November 10, 2014 – Selection of Articles and Reports on Syrian Economic, Business and Social Issues
The following is a selection of articles and reports written in the last week on Syria, related to economic, business and social issues:
Syria’s Better-Offs Seek Fun as War Grinds On: “Amid a conflict lapping at the edge of Damascus, Syria’s better-offs spend their time in cafes and at parties, strolling a gleaming new mall and enjoying the controlled adrenalin of amusement park rides overlooking a city skyline of buildings and columns of smoke from bombings — striving to deny war its miserable monotony.”
Turkish resort city bars unauthorized Syrian refugees: reports: “The city asked to be exempted from a government decree that grants all Syrian refugees a number of rights such as access to education and health care, as well as work permits.”
Syrian war merchants now selling university degrees: “The cost of one degree ranges between $1,500 for liberal arts and $2,500 for sciences. Secondary education certificates are the cheapest, usually selling for less than $600. The dates and specializations of certificates are also taken into consideration when purchasing both high school and university degrees.”
Trees in Syria becoming lucrative business: “According to estimates, a lot of reserves, forests and forest areas are exposed to excessive woodcutting, including the al-Belas reserve in the province of Hama, where hundreds of old forest trees, of about 100 years of age, were cut down, in addition to the forests extending from the Tel Kelekh area down to Tartous province.”
Red Bull Fuels Islamists Controlling Syrian Border Trade: “Many Syrian businessmen moved their production lock, stock and barrel to Turkey because it is safer,” Henri Barkey, a Turkey expert at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, said by e-mail on Nov. 3. “The war is damaging so much of the infrastructure and the agricultural sector that the Syrians have no other choice but to increase their imports from Turkey.”
A new, more self-confident Syrian woman: “For a long time, people spoke only about one “Woman of Syria”, meaning Asma al-Assad, the president’s wife. She was elevated to the status of the female icon of Syrian society. We no longer wanted to accept that because we are all “Saiedet Souria” – women of Syria. It is important that we are finally perceived as a central part of Syrian society and also begin to see ourselves as such.”
This Is How ISIS Smuggles Oil: “What makes Besaslan more guarded than the other grim towns lining what has become one of the world’s most dangerous borders sits at the end of a winding dirt road: oil.”