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The garbage protests, also known as the You Stink protests after the movement that led demonstrations, swept through Lebanon in the summer of 2015.
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The protests were caused by growing piles of rubbish left out on the streets of Beirut and beyond.
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The protests, initially attended by just dozens of activists, quickly grew to draw thousands to the streets. Demonstrations were at first largely peaceful, with members of all religions and social classes joining together – something not seen in the country for decades.
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The protest was largely led by the You Stink movement, which worked with other groups – new and old – to co-ordinate protests.
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However, as night descended the demonstrations turned more violent – with many blaming the authorities for a heavy-handed reaction.
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A man runs to kick tear gas back towards the police in central Beirut.
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Tear gas drifting through Martyr’s Square, the focus of protest in central Beirut.
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For many, the protests came to be about far more than garbage- they came to symbolise frustration at the many failures of the state itself.
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A man throws broken bricks at the riot police. Some accused political groups of sending in young men disguised as activist to cause trouble and discredit the demonstrations.
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After the first few protests, a large wall was built to prevent access to government buildings at a prominent protest spot in central Beirut.
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Grafitti artists quickly began using the wall for their own purposes.
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Meanwhile, violence became more common as diminished numbers attended.
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Some continued the protests, setting up camp and going on hunger strikes. Here, a hunger striker is taken to hospital.
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A man is consoled after seeing the tents of hunger protestors destroyed by a self-identified group supporting Lebanese government Speaker and Amal party leader Nabih Berri. After a series of pledges by the government – many of which remain unfulfilled – within a matter of months the protests had declined in size.
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Meanwhile, amid differences between the groups organising the protest, the demonstrations were once again the preserve of a few activists. Rubbish was eventually swept away from the public eye and new sites were found, but a viable long term solution remains a distant prospect.
