From the Liveblog of
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Lebanese activists swear off food over trash protest
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleHalf a dozen Lebanese activists have begun an open-ended hunger strike, demanding the resignation of the environment minister at the center of the country’s trash crisis.
The activists began their hunger strike on Thursday, setting up tents outside the Environment Ministry in downtown Beirut.
The hunger strike comes two days after protesters walked into the ministry and staged a sit-in. That standoff with security forces lasted for hours.
Many Lebanese are angry over the government’s failure to find a solution for garbage that has piled up in the capital after the main landfill was closed in July. Protests have grown beyond the garbage issue and now target the government and entire political class.
The minister, Mohammed Machnouk, says he will not resign.
The Times of Israel Community.