John Elliott and Luella May Welcome You to the Twenty Ninth Edition of
Women of Courage
Each week we will honor a woman that has truly made a difference by her contributions, courage, love, and selflessness. Women honored will be chosen from inside AdlandPro, outside AdlandPro, living in the present, and yes, we will not forget those heroines that paved the way for the freedoms we now enjoy. We will honor women who have shown tremendous courage and fortitude against all odds.
Assisting us in coordinating these awards are four outstanding ladies who are Women of Courage in their own right.
Presenting:
Carla Cash
http://community.adlandpro.com/go/245569/default.aspx
Veronica Davidson
http://community.adlandpro.com/go/vdavidson1972/default.aspx
Joyce Hyde
http://community.adlandpro.com/go/031849/default.aspx
Pauline Raina http://community.adlandpro.com/go/301079/default.aspx
Aparna Ganguli http://community.adlandpro.com/go/blukiwi/default.aspx
Geketa Holman http://community.adlandpro.com/go/313726/default.aspx
Our Sweethearts of Courage
Shirley Caron http://community.adlandpro.com/go/scaronpoet2005/default.aspx
Michael Caron http://community.adlandpro.com/go/192260/default.aspx
And Adlands very own man of Courage
John Partington http://community.adlandpro.com/go/114695/default.aspx
WE PRESENT TO YOU OUR TWENTY NINTH
WOMAN OF COURAGE
May Chidiac is one of the best known faces on Lebanese television.
In September 2005, the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation journalist lost her left hand and left leg as a result of a bomb exploding under the driver’s seat of her car. She believes the attack came as a result of her criticism of Syria’s involvement in Lebanon.
According to reports obtained by the Committee to Protect Journalists, half a kilogram of explosives was placed in Chidiac’s Range Rover. The explosion blew off the driver-side door, which was recovered more than 30 feet away from Chidiac’s car.
May had just hosted a show addressing Syria’s possible involvement in former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination and the fears of violence ahead because of the UN report about the investigation.
Following the attack, she spent several months in France recovering from her injuries. She had previously hosted Nharkom Said (Good Day), an LBC program broadcast every Sunday covering subjects such as politics, theater and culture. On July 11, the day before the Israeli assault on Lebanon began, May returned to Lebanon to resume her broadcasting career. She started working again on July 19 at LBC, where she hosts a current events program called Bikol Joraa every Tuesday.
Despite the violence and ongoing turmoil in her country, Chidiac is known for her upbeat attitude. She began her journalism career at the Voice of Lebanon radio station while studying journalism at the Lebanese University. After a three-year stint with Voice of Lebanon, Chidiac began working for the LBC in 1985.
In October 1990, the Syrian occupation of Lebanon drove the head of the interim government, General Michel Aoun, into exile in Paris. Chidiac moved to Switzerland that year and worked at the Lebanese embassy. She returned to Lebanon at the end of 1991.
Chidiac, who holds a master’s degree in journalism from the Lebanese University, has taught at Notre Dame University in Lebanon and plans to return in October to teach a course in broadcasting and news operation.
In January, Chidiac announced her intention to run for a parliamentary seat left vacant by Maronite legislator Edmond Naim’s death. She later decided against entering the election due to her rehabilitation and to avoid the divisive campaign.
Chidiac was awarded the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize in May 2006.
http://www.iwmf.org/courage/