Self Help
By: Charles Jalkh  (Lebanese Freedom Fighter )

The warm popular welcome extended to Prime Minister Michel Aoun in Australia is a testament to the Lebanese community’s dynamic spirit and excellent organization. The Lebanese-Australian community is an inspiring model for other Lebanese communities around the world. It has high solidarity and it is well organized. It publishes a weekly Arabic/English magazine called "The Middle East Herald" that is dedicated to the cause of liberation. The Herald can be mailed to you wherever you are in the world. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.lebanon-world.org/heraldlist.html.

This spirit of self-reliance and activism is new to the Lebanese people and is a direct result of PM Aoun’s teachings and example. After the Liberation war, a new generation of self-reliant, activist Lebanese was born. We are taking our destiny in our hand. We want independence and freedom and every day of our life is dedicated to this ultimate goal.

The hope for Lebanon’s liberation lies now with the Lebanese immigrants and communities throughout the world. The Lebanese inside Lebanon are under the occupation of 40,000 Syrian troops and a Syrian-organized police state. Their ability to oppose the Syrian occupation is very limited but they will surely rise when the time is right. It is up to us the Lebanese of the Diaspora and all our friends in the world to make the effort. There are over 15 million Lebanese in the world. If each of us can share the cause with two or three foreign friends or families then soon there could be 100 million people in the world demanding the liberation of Lebanon from the Syrian occupation. If each one of us contributes $5 a month (16 cents a day) to a local liberation chapter in your country of residence, then we may be able to raise 100 million dollars a year and organize worldwide events and political lobbies. There is no time for complacency. We must all act towards the liberation of Lebanon. Most of us live in free and democratic countries and there is no danger in expressing our national aspirations. There is no shame in our cause. So let every day count. Spread the word of our cause to your friends and neighbors. Meet together and help each others. If you hate politics then you can relax, Liberation of our homeland is not politics, it is rather a humane and just cause against tyranny.

If you have been nationalized in the host country then contact or write your political representative and ask them to support the liberation of Lebanon from the Syrian occupation and the execution of UN resolution 520. Write them monthly if you can. Leverage your vote towards our cause. The world moves after its interests. Make it in the interest of the world powers and politicians to act towards the liberation of Lebanon. Ask for sanctions to be imposed on Syria until it respects UN resolutions and international law and withdraws from Lebanon.

If you cannot directly and publicly participate in the liberation movement then maybe you can contribute some of your time to help out on mailers, events, charity work, or communication. All liberation staff are volunteers like yourself. Consider it an investment in your future and the future of your children. Isn’t worth to have a safe, democratic, peaceful, and prosperous homeland? Don’t you want your children to know their heritage and have the chance to return one day, even live in Lebanon?

Unite and speak with one voice. Learn from other successful lobbying groups like the Jewish lobby in America. Include a small piece in your daily prayers for Lebanon. Tell a friend. Tell a neighbor. Let them know about the atrocities the diverse occupations have committed in Lebanon. Show them one of the many available videos and documentaries on Lebanon. Tell yourself we can do it, and we are doing it, throughout the world. Do not just rely on the world powers to give us our freedom. We have to ask for it and make an effort. World powers will not react if we ourselves do not strongly proclaim our right and demand justice. You can shorten the days of pain for our people. You can make a difference. Every day of your life counts.

Also wherever you are in the world, whenever you can, please boycott Syrian products and services. Refuse to buy anything "made in Syria". Food, clothes, services, or anything else. Refuse to engage in Business with Syrian nationals. This is not a racist position and it is unfortunate, but the Syrians must pay a price for their war of aggression against Lebanon. We cannot reward their aggression. The Syrian people must realize the evil their government is committing in Lebanon and they must stand for human rights and oppose the Assad Dictatorship.

What follows are internet Addresses for Lebanese Liberation organization around the world. If there is none in your country then perhaps you can start one. Please remember our movement is non-religious and secular. It is open to all the Lebanese regardless or religion or ethnic origin. Be the model of the new citizen. Take control of your destiny.

Long Live Lebanon