In the period from October 24 to 26 of this year, a gathering of activists was held in Bijeljina and
activists united in the regional alliance “Defend the rivers of the Balkans” which brings together
organizations and movements that oppose harmful projects on our rivers, forests,
pastures and in our homelands.
In the wake of increasingly intense attacks by large foreign mining companies, both from the East and the West, on
the natural resources of the region, primarily Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, are of key importance
importance of the joint and solidary action of activists and the local population in
to fight against the plans that marked the Balkans as a “sacrifice zone” of both mining corporations,
as well as the objectives of the EU green transition.
As the global demand for lithium, cobalt and other so-called critical minerals grow,
the countries of the Balkans found themselves on the map of interests of large mining and energy corporations.
The European Union sees us as “strategic partners” in the energy transition, but the reality is that
the field looks completely different. A system subordinated to domestic and foreign powers, deeply
entrenched corruption, non-transparent concessions and a complete absence of public participation create
space for brutal exploitation of both nature and people, is fertile ground for the realization of projects that
they generally have neither ecological nor social nor economic justification for our region.
Azra Berbić from the Foundation Studio for Social Changes – ACT and Žaklina Živković from Polekol ,
on that occasion, they pointed out that the local population should decide in which direction they will go
local communities. “We believe that it is disastrous to talk about the development of the economy in this direction
accepting the role of a modern, mining colony, whereby foreign mining corporations will
taking almost the entire profit, and leaving us a destroyed environment. We definitely want to
to say that there is no place for such projects here in the Balkans. We are fighting and we will fight yes
life in our homelands, rivers, mountains, forests and on our arable land be sustainable,
dignified and for the benefit of the generations to come”, they said.
The alliance “Defend the rivers of the Balkans” decided to change its name to “Defend nature”.
of the Balkans”, because it has grown into an alliance that brings together guardians of both rivers and forests, homelands
and the entire nature of the region. With this act, he opens a new chapter for a struggle that is not alone
prevention, but sincere and united advocacy for a safe and dignified future and
harmony between man and nature.
New members from the region joined the alliance: “Rzavljani”, “Ne damo vode Mionica” and Pokret
“Let’s defend the forests of Fruška Gora” from Serbia, the “Green National Guard” movement from the North
Macedonia, and the “Una” Serb Association from Croatia.
From the “Green National Guard” movement, they emphasize the motive behind their joining the Alliance
unification and strengthening of the regional struggle for nature. “”Protection of nature is a noble cause
because of which we connected and gathered here in Bijelina. We are extremely glad that we have become
part of the Alliance Let’s defend the rivers (nature) of the Balkans and that we can be an example of solidarity in the struggles
against a common enemy”, said Ema Velichkovska.
The hosts of this year’s gathering of the alliance “Let’s defend the nature of the Balkans” are local
associations “Eko put”, “Guardians of Majevica” and Karton Revolucija, which they have been leading in recent years
intensive fight against lithium mining in this part of northeastern BiH. Instead of
the Majevica mountain will be placed under protection, because it is an extremely valuable natural and
cultural and historical area, there are plans to realize a mining project that would
could seriously and permanently threaten people’s health and disrupt the ecological balance.
“From the very beginning of the fight, against the opening of the lithium mine on Majevica, we have been an emphasis
placed on the unity between people, communities and nature. The area of Mount Majevica is dense
inhabited, includes eight municipalities and cities and the Brčko District. All these communities would be
endangered if the planned mining activities in this area were to be realized. Strategically
directions of development of the Majevica region are aimed at the development of tourism, agriculture and others
economic branches that do not exploit nature and people, and it should remain that way”, pointed out Snezana
Jagodić Vujić, president of the association “Eco put” Bijeljina.
With the message that the defense of natural resources knows no borders, the gathering of this regional
of the Alliance ended with a visit to the Parliament of the Alliance of Environmental Organizations of Serbia, which
held in Gornji Nedeljice , organized by the “Ne damo Jadar” movement, at which
attended by several hundred activists and organizations and movements from all over Serbia and
regions.
A message was sent from the SEOS Parliament that the fight for the defense of nature is shared by all people
of the Balkans who believe that preserving and protecting nature is the only sure way to ensure it
a dignified and safe life for us now and for all future generations.
“The Alliance of Environmental Organizations of Serbia began with unity. What brought us together was
trouble, but it doesn’t have to be like that, because what kept us together was a natural closeness and now we’re not
more united only around the trouble, than around the idea of growth, not only to prevent poisoning but
we learned and are learning how to develop life. Therefore, we are not only against how they accuse us, but
we are also for it”, noted Jevđenje Julijan Dimitrijević from SEOS.
From this gathering, the Association sent an invitation to all environmental organizations in the region,
academic and scientific community, cultural workers and workers and all people, that
join this initiative so that we can lead even more successfully, en masse, in solidarity and decisively
environmental struggles. The gathered representatives of the members of the association “Defend the r(ij)eke”.
of the Balkans” agree that the fight against the exploitation of nature and people through the so-called mining
of critical mineral raw materials becomes the biggest issue of social and social and class justice in
our societies.
Photos: Svjetlana Panic