Maha Ellawati BENGHAZI – A campaign to help show off the better side of Benghazi by cleaning up its public spaces is going on despite recent events in the city. “For you Benghazi, I take the initiative” kicked off on Dec. 15 in conjunction with similar campaigns in other towns and cities in Libya, aiming to clean up the city and to make it a more pleasant place for residents and visitors. However, fears that recent violence in Benghazi might disrupt the initiative have been swept aside after First Deputy Prime Minister Awad Al-Barasi joined volunteers in the Al-Sabri area to help repaint road markings. The campaign's first stage, “A Cleaner Benghazi”, saw civil society activists call on residents to clean their streets by removing unsightly posters and clearing rainwater that had collected on pavements and roads. Initially, “A Cleaner Benghazi” had focused on densely-populated areas like Al-Kish, but was extended to all parts of the city by activists. The second stage saw volunteers replanting public gardens and parks, and urged people to reuse plastic bags to reduce littering. As part of the move, 5,000 plastic “bags for life” were made up, printed with advice on helping the environment, and handed out to members of the public. Organizers also printed 100 posters and distributed them to Benghazi's schools to help teach children about the importance of recycling their waste. – Libya Herald
