A brief description of The Ecological Movement of the City of Novi Sad

The Ecological Movement of Novi Sad is a progressive and unique organization, not only as a Serbian, but as a European environmental scene activist. The reason for this uniqueness is perhaps the fact that it was a pioneer in its organizational and activity concept.

The Ecological Movement of the City of Novi Sad was founded on 21st  April 1990 at the time of great political turmoil, fall apart of the political system and the country itself. This makes it one of the oldest non-governmental environmental organizations to be founded in former Yugoslavia, i.e. Serbia.

From the very beginning, it had set out to represent the interests of the citizens of Novi Sad in the local parliament –where decisions were being made affecting the urban environment and consequently the quality of life of its inhabitants.

The representative of the Ecological Movement - as a citizens’ association (non-political) candidate - was voted in for four consecutive times into the Novi Sad local parliament at the time of the introduction of the multi party system in Serbia. Many other eco organisations hesitate to address the issues of importance as that would create possible conflicts with people in charge.

The Ecological Movement of the City of Novi Sad established the kind of membership that has the equal importance regardless of professional status. By doing so the Movement allowed creativity among its members. The collective membership was established for kindergartens, elementary and high schools, Universities, sport clubs, NGO-s, and so on. What was achieved by this is that the public became more aware and had an opportunity to get involved.

The Ecological Movement has a very broad range of members. All have an equal say and make their own individual contributions to the Movement. An equal distance is taken from all political parties.

In twenty years The Ecological Movement of the City of Novi Sad has achieved the world renowned results, being active even during the unfortunate arm conflict and civil unrest, during the time of sanctions, inflation, and many changes in political leadership.

           The ’openness’ of the Ecological Movement lead to the complexity in the range of its activities. Changing circumstances and different issues that were arising, dictated the art of activities within the organizations’programme orientation. For the past two decades the following organizational structures resulted from the Ecological Movement:

-          Retired university professors and scientists group

-          Education and Eco-art group

-          Publishing – grafic design group

-          Photo/Video working group

-          Radio-amatures group

-          Nautical club and diving club

-          Humanitarian work group with the unique blood donors „Club 100“ ;the members of which have donated blood more that 100 times

-          Eco-patrole and Eco legal aid (established in 1995.)

Since its founding,  the Ecological Movement has sponsored three generations of scholars and over ten postgraduates, comissioned artists and its ambasadors of good will, representing it internationally. Members of the Ecological Movement have been attending scientific events, workshops and eco-camps worldwide.

Another aspect which distinguishes the Ecological Movement is the practical application of the three key Agenda 21 Declaration guidelines of the international Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, which became the AARHUS Convention in 1996. The Ecological Movement practically applied the guidelines on environmental protection on the local level back in 1990 by involving the citizens of Novi Sad in the work of the local parliament through their representative.

In 1995 the Ecological Movement founded the Eco Legal Aid. Lawyers were appointed to represent the interests of citizens and legal proceedings initiated in cases of environmental and health hazards.

By organizing numerous conferences on urban environmental protection and the functioning of communal services, the Movement helped improve the work of local communities particularly in spheres of water supply, disposal and processing of waste waters, waste management, public transport and protection and urban green areas.

A testimony to these endeavours are over 250 public seminars, 150 exhibitions, classical music concerts, theatre performances, book and technology presentations, which were organized throughout Serbia.

Different events have been held under the patronage of the Ecological Movement, such as seminars at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and the seminar on intensive fish farming and environmental protection at the Novi Sad University Department of Biology. The Movement was also three times patron of the Academy of Medical Sciences scientific seminars and itself organized different scientific events, such as two symposiums on natural, cultural and spiritual heritage of Fruška Gora (National Park near Novi Sad and the only mountain in Vojvodina, northern province of Serbia).

Among the major results achieved are the following:

1996:  Eco Movement blocked proposals on the construction of fast train tracks in Fruška gora and the relocation of the city waste depot to the same location.

2004: the Movement uncovered and stopped plans to turn the military tunnels in Fruška gora into European nuclear waste dumping ground.

1998: the Movement prevented the sale and demolition of Petrovaradinska Tvrđava (18^th century fortress on the southern Danube bank in Novi Sad) and the old military hospital for purposes of building an international casino.

The Eco Movement helped save two main parks in Novi Sad from the construction mafia and prevent their turning into prime location blocks of flats.

In 2008, the Movement stopped the opening of a toxic waste processing plant, which had been illegally built on the regional water supply reservoir.

The crown of its activities is however organizing of the international scientific Eco-Conference^® which has been held annually in Novi Sad since 1995. In the odd years the Eco-Conference^® subject is environmental protection of urban and suburban settlements and in even years the Eco-Conference^® focuses on the subject of safe food. Both subjects are divided into 15 basic theme categories, so as to encompass all the aspects of environmental protection and food safety.

The co-organizers of the Eco-Conference^® are the following institutions:

     -   Academy of Science and Art of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia

-         University of Novi Sad and University of Belgrade

-         International Independent Ecology and Politicology University in Moscow

-         Russian State Agricultural University – «K.A.Timiryazev»-MTAA    
               in Moscow

-         Legambiente – National Environmental Organization of Italy

-         Institute for Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad

-         Institute for Food Technology in Novi Sad

Matica srpska - the oldest Serbian cultural institution (founded in 1826) is the traditional patron of the Eco-Conference^®. Since 2007 the Eco-Conference^® has also received the patronage of the two United Nations organizations: UNESCO and UNFAO.

The result of the 15 Eco-Conference^® held to date are over 1700 scientific papers and expert presentations written by over 7000 scientific experts from all over the globe and published as a whole on over 17.000 pages of thematic volumes.

The results achieved by the Ecological Movement might not seem as significant in a politically stable and economically developed country, where similar environmental organizations enjoy reliable and sufficient financial support. The Ecological Movement on the other hand, had to solely rely on its volunteers, sponsors and individual donations during difficult times of financial crisis, whilst being in opposition with different interest groups and powerful individuals. The entire period since the founding of the Ecological Movement will remain remembered as the most difficult period in Serbian history. It was a period of political collapse, multiple fall-apart of the country, civil war, international embargo, high inflation, NATO bombardment and violent change of the political system.

During the last decade the Ecological movement has been exposed to complete media and financial blockade by the influential and corrupt individuals.

 The work that the Ecological Movement engaged in, required exceptional dedication and bravery, especially in situations of political confrontation and interest group conflict, in which it endeavoured to reconcile different interests in order to address existential human needs for a healthier environment and improved quality of living. The Ecological Movement always remained outside the domain of political parties’ spheres of interest.