Number of organisation
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We are on the Mission of Defending the Rivers of Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains)
Unidentified people have moved the Rudinjska River from its natural, centuries-old basin despite not having any proper permits to do so.
As the 100-year-old riverbed dried up, living organisms were left to die trapped in the mud. The local people rebelled upon learning that this meant the beginning of the construction of small hydropower plants (SHPP) since the Rudinjska River was on the Government list of rivers doomed to destruction for the sake of certain individuals’ dirty profits.
The responsible authorities remained quiet about this. They kept their eyes closed and told nothing but lies. However, the free people of Stara planina had no intention of keeping quiet. The fight to save the Rudinjska River began on 25 August 2018. The police were sent to quell this rebellion but the free people of Stara planina, armed with love and passion, and the conscientious policemen knew that nothing could stop the rivers. They will keep flowing forever. This is the story of our movement called Defend the Rivers of Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains) and our efforts to preserve and restore life.
We Are Running Out of Water!
Are you just going to stand and watch as others are fighting to preserve nature for the sake of your descendants?
Act preemptively – Are you just going to wait until it’s your river’s turn while we, people fighting on the field, are being persecuted, sued or fired? Are you next? Is your river next?
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Latest News
Second Joint Neighbor Work Action in New Belgrade Blocks 70 and 70a
Tokom jučerašnje akcije čišćenja korita naše predivne reke Save, povodom Svetskog dana reka, na samo jednom malom delu nasipa, od marine Vidra u bloku 70a do Gusara u bloku 70, vredne ruke naših najsavesnijih komšija sakupile su preko 150 kesa neorganskog otpada.Organski otpad (suvo granje i panjeve), koji može takođe
Opening of the Village House and Museum Pakleštica
U subotu 19. septembra 2020. godine u 17.00 časova otvaramo Seoski dom Pakleštica na Staroj planini. Transformacijom zapuštenog i neiskorišćenog objekta nekadašnje mlekare, stvoreno je novo mesto za okupljanje i odvijanje različitih tipova aktivnosti od značaja za život sela. Renoviranje objekata i otvaranje Seoskog doma su rezultat zajedničkog rada meštana
Look, Gari, no can do! Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta
„Novi Sad na vodi? Vidi, gari, ne može!“ poručeno je večeras na istoimenoj tribini održanoj na prostoru prekoputa brodogradilišta kojoj je prisustvovalo više stotina Novosađana. “Treba stati na crtu svakome ko svaki dan skrnavi naše reke i prirodu. Došli smo dotle da nam uzimaju vazduh i truju zemlju. Struka i
Highlights
People of Balkan Mountains are Grateful to our Members
One thing we're particularly proud of is that we managed to reach all parts of Stara Planina, visited every household, talked to everybody, not only about SHPP problems, but also about challenges of living on Stara Planina in general. Defend the Rivers of Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains) movement would have never happened if people living on Balkan Mountains..
Don't Be Afraid to Change Things for the Better, Be Brave in Your Actions
A lot of our members, before joining our fight, did not believe in themselves, had no faith they could change something. Only when they felt that they could influence the community and people around them by their activism and fight for the right values, did they realize that an individual could actually make a difference.
Awake Yourself Ecologically; Educate Yourself and Your Surroundings about SHPP Harmfulness
wonder why is nature cleaner and why there is no garbage? Have you ever seen some small hydro power-plants and thought how well does it fit nature with all that concrete and pipes and hum? And where is the river that was flowing there now?
Visit The Balkan Mountains, Enjoy with Your Family
Haemus in one, and Rodope of Thrace Transform'd to mountains, fill'd the foremost place; Who claim'd the titles of the Gods above (Ovid, Metamorphoses) The Balkan Mountains – the backbone of The Balkan Peninsula by which the whole peninsula got its name, stretches from the Black Sea in the east...
Fight for River Defense as Excellent Extracurricular Activity
Most active members of the movement, as they look back at our work say, that the time they dedicated to the fight and defense of rivers of Balkan Mountains is the most profound in the last couple of years of their life. Some people think that they don’t have enough time or that they are spending time in vain. Others, though...
Make Them Proud, Stand Up against Lawlessness, It Is Possible
Milica Kocovic De Santo is an activist opposing the projects of SHPP in the heart of the protected area, Nature Park Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains), stretching between Serbia and Bulgaria. We're here to tell the story about water defense on the World Water Day. Central idea behind everything which modern economy doesn't tend to question, is the idea of growth model...
Despite numerous attempts, the movement has not been politicized. We are not affiliated with any political party nor do we support the work of any of them – neither the government nor the opposition. We want systems change so that citizens’ will and the laws are respected. All we want is for them to leave our rivers be!
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