Jul 07, 2015
nonsectarian self-development
nonpartisan
PLATFORM youth-lead organization organization
LEBANESE
Activities
SELF-EXPRESSION skills
contribute
communities
MEANING
PEACE
VISION AND MISSION
WHY PUBLIC SPACES?
CITIES DEVELOPING EXPONENTIALLY, WE ARE LIVING IN AN INCREASINGLY BUILT UP ENVIRONMENT. IT PRESENTS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF COMMUNITIES AND SERVES AS A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO MEET AND INTERACT AND FOR KIDS TO PLAY
IMAGINE another
BEIRUT
a greener
BEIRUT
… a triangular park of 255,000 m2
….the only urban park in Beirut
… the largest green space in Lebanon’s capital city
HORSH BEIRUT is…
Horsh El Snoubar aka Bois des Pins aka the Pine Forest
• Panorama:
http://www.discoverlebanon.com/en/panoramic_views/beirut/view_horsh_beirut.php
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY
• 17th cent: Emir Fakhreddine II created the forest
• Timber abuse: Crusaders, Mamluks, Ottomans & Allies of World War II
• 1917: Ottoman Casino
• 1921: Horse racecourse (Beirut Hippodrome)
• 1950’s: Roads development
• 1958: Al Shahada Cemetery
• 1970: Rawdat al Shahideen
• 1982: Bombed & burnt by Israeli jet fighters
• 1995: Reconstruction by Beirut municipality with Conseil Regional d’Ile-de-
France assistance
DRAMATIC EVOLUTION
1696: over 1,250,000 m2
1967: over 800,000 m2
Today: only 255,000 m2
1960’s 2000’s
A LITTLE BIT OF GEOGRAPHY
What’s in Horsh Beirut?
And yet… The park has been closed to the public since 1992.
You currently need permission to enter the park
FORBIDDEN
The Horsh is there but unused & lifeless…
…SO WE SHOOK THINGS
UP!
Why is reopening Horsh Beirut so important? • It is the largest green space in Beirut
• It is PUBLIC property designed for public use = belongs
to us ALL = our RIGHT to access & enjoy it • The Municipality of Beirut has never provided a
legitimate/acceptable reason for closing decision. This.is.illegal.
• Access to public green spaces is essential: - Basic social and public health need - Provides space for interaction among citizens
THE CAMPAIGN
PHASE 1: RESEARCH WORK
Identify problem: STUDY (on citizens’ perception of public space/ needs and rights in the suburbs of Beirut), COMPARATIVE RESEARCH, FOCUS GROUPS, FILE DEVELOPMENT
POLICY PAPER (ROADMAP)RGUMENTS
12 TO 20 M2 PER
CAPITA GREEN SPACE IN THE CITY(WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION)
ONLY 0.8 M2 IN BEIRUT
NAHNOO RECRUITED YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE TRAINED TO LEAD THE CAMPAIGN TO RE-OPEN HORSH BEIRUT
PHASE 2: ADVOCACY FILE
Objectives & strategy
3
Raise awareness about Horsh Beirut for the
public, university students and schools residing inside Beirut
1
Long term advocating for the opening of Horsh
Beirut
2
Form a coalition with 10 NGOs which in order to
support NAHNOO in raising awareness about Horsh
Beirut
4
Conduct a visit to the municipality & ensure
12 members out of 22 in Beirut municipality
support opening Horsh Beirut
Plan public gatherings/ events with
committee to raise awareness on public spaces
• The Existence of Horsh Beirut
• The NEED for public green spaces
• The RIGHT for green space
• What Horsh Beirut offers to them
PROBLEM IS LACK OF AWARNESS ON:
PHASE 3: Raising awareness
PHASE 3: Raising
awareness
Activities for public awareness
Short movie about Horsh
Beirut Exhibitions (science days is
the first)
Art interventions/
public/street art
FLYERS: create a
“brand” for the campaign
to use.
Media and social media
PHASE 3: Raising awareness Activities for universities
Distribute flyers to all universities inside Beirut (USJ, AUST, SAGESSE, LU, AUB, and
LAU, etc…)
Carry out an awareness
exhibition using photography, poster
design and film making
Implement 5 lectures
pertaining to Horsh Beirut
Plan a visit to the park with cooperation of NGO (Terre Liban) or
the municipality of Ile de France and put into
practice activities inside Horsh Beirut
PHASE 3: Raising awareness Activities for schools
Select 10 schools residing
around Horsh Beirut
Long days for students inside Horsh Beirut:
Cultural and
entertainment activities
To learn about Horsh Beirut
To understand their needs to public spaces
ACTIVITIES AND PLATFORM FOR THE CAMPAIGN PUBLIC AWARNESS
SCIENCES DAYS VISITS TO SCHOOLS
VISITS TO PARK
LECTURES IN UNIVERSITIES
PICNIC IN THE PARK
PETITION
PHOTO CONTEST
• NAHNOO + other civil society activists had a meeting the mayor Dr. Bilal Hamad.
Results of the meeting:
He wants to open Horsh Beirut He is afraid of fire incendies He will form a small committee of civil society members with municipality members to work on re-opening and re-habilitating Horsh Beirut
• In parallel, be on Media and spread awareness about the issue targeting a large Lebanese audience
PHASE 4: Cooperation with Municipality + Media awareness
ACTIVITIES AND PLATFORM FOR THE CAMPAIGN
SOCIAL/MEDIA AWARENESS & PROMOTION
WEBSITE FACEBOOK PAGE
BROCHURES
VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE
STREET ACTION
ACTIVITIES AND PLATFORM FOR THE CAMPAIGN
ADVOCACY
MEDIA ATTENTION
MEETING WITH THE MUNICIPALITY
PUBLIC FORUM
ROADMAP & STUDY
Horsh Beirut team brainstorm
MAKING PROGRESS BUT THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER
PICNIC TO REOPEN HORSH BEIRUT SATURDAY AUGUST 30, 2014!!
WE ARE NOT ONLY DOING THIS
FOR A GREENER BEIRUT
WE ARE DOING THIS FOR THE PEOPLE