The above is a video depicting Broummana -a touristic town, 800m above sea level) in an attractive manner, posted just a couple of days ago.
And this is what’s really going on. (scroll down for video)
Inspired by veteran LBCI journalist Bassam Abou Zeid, who sounded the alarm on similar trespasses practiced by the municipality of Zouk Mkayel, his hometown, and the activists of the 'You Stink' campaign, I took the initiative -as a local- to track down the trucks that are dumping waste in the valley until I found the location, but unfortunately failed to continue down the very long road alone for fear of being attacked. Naturally it was a great relief to see that the footage had made its way to the media.
I refrained from writing about this earlier because I was hoping the municipality -headed by Pierre Achkar (who also happens to be the head of the Syndicate of Hotel Owners in Lebanon)- would heed a suggestion I had made to one of its board members. I urged the man (who I choose not to name) to contact me (or any other environmental activist/expert) so I could provide further information on how we can make Broummana a zero-waste town, offering media support should they carry through with it. But, I never heard from him and so writing is now my last resort.
Here’s how Roumieh succeeded where Broummana has failed.
As for the locals I urge you to join the protest to be held this Saturday in Martyr’s Square on August 8, 6pm where we will express our utmost rejection, as citizens, to any deal, any “solution” that fails to make the environment a priority.
Click here for more details.
The views expressed in this blog post are the authors alone and are not made with the intention to harm, hurt or cause distress to any person or figure. The author only hopes that all municipalities make the change towards zero-waste in what is turning out to be the cause of a lifetime, in line with other journalists sounding the alarm. You can follow more updates regarding the work of municipalities on this and this page, and also here.