NNA - Dr. Marie Therese Mehrej Saif, a member of the Political Bureau of the Lebanese Green Party, represented the party at the Annual National Meeting (ANM) of the Green Party of the United States, held in Chicago. The gathering brought together party leaders and members from across the United States, alongside representatives of international green parties and environmental movements.
During the Women’s Caucus session, moderated by Jackie DeFino of the Green Party of Maine, participants discussed the links between environmental justice, social justice, and women’s leadership. Opening the session, DeFino welcomed participants from several countries, expressed solidarity with the Lebanese people, and highlighted the humanitarian and environmental challenges facing Lebanon.
Addressing the meeting, Dr. Saif focused on the situation in Lebanon, particularly in the South, emphasizing the interconnected impacts of armed conflict, climate change, and environmental degradation. She stressed that post-conflict reconstruction must extend beyond rebuilding homes and infrastructure to include ecosystem restoration, rehabilitation of agricultural land, biodiversity protection, support for farmers, and accountability for environmental damage.
She also underscored the central role of women in recovery efforts, stating that women are not only among those most affected by crises but are also indispensable partners in environmental leadership, climate action, peacebuilding, and decision-making.
The session featured online interventions by Joanna Jerdi, Navia Fahd, and Chirine Jerdi from Lebanon, as well as Lucy Kagendo from Kenya. Participants emphasized the importance of strengthening international cooperation among women in the green movement, linking environmental justice with social justice, and advancing women’s leadership.
Separately, Dr. Saif appeared on a special episode of the Green Socialist Notes podcast, hosted by former US Green Party presidential candidate Howie Hawkins. During the interview, she presented the Lebanese Green Party’s vision for Lebanon and the wider region, highlighting investment in education, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and the empowerment of youth and women as essential pillars for achieving long-term stability and sustainable development.
Dr. Saif also drew attention to the environmental consequences of the 2006 oil spill caused by the targeting of fuel tanks at the Jiyeh power plant. She recalled that United Nations General Assembly resolutions, beginning with Resolution 61/194, called for compensating Lebanon with more than USD 850 million for the environmental damage. She further stressed the importance of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and addressing the environmental impacts of armed conflicts as a prerequisite for achieving lasting peace.
Concluding her participation, Dr. Saif called for stronger cooperation among green parties, civil society organizations, and international institutions to confront shared global challenges. She affirmed that sustainable solutions require respect for international law, the promotion of peace, the empowerment of women, and collective efforts to build a more just and environmentally sustainable world.
