ONLINE
EDITION
www.alternative-online.org
Issue 4- July 2003
Iran's youth express discontent
Late June and early July witnessed massive student demonstrations in Tehran in protest of the clerical rule in the Islamic Republic. Full Story
Also in this issue:
Available in PDF format (Click to open page)
NEWS & REPORTS
Arabesque architecture, poor services and low tourism characterize Asfahan
"Asfahan is half the world," according to a 16th century song at the time the city was at the peak of its splendor.
Situation in Palestine calms down with truce, some Israeli withdrawal
As the Jewish State pursued its so-called policy of targeted killings against some figures of the Palestinian leadership, Jewish settlers randomly invaded and settled on top of the hills in the Palestinian Occupied Territories.
Canada comes out of the closet
Gay marriages? Decriminalizing marijuana? What else? At least that's what the boys and/or girls in Washington are asking: These Canadians are pushing the envelope.
Three months after the downfall of Saddam Hussein and his Baathist regime, Iraqis still complain of the security situation in the country and electricity supply.
Youth group beneficial for Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrat Youth and Students (LDYS) is the youth and student wing of the Liberal Democrats in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Students urge Khatami to take stand over arrests
In the aftermath of the demonstrations of several thousand students and the consequent mass arrests, students escalated their action as they demanded that Iranian President Mohammed Khatami release their colleagues and waive verdicts issued against them or resign.
AUB Valedictorian: Unemployment prompts emigration
Valedictorian of Class 2003 at the American University of Beirut slammed unemployment as the main reason behind the brain drain in Arab countries urging world governments to foster East-West Dialogue and to work toward world peace.
Daniel Pipes cites censored Alternative on Campus Watch
Daniel Pipes' Campus Watch, a website whose main aim is the monitoring of political rhetoric on university campuses, cited the June issue of Alternative as being anti-American.
ISM warns against the dangers of the Apartheid Wall
Starting July 1 and the International Solidarity Movement started its Palestinian people for Freedom Summer Palestine 2003 - a campaign designed to directly challenge the Israeli occupation policy of caging Palestinians in their cities, towns and villages, denying 3 million people their basic right to freedom of movement. The campaign is due to be concluded by mid August.
Experts divided on the future of post-war Iraqi democracy
The Bristol Hotel in Beirut was the venue of the two day conference entitled The Iraqi Paradox: Self-Determination under Occupation? held on the July 7 and 8, 2003.
June Issue
Left should be redefined. US Democracy: Big Pipes is watching you! Occupation must end, but road map does not freeze settlements. Lebanese front hosts nightlife, syrian tourism suffers. Qatar is unlike what it is thought to be. Jazz grows big in Lebanon... and more
EDITORIALS
On the eve of the split of the Lebanese Communist Party into two parties, and at the time tens of splinter leftist groups are born every day, left should undergo some revisionist scrutiny.
It has come to our attention that, to our misfortune, the word Alternative has created unintended reaction among the Lebanese left.
Ever since its inception decades ago the Lebanese university has been the target of a lot of criticism.
On Bashir Gemayel: History cannot be written through judging intentions
The last issue of Alternative created a controversy over the story reporting Bashir Gemayel's extermination of the National Liberal Party's militia, the Tigers.
Op-Ed
The US should practice the democracy it preaches
The American strength, which grew exponentially after 1990, made of the American administration the world's de facto government. This government is trying to convince the world that it works hard on preserving and spreading its democratic principles, so far implemented inside a select few Western countries including America itself.
The trap of 'priorities' in the platforms of Lebanese political parties
Since the presumed conclusion of the Lebanese civil war in 1990, the rhetoric of most of the Lebanese political movements has been dominated by the concept of "priorities," of course with each faction prioritizing items of its own platform differently. Flexibility in reshuffling these "priorities " is almost nil. Furthermore, according to the political groups' thought, priority number two can never be achieved before finishing with priority number one.
As turmoil continues, will the old Abou Ammar hold?
Recent Turmoil and opposition to Yasser Arafat has failed to dislodge the wily old warrior.
Old-thinking Arabs see their Berlin Wall crumbling
Secretary of State Colin Powell was practically high-fiving his fellow global leaders at the World Economic Forum here: We liberated Iraq! We're making progress toward Israeli-Palestinian peace through the road map! We did it!
In choosing the Iraqi democracy
The two-day conference entitled The Iraqi Paradox: Self-determination under Occupation, had several impressions on its audience.
Compilation by Walid Khairidine
FEATURES & ANALYSIS
Castro: Cuba tailors Marxism to fit its needs
Cuba's system is based on Marxist philosophy that is tailored to fit Cuba's needs according to Fidel Castro Balart-Diaz, son of Cuban President Fidel Castro.
Second Arab capital falls to the Israelis after fierce resistance
The summer of 1982 marked the fall of the second Arab capital, Beirut, on the hands of Zionists assisted by their Lebanese allies.
LIGHT NEWS
Unhappy American director comes down heavily on US administration
Michael Moore, Oscar winner for best documentary film, Bowling for Columbine, and author of the best selling non-fiction book for 2002, Stupid White Men, is certainly not your ordinary filmmaker.
Hamra: Re-opened Horseshoe replaces closed Modca
The character of Beirut's famous Hamra Street is changing rapidly after the closure of Modca, the re-opening of Horseshoe and the relocation of Chez Andre.
Hollywood Watch: Charlie’s Angels’ shallowness attracts audience
"They're beautiful, they kick ass and they work for Charlie," is the pickup line of one of the shallowest, no-plot commercial recently released Hollywood movies.