18 Arrested, 4 Injured as Activists Storm Environment Ministry
by Naharnet Newsdesk 14 January 2016, 12:45
Demonstrators and security forces scuffled outside the environment ministry in Beirut on Thursday after several civil society activists stormed the building to protest the authorities’ failure to resolve the waste problem.
Anti-riot police pushed back “We Want Accountability” and “You Stink” protesters who called for more transparency on a plan to export Lebanon’s garbage.
The protest was held after around 15 members of the two groups entered the Azarieh building in downtown Beirut and sat on the floor, clapping and shouting slogans against the authorities for failing to resolve the seven-month waste problem.
The 15 protesters were later arrested by police along with three demonstrators who intercepted the vehicle that was carrying the detainees outside the building. The eighteen activists were taken for questioning, according to an Internal Security Forces statement.
Two protesters and two policemen were injured in the scuffles, the ISF said.
Last month, the government approved the export of the garbage but the plan drew skepticism. And lately Holland’s Howa BV withdrew its proposal to accept the waste, keeping a single firm, Britain’s Chinook Urban Mining International.
Civil society activists stormed the ministry in September, asking for the resignation of the environment minister.
The waste crisis erupted in July when Lebanon’s largest landfill in Naameh was shut down.
G.K./Y.R.
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Report: Berri Against Exporting Lebanon’s Waste – Naharnet
by Naharnet Newsdesk 14 January 2016, 09:10
Speaker Nabih Berri seems to be a non-supporter of a plan to export Lebanon’s waste as he stressed on Thursday that the trash should be dumped in the coastal area of Costa Brava and Srar in Akkar, al-Joumhouria daily reported.
Berri said that the trash generated from the southern suburbs of Beirut should be taken to the Costa Brava landfill and that of Beirut to Srar, the daily added.
He suggested that the hazardous dumpster of Costa Brava should be converted into an environment friendly facility and the capacity of Srar should be expanded to receive additional quantities.
Furthermore the piles of trash sent to Sidon landfill should be increased to receive trash from Mount Lebanon and Beirut in addition to activating the Karantina waste treatment facility.
Two firms that agreed to export Lebanon’s trash, Britain’s Chinook Urban Mining International and Holland’s Howa BV, were brought down to one after Howa’s announced withdrawal.
Lebanon was plunged in a waste management crisis following the closure in July of the Naameh landfill.
Officials have for months failed to find an alternative to the dump, resulting in the accumulation of trash on the streets throughout the country.
The cabinet in December approved the export of the waste despite reservations of the Kataeb and Change and Reform blocs.
D.A.
G.K.
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/199356-report-berri-against-exporting-lebanon-s-waste
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Shehayyeb: Politicians Should Keep their Disputes Away from Trash File
by Naharnet Newsdesk 13 January 2016, 08:01
Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayyeb declared on Wednesday that the export of Lebanon’s trash is not the only solution to the country’s months-long problem, but said that it is the most feasible one at the moment.
He said after a meeting of parliament’s environment committee: “Politicians should concern themselves with politics and keep their disputes away from this file.”
“All political forces advocated reaching a solution to this dispute, but few of them committed to their statements,” he lamented during a press conference from parliament.
“We have no alternative at the moment to exporting the waste, which is a product of months of discussions,” he stressed.
“This is the hardest solution, but it is a solution that is close to insanity in a country that has rejected all sound ones,” explained Shehayyeb.
“The stalling in this file does not serve anyone,” he stated, while highlighting the ongoing hazards of prolonging the implementation of the solution.
“Theories that are difficult to implement at the moment should be put on hold and we should address feasible solutions,” he stated.
“The harm caused by the problem is much greater than the cost of exporting the trash,” he remarked.
“The government alone is not responsible for this issue, but everyone is,” he noted.
The minister said that cabinet has taken its decision to export the garbage and preparations are ongoing to implement it.
Discussions over this issue will remain open however, he told reporters, while saying: “The media and some environmentalists should give us a break.”
“We are seeking the decentralization of the waste file in order to allow municipalities to take over this issue,” Shehayyeb added.
Lebanon was plunged in a waste management crisis following the closure in July of the Naameh landfill.
Officials have for months failed to find an alternative to the dump, resulting in the accumulation of trash on the streets throughout the country.
The cabinet in December approved the export of the waste despite reservations of the Kataeb and Change and Reform blocs.
M.T.
G.K.
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/199260-shehayyeb-politicians-should-keep-their-disputes-away-from-trash-file