|
|
 |
Veiled women protest
secularism
A number of reactionary practicing Muslims protested
during December and January French President Jacques
Chirac’s decision to ban the display of religious
emblems in public schools and administrations.
Full Story |
NEWS & REPORTS
News Bits
The month of January saw protests against
the French ban of veil in public institutions and the
execution of three men in Lebanon despite opposition from
humanist groups and the European Union, with which Lebanon
is linked through economic agreements.
Freed prisoners arrive in Beirut
for heroes’ welcome
(Reuters) - Around 30 mainly Lebanese prisoners
arrived in Beirut to a hero's welcome on Thursday as part of a
landmark prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hizbollah
guerrillas, witnesses said.
International body allows
homosexual benefits: UN recognizes gay employees
(AP) - Acknowledging a growing trend, Secretary-General Kofi
Annan decided Thursday that United Nations staffers can
receive benefits for their gay or lesbian partners if their
country of nationality recognizes same-sex marriages or
domestic partnerships.
back to top
EDITORIALS
Column One
Hardly a month passes without Alternative
finding itself on the defensive trying to justify its
editorial policies and the leftism of its team.
How parties are made
There are no ready made recipes illustrating
how political parties are formed. But there is one certain
aspect that such congregations are born and grow up through a
learning-by-doing process, or through trial and error.
back to top
Op-Ed
France banned veil for domestic political
reasons
by Kamal
Sanjakdar (BEIRUT)
France’s embarrassment on the international and
domestic levels concerning war on terrorism led to the latest
decision of prohibiting the Islamic veil in French public
institutions.
Iraqi resistance is
inflicting more harm on th US
by Rayan Rajeh (SOUTHAMPTON)
Before I start writing about this subject, I
would like to say that it is dedicated to all the reporters
that have died or are being harassed by especially the
American troops in the great land of Iraq.
It's a males' world
by Fatmeh Azzeh
Women in the Arab World have been subjected to
many abuses in the way in which they are represented by the
media. We see women all over our television screens hosting
entertainment programs, taking in calls, and presenting
different shows. It is obvious to observers that these women
are only used for their physical appearance to attract more
male attention and even females who tend to view these beauty
figures as ‘role models’ and aspire to, maybe one day, become
more like them.
You, prejudice, extremism and whose
army?
by Zahra Hankir (BEIRUT)
There is a powerful dimension of prejudice
amongst the youth of Lebanon that is often so hard to detect
an is almost impossible to put a finger on.
Short scenarios of a Lebanese
thing
By Wissam Al Saliby (BEIRUT)
During my first year of university, I had fun
listening to stories my Muslim school friends studying at
Université Saint Joseph or in the Second Branches of the
Lebanese University used to tell me. Now, I am in third year
and I am still hearing the same old scenarios from many people
I know.
back to top
FEATURES
Beirut's night life
By
Julia
Stuart (BEIRUT)
It is Saturday night and the Porsche drivers
turning into Monot Street don't notice the shelled out villa
on the corner. Chunks are missing as if it has been consumed
by leprosy and exposed brickwork on what remains of the walls
resemble scabs. The drivers join a queue of Mercedes and BMWs
revving and hooting their way towards the bars and clubs,
passing shops with bullet riddled shutters.
back to top
HISTORY & CULTURE
Lebanese Jews were pioneers in
promoting nation’s independence
by History News Editor (BEIRUT)
The Jews of Lebanon, between coexistence and
conflict, a book published by Sussex Academic Press in 2002 is
an attempt to cover the history of a forgotten sect within the
Lebanese community. The author of the book is Kristen E.
Schulze, lecturer of international history at the London
School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
back to top
Youth News
Government fails to justify its
involvement in Iraq
by
Ricard Gonzalez (BARCELONA)
On the 29th November there a massacre in Iraq
shook the whole of Spain. Seven Spaniards, all members of the
Spanish Intelligence Agency, were killed in an ambush near
Baghdad. Despite the deep grief expressed by the Spanish
society, the government did not even introduce a nuance in its
stance towards the Iraqi conflict: total commitment to the US
strategy.
Despite EU protest, Lebanon
executes its first three convicts since 1998
by
Elias Shartouni (BEIRUT)
Lebanon executed three men convicted of
committing crimes. The execution was the first ever since
President Lahoud came to power in 1998.
Some private
universities claim equality, despite discrimination
A Lebanese American University student battled
to change discriminatory laws last year at her university,
requesting equal opportunity for an education for people with
physical handicaps, learning disabilities, and mental
illnesses, but to no avail.
Leftists hold series of meetings
in an attempt to create a new party
On the 16th of January, a first meeting for the
establishment of a new leftist party was held at the Cultural
Council for South Lebanon. Present were representatives of
leftist student groups and some former senior members of the
Lebanese Communist Party (LCP).
back to top
LIGHT NEWS
Kuwait was the first Arab nation to
provide internet services
by
Ezzeddeen Jradi (BEIRUT)
Much analysis has been made on the shape the
Internet will be taking. This is determined by breakthroughs
in the Communication and Information Technology which trigger
phases or turning points in the overall development of the
Internet.
back to top
|
