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
During the yesterday's Sava river bed cleansing action, inspired by the World Rivers Day, performed on only one small part of the embankment, from the Vidra marine in Block 70a to the Pirate raft in Block 70, diligent hands of our most conscientious neigbours have collected more than 150 bags of non-organic waste. Organic waste (dry branches and logs)...
Opening of the Village House and Museum Pakleštica
On Saturday, 19 September 2020, at 5 p.m. we are opening the Village House Pakleštica on Stara planina. By transforming a dilapidated and unused facility of a former dairy house, a new place was created for organizing meetups and various activities important for the village's life. Refurbishing of facilities and opening of the Village House are the result of joint work of...
Look, Gari, No Can Do! Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta
"Novi Sad Waterfront? Look, Gari, not going to happen!" was a message sent tonight from a public discussion held right across the shipyard, which several hundreds of Novosadians have visited. “We should stand on a line to anyone who desecrates our rivers and nature on a daily basis. We've reached the point when they take away the air from us and poison the soil. Expertise and...
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
How many times while abroad in nature you wonder why is nature cleaner and why there is no garbage? Have you ever seen any small hydro power-plant and thought how well it fits in nature with all that concrete and pipes and hum? And where is the river that was flowing there now? Most of...
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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