Sustainable development and Macedonia

The civic sector should serve as a catalyser

In this issue the regular "Civic World" column focuses on the term "sustainable development". The opinions and attitudes regarding the process of familiarising the sustainable development in this area, as well as your recommendations on what is to be done in future are presented by representatives from the organizations Milieukontakt and Ecomission. You can also enter the Forum on the address www.graganskisvet.org.mk or www.civicworld.org.mk All you have to do is sign in with your full name and surname, stating the name of your organization, if member of any. 

"Where are we as a society in all that thing? what can be noticed at first glance is that there are too few quality initiatives in that direction. I don't see any essential cooperation between the key-actors: the government, the business-sector and the civic sector, that would result in some more visible results. In my opinion, it is a result of the insufficient knowledge of the modern trends, or some old-fashioned opinions on how we should develop ourselves, as well as the low level of awareness of a quality and safe environment. In one word, it's like we have no long-term vision. The government should set clear rules and standards that would be consistently met, regardless of the history of the parties concerned. The key role in this process will be given to the efficient judicial system. To the business community we will have to impose the opinion that there is something farther than their personal profit interests, which is the social interest. They will adjust to this situation soon if the previously mentioned government and the judicial system do their job consistently. Finally, the civic sector should ply the role of a catalyser, supporter of the processes) - Martin Martinoski, coordinator of the Working Group for Making the Local Elections Green, initiated by Milieukontakt oost - Europa.

(Without much understanding and vitality, the "world trend" is accepted out of sheer need and the first shy preparations for the long and unpredictable expedition are done. What has been done so far is on the level of general acceptance of the idea for sustainable development. In our country there is still no visible process of sustainable development. What can be detected nowadays with some more sensitive tools are certain ambient processes which (in correlation with many other of that kind) could contribute to the later initiation of the very process of sustainable development. As more important accessory (ambient) processes from that aspect I see the development of the civic sector and the adjustment of our legislation to the corresponding EU regulation." - Pero Bosevski - Ecomission.

 

K.B.