NNA - The Christmas tree was lit today by the side of the Lake Bnachii as part of the “Christmas by the Lake” festival activities, founded by Mrs. Rima Franjieh.

The Christmas lighting event took place following a two-year absence, in the presence of Caretaker Information Minister Ziad Al-Makari, Caretaker Minister of Tourism Walid Nassar, MP Tony Frangieh, Head of the Union of Municipalities in Zgharta District, Ze'ni El-Khair, as well as the environmental activist who put up the tree, Ms. Caroline Chabtini, and Festival Director Pierre Ziadeh.

Organizers stated that “Christmas by the Lake”, in its fifteenth edition, carries an environmental dimension, as the Christmas tree was made of approximately 110,000 plastic bottles, in addition to the plastic-covered cave, as well as the huge globe that contains about 105,000 plastic layers, portraying the environmental message, “We don’t have Planet B,” implying that there is no alternative globe if we do not preserve our natural wealth.

“The ‘Christmas by the Lake’ goal is to highlight the importance of sorting from the source and recycling, so the tree bore the shape of a green gem, an emerald, to indicate that plastic has become in our current world green gold that can be invested in, first to reduce the waste crisis, secondly in innovations and finally as part of supporting the economic cycle, especially in Lebanon,” the organizers added.

It is to note that the “Christmas by the Lake” event will continue throughout this month until January 10, coinciding with the Christmas of the Armenian community and the Epiphany, and will include surprises, dance plays and performances marking the holiday occasion.

=========R.Sh.