Car tires, piled and burned as roadblocks, have become a symbol of Lebanon's troubles. Pictured, youths set tires on fire in Beirut in protest against the kidnapping of Lebanese Shiite pilgrims in Syria, in May 2012.
Tire burning in Beirut —
Car tires, piled and burned as roadblocks, have become a symbol of Lebanon's troubles. Pictured, youths set tires on fire in Beirut in protest against the kidnapping of Lebanese Shiite pilgrims in Syria, in May 2012.
AFP/Getty Images
YNCA, a youth civil activism organization in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, has been painting car tires and repurposing them as flower pots, coffee tables and book shelves around the city center.
Tires for peace —
YNCA, a youth civil activism organization in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, has been painting car tires and repurposing them as flower pots, coffee tables and book shelves around the city center.
Courtesy YNCA
Young people gather at a coffee table made of car tires in the center of Nabatieh, southern Lebanon. The initative began when the army shooting of a cleric recently raised tensions around the country.
Tires for peace —
Young people gather at a coffee table made of car tires in the center of Nabatieh, southern Lebanon. The initative began when the army shooting of a cleric recently raised tensions around the country.
Courtesy YNCA
Layla Serhan and another YNCA member paint a mural in Nabatieh. The group aims to empower the town's young people, traumatized by the 2006 conflict with Israel, to voice their opinion; it spreads its message through art.
Tires for peace —
Layla Serhan and another YNCA member paint a mural in Nabatieh. The group aims to empower the town's young people, traumatized by the 2006 conflict with Israel, to voice their opinion; it spreads its message through art.
Courtesy YNCA
Women dance in the street before a carriage bearing newlyweds affiliated with YNCA. The organization used the occasion to declare a "week of joy," and encouraged people to celebrate by dancing in the street, defying prohibitions against such behavior that have arisen in recent years.
Dancing in the streets —
Women dance in the street before a carriage bearing newlyweds affiliated with YNCA. The organization used the occasion to declare a "week of joy," and encouraged people to celebrate by dancing in the street, defying prohibitions against such behavior that have arisen in recent years.
Courtesy YNCA
People dance in the street during the "week of joy." YNCA executive manager Dany Kalakech said people came from all over town to join in the dancing.
Dancing in the streets —
People dance in the street during the "week of joy." YNCA executive manager Dany Kalakech said people came from all over town to join in the dancing.
Courtesy YNCA
YNCA president Layla Serhan (left) and executive manager Danny Kalakech in Beirut, Lebanon. The pair say the group often comes under threat in its hometown from religious elements that oppose its approach.
Fighting sectarianism with art —
YNCA president Layla Serhan (left) and executive manager Danny Kalakech in Beirut, Lebanon. The pair say the group often comes under threat in its hometown from religious elements that oppose its approach.
Tim Hume