Let’s contribute to cleaner environment!
This was the motto of the regional forum of Civica Mobilitas for the Polog and Skopje region, held in the premises of the South East European University (SEEU) in Tetovo, on 25 October 2016. A total number of 62 representatives of civil society organizations, civic initiatives, media, and institutions talked about not only the pollution which is not a new news in both regions, but also how to find solutions for the polluted soil, water, and air.
Darko Spirovski from the Institute for Environment and Health at the South East Europe University, stressed that the pollution increases every day due to the start of heating season. “According to the last measurements, the presence of PM 10 particles in the air already reaches 160 micrograms on cubic meter, which is three times above the permissible limit”, he said, and reminded that last winter, very often the presence of PM 10 particles was even 20 times above the permissible limit. “Tetovo needs more measuring stations that are mobile, instead of the existing one. They will provide more clear picture about the level of air pollution and about the areas where it is most present”.
Blaze Josifovski from the Association for Clean Environment “Let’s do it Macedonia” from Skopje talked about the concept of ”zero waste”. “We are constantly cleaning the waste found in inappropriate places in the surroundings, we raise the awareness of the citizens for proper waste management”, he said, and added that in order to solve this problem, there is a need for joint work of all stakeholders.
“The functioning of the legal state is the most important for the solution of the problem“, Arianit Dzaferi from the movement Еco Guerrilla from Tetovo, said. “In a country where the law is not complied with, there will be also factories which pollute, there will be dump sites in the towns and mayors who are not concerned about it at all, there will be towns without public transport, and the waste will be thrown everywhere”, he added. Dzaferi reminded that on 1 November ended the deadline for the installation of filters in “Jugohrom”, and if they do not install them the factory should be closed.
Suncica Gurcinovska from the Initiative for Civic Integration from Gostivar stressed that we should start to inform the citizens about environment protection and raise their awareness from an early age.
The participants have agreed:
- To prepare a manifesto for communication with all political parties for the upcoming parliamentary elections which will serve as a roadmap for the political parties while they define their programs in the area of environment, and then, as an activity, to be also implemented for the upcoming local elections.
- To analyze the programs of the political parties in regard to offered solutions for environment protection;
- To develop a short draft policy for environment protection, which will address the issues of air pollution, waste management, and urban planning and development.
- To carry out actions for environment protection and awareness raising of the citizens.
The regional forum is organized by Civica Mobilitas and Eco Guerrilla from Tetovo, and in cooperation with the Center for Education and Development from Tearce; Egalite from Kamenjane, Bogovinje; Association for Democratic Initiatives from Gostivar; Women’s Forum from Tetovo; Mesecina from Gostivar, LGBT United from Tetovo, and Let’s do it Macedonia from Skopje.
