Why Civil Society Is Important to Democracy, Reason #68,000

When Lebanon took to the polls on June 7 of this year, the elections were hailed as free and fair and transparent, all qualities necessary for legitimacy. But there was one group who was denied the right to vote. Josie Ensor writes:

There are approximately 68,000 Lebanese voters registered as disabled with the Ministry of Social Affairs, but with most polling stations held in buildings unsuitable for wheelchairs many could not reach the polling booths.

In countries like the United States, civil society organizations advocating for the disabled, such as the American Association of People with Disabilities, have managed to eliminate many of the obstacles that disabled people once faced. While many people go to the polls, cast their votes, and return home, satisfied that they have made their contributions to the democratic process, there are so many things that can make a seemingly good election go bad. Having a polling station on the second floor of a building without an elevator, while it may go unnoticed to an able-bodied person, is effectively a denial of the right to vote to some people. And denying any person the right to vote makes for an unfair election.

A civil society organization called Lebanese Physically Handicapped Union wants to change that situation in Lebanon.

LPHU is a non-profit organization of people with physical disabilities that has been working on disability issues since 1981. This grassroots organization is national in scope and includes community branches in six areas of Lebanon (Beirut, Byblos, Bar Elias, Mashgara, Nabatieh and Saida). LPHU is a national, non-sectarian organization and involves people from different religious groups and with various forms of physical disability...There are two main fields of work of the organization: advocacy to raise awareness of the rights of people with disabilities in order to ensure their integration and raise equalization of opportunities; and community based development projects including physical rehabilitation, inclusive education and vocational rehabilitation.

LPHU is actively involved in the elections process and conducted a study of accessibility during the recent elections. The results were astounding:

Lebanese Physically Handicapped Union, sponsored by the International Foundation for Election Systems, conducted a study of the 1,741 polling stations in Lebanon and assessed them according to the ministry’s six accessibility criteria. The results revealed that only six polling stations – less that half of 1% - out of 1,741 satisfied all the accessibility criteria.

Next step: using the results of the study to implement laws requiring access for all voters.

Spotlight Organization: Youth Association for Social Awareness

Welcome to the inaugural edition of our weekly Spotlight series in which we profile Lebanese civil society organizations and spread awareness about their activities and events. Our first profile goes to Youth Association for Social Awareness, an organization dedicated to educating youth about road safety.


DL: What are the biggest safety concerns in Lebanon today? How is YASA addressing these concerns?

YASA: The biggest safety concern is the growing number of deaths due to road traffic crashes. Year after year this number is still increasing and with no immediate intervention it is expected to continue increasing to more alarming figures.

YASA is working on various aspects to help address this issue. YASA is lobbying for better laws, better enforcement, better road safety standards and more. We are also working on educating the upcoming generation on safety issues.

DL: YASA has many traffic safety programs for very young children. Why is it important to educate children about traffic safety years before they will drive?

YASA: “Safety starts with an attitude” - for this reason it is essential to expose and educate young children on safety issues and specifically road/traffic safety issues to help bring up a generation more aware of traffic safety issues. Moreover by doing interventions for young children, YASA would be able to enter many more homes through the children than any other way.

YASA believes that exposing children to road safety issues from their early years will impact them greatly when they reach the age of getting their driving license. It will also influence the parents through the children.

DL: Why is it important to try and entertain children while educating them? How does this help promote the messages of safety and accident prevention?

YASA: All YASA interventions for children focus on education through entertainment since this is known to help engrave the safety messages in the minds of the young kids. Mixing safety education with entertainment is the best way to successfully deliver the message to children and make them memorize it and transfer it to the parents as well.

DL: Are Lebanese traffic laws still outdated? In areas where the law is not outdated, is it well implemented?

YASA: The Lebanese traffic law dates back to the 60s and has very weak implementation. The problem with implementation is that it is seasonal and not continuous.

DL: Is it difficult to address more sensitive safety issues such as alcohol abuse, or child neglect and/or abuse? How can youth organizations begin to raise dialogue about these social taboos?

YASA: When YASA started raising the issue of Road Safety, the issue was never addressed by anyone in Lebanon except us. Even the news did not cover traffic crashes and deaths and the reason behind this is that people did not feel the level of its burden. It took a lot of work to make people start seeing the problem and its consequences. We believe that when there is a will there is a way to address and follow up on a concern or issue. Other sensitive issues such as alcohol abuse and child neglect and abuse have started to surface from the taboo side but still needs a lot of work and perseverance. We cannot neglect the issue that in some communities alcohol is forbidden but there is great need to address the issue of abuse to help the problem come to the surface and be handled properly rather than staying a taboo and spreading quietly among people.

