Friday Roundup

Plenty of comments going around the old interwebs today about President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize, some of them good, some of them venomous. Obama is not the first person to be awarded the prize for his aspirations, but I dare say he must be the most criticized.

Congratulations, President Obama. Now, onward to peace!


Friday Twitter Roundup:

# RT: @funkyozzi: RT @blogactionday 5094 (&counting) blogs registered to confront climate change on 10/15 for Blog Action Day

# RT: @nmoawad: RT: @marcynewman: Solidarity w/ Al Bared http://bit.ly/FjT1D #beirut protest monday oct. 12th @ 11 am http://bit.ly/FjT1D

# CEIP: The Arab Charter on Human Rights: http://bit.ly/9ooQM

# RT: @NaLoves Are Arab countries doing their part in climate negotiations? http://www.cantdrinkoil.org... #ClimateChange

# RT: @ONECampaign: Access to anti-malarial medication through text messages? “SMS for life” from @RollBackMalaria: http://bit.ly/7iwUu

# RT: @shoofs: #IndyACT Screening Age of Stupid - Green Carpet - October 24 @UNESCO palace, Beirut, Lebanonabout

# RT: @Oxfam: Rich countries set to condemn billions to grim future. We need a fair, binding deal in Copenhagen http://bit.ly/LUPOh

# Random Lebanese NGO of the day: Amel Association http://www.amel.org.lb/

# Don't miss The Age of Stupid, a film about climate change. http://bit.ly/15oY4q

# RT: @CafeThawra: For more info on ending #HIVpositivepeoplestigmaanddiscrimination go to www.worldaidscampaign.org

# RT: @hibz: arabs are more than oil www.cantdrinkoil.org

# Don't be stupid! Join IndyAct for the film about climate change "The Age of Stupid."... http://bit.ly/nCAxx

# Don't be stupid! http://bit.ly/15oY4q

# RT: @Beirutspring: If it weren't for the Safadi Foundation, Tripoli would be living in a cultural bubble..

# Women's week in Lebanon? http://bit.ly/105Qwk

# "Why do we need so many men in politics when they have failed?” - Ziyad Baroud, speaking about the need for more women in politics

# Arab Group for Muslim-Christian Dialogue forum urges greater female participation: http://tinyurl.com/y9686tl

# RT: @alexzawya: Corporate Social Responsibility in the Middle East Site http://bit.ly/3DCYpj

# Lebanon's brain drain: http://bit.ly/4rky0E

# RT: @MXML: The Middle East, Modern Slavery Hub http://bit.ly/fD07O (via @CafeThawra)

# RT: @tomorrowsyouth: "My son taught his siblings how to make homemade flowers." & results of TYO's summer program http://twurl.nl/t0paw7

# Lebanese Association of Women Researchers and others hold conference on feminism in the Arab world: http://tinyurl.com/y8kuv9d

# RT: @Plus961: RT @funkyozzi: don't forget to blog about Climate Change /blog action day 15 oct http://bit.ly/1aw6Xz

# SMEX currently making the most of the internet: http://www.socialmediaexchange.org

# RT: @Helem_Lebanon: #Helem_Lebanon إطلاق كتيّب "احبهم...و لكن"http://helem.net/node/206

# Social Care Needs and Service Provisions in Arab States: Bringing Care Work into Focus in Lebanon: http://tinyurl.com/ybbcn5h

# EU final report on June 7 Leb elections: http://bit.ly/INdkS

# RT: @hibz: Arab Feminism Conf. http://bit.ly/1jPsNe

# RT: @NISD_Lebanon: garbage from Ras #Beirut dive sites was composed of 50% cans, 45% Plastic bottles & cups and bags and 5% Rubber tires.

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.