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September 22,
2005
Public beach director demands halt to illegal sand extraction.
Environmental groups call for right to supervise projects after presenting photos as proof
By Jessy Chahine
BEIRUT : Environmental activists gathered at the Press Federation yesterday to call on all drivers to leave their cars at home today, and find alternative methods of transportation for a nationwide "Car Free Day." According to environmental organization Green Line activist Firass Abi Ghanem, "With 1.3 million private cars, the highest rate on earth in relation to its size, this country is in desperate need of a Car Free Day, or maybe even days."
Abi Ghanem highlighted the devastating impact that cars have on the local environment.
"This large number of cars, especially concentrated in the capital, causes a high level of air pollution," he said, adding: "Unfortunately, we lack proper scientific research to put an end to this phenomenon."
The activist recalled with frustration an unfulfilled promise from the municipality of Beirut , made "years ago," to implement a European Union-funded project consisting of 50 pollution measurement devices to be placed throughout Beirut and its suburbs.
"The data that would have been obtained by those sensors would help us even more in spreading awareness among the citizens on the eminent danger of the level of pollution haunting their lives," Abi Ghanem said.
"Meanwhile, while we're waiting for the municipality to respond, all we have to do is climb one of the hills surrounding Beirut and have a look from there at the dark cloud that covers the capital entirely, which unfortunately is the air we breathe," he added.
The increase in the number of cars on the road, he said, was prominently due to a "shameful shortage and deficiency" in public transportation.
"The number of public buses dropped from 200 to less than 100 last year," he said, "and I wonder why. I'm sure the public transportation sector lacks neither the staff, nor the capacity, to function properly, yet it still waits for that political decision that would give it a green light and support."
Furthermore, he added, Lebanon also lacks the proper infrastructure to allow for the implementation of a more environmentally friendly public transportation system.
"Are there any decent sidewalks that would safely provide citizens with a safe walk home?" Abi Ghanem asked sarcastically. "Are there any bicycle lanes on the streets?"
He further took issue with the increasing levels of traffic congestion, which lead to a "lack of productivity" as workers spend so much time on the roads, and the yet-to-be-implemented Environmental Law 341.
"Issued in 2001," he said, "law 341 is perhaps the most ambitious law ever promulgated for the purpose of reducing air pollution by the transport sector and encouraging the use of less polluting fuels.
"Unfortunately, we haven't seen any part of this law come to life yet, especially when in 2002 the government surprisingly allowed minivans to start using diesel oil again."
Ghanem's frustration was echoed by fellow activist Dr. Ziad Akl, the founder and president of the Youth Association for Social Awareness (YASA).
"Together with the Scientific Research Foundation, we have come up with a series of urgent requests to try and save the remaining clean air that we still have," Akl said.
Among the requests featured an "enhanced and mandatory".