DL: What is YASA’s role in disaster relief?

YASA: YASA works hard on injury prevention so our work is focused on the stage before the incident, however we saw the need to address the incident itself so we worked on the disaster management aspect too. We aim in our work to help the disaster response teams unit efforts and practice before they are faced by real situations.

DL: What are YASA’s strategies in making its awareness campaigns successful? Have conferences, seminars, and TV ads had a statistically measurable impact on accidents and injuries on the road?

YASA: YASA works on various ways to optimize the campaigns’ impact. All through the years we have organized and participated in conferences and seminars. YASA has also produced various safety spots and documentaries that were broadcast on local and regional TV stations, and were also viewed in conferences and seminars. All these were done to help promote a safer behavior and help reduce the burden of injuries due to traffic crashes. It is evident that campaigns alone do not work, and when we want to address the issue of Road Safety we need to address what we know as 6Es: Education, Engineering, Emergency, Enforcement, Evaluation and Encouragement. (More details on the 6Es can be found at www.yasa.org.)

Education is the part that is done with the students and in seminars, lectures and various interventions.

Engineering is the reflection of the safety on the roads from signing, lining, lighting to safety in road work zones and more.

Enforcement is the strict and continuous law enforcement and the updating of existing laws to meet the changes in the road and vehicles.

Emergency is the preparedness of the emergency teams to respond to an emergency situation and how to handle it in timely manner.

Evaluation is the step where you need to stop and assess what has been done and what should be done.

Encouragement is asking people to ask what the people in charge have done and if they worked to reduce the burden they should be acknowledged and if not they should be accounted for.

Safadi Foundation USA thanks YASA for taking the time to answer our questions. Please visit YASA's website to learn more about the organization and discover ways you can help youth understand road safety issues.

Lebanon's Civil Society Active in Environmental Issues

And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. - Khalil Gibran

From the ancient cedars of Shouf to the blue honey of the Mediterranean, traditional rural villages to the sprawling metropolis of Beirut, and the majesty of Mount Lebanon to the luscious Beqaa Valley, Lebanon faces enormous environmental challenges. These problems - which range from desertification and water shortages to threats to marine life and to the towering cedars themselves - transcend ethnicity and creed, wealth and poverty, gender and age. They are common to all and can be ignored by none. Fortunately, Lebanon is taking notice.

With a plethora of civil society groups recently formed to protect Lebanon's slice of the planet, Lebanon has perhaps the most active environmental movement in the Middle East and can lead the way in promoting green policies throughout the region. Not only are international groups like Greenpeace and GAIA active in the country, but grassroots Lebanese organizations like Beeatoona, Green Line, Development for People and Nature Association, and IndyACT have begun to have an impact on dialogue about the environment in Lebanon.

But there is much work to do, and the government should work in cooperation with CSOs and municipalities so that all of Lebanon can participate in the process. The government has already developed several national plans to combat environmental degradation in Lebanon. The National Reforestation Plan (2001), National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (1998), and National Action Program to Combat Desertification (2003) have all been drafted and implemented to some degree. The Ministry of Environment also hosted a program with the University of Balamand entitled Strengthening Environmental Legislation Development and Application System (SELDAS).

The SELDAS program ran from March 2003 to September 2005, which culminated with the publication of a book (available in Arabic from the Ministry’s website.) The purpose of the program was to build institutional capacities to develop and apply environmental laws and to promote environmental awareness. The project developed a methodology for analyzing environmental legislation and was designed to reform the process of drafting environmental laws. Part of the project included seminars in which civil society organizations and municipalities were invited to give feedback to the Ministry.

The extent to which these plans will be adhered or the impact of the SELDAS program on environmental legislation reform remain to be seen. It is up to civil society organizations across Lebanon to continue to push for reform and to follow up on existing plans and programs. With organizations such as those listed above, Lebanon has an excellent chance to combat environmental degradation and promote a sustainable future for all.

Friday Roundup

Thanks to everyone who found our blog this week - next week we have some good stuff planned, so make sure to check back frequently!

