- Title: Gaza cafe complex serves up lessons in recycling alongside drinks
- Date: 13th July 2021
- Summary: VISITORS SINGING
- Embargoed: 27th July 2021 12:28
- Keywords: Beach Environment Gaza Recycle
- Location: GAZA CITY, GAZA
- City: GAZA CITY, GAZA
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Environment,Middle East
- Reuters ID: LVA002ELOC505
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A popular beach cafe serves up a healthy portion of environmentalism in the Gaza Strip, one of the most densely populated places on earth.
The eatery is part of a complex, built from reused wooden poles, plastic jugs, tyres and broken bricks by local playwright Ali Mhana and a group of friends, dedicated to encouraging recycling in the Palestinian enclave of two million.
Known as "The Sea is Ours" Community Association, the structure also houses a library, theatre and open event spaces where youngsters and adults can learn about saving the environment.
Dressed in a blue uniform, Mhana calls himself the "Doctor of the Sea", hoping to help cure at least some of impoverished Gaza's ills, through activities at a site partly damaged during 11 days of cross-broder fighting in May between Israel and militants.
Customers seeking to rent an open space for an event can volunteer an hour of their time to help pick up litter at the beach or bring in other material for recycling in lieu of payment.
"I don't have to be a doctor for humans. I can be the doctor of the sea, a doctor of the community that suffers from several illnesses." said Mhana
The project is backed by the Gaza municipality, which provided the beachfront site for the complex.
Mhana's office at the centre serves as an example of creative recycling.
Its door was taken off a refrigerator and its windows used to be washing machine doors.
An official at the Gaza Environment Quality Authority said 2,000 tonnes of solid waste is collected in the Gaza Strip every day. Over half of it comes from homes, and thousands of Palestinians earn money selling material to recycling factories.
(Production: Arafat Barbakh, Mohammad Shana, Nuha Sharaf) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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