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The Citizen, 1986-12-30, Page 9The International Scene THE CITIZEN, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1986. PAGE 9. Peacekeeping in Lebanon a complicated affair BY RAYMOND CANON Frankly you meet some strange people in the peace-keeping busi­ ness! The United Nations, whose membership spans the entire globe, is constantly attempting some local differences of opinion in some countries from escalating into a full-scale war and you may take some satisfaction from the fact that few if any nations have played a more active role in this field than has Canada. For over 20 years we have been sending part of our armed forces each year to Cyprus to keep the Greeks and Turks living on that island from coming to Day Centre plans busy January BY PAM WILLIAMS The Wingham and Area Day Centre for the Homebound will soon be celebrating eight years of providing social and recreational programs for older adults living in this area. We have participants in our day program from Blyth, Brussels, Ethel, Wroxeter, Ford- wich, Lakelet, Teeswater, Ripley, Lucknow, Kinlough, Belfast, Bel­ grave, Wingham and the sur­ rounding area. If you feel like you’ve got a case ofthe January blahs, then think about coming into the day centre for an activity. It’s a sure cure. We have such programs as a full-course noon meal, day trips, recreational games such as shuf­ fleboard, snooker, euchre, scrab­ ble and crokinole. Monthly, we invite special guest speakers to the centre to talk about various subjects of interest. We also provide an exercise program, singing, crafts and a chance to socialize and meet both old friends and new. The majority of people participa­ ting at the centre are homebound because of their age, or no access to transportation, a disability or need assistance of another person to leave their own home. Many come for a change in their daily routine, tomeetnewfriends and discuss common concerns. Transportation is provided to the centre by our very efficient volunteer drivers. Start 1987 off right by finding out more about the Day Centre program. Cail 357-1440 or 357- 1445. Upcoming January programs include some arm chair travelling to New Zealand and Australia courtesy of Ruth Thompson of Lucknow. Miss Thompson recently returned from the “land down under’’ and will be giving us a lively account of her holiday some time in early January. Foot Clinics are scheduled for January 15th and January 28th. Please call for an appointment. We hope to revamp our craft program and we’re in need of some “new” craft ideas. We also need the help from someone who knows about the art of ceramics. Nomination deadline January 16, 1987 Please print name and phonefirumber of nominator blows; in fact that Canadian contingent is the largest in that Mediterranean island. However, Canada does not claim to be able to do it all by itself and there are a number of localities playing host to the U.N. where there is nary a Canadian to be found. One of them is Lebanon and the U.N.’s presence there is in the form of a multi-nation force called Unifil. Frankly, judging from the reports coming out of that country, peace in any form appears to be totally impossible. 1 recall doing an article one time on the number of factions battling for a place in the Many other programs are plan­ ned for the month of January but details have not been finalized as of this moment. The participants, volunteers and staff wish you all a very, very happy 1987. Remember “add years to your life by adding life to your years.” Announcing the second annual CITIZEN’S r CITIZEN AWARDS I n an effort to give some small reward to those who contribute so much to our 1 community, The Citizen is sponsoring a Citizen of The Year award - one for the Brussels area and one for the Blyth area. Nominations Wanted Lebanese sun; I had the distinct feeling when I saw the article in print that it would take a learned person indeed to keep all the details in their proper place. I must confess that I have to resort to my files from time to time just to see who is doing what to whom. However, I can’t tell you any­ thing about Unifil until I bring you up to date a bit on the Lebanese situation. You may recall that back in 1978 Israel invaded Lebanon, got as far north as Beirut and then, realizing the hopelessness of the situation, pulled back into Israel, leaving the job only partly done. The job, incidentally, was to smash the Palenstinian Liberation Organ­ ization which was considered to be a distinct threat to Israel. At any rate the Israelis, when they withdrew, setup a local army made up of Christians living in South Lebanon and these, it was hoped, would act as a buffer between Israel and the Muslims in the central and northern parts of the country. However, there was nothing to keep these South Lebanese Chris­ tians apart from the Muslims and, in order to do just that, the United We welcome your nomination for these citizenships awards. Please fill in the ballot with the name of your nominee, why you feel he or she should win the award and your own nameandtelephone number. (Namesofall nominatorswill be kept confidential). Nominees can be from the villages themselves or the surrounding townships and can have made their contribution either directly (through local politics, club work, etc.) or in a more general way (eg. Long-term service to many organizations, work with the environment, or with farm organizations, etc.) Entries will be judged by an independent panel. I nominate..................................................as Citizen of the year for the (Check one) Blyth............... Brussels.............................community. I feel he or she deserves this honour because: (use additional paper if needed). Nations decided to insert a peace­ keeping force in the area. The South Lebanese Army, manned by the above mentioned Christians, operates mainly in an area about five miles deep along the north border of Israel but they can wanderofftothenorthifthey so desire. It is just to the north of the five-mile zone that Unifil, short for United Nations Forces in Lebanon, has set up camp, entrusted with the thankless task of keeping the Lebanese apart. The make-up of Unifil is nothing less than fascinating. Closest to the Israelis are soldiers from Nepal, Ireland, Ghana, Finland and Nor­ way. A bit more removed are the Frenchandthe Fijis. “What?” you will exclaim, “Fijis?” Yes, you heard me right! There is a small contingent of soldiers from the Fiji islands. Given that the Fijis are not generally in a revolting mood, it could well be that most of their army is in Lebanon instead of at home. At this point I should warn you about taking too seriously any references I make to Christians. I don’tthinkthe Lebanese Chris­ tians take their religion any more seriously than is the case in Northern Ireland; in both places it just seems to be a convenient excuse to hit anybody who disa­ grees with you. Perhaps, then, it should come as no surprise to learn that the Christians in south Lebanon do not like the peace-lov­ ing Unifil troops; the Irish and the Nepalese are the favourite targets of the South Lebanese Army as well as the Muslims to the north. All this makes the Canadians’ job in Cyprus look like child’s play and it probably is. The Turks and the Greeks may not like each other too much, either at home or in Cyprus but they have generally refrained from taking it out on the U.N. forces. Not so in Lebanon! No Lebanese seems to be too particular whom they shoot at. Given that loyalties change rapidly and that there are so many factions, the chances are that when anybody shoots, he will hit an opponent, if not today’s, then at least tomorrow's. The Fijis for one must be wondering just why they ever got mixed up in Lebanon. Life back home must seem like that in the Garden of Eden.