Developing Lebanon aims to create a comprehensive list of all civil society organizations in Lebanon - if you work for or know of an organization that has a website not on our list, please email us or leave a comment with the link.

We are also developing a comprehensive list of blogs in and about Lebanon. If you have or know of an active blog that we do not have on our blogroll, please email us or leave a comment with the link.

On to this week's roundup:

Become a Facebook fan of Developing Lebanon!

The first Lebanese Tweetup!

Reform, reform, reform! Experts discuss reform areas in Daily Star.

The Role of Faith Based Orgs in Influencing & Shaping Social Policies in Lebanon. Event held by CRDTA.

Association for Forests, Development, and Conservation undertaking project in Andkit-Akkar.

Share your environmental info on AFDC's recently launched website for learning about the environment.

RT: @patrickgaley Protesters from Union of Democratic Youth staged sit-down protest in front of Lebanese Parliament as Speaker announced.

Open intro meeting for RootSpace's OpenSesame Consultancy (June 29, 7:30pm).

Lebanese Autism Society honors those who helped LAS over the years.

Red Cross survey highlights impact of world's armed conflicts on civilians.

Corruption at the driving school? This student just says no to bribery!

Baroud Supports Lebanese Mother's Nationality Case.

Football for peace. Lots of Lebanese organizations are doing this, too. Developing Lebanon will do a piece on this in the future.

Arab World Social Innovators on BBC World Service Radio.

Civil Campaign for Electoral Reform invites you to join the call for electoral reform in Lebanon.

مشروع تعليم مبادىء القيادة السليمة لطلاب مدرسة المعهد الانطوني بعبدا link

Survey of civil society and government officials concludes Lebanon unprepared for disasters.

Can one store spark renewal of a neighborhood?

Lebanese NGO Al-Kafaat to double capacity of Village to encourage disabled and disadvantaged to reintegrate into society.

Friday Roundup is a weekly blog post in which Safadi Foundation USA publishes a roundup of civil society's activities for the week. The goal is to spread the word about these activities and help civil society organizations learn from each other's experiences.

Event Announcement: The Role of Faith Based Organizations in Influencing and Shaping Social Policies in Lebanon

Center for Research and Training for Development Association has the pleasure to invite you to an interactive discussion seminar on “The Role of Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) in Influencing and Shaping Social Policies in Lebanon.” The seminar will take place on Friday 26 June from 10:00 am to 14:00 pm at the YWCA premises in Ain el Mreisseh.

The purpose of this seminar is to share with guests and participants the initial results of the field research which was undertaken by CRTD.A with the support of IDRC (Middle East Good Governance Fund). Through this action research, CRTD.A undertook an exploration of the role played by FBOs (especially those involved in health and education) in an attempt to gain an understanding and develop an in-depth analysis of the role and influence of FBOs on processes of social policies making especially in relation to their understanding and practice of citizenship, gender equality and good governance.

This action research used a qualitative research methodology and evolved around 12 case studies drawn from the most prominent FBOs representing the major religious confession of Lebanon.

During the proposed interactive seminar, CRTD.A will share the methodology and findings of the study and its implications, the topography of the mapping studies of FBOs in Lebanon as well as the legal framework of FBOs and their operation in Lebanon.

As indicated above, the findings relate to the 12 case studies of FBOs who have graciously and wholeheartedly agreed to take part in this research.

Further information can be found here.

Lebanese blogs added to blogroll

Developing Lebanon realizes the important role that new media plays in civil society, and blogging is just one tool used to communicate information. Not only are we working on a comprehensive link list of all civil society organizations that operate in Lebanon, but we are creating a blogroll of all Lebanese blogs to publicize the independent voices of Lebanon. If you are in Lebanon or have a Lebanon-oriented blog that you would like to add to the list (in any language), please email us your link. Our blogroll, which is located below our civil society list, shows the most updated blogs at the top of the list and includes a link to the latest post.

We would love if you would add us to your blogroll, too.

Twynicism - Young Lebanese and the Politics of Change

As the world watches events unfolding in Iran through social media due to government crackdown on traditional means of communication, we are coming to understand the impact new technology like Twitter and Facebook can have on world events. While not having as much direct impact on elections in Lebanon, these new media tools did play a role in the dialogue leading up to the elections.

