"Rass-al-Natour" in the coastal village of Anfeh on the Mediterranean sea is attacked by a destructive project for the environment, for the heritage, for the values and the beauty of this still virgin region.
Unparalleled heritage in the world, the Phoenician salt mines, deserted but still productive, are waiting to be exploited again thanks to the program for the development and protection of the Anfeh seafront. It is here that stands the historical convent of Our Lady of the Guard (Deir Al-Natour).
Politicians and businessmen would like to bury it under a private complex of dithyrambic proportions, with a surface area of one million square meters, of which 30 thousand square meters would be obtained thanks to operations of backfilling and refilling of concrete in the seabed, in order to build a port to moor the yachts of the owners of the complex.
This would affect the unbelievable marine and coastal biological variety of this place where myrtle and basil grow, where oaks and olive trees abound as well as an impressive quantity of aromatic and medicinal herbs, not to mention the importance of the rocks, witnesses precious geological and climatic evolution of places, that of migratory or native birds or many animal species in a peaceful nature and devoid of buildings.
The Lebanese General Directorate for Planning refused to ratify the realization of this destructive project ... In the current situation, with the establishment of the new government, a decision that would go against that of the previous government is however to be feared. The new Council of Ministers could give its approval to start works with tragic consequences for the heritage of all Lebanese and all humanity.
- We reject this wild project which provides for the backfilling of the sea and the destruction of the still productive historic saltworks.
- We refuse the destruction of the Phoenician salt mines and their disappearance in order to transform their location into a road to the planned port within the project.
- We reject this project which would destroy the marine life for the construction of a marina for the yachts of the future owners of the project.
- We refuse to divert railway lines and public roads for the construction of this project.
- We refuse to burn the woods and forests of the site, planted with ancient oaks and olive trees, covered with aromatic and medicinal plants with numerous benefits in order to expand and unify the project area, reaching 900 000 square meters for the construction of a marine pleasure port, luxurious place, foreign to the historical traditions, the nature and the activities of the original inhabitants of the place.
- We refuse to phagocyte the convent of "Deir-Al-Natour" overlooking the sea, within this bizarre project, unsuited to the memory, the origin, the mysticism of the place and foreign to life and activities of the indigenous people.
Let us sign this international petition to save this site of historical and natural importance, resources and value unique to Lebanon and the Mediterranean basin.
Let us listen conscientiously to the call of heart of Hafez Jreij, guide of the Salt Revolution in Lebanon, Lebanese citizen and active member of the urban action in favor of the Man and the Environment.
