Time needs action!

Dritan Ziu

21 July 2005

An interview with Lavdosh Ferruni, Executive Director of Organic Agricultural Association and President of the Ecomovement Group.

How was this group of the most active environmental organisations created?

Lavdosh Ferruni

The failures of the governance in Albania over the past several years could not stop the degradation of the environment. The negative impacts on the environment as a consequence of the economical activities that do not consider the sustainable development, are taken into consideration much later, sometimes decades after the fact. Insane or corrupted governors, with or without conscience, have ignored the environmental costs of different affairs for the sake of the momentous profit, stimulated by hefty bribes. Obviously, the environmentalists could not stay silent when faced with such a situation. Their reactions came out freely. The initial idea was to enhance their voice through a newspaper of the environmental organisations that was going to be not only informative, but also critical for the environmental problems. Anyways, soon we realized that the newspaper, even thought its origins were rooted in a strongly critical aspect, was not enough. These times need action! I personally think that the engagement of Eco-movement in actions like the protests against the introduction of GMO in Albania, against the �import� of garbage from Italy and the protests for the protection of the Vlora Bay from the pollution of the Power plants and the oil-pipe AMBO, marks the entry of the Albanian environmental movement onto a whole new level of play.

Which activities of the group would you consider the most important?
The most important activity of EcoMovement is certainly the action to stop the environmental catastrophe that threatens the Vlora Bay and its inhabitants. Ecomovement started a public and institutional reaction in the protection of the Vlora Bay, in February of this year, through an open letter to the World Bank and other important institutions inside Albania and abroad, action wich was joined later by other NGOs like MJAFT, Albanian Youth Council (KRSH), Co-plan etc. Later, Ecomovement was present in the establishment of a strategy for the protection of the Vlora Bay, being actively present in the first protest organised in Vlora city.

Which was the most difficult moment for the group?
Ecomovement has just started. These are only the beginning stages. We still cannot speak about difficult moments. I believe that it will be successful in its mission. Any debate that takes place inside the group shows that there is reaction. There is no doubt that this reaction will produce a product that will serve the purposes of environmental protection in Albania.

How do you see the future of this group? What would be the advice that you can give to this group for the future?
Ecomovement has appeared after a series of failures of various forums. It seems, however, that there is a need for the lone and individual voices of environmentalists to unite and to transform into a real force to face the �the barbarians in ties�.

I would not pretense that I could give advise to the group. I will dedicate my physical and mental energies to Ecomovement, to really contribute in making this group become an important factor in contemporary Albanian society.