Post date: Sep 18, 2012 3:20:8 PM
Dubbed "For a cleaner Basra", a group of four young men and one woman launched the idea on April 15th 2012 on Facebook, aiming to clean up the streets of the rich oil city in southern Iraq.
Five months on, a group of young people wielding brooms, black bin bags and gloves are removing rubbish from the gutters of a Basra neighbourhood.
Basra residents go online to launch a clean-up campaign in their city.
BAGHDAD, IRAQ (SEPTEMBER 18, 2012) (REUTERS) - A group of Iraqi bloggers has started a street cleaning initiative in the port city of Basra.
"The goal of the campaign is to convey a message to the people of Basra and Iraq in general, that they should adopt a culture of cleanliness, and for Basra residents and all Iraqis to realise that they are responsible for the welfare of this country," says Saffa Hussein, one of the promoters of the scheme.
The group relies on self financing and donations to fund the necessary equipment and resources for the weekly clean-ups.
"We are trying to use our simple resources to remove as much garbage as possible," said Hussein.
Basra sits on top of some of the world's largest untapped oil reserves - as much as 80 percent of Iraq's total resources - but it suffers a lack of infrastructure after decades of wars and sanctions. The group wants to change attitudes and eventually the culture, so that all city residents take responsibility for their environment.
Computer programmers, teachers and students from across Iraq have been supporting the campaign and the number of volunteers cleaning the streets of litter has increased to 60.
"We are cleaning and trying to make a change in Basra. If we are able to clean up, we will make a change and direct young people's attention to the problem. The young people liked the idea and the number of volunteers has increased to 60, and more than 4,000 members are following us on Facebook. Some of them are taking part in the campaign, even coming from Mosul to take part in the cleaning campaign. We are Sunnis, Shi'ites, Christians and Yazidi people in the campaign," said one volunteer, Murtatha Hamid.
Residents of Basra's neighbourhoods support the campaign, calling for government backing.
"I consider such a campaign a real effort by the youths, so the people in neighbourhood should support them. I registered my name, and we try to clean up the garbage that is in front of us. Such a move should be supported by the government," said one local Basra resident, Hashim Abadi.
Almost a decade after the U.S.-led invasion which ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, development remains slow and Iraqis complain of shortages of food and public services.