Saturday, September 06, 2003 - Calgary Alberta
Cedar's Project Announces
Change in Relationship with Bruce Balfour
John Lucas, President of The Cedars of Lebanon
Reforestation Project wishes to announce that Former Field Director Bruce
Balfour is no longer associated with the Project. Increasing differences
between Mr. Balfour's statements since arriving back in North America
from prison in Lebanon on September 3rd. and the objectives of the project
were cited as the reason for the change.
" The Cedars project will be carried
on by other Project representatives and alternative measures are being
sought in working with those inside and outside of Lebanon to achieve
these objectives. The Project is no longer responsible for any remarks
that Bruce Balfour has made, or will make in the future concerning the
Cedars of Lebanon project with which he is no longer affiliated in a leadership
role."
Statements by Mr. Balfour issued in Los Angeles
indicated that the project of planting the Cedars was dead, due to his
negative experience and knowledge of the current Lebanese prison and justice
system. Balfour indicated that he now is dedicated to a new campaign of
speaking up in defense of those that are unjustly imprisoned and mistreated
in the Lebanese prison system.
While the Cedars Project is in sympathy with
these goals in general, it has not given up hope on all Lebanese officials.
We believe that there are many Lebanese in the various levels of government,
such as the department of Agriculture,who do indeed have the best interests
of their country at heart. They would act towards these goals when the
conditions to do so are present.
The human rights objectives however, are
not within the mandate of the Cedar's Project and do not nullify or cancel
the goal of continuing the efforts to see the Cedar's replanted on the
barren slopes of Lebanon.
Cedar's volunteer Larry Heather, in charge of communications for the project,
said that Lebanese Human rights leaders in North America, upon learning
of Balfour's statements that the replanting project was terminated, were
shocked and crestfallen. " They were surprised to hear that the entire
continuance of the project was dependent upon the involvement of just
one worker, as if there was no one else who was capable of carrying out
the duties of the field director. I wish to assure them that plans are
in the works to continue the project, and that God is sovereign over both
the replanting of the Cedars, and the welfare and hopes of the Lebanese
for their future. "
Heather notes that the original founder of
the Cedars Project, Rev. Grant Livingstone would be retiring from his
post in Israel, to return to Canada in the near future. It is expected
that Rev. Livingstone will be involved in the Cedar's Project leadership
from the Canadian front. The latest developments will be posted on the
project's website at www.cedarsofleabanon.ca
To contact Cedars of Lebanon for further
details email Larry Heather at cedarsoflebanon@shaw.ca or phone at 1-403-253-0676.
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