SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    Egypt's PM meets Tokyo governor, witnesses signing of education agreements    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Egypt's Sisi, France's Macron discuss Gaza ceasefire efforts in phone call    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Indian tourist arrivals to Egypt jump 18.8% in H1-2025: ministry data    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



The Lotus Revolution: An environmental awakening in the making?
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 17 - 02 - 2011

Online social media served as a pivotal tool throughout the 18 days of mass protests that led up to the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, and has now become a space in which Egypt's youth convene to discuss how to build the nation's future.
During the protests Tahrir Square in central Cairo was transformed into a mini-nation-within-a-nation and the protestors' collective home. They put in place their own security measures, erected makeshift hospitals, tents and food stalls, and organized a daily cleanup effort.
But whether this spirit of community and sense of responsibility for keeping the streets clean will end with the revolution or be part of the nation's rebirth is unclear.
Amr Elmahdy, one of the volunteers who initiated the clean-up, said he and his friends “became concerned about the possibility of diseases spreading if the area was not cleaned often amid the presence of such a large number of people. So we agreed to initiate a daily round to clean Tahrir and gather all the garbage in one area and also facilitate things for the municipality.” He said hundreds of others already swept up in the communal spirit joined in.
On the evening of 11 February, the nation was caught off guard when newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman abruptly appeared on state television to announce that Hosni Mubarak was stepping down after 30 years in power.
But after the massive street celebrations following the president's resignation, citizens were again mobilized through Facebook to take to the streets. This time the mission was strictly environmental: people were encouraged to clean Tahrir as protesters left the area.
Thousands responded to the call, heading to the square armed with brooms, garbage bags and masks. In the end, Tahrir was cleaner than it had been in recent memory.
It was quite possibly the first revolution to see protesters conduct an operation to clean up the streets they had occupied. Many protesters said the “people were finally empowered” and that the feeling of ownership of the streets was a testament to their emancipation.
Cleaning was an important part of this newfound pride and respect for what the square now represented. As one volunteer said to Al-Masry Al-Youm, “may the days of apathy when we saw garbage piles throughout Cairo be long gone. We are witnessing the rebirth of Egypt. May it be spotlessly clean by all means.”
Several smaller Facebook campaigns have also urged clean-ups in various parts of Cairo, including ‘Cairo cleaning convention,' and ‘Egypt rebuilding campaign,' which involves several initiatives in addition to street cleaning. Other groups include ‘Cleaning Cairo as a second step' and ‘Let's clean our country.'
This last campaign was initiated by Elmahdy and his friends.
“We launched this campaign because we didn't want this to be a one-off thing, the spirit seen within the boundaries of ‘The Republic of Tahrir' needs to spread throughout the country from now on,” he said. “The aim is to continue the sense of empowerment through furthering awareness and mobilizing people to take to the streets for clean-up initiatives on a regular basis.”
They also hope to plant trees and repair sidewalks to transform the landscape of the streets of Cairo. Elmahdy and his friends have contacted several sponsors for assistance in turning this into a sustainable national project.
In line with reclaiming the streets of Cairo within an environmental framework, others have started a campaign--also using online social media--to encourage people to adopt a pedestrian lifestyle.
During the days of the protests, when public transportation was shut down or sporadic and many streets were closed, many became accustomed to walking long distances to get to Tahrir.
With calls from experts to transform Tahrir into a tourist area and to erect a memorial for the martyrs of the revolution, others suggested the area should also be turned into a pedestrian zone.
According to Soheir Hawass, Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at Cairo University and Chair of the Scientific Research department at the National Organization of Urban Harmony (NOUH), “Cairo seriously lacks proper urban planning which serves to accommodate people. We have been concerned with accommodating cars instead. Now is certainly the time to see urban planning reflect people reclaiming the streets--as started in Tahrir.”
Downtown Cairo already has a few pedestrian streets such as al-Alfi and Borsa streets, and according to Hawass there are already proposals to pedestrianize more downtown streets, but not in the rest of the city.
Until that happens, people can continue to make personal commitments to cleaning the streets, not littering and being less dependent on cars by walking whenever possible.
Though it will take some time to adapt to the newfound freedoms, one young man carried the spirit of the post-revolutionary efforts on a sign as he picked up trash: “Pardon any temporary disturbances. We are currently building a nation.”


Clic here to read the story from its source.