Meet The GEMS: Twitter Volunteers Cleaning Up Lebanese Beaches

It all started with one tweet.

So guys, a few years ago, I suggested we clean up beaches. Get a group of volunteers and move around Lebanon one beach at a time and pick up the trash.

Basically, nobody responded.

So again, anyone want to start this with me?

— R.K (@leb_obs) July 10, 2018

And one retweet after another, the Green Environment Movement (GEM) was born.

A group of young people who met on Twitter have been volunteering to clean up Lebanese beaches. Starting with only seven volunteers, they’ve managed to pick up more than a ton of trash in just three weeks.

We’ve picked up more than a ton of trash in just 3 weeks.

Can we get a ton of followers to encourage us to keep this initiative going?

RT for 1,000 followers/volunteers 🙏📣 pic.twitter.com/qhGVqU8r1s

— Green Environment Movement (@GEM_Leb) August 5, 2018

So far, the GEMS have cleaned up Batroun, Amchit Boulevard, and Kfaraabida, and plan to expand their campaign to Tyre and other beaches as well.

To solidify their efforts, the GEMS sort the trash they collect on spot and send it to the Cedar Environmental Recycling Plant.

The growing movement welcomes volunteers and assistance as well, in terms of transportation, logistics, and cleaning items.

We’re looking for kind and generous people to provide our volunteers the following list of things for Sunday’s cleanup:

1- Reusable gloves (40-50)
2- Reusable bags (80-100)
3- first aid kit
4- Hand gel bottles (10-20)
5- Water cooler with nozzle pic.twitter.com/gVs2v8VjFR

— Green Environment Movement (@GEM_Leb) August 1, 2018

You can follow their progress on Facebook and Twitter, and volunteer if you can!