Even uncollected garbage can trigger revolutions. It’s not about garbage, it’s about an unjust system and bureaucratic and governmental apathy that makes life miserable for an entire population.
Lebanon is in the grip of a rubbish crisis. Thousands of people took to the streets demanding a solution to the crisis that has seen rubbish pile up uncollected on streets. The crisis started in mid-July, and has grown since then. Interestingly, the You Stink campaign was organised by civil society instead of the divided political elite, and is not about garbage alone. On Saturday, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Beirut’s iconic Martyrs Square to express their rage at endemic corruption in the government and lack of basic services, including power and water. Men and women of all ages flooded the square in a rare example of non-partisan mobilisation in the divided republic. The demonstrators are demanding a total government rehaul and the You Stink organiser Lucien Bourjeily called the rally a really big victory. “It also shows us that it’s a big responsibility for us. We have to achieve the demands that we have set out,” he said.
The spark for the protests began on July 17 when residents living near Beirut’s main dump forced it to close. Trash then built up on the capital’s streets. The government, hobbled by infighting among religious communities, failed to find a solution. Soon, uncollected garbage became a symbol of everything that is wrong with the Lebanese system. Activists formed a movement called “You Stink” which was very clear in their demands – they wanted transparency and accountability, and most importantly, an end to the religious quotas in government which has been sewn into the Lebanese system.
The ‘rubbish’ protests are good for a nation which had witnessed years of civil war. Since its independence 70 years ago, Lebanon has relied on a constitutional system that divides top government posts by religion. The president must be Christian, for example, while the prime minister is Sunni Muslim. The system has remained unchallenged, but the latest protests show that people are getting fed up with the obsolete system. The proof is that men and women of all ages flooded the square in a rare example of non-partisan mobilisation in the divided republic. The demonstrations were remarkable for their lack of flags from political parties or religious groups.
Like societies all over the world, Lebanese too need justice, jobs and a responsible government focused only on the welfare of the people.
There is no doubt that the government will be forced to initiate reforms. Sectarianism is the bane of Lebanon, and the coming together of people of all sects for a common good is the first sign of change, the start of the beginning of a new era for the country•
Even uncollected garbage can trigger revolutions. It’s not about garbage, it’s about an unjust system and bureaucratic and governmental apathy that makes life miserable for an entire population.
Lebanon is in the grip of a rubbish crisis. Thousands of people took to the streets demanding a solution to the crisis that has seen rubbish pile up uncollected on streets. The crisis started in mid-July, and has grown since then. Interestingly, the You Stink campaign was organised by civil society instead of the divided political elite, and is not about garbage alone. On Saturday, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Beirut’s iconic Martyrs Square to express their rage at endemic corruption in the government and lack of basic services, including power and water. Men and women of all ages flooded the square in a rare example of non-partisan mobilisation in the divided republic. The demonstrators are demanding a total government rehaul and the You Stink organiser Lucien Bourjeily called the rally a really big victory. “It also shows us that it’s a big responsibility for us. We have to achieve the demands that we have set out,” he said.
The spark for the protests began on July 17 when residents living near Beirut’s main dump forced it to close. Trash then built up on the capital’s streets. The government, hobbled by infighting among religious communities, failed to find a solution. Soon, uncollected garbage became a symbol of everything that is wrong with the Lebanese system. Activists formed a movement called “You Stink” which was very clear in their demands – they wanted transparency and accountability, and most importantly, an end to the religious quotas in government which has been sewn into the Lebanese system.
The ‘rubbish’ protests are good for a nation which had witnessed years of civil war. Since its independence 70 years ago, Lebanon has relied on a constitutional system that divides top government posts by religion. The president must be Christian, for example, while the prime minister is Sunni Muslim. The system has remained unchallenged, but the latest protests show that people are getting fed up with the obsolete system. The proof is that men and women of all ages flooded the square in a rare example of non-partisan mobilisation in the divided republic. The demonstrations were remarkable for their lack of flags from political parties or religious groups.
Like societies all over the world, Lebanese too need justice, jobs and a responsible government focused only on the welfare of the people.
There is no doubt that the government will be forced to initiate reforms. Sectarianism is the bane of Lebanon, and the coming together of people of all sects for a common good is the first sign of change, the start of the beginning of a new era for the country•