One of the prevalent sentiments about the Lebanese election campaigns can be summed up by a Twitter persona who goes by @fulla_. Fulla, as you may know, is the Muslim version of Barbie, an abaya-clad, hijab covered plastic toy. Fulla claimed to be running for a parliamentary seat, but true to the spirit of the competitive elections, she had been slandered by her opponents, who alleged they had a compromising video tape of her, a claim she categorically denied.

Such is the cynicism of young Lebanese. This is a generation who grew up post-Ta'if, a generation raised in cyberspace, where borders don't exist and governments often can't keep up with those who want change. So they use new media to express their cynicism, this new generation who won't accept the status quo of bickering and fighting and deadlock and death.

Fulla crafted a parody of the Lebanese political process in 140 character installments. Other Lebanese Twitterers wrote:

@kheleil: Anyone voted Donald Duck?

@habibh: Probably only dude on a billboard who is not running for elections. [with photo of Marlboro man billboard]

The cynicism spills into the blogsphere as well. Maya Zankoul is an online cartoonist who recently mocked the use of scantily clad women in political advertising, political phone harassment, and odd campaign slogans. Qifa Nabki created a Lebanese election bracket in the style of an NCAA tournament bracket. For a Better Lebanon went Monty Python and the cynicism is evident even as he "gloats" over a victory for the "lesser of two evils."

Individuals are not the only ones to use sarcasm and satire in their political discourse. Youth for Tolerance, a non-profit organization that works with people aged 16-22 on issues of conflict resolution, created two online games, one in which a player "whacks a politician" and the other in which a player must whitewash sheep before they climb aboard a March 14 or March 8 bus, their colors matching the various sectoral hues.

But with cynicism comes hope. According to an article in The Daily Star, the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE) said that of more than 2500 election observers, over half were university students. Likewise, Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA) said 80% of their election observers were university students. Young Lebanese want real democracy with transparency, accountability, and competitive races rather than assigned seats in parliament. Their involvement in the democratic process is a sign that there is a political will to move on from the old divisions and hatreds, and political will is the main ingredient in any recipe for change.

Fulla claimed she won her seat, saying, "Change, here it comes." When asked by a follower what she meant by change, she replied:

Sectarian system into the dustbin of history, plant flowers all over, exile warlords to Cedar Island, promote plastic arts. Requests?

Follow SafadiUSA on Twitter.

Friday Roundup

Developing Lebanon has officially launched! Check back daily for news and information about civil society and development in Lebanon.

Gemayze is holding its annual Exposition of Art.

HireLebanese is holding 2009 Job Fair in Beirut in October.

Lebanese bloggers react to Iran crisis.

Arab Human Rights Fund calls for proposals from Arab civil society organizations.

London School of Economics held "Lebanese Elections and Middle Eastern Democracy" last week. Full audio.

Lebanon's Parliamentary Elections: Anticipating Opportunities and Challenges - USIP working paper.

Maw2af.org and Maya's Amalgam on LBC news.

Lebanese civil society expectations: Will parliament & government really work for social reform?

Middle East Institute hosted "The 2009 Lebanon Elections: Outcomes and Implications."

Naam Lil Hiwar "Comedy in Lebanon: Catering to public taste or provoking critical thinking?"

"This is Mona": Twitter social epidemic during Lebanon election.

Lebanon’s Reformed Electoral Law - is the cup really “half full”?

BASSMA holding fundraiser "Sparkling Summer Night" at Sky Bar in Biel July 6. Profits benefit deprived families in Lebanon.

Evan's Corner: Conflict and Religion in US Foreign Policy: A New Way?

Conflict and Religion in US Foreign Policy: A New Way?

Center for Strategic and International Studies

The Center for Strategic and International Studies hosted a discussion examining the role of religion is US foreign policy. The guests included Nadia Bilbassy-Charters, senior US correspondent for the Middle East Broadcasting Center, Prof. Shaun Casey, associate professor of Christian Ethics at Wesley Theological Seminary, Ambassador Sudjadan Parnohadiningrat of the Republic of Indonesia, and Mr. Amir Ramadan, Charge d’Affairs for the Egyptian Embassy in Washington.

Before getting down to more specific policy discussions, the panelists addressed President Obama’s speech in Cairo. Mr. Ramadan pointed out that although the speech was widely reported to be addressing the “Muslim world,” it was really a “political” speech. Ambassador Sudjadan agreed vigorously, noting that Indonesians felt the speech was not addressed to them. The ambassador explained that the millions of Muslims in south Asia thought that the president’s speech was about Middle Eastern politics, and not the faith of Islam. The ambassador went on to say that Indonesians are hopeful that Obama will speak to south Asian Muslims more directly in future speeches.

