Beirut is holding its breath as it awaits a large demonstration scheduled for Aug. 29. The protest was called by a large number of independent activists and civil society organizations against the Lebanese government's policies, especially following its failure to resolve the country's worsening waste crisis.
The crisis started on July 17, when the Lebanese government decided to close one of the largest landfills, which was run by the private company Sukleen, which was also in charge of collecting garbage in the area. The company has depended on the landfill, which is located in the coastal town of Naameh about 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Beirut, to get rid of its waste.