Milieukontakt Oost- Europa

Campaign for making the local elections green

On 16 and 17 July 2004, on the initiative of the independent Dutch foundation Milieukontakt Oost - Europa, the initial meeting of the environmental organizations working on a non-party public campaign for making this autumn's local elections green took place. The campaign's goal is to impose local environmental problems to the political agenda of the candidates for mayors and consultants in the towns where the organizations are active. The meeting was attended by representatives from: Proaktiva - Skopje, Eko - Svest - Skopje, JLEC Erina - Skopje, Spresa - Tetovo, IPO Krste Jon - Struga, Biosfera - Bitola, Eko-Izvor - Bitola, EA Planetum - Strumica, EA Brica - Berovo and EA Kladenec - Pehcevo, as well as representatives from the campaign's initiator - Milieukontakt oost Europa, the Working Group for Making the Local Elections Green (WGLEG) whose function is also that of a national coordinator of all local campaigns, and representatives from the network of independent consultants KOCKA, who will guide the environmental organizations in the process of preparation of their local campaigns. The selection of organizations involved in this campaign was made by representatives from Milieukontakt oost Europa, WGLEG and KOCKA, and on the basis of the submitted campaign concepts within the competition announced by Milieukontakt oost Europa.

The meeting was used for agreeing on the basic principles for networking of the organizations involved, as well as on the precondition for equal and unbiased approach to all candidates for mayors and consultants. The organizations agreed to prepare common materials with a unique logo, slogan and central message of the campaign. It is believed that this campaign will have a greater influence, especially in the municipalities where it will be directly implemented. Moreover, an indirect influence is also expected in the other municipalities.

 

M.Martinoski