Archives for Lebanon

WERU Special 11/2/17: Drinking Water in Flint, MI & Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon

Producer/Host: Carolyn Coe

Part I: Lead in the drinking water in Flint, Michigan. How did the state of Michigan’s actions, under the direction of a state-appointed emergency managers, cause the poisoning of the drinking-water in Flint, Michigan?
What actions did Flint residents, scientists, journalists, and the medical community take to demand safe drinking water? What steps are being taken to help mitigate the damage done by lead ingestion?

Part II: Palestinian refugees’ situation in Lebanon. How do NGOs help preserve Palestinian heritage in Lebanon where the previous Lebanese Minster of Education banned the teaching of Palestinian history and geography?
How can Palestinians earn income despite discriminatory labor laws in Lebanon?

Guests:
Dr. Mona Hannah-Attisha, pediatrician, director of pediatric residents, and whistleblower
Flint Child Health and Development Fund:
Robert Shetterly, activist and artist of the Americans Who Tell the Truth portrait series
Nadia Abdelnour, board president of Innash Association
Grace Said, board member of Innash Association
Umm Mohammed, embroiderer for Innash Assoc.
Samar Kabouli, Innash Assoc. employee who helps to coordinate Innash’s embroidery project
Kassem Aina, Director of the National Institution of Social Care and Vocational Training (Beit Atfal Assumud)

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RadioActive 9/7/17

Guest Producer/Host: Carolyn Coe

Topics:
Lebanon
Palestinian refugees
Syrian refugees

Palestinian refugees empower themselves and educate others about their situation by publishing their own stories. Both Palestinians and Syrians volunteer or find often low-paid work with NGOs as the Lebanese government makes work in many fields very challenging if not impossible. Some refugees find work in the refugee camps themselves. Meanwhile, NGOs offer scholarships and educational and cultural experiences to individuals in different marginalized communities, including refugees, to help give youth hope and resolve conflicts in Lebanese society.

In this program, we meet a Palestinian and Syrian refugee who attended a We Are Not Numbers writing workshop. Both share their personal stories, including the challenges they face in Lebanon. We also meet the founder of Unite Lebanon Youth Project (ULYP), which works with the different marginalized communities in Lebanon–Syrian and Palestinian refugees as well as Lebanese public school students.The Social Support Society, the umbrella organization for ULYP, runs a physical therapy center in Borj el Barajneh camp. There we meet Amira Dabbagh, one of the therapists on staff.

Guests:
Huda Ibrahim Dawood, volunteer coordinator in Lebanon of We Are Not Numbers
Dalia Swaid, former school teacher, Syrian refugee living in northern Lebanon
Melek Nimr, founder of Unite Lebanon Youth Project (ULYP)
Amira Dabbagh, physical therapist in Borj el Barajneh, a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon

FMI:
wearenotnumbers.org
unitelebanonyouth.org
thesocialsupportsociety.org

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RadioActive 8/31/17

Guest Producer/Host: Carolyn Coe

Topics:
Lebanon
Palestinian refugees

Writer, activist and professor in Lebanon, Rania Masri explains why Palestinian youth have a high drop out rate in UNRWA schools in the country. Among the reasons for drop outs is the ban on employment for Palestinians in many occupations. Masri also explores the idea of full citizenship and phantomized landmarks.

Also in this program, we visit the Active Ageing House, where elders in the Borj el Barajneh camp in Lebanon find community as well as cultural and wellness support. At the center, we speak with Sahar Serhan and Mariam Sharqyeh; both are residents of the camp.

Guests:
Rania Masri, writer, activist, and professor in Lebanon
greenresistance.wordpress.com/
Sahar Serhan, manager of Active Ageing House in Borj el Barajneh and Nahr el Bared camps in Lebanon
Mariam Sharqyeh, resident of Borj el Barajneh camp
Social Support Society’s Active Ageing House: thesocialsupportsociety.org

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RadioActive 8/24/17

Guest Producer/Host: Carolyn Coe

Topics: Lebanon, Palestinian refugees

Writer, activist and professor in Lebanon Rania Masri describes the campaign to boycott supporters of Israel in Lebanon. She also explores the state of education, both public and in the UNRWA schools, in Lebanon and the deliberate fracturing of society.
What history gets taught in Lebanon and what is banned?
How has the recarving of geopolitical boundaries helped to reframe how people are taught to see themselves?

Guest:
Rania Masri, writer, activist, and professor in Lebanon
greenresistance.wordpress.com/

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