Campaigning for a greener Kosovo
Though non-governmental organizations in Kosovo find increasing public support for environmental issues, there has been no radical changes in the way people, businesses, and government institutions treat nature.
More than bread and butter
"Add filters to the chimneys of Obilic or shut down the power plant", was the request sent two years ago to Bernard Kouchner, the then United Nations Special Representative in Kosovo. Young Ecologists, a Pristina-based organization, was bold in highlighting environmental issues at a time where basic existential needs still had to be addressed.
"We know that the Obilic power plant is the worst polluter in the province. If we cannot remedy its problems, we might as well close shop and wave goodbye to the beauty of Kosovo," says Guri Shkodra, founder and president of Young Ecologists.
The political map of Kosovo is not "green" enough, and politicians are still too concerned about bread and butter issues, say the Young Ecologists.
OSCE role
Supporting the development of civil society is a core component of the OSCE Mission to Kosovo's mandate. The Democratization department of the Mission has established support centres to help NGOs play an active role in the development of a democratic and pluralistic Kosovo. Young Ecologists was one of the first organizations to receive guidance and support from the Mission.
"The OSCE encouraged us to continue our work after the war. Of course we had support from the Kosovo Joint Interim Administration (JIAS) Department of Environment, too, but that was only moral support," states Shkodra.
Young Ecologists now numbers fifty members, half of which Guri Shkodra calls activists.
Individual responsibility
"Young Ecologists was founded by a group of secondary school students, but the organization is open to everybody, who wants to make a difference," says Guri Shkodra.
He also underlines the fact that taking care of Kosovo is not just about the Obilic power plant or other polluters. It is very much an issue for each and every one of us.
"Unless we want the world to think that the main agricultural product grown on our fields is plastic bags, we all should start taking good care of our garbage."