The panelists all stressed that Islam was not the center of the president’s Cairo speech, and also should not be the central preoccupation of US foreign policy. Mr. Ramadan argued that religious themes have no place in policy, and that is why his own Egyptian government has banned religious political parties. The speech was really about key political issues, such as the reconstruction of Iraq, and a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mr. Ramadan stressed that pragmatic solutions to these political issues must be the goal of US foreign policy.

Professor Casey did not entirely agree that religion should be absent from government. Casey said that the government needs more staff devoted to understanding the role of “lived religion” around the world. Casey explained that the counter insurgency strategy being employed in Iraq calls for an advanced knowledge of Islam as it is practiced. So much of counter insurgency is a battle for hearts and minds, and the US military does not have the human resources to interpret and interact with religious life in Iraq. Casey went further suggesting that the proselytizing, evangelical approach of some of the army chaplains was extremely counterproductive. Casey advised that the US military train a core of servicemen in “world religions” to better understand and contextualize the spiritual traditions of foreign nations.

The ultimate consensus of the panel was that US foreign policy going forward needs to address the individual political realities of each Middle Eastern country. Ambassador Sudjadan and Mr. Ramadan illustrate that that two predominantly Muslim nations can have completely different domestic and international concerns. In some cases, such as in Iraq or Afghanistan, a greater understanding of country specific religious practices can be informative. However, these national religious traditions must never be misinterpreted as representative of all Muslims, and politics, not religion, must inform policy.

Evan's Corner: The Approach of the Halakah and Sharia to Contemporary Legal Issues

Briefing in the United States Library of Congress
Sponsored by
The Law Library of Congress and the African and Middle Eastern Division of the Library of Congress

The Approach of the Halakah and Sharia to Contemporary Legal Issues

Participants:

Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe-Dean of the Institute of American and Talmudic Law
Issam Michael Saliba-Legal Specialist of Islamic Law at the Law Library of Congress

Summary:

Recently, the Law Library of Congress and the African and Middle Eastern Division of the Library of Congress presented a discussion exploring the utility of “religious” legal systems. The term “religious law” causes much consternation and bristling from those who see the civic and spiritual worlds as fundamentally separate. In the West, people often imagine they have more thoroughly separated “Church” and “State,” and that a law reflecting Judeo-Christian values is not inherently religious. The view of Western legal systems as “untainted” by religion reflects an attitude that more overtly religious legal systems are less capable of handling modern legal problems. Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe and Issam Michael Salibal, made convincing arguments that fundamentally religious legal systems are, in many cases, well-equipped to face contemporary legal issues.

Rabbi Yaffe began by giving a brief history of the evolution of Talmudic law. The Rabbi explained that the basis for all Judaic law are the five books of Moses, which are viewed as immutable as they are supposed to be divine in origin. However, within the evolution of Judaic law, the Rabbi explained that these scriptures are more like a “table of contents” than a list of rules. The rabbi went so far as to say that if one “tries to live based on scripture” the way he or she lived “would not be Judaism.” One of the main criticisms of any legal system based in scripture is that it must be immovable and inflexible. The Rabbi illustrated that this is not true. The scripture cannot change, but the interpretation of the scripture is very much a continuous argument that Judaic scholars are able to plot from antiquity to modern day. Within the world of Judaic legal scholars there are consensus on some points, but on others there are minority and majority positions.

The Rabbi used a scriptural example to illustrate his point further. The Rabbi offered Exodus 21:22 “And should men quarrel and hit a pregnant woman, and she miscarries but there is no fatality, he shall surely be punished, when the woman’s husband makes demands of him, and he shall give restitution according to the judges.” This passage is at the center of modern Judaic scholars positions on abortion. In their view, the phrase “no fatality” implies that if the woman does not die, then no human life has been taken. Scholars also note that the killing of the unborn child is still a crime according to the Talmud, but it is not equivalent to murder. The Rabbi stressed that on countless modern issues: from assisted suicide to artificial intelligence, the scripture offers relevant instruction. Furthermore, this instruction, far from stifling progress, fosters a vigorous scholarly discussion regarding specific modern interpretations. The Rabbi argued that through this process, the Judaic legal system is every bit as “complicated,” and “sophisticated” as the American one.

