Although there was some public and media outrage against the project at its initial phase, these mobilisations have died down. Two protests that got some media attention were the ones organised in Beirut, the first in front of the National Mesuem, by “The Coalition of organisations and civil society groups for Adloun” (تجمّع جمعيات وهيئات المجتمع المدني لأجل عدلون)* on January 22, 2016, and the second on 11 February, 2016 by the Civil Campaign to Protect the Dalieh of Raouche, which highlighted the corruption of State institutions and their protection of private interests, under the slogan: If you want to know what is happening in Adloun, you must know what is happening in Dalieh (إذا أردت أن تعرف ماذا في عدلون، فعليك أن تعرف ماذا في الدالية).

The majority of the public, especially the locals of Adloun, is scared to speak up against the project since it has the backing of Berri, and the region is dominated by his Amal party. As reported by one anonymous local, “no matter how much we object and launch campaigns against it, we know de facto that the new port will be built against our will. It all goes back to the power dynamics in Adloun and in Lebanon, in general.” [11].

The Ministries of Culture and Environment were also against the project, where the former demanded a halt to it until a joint committee assesses it, while the latter demanded stopping the project due to violation of EIA decree 8633, which states that ports require an EIA. [1] The Ministry of culture also sent two letters to the South Lebanon Governor asking him to stop all construction work, all to no avail. The Ministry of Public Works carried out with the excavation works, claiming that other ministries did not come up with alternative proposals for over 15 days, giving itself the de facto right to destroy the rocky coast. It is important to note that the Minister of Public works at the time, Gazi Zgheiter, had political ties with Nabih Berri, after whom the port is being named. A report by Al Akhbar provides more evidence of corruption, demonstrating that the $5 million excavation contract given to “Khoury Contracting Company” came under an irregular and unfair bid, [6] and with no consultation with the local community [2]. Of note, this company was recently also awarded a contract to operate the controversial Bourj Hammoud landfill.

The call by the Ministry of Environment to halt the project was in response to the organizing against the project, led by the local activist group Green Southeners, who were documenting the destruction of the beach, as well as highlighting its archeological and ecological significance, particularly as one of the few remaining sea turtle nesting grounds on the Lebanese coast. Local activists claim that Adloun is a historic site and the project will only bring destruction to the beach and its prehistoric caves and Phoenician ruins, and ruin the city’s historic identity. They sent a letter to the Ministry of environment asking it to classify the coast as a protected site of natural and cultural heritage and to forbid any kind of development to preserve its biological diversity. The Ministry of public works has retaliated that the new port will create jobs and help the local fishing community, while activists have responded that the purpose of the port is to accommodate 400 luxury yachts, being of no service to the local community while creating massive environmental damage to the village. Moreover, Dr. Maha El-Khalil, the head of the International Association to Safeguard Tyr, has claimed that there has not been a proper archeological excavation of the site, which is essential before planning construction on the site, and has refuted the claim that the project will provide jobs for the locals by saying that preservation and celebration of Adloun’s heritage will bring economic benefits, rather than creating yet another marina for the wealthy. [3]  Although some local groups are against the project, there does not seem to be massive organising to stop the project, and the former mayor of Adloun, Samih Wehbi, was supportive of the development, thanking Berri and Zeaiter for implementing a project everyone will benefit from. Meanwhile, during his visit to the site in the January of last year, Zeaiter announced that “To those who wanted to sabotage this work, we tell them that this vandalism will not make us back down on projects that we are working for [on behalf of] our people in the South.” [4] He was referring to activists setting fire to a machine belonging to the project contractor.  *The groups present were The Green Southeners, Greenline, NAHNOO, The Lebanese Eco Movement, and independent activists.

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