Background:
Environmental renaissance in Lebanon has started after the Earth Summit
(1992). More than 50 grassroots environmental organizations are
established since 1992. Some private schools have already started to
introduce environmental themes in their teaching programmes, but the
great majority of public and private schools still do not have
established environment related programmes. There is a wide range of
environmental information demand in Lebanon, requested by: schools,
NGOs, ministries and individuals. Public institutions are still not
equipped to meet the environmental information demands.
Initiation of Environment & Development
Magazine:
Since June 1996, Environment & Development Magazine is being issued
in Beirut. It is affiliated with MECTAT. It is the first pan-Arab
environmental magazine, issued bi-monthly in Arabic and distributed on
news-stands in more than 18 Arab countries. It promotes environmental
awareness and alternative patterns of development. It reaches 100,000
readers across the Arab world and viewed on the Internet by more than
70,000 people worldwide.
Environment & Development magazine launched its first school
contest in 1997. More than 100,000 students participated in this
contest. Students presented, in writing and drawing, their ideas about
what individuals can do for a better environment. In 1998, the theme of
the second competition was the state of the environment in Lebanon.
Thousands of students and their teachers participated in field visits to
investigate the environmental situation around their schools. This
year's competition, to be launched on the 25th of February, is about the
environment friendly schools.
More than 500 schools have been motivated and applied to join the
Environment and Development Club of the Magazine. The goal of the Club
is the dissemination of environmental information and know-how to
students, the leaders and environmental activists of the future.
Background
on MECTAT:
Since 1982, as an environmental resource centre, MECTAT has
disseminated environmental information and conducted training
sessions for diffusing environmentally sound technologies to various
target groups in Lebanon and other Arab countries. Renewable energy,
organic farming, tree planting, water and environmental health are
some of the themes that MECTAT is involved in.
Scope of the Project:
In the framework of this Project, it is intended to implement an
integrated environmental education programme in more than 200
Lebanese schools (private and public schools), which are members of
the Environment and Development Club of the magazine. The project
will be implemented by Environment & Development magazine in
association with MECTAT, with the cooperation of the Ministry of
Education, environmental NGOs and experts.
The Project aims at establishing active environmental clubs in
schools, that are directed towards promoting environmental awareness
and action through difussion of environmental information, training
and demonstration, excursions in nature, environmental photo clubs
and contests, mobile exhibitions, wall magazines and production and
distribution of audio visual material. These make a set of ten
different activities of this project proposal.
Financial Support:
So far the German Government has sponsored the implementation of
two activities of the Project. These are:
- The
teachers training programme, and
- Production of audio visual material.
For details please contact Mr. Boghos Ghougassian at e-mail
address: boghos@mectat.com.lb
Individual components of the project can be implemented
independently, and they can start at any time during the
scholastic year 1998/99.
The average cost for each activity of the project is estimated
at USD 50,000.00 to 80,000.00. |
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PROJECT PROPOSAL - II
1- PROJECT IDENTIFICATION
1.1- Project
Title: : Establishment of an Organic Farming Network in Lebanon
1.2- Geographic Location: All Lebanese Territories
1.3- Implementation: MECTAT (Middle East Centre for the Transfer of
Appropriate Technology)
1.4-Project Duration : Five years - Commencing: 1 January 1999 -
Completion : 31 December 2004
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2- PROJECT SUMMARY
The excessive
use of agro-chemicals in Lebanon has led to the deterioration of the
soil, the pollution of surface waters and groundwater, and the
production of unhealthy food. There is an urgent need for
introducing the alternative agricultural techniques in Lebanon.
The project will implement the establishment of an organic farming
network in Lebanon, that is directed towards promoting organic
farming practices through dissemination of information, training and
demonstration, marketing research, provision of loans, establishment
of a certification body and organizing the organic growers and
traders network in Lebanon.
The project will be implemented by MECTAT (Middle East Centre for
the Transfer of Appropriate Technology), with the cooperation of
international NGOs, and local governmental and non-governmental
associations. The duration of the project is five years. And the
annual costs of the project range from 100,000 to 150,000 UýS
dollars.
For details on the project, please contact with Mr. Boghos
Ghougassian at: boghos@mectat.com.lb |
PROJECT PROPOSAL -III
1- PROJECT IDENTIFICATION
1.1-
Project Title: Village Level Food Processing for Food Security
and Income Generation
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1.2-
Geographic Location: Rural areas of Lebanon
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1.3- Implementation: MECTAT (Middle East Center for the
Transfer of Appropriate Technology).
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Supporting NGO: Agricultural Cooperatives and Women's
Associations
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1.4-Project Duration : 2 years (1 July 1999- 30 June 2001)
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1.5-Cost of Project :US$ 337,000 |
2- PROJECT SUMMARY
Agriculture
has been the main work and source of income for the majority of
families in rural areas of Lebanon. As there is a need to improve
the socio-economic status of the villagers, it is planned to
implement a project that will lead into household food security and
income generation.
The project aims at providing 500 housewives and farmers with
proper skills on how to process and conserve food at the domestic
level, to help improve their income generation and achieve better
health for the family members. Basically home level utensils would
be enough to process food. After acquiring experience, large scale
processing might be initiated by the villagers and cooperative.
The project will concentrate on a series of training workshops at
12 locations. 10-15 day training will be given at each village.
Techniques on crop drying, processing, bottling, packaging and
marketing will be transferred to the participants. Training will be
given also on sanitary standards, hygiene, nutrition and other
related topics.The project will concentrate on a series of training
workshops at 12 locations. 10-15 day training will be given at each
village. Techniques on crop drying, processing, bottling, packaging
and marketing will be transferred to the participants. Training will
be given also on sanitary standards, hygiene, nutrition and other
related topics.
MECTAT will conduct the training workshops. The Agricultural
Cooperatives and women's associations of villages will coordinate
the activities of workshops and will do the follow-up.
For details on the project, please contact with Mr. Boghos
Ghougassian at: boghos@mectat.com.lb |
OTHER PROJECTS:
The following
pioneer projects, initiated by MECTAT, need immediate funding:
-
Implementation of pilot integrated solid waste management
schemes in rural and peri-urban areas of Lebanon and other
countries in the region.
- Establishment of recycling parks/centres in the urban centres
of Lebanon.
- Establishment of a network of organic farmers, traders and
promoters in Lebanon.
- Establishment of pilot biogas plants in animal farms and
promote the utilization of biogas technology for the treatment
of solid waste and wastewater from small communities.
- Promotion of renewable energy technologies in Lebanon and
elsewhere.
- Establishment of a Clean Production Centre for the industrial
sector in Lebanon, to transfer environment friendly/cleaner
technologies, particularly for small and medium size
enterprises.
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