It all started during the July 2006 war on Lebanon, when agroup of veteran and skilled activists from different countries came togetherto work on the worst environmental disaster in the history of the EasternMediterranean. More than 10,000 tons of fuel oil spilled into the sea due tothe Israeli bombing of the Jiyyeh power plant South of Lebanon.
This group of independent activists, named the "Oil Spill WorkingGroup", became the main source of information on the issue for the media,NGOs and other stakeholders (www.oilspilllebanon.org). Soon after, the group startedrepresenting local Non-Profit organizations, which lead into cumbersomebureaucratic procedures and limitations that greatly hindered the group's work.
After the oil spill crisis was under control, the "Oil Spill WorkingGroup" realized that in Lebanon and around the world there are a hugenumber of passionate independent activists that have been trying to make adifference, but are unable to operate independently. Either they had to form anew organization or work under an existing organization-an undesirable optionfor the hands-on, passionate activist due to the bureaucratic hurdles. Whileestablishing a new organization requires a lot of time and effort, workingunder existing organizations could actually constrain the potential of certainindividuals.
Up till now, there is no organization or structure that allows activists tooperate to their full potential. And so IndyAct - 'the League ofIndependent Activists'-was created, a global league of independentenvironmental, social and cultural activists that support that seek to nurtureothers in order to achieve their goals.
ndyAct has already established local, regional and internationalcampaigns that are based on non-violent and innovative ideas to inspire therequired change. The organizations that IndyAct cooperates and partnerswith include highly respectable international networks and organizations. Thefirst reality environmental TV show hit Lebanon in March 2007, an educationalinitiative of IndyAct which has allowed us to show Lebanese how 'cool'supporting environmental, cultural and social initiatives can be.