingly, the love story goes on between a village that has risen from the ashes a few times to be rebuilt and improved and the 90-year-old man who has loved it for better or worse. By Jessie Chahine Daily Star Staff Copyright (c) 2005 The Daily Star

LEBANON: Refusing to Grow Old at Home, One Day At A Time

BEIRUT (Daily Star), April 5, 2004: Mira al-Gothaime, better known as Hajji Um-Wafiq, 83, opens her store every day of the week, not to sell her meager store supplies - which consist of six cartons of cigarettes and a couple of boxes of chocolate candy - but to enjoy the company of people. Um-Wafiq, old, composed and easily found every day of the week sitting in front of her store on the Salam Salim highway, said she was not in need of money, as her three children - one of whom resides in the US and the other two who live just across the street - provide her with everything she needs. Um-Wafiq said the store she purchased with her late husband 32 years ago is simply the last space she controls that provides her with life. She has insisted on keeping it open, against the wishes of her children. "On his last trip to Lebanon, my eldest son, Wafiq, tried to convince me to sell the store and purchase an apartment with the money. He said at my age it was not proper for me to sit in a store, but I told him I prefer that than being locked in an apartment. I also told him I would remain in the store until I pass away." Um-Wafiq is on good terms with everyone on the street. "They all come to visit me here. Look at that old man sitting there, he is waiting for me to beckon him to come over. In an apartment I would only have walls to stare at," she said. In addition to Um-Wafiq's views on her need for commercial space, she surprisingly said she has no plans for saving money. "I have performed the Hajj and I have visited the shrines of the Imams in Iraq and Iran, so why would an old woman like me want to horde money?" she asked. She also said that if she had money in the house she would worry about someone robbing her. But her biggest concern was, "what would my children say if they found I had money after I died? They will surely ask, why did our mother not give us the money on such and such an occasion when we needed it? That's why I don't want to horde money," she said. Although Um-Wafiq's health is fine, and her mind is alert, she said she has become bored with her life. But still, she explained, "God is my confidante and all I ask him for is to live the rest of my days in dignity." By Mohamed Ajami Daily Star staff Copyright © 2004, The Daily Star.