While Rabbi Yaffe expressed that there is no distinction in Judaism between civil and religious life, Issam Michael Salibal noted that there is such a distinction in Islamic law. The Islamic schools of Law, derived originally from the Koran and Hadith, now rely upon legally established precedents. In other words, unlike in Judaic law, Muslim lawmakers cannot refer to the original religious texts, but instead must consult the decisions of authoritative Muslim jurists. This tradition is not contradictory to other legal systems and may have inspired many elements of common and civic law. Many of the institutions and schools within Islamic law are separate entities from other political or religious authorities, and their responsibility is to their legal tradition, not to scripture or ruler.

Salibal pointed out that while critics often harp on the perceived shortcomings of Islamic law, they never try to engage the Islamic legal system. For example, Salibal claimed that Sharia “clearly states” that Christians have the right to practice their religion under Islamic law. If there are political or religious authorities, stifling this freedom in the name of Islam, they can be challenged within the Islamic legal system. Salibal also discussed more controversial points of Islamic law. He pointed out that while there are precedents for harsh punishments, such as stonings, the law reserves these punishments for those who are “unrepentant.” In Salibal’s view, this leaves room for victims to challenge their punishment, again within the system of Islamic law.

Both speakers did an excellent job at explaining, and in some cases defending, these two “religious” legal systems. On difficult contemporary issues, such as abortion and cloning, these systems offered no easy answers or solutions. Then again, neither does the Christian one.

By Evan Barrett

Welcome to Developing Lebanon

On June 7, 2009, Lebanon held parliamentary elections that garnered world-wide attention. Most of the interest has focused on the weight and influence of external powers and the balance-of-power in the region. We at Safadi Foundation USA would like to highlight the growing influence of civil society and the significance these elections represent for the continuation of reforms that will help in creating a democratic, sovereign, and independent Lebanon. Civil society is an integral part of the reform process and critical to the stability of any democratic country.

Lebanon has a vibrant civil society that is involved in all facets of life and development sectors. Safadi Foundation USA would like to introduce you to a new blog that aims to be a portal for information about civil society in Lebanon. Developing Lebanon (http://blog.safadifoundationusa.org) is designed with the grassroots in mind and will be a way for civil society organizers to connect with each other and to share best practices, success stories, and lessons learned. Coordinating reform efforts will enhance the success of programs and help civil society organizations benefit from other organizations’ strengths and expertise. This blog aims to be a civil society clearinghouse of news, events, and case studies.

Each week Developing Lebanon will spotlight civil society organizations, highlighting their programs and successes. We will conduct interviews with civil society leaders, government officials, and Lebanese citizens on their thoughts and ideas about how to move Lebanon forward in the reform process. The blog will also contain a weekly sector segment focusing on reform efforts in a particular sector, including business, environment, and education, among others. Information about US policy towards Lebanon and Washington-based think tanks that have Lebanon programs will also be routinely included.

In the blog’s sidebar, you will find a list of civil society organizations in Lebanon and across the globe linking to each organization’s website. This list aims to be inclusive and will grow as we discover more organizations working to help overcome Lebanon’s development challenges.

We look forward to your active participation in this effort. Please contact Cathie Glover at cglover@safadifoundationusa.org for any feedback and or suggestions. In addition, please subscribe to our blog, sign up for our Twitter feeds @SafadiUSA, and visit our website at http://www.safadifoundationusa.org for more information on our efforts to build a sustainable future for all Lebanese.

Friday Roundup

First of all, I'd like to say congratulations for a successful election.

Onto the roundup:

Naam Lil Hiwar will relaunch in Shouf on Saturday, June 13 with the documentary "Lebnan elle bihlam fi: Discussing Our Vision of Lebanon." Info about the event can be found on Facebook here.

Lebanese blogger Elias Muhanna talks with Now Lebanon about his blog Qifa Nabki and the elections in Lebanon.

Saradar Foundation and Baldati team up to bring free computer and internet training to villages in Lebanon.

AmCham Lebanon releases May newsletter.

Sawt Ashabab appears in article in L'Orient Le Jour, "En plein chaos electoral, la voix des jeunes en toute objectivite."

Osama Safa, director of Lebanese Center for Policy Studies says Lebanon case shows US moving to something new.

First press statement from Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE).

A Looming Crisis in Lebanon? Forbes article.

