Stripping down to drive home a message

Dubai: Environmental activists in Beirut have found a unique way to create awareness and raise funds for Arab youths to go to the climate change summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, beginning on Monday.

Ali Fakhri, along with two other activists, stripped down to their underpants and ran on the busy streets of Beirut with commercial logos and messages painted on their bodies highlighting the plight of global warming and its effects on mankind.

"We wanted to gather funds for Arab youths to go to Copenhagen and participate in the most important negotiations to save the earth from the impact of climate change, unfortunately no one provided funds and there was not other way to make this possible, except this approach," said Fakhri in a e-mail to Gulf News.

When asked whether these bizarre acts really create awareness, Fakhri, said: "Yes of course. When you do something like this that shocks people, definitely people will be eager to know more about the issue and its urgency."

So far the activists have managed to collect $1,175 (Dh4,312). Though the amount is a ripple in the pond, Fakhri is optimistic. He said: "The run was not about money. It was about a cause. We ran for the survival of our planet, we ran to raise our voices high and defend our right to reach an ambitious, fair and bidding treaty coming out in Copenhagen."