The I ♥ GEMMAYZE Campaign
The plan is simple.
Print stickers with the I ♥ Gemmayze logo, and plaster them everywhere and anywhere people might notice them - be creative ;)
Do so anonymously. Do so covertly. Take a snapshot and send us the photo.
The solutions, stickers, and photographs will be compiled here.
also, join the I ♥ Gemmayze Facebook Group
April 15, 2008
anonymous sent this photo from the Bekaa Valley
April 12, 2008
finkployd printed 1600 on sticker paper - total cost 90,000 LL, excluding ink
local print shops quoted the sticker at 500 LL (total cost would have been 800,000 LL!)
stacks were distributed to pubs, bars, restaurants and nightclubs in gemmayze
the rest were distributed to cars and passers-by
overwhelming response was positive, with many asking for more to put on 'all their cars' (libneniyye)
April 9, 2008
I printed a few on photo paper (about 50) and distributed them in Gemayezeh (scotch tape provided).
All were happy to put them on the windshields of their cars.
Ever since this new (so called law) came to effect Gemayzeh has seen a dramatic decline in business.
Timeline
Wednesday April 16, 2008:
It's 1 AM. After making the rounds of the pubs, bars, clubs, and restos in Gemmayze,
I can Officially Confirm that the curfew HAS been dropped.
Thank you all for your support throughout this ordeal.
we the people have made a difference
Monday April 14, 2008:
The Minister of Tourism and Mouhafez of Beirut have held a joint press conference
to announce the official dropping of the curfew on pubs, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs
in the Gemmayze District of Beirut, and Beirut in general.
A plan was drawn up that tackles many of the issues in Gemmayze and responsibilities to maintain
a quiet neighborhood were split between the government and the establishments.
Friday April 11, 2008:
Most Closed Pubs &
Restaurants have reopened - Bar Louie is still Closed :(
Meeting with Mohafez & Joe Sarkis was fruitful. Curfew times will be adjusted to more reasonable hours.
Silent Demonstration called off as concessions are being made.
I ♥ Gemmayze stickers are available in all Pubs & Restaurants in Gemmayze.
Wednesday April 9, 2008:
After repeated meetings between the Syndicate of Pub & Restaurants of Gemmayze and the Mouhafiz and the Ministry of Tourism demanding the unjust curfew to be dropped, the Mouhafiz of Beirut (Nassif Kalouch) issued a statement in LÓrient Le Jour stating that the curfew of 11:30 (weekdays) and 1:00am (weekends) will be enforced across all of Beirut’s Pubs & Restaurants in residential areas (basically all of them).
Saturday April 5, 2008
A meeting was held between the Minister of Tourism, the Syndicate of Pub & Restaurants of Gemmayze, the Representative of Gemmayze Residents and the Moukhtar of Gemmayze to ask for the curfew to be dropped and to discuss other important matters. The curfew was not dropped.
Friday April 4, 2008
The Acting Mouhafiz of Beirut issued an order to the police to shut down any pub or restaurant in Gemmayze that stays open after 11:30pm on weekdays and 1:00am on weekends.
Wednesday April 2, 2008
The Ministry of Tourism closed down 14 pubs & restaurants in Gemmayze under the pretext that these 14 places do not have a restaurant license and/or have not applied for a restaurant license. Some places were also shut down because too many complaints were filed against them by the residents.
Saturday March 29, 2008
A group of residents living in Gemmayze staged a protest in their pajamas during the busy hours of the street. The media were invited and the demands of the residents to have a quieter neighborhood and parking spaces were made public.
