TRIPOLI, Lebanon: The cities of Tripoli and Mina are staging a “car-free” day Sunday, an initiative of the cities’ young people to promote an environmentally friendly culture.
Cars will be banned from the main thoroughfare of Mina Street, linking Tripoli to Mina while biking and extreme sports competitions, a scouts parade, tree planting and musical performances will also take place.
The initiative is organized by the Tripoli Youth Network in collaboration with the cities’ municipalities and sponsored by President Michel Sleiman and the Maurice Fadel Prize association. The president is scheduled to make an appearance at the event.
According to organizer Hala Fadel, the car-free day will be the first of its kind in the Middle East.
“The initiative has several goals, the most important of which is shedding light on this city through the gathering of the public and political leaders on Sunday,” Fadel said.
She called on everyone to participate and said suggestion boxes will collect ideas on other initiatives that can contribute to reviving cultural activity in the city.
As part of educating people about eco-friendly measures and promoting a pollution-free city, a solar car race will be organized for young students.
The coordinator of the race, Najwa Sahmarani, said that 100 students ranging from 9 to 13 years old, from both public and private schools are expected to participate.
According to Sahmarani, the initiative, which is called The Little Engineer, was started by Rana Chemaitelly, who won the 2010 MIT Arab Business Plan Competition and has carried out similar projects across the country.
The first part step of Sunday’s race had 50 students build environmentally-friendly vehicles.
“The students seemed enthusiastic about such activities as they exhibit their skills,” Sahmarani said, adding that the winner and the two runners-up will receive prizes, including tools for building small solar machines.
Cars will be banned from the main thoroughfare of Mina Street, linking Tripoli to Mina while biking and extreme sports competitions, a scouts parade, tree planting and musical performances will also take place.
The initiative is organized by the Tripoli Youth Network in collaboration with the cities’ municipalities and sponsored by President Michel Sleiman and the Maurice Fadel Prize association. The president is scheduled to make an appearance at the event.
According to organizer Hala Fadel, the car-free day will be the first of its kind in the Middle East.
“The initiative has several goals, the most important of which is shedding light on this city through the gathering of the public and political leaders on Sunday,” Fadel said.
She called on everyone to participate and said suggestion boxes will collect ideas on other initiatives that can contribute to reviving cultural activity in the city.
As part of educating people about eco-friendly measures and promoting a pollution-free city, a solar car race will be organized for young students.
The coordinator of the race, Najwa Sahmarani, said that 100 students ranging from 9 to 13 years old, from both public and private schools are expected to participate.
According to Sahmarani, the initiative, which is called The Little Engineer, was started by Rana Chemaitelly, who won the 2010 MIT Arab Business Plan Competition and has carried out similar projects across the country.
The first part step of Sunday’s race had 50 students build environmentally-friendly vehicles.
“The students seemed enthusiastic about such activities as they exhibit their skills,” Sahmarani said, adding that the winner and the two runners-up will receive prizes, including tools for building small solar machines.
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