RT: @meedan: Check out this audio recording of Anas Tawileh at London University talking on new media in Arab world.

No evidence Obama had any impact on Lebanon elections, says Foreign Policy blog.

Independents push for changes in system: A Christian ran for seat designated for a Muslim.

Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections and Lebanese Transparency Association say university students made up bulk of election observers. Hope for the future!

Lebanese NGO Collective for Research and Training on Development Association (CRTDA) leads activists to keep pressing for reform of nationality law.

• Daily Star article.
• Lebanese American University article.
• Inter Press Service article.
• Just image blog post.

Investing in Lebanese Youth.

Lebanon's Elections: Avoiding a New Cycle of Confrontation - International Crisis Group's report.

Friday Roundup is a weekly blog post in which Safadi Foundation USA publishes a roundup of civil society's activities for the week. The goal is to spread the word about these activities and help civil society organizations learn from each other's experiences.

Friday Roundup

Barack Obama gave his highly anticipated speech to the Muslim world yesterday, which was generally met with warm praise. A few reactions:

NOW Lebanon gathered reactions from the street.

Lebanese reactions to President Obama's speech on PRI.

Reaction from Albalad (Arabic).

Obama's new era in international diplomacy - Daily Star editorial.

Comments by Worried Lebanese blog.


Friday SafadiUSA Twitter Roundup:

Safadi USA Executive Director Lara Alameh's article True Sovereignty and Independence for Lebanon in Daily Star.

Lebanon's Elections: Avoiding a New Cycle of Confrontation, Int'l Crisis Group's report.

Volta ao Mundo, a non-profit promotes intercultural dialogue between Lebanon & Brazil, holds launching event.

Climate change may escalate ME conflict: That's why it's important to support #civil society in environmental efforts.

Sharek961 empowers Lebanese citizens to promote transparency by sending eyewitness reports on election-related incidents.

After the Parliamentary Elections by Oussama Safa of Lebanese Center for Policy Studies.

The New Lebanon - a Lebanese focused site by World Focus news service.

RT: @yalibnan: Lebanon gets first firefighting helicopter for Forever Green campaign, a cooperative program between government and civil society.

Lebanese CSO Youth for Tolerance creates election-relevant games.

Citizens take action to save green spaces in Beirut. People power!

Child Protection Working Group says children abused during political campaigning

Aspen Institute's "Lebanese Elections in Context."

Evan's Corner: Analyzing Obama's Speech to the Muslim World

Mere hours after Barack Obama delivered an historic speech to the Muslim world from Cairo, the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID) and the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) presented a panel discussion analyzing the speech. The panelists were a diverse group, representing a wide range of organizations, but each asked a similar question: will this unquestionably brilliant speech be backed up by changes in policy?

It is hard to deny the skill and knowledge evident in the president’s speech. Will Marshall (Progressive Policy Institute) called the speech “masterful,” and Geneive Abdo (The Century Foundation) agreed it was certainly “brilliant.” The president’s use of Koranic passages, as well as his references to the damaging legacy of colonialism illustrates his understanding of the region, and the concerns of its people. Rich Eisendorf (Freedom House) noted that no American politician has been able to project such a sense of respect and understanding since Jimmy Carter. The panelists concurred that the speech raised the level of dialogue, but also that this may prove problematic if the words are not coupled with political change.

Abdo referred to the president as “evasive” when it came to laying out specific policy goals. Obama said, “The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements.” Abdo noted that while it is encouraging to have the president speak out against the expansion of settlements, he did not indicate what the US would do to force Israel’s hand. Radwan Masmoudi (CSID) echoed this argument, pointing out that the United States has been against expanding settlements for twenty years, but has yet to apply the necessary pressure to make settlements stop.

The panelists were skeptical of other aspects of the president’s speech as well. Obama stated he is committed to, “governments that reflect the will of the people.” However, Will Marshall argued that the United States has supported some of the more repressive governments in the Middle East, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia. There is no real indication that these relationships will change, particularly since the president chose to give his address from Cairo.

On countless subjects, the panelists agreed that the president spoke eloquently, but did not go far enough explaining how to implement political change. He talked about extremism, but did not address the American policies that foster such movements. He talked about development, but did not address lackluster trade policy between the West and the Middle East. No one argued against the power and beauty of Obama’s words. However, it is an open question whether or not those words will be backed up with political action, and these panelists aren’t holding their breath.