Cairo has had the gift of a unique group of people, the zebaleen, literally "the garbage people", a group of people who originally moved to Cairo from Upper Egypt in the 40's and who took on the job of collecting and recycling Cairo's trash. Eventually they were told to move out of the (then) city limits to areas such as the Moqattam Hills. You can read more about them at the Ford Foundation site http://www.fordfound.org/elibrary/documents/5008/055.cfm Zebaleen Develop Incomes and Community from an Overlooked Asset.Although in an effort to "modernise" the government has hired companies to collect trash, we still see the donkey carts that carry the soon to be recycled items to the workshops.
Plastic bags are a curse, there are few places that are not littered with them but recycling and reusing has promise,I think, its the only way forward bearing in mind local customs.
ReplyDeleteRe: Trash Collection Two: I guess this could explain a lot about why Saqqara was host to lots of plastic bags flying around and blowing into some of the underground openings. It was disgusting and certainly makes me believe even more, that the Egyptian government doesn't really give a crap about it's heritage. Sad situation.
ReplyDeleteThe Giza Dump is an abomination. I've taken photos of the expansion of it along with GPS readings to show how close it is getting to the antiquities to Zahi Hawass and nothing happens. There is a group of riders who have monthly endurance rides out here and we just watch the monster gobble our trails. We've complained to authorities. No one gives a damn. Very, very sad.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear of this tragic situation, and applaud the efforts of you and your friends to bring it to someone's attention. And, good luck with that! The only thing that might have ANY impact would be a decline in the amount of tourist $$ due to it
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate to be able to visit the village where these people live, and see their fabulous church...
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/mokattam.htm
ReplyDeleteThis is a link to a site that shows pictures of the amazingly beautiful church that has been built by this community ... you cannot believe it, absolutely stunning.