FORUM

Could we go on by ourselves?

This month at the "Civic World" Forum, we ask a very interesting and popular question, important for the future of the civil society in Macedonia. We ask this question mostly for the civic associations' members - could we go on by ourselves? Can we survive without the foreign donators' support, who have been our most important supporters for some time, and who already show a tendency of reduced work in our region? Did we acquire enough knowledge and skills in the past years to provide self-sustainability, financial assets and what is most important - to continue working as activists, on voluntary or creative basis?
We ask you to send your answers to the "Civic World" Forum on the web-sites: www.graganskisvet.org.mk  or www.civicworld.org.mk . under your full name and surname, and the name of your organization (if member of any).
Here are the opinions of several people working in the civic organizations in Macedonia:

Chris Van de Sanden, "Millieukontakt Oost Europa":
My general opinion on this question is that the perspective of donators leaving the region can eventually result in something that we call "blessing in disguise". It means that besides all problems that it would lead to, eventually this situation would be a blessing. I think that it will force the civic associations to concentrate on the reasons of their existence. I believe that the associations that are truly convinced in and dedicated to their mission and their work will still be able to attract attention and provide everything they need for their activities.

Jasna Soptrajanova - Vrteva, "Junona (female youth force)"
It is natural that some activities are realized without money. It is also natural that people, who cannot donate money, donate their time, knowledge and talents. It is high time to introduce that concept of activism and volunteering (and by improving the general economic condition, it should only strengthen itself). Other possibilities will be created with the readiness of the ministries (for example, the Ministry of Culture) and the local government to assign part of their duties to the NGOs. Perhaps the business will show a greater interest, and the country will help by reducing the taxes. Some NGOs will find other sources of self-financing or for direct approach to international mechanisms. Other NGOs will probably disappear and that would be the most useful thing they have done, since they were to busy travelling to Budapest and Strasbourg and couldn't find time to contribute to their community.

From the last month's debate

Would you select the home waste? 

In the month that followed the International Planet Earth Day (22 April), and came before the World Environmental Day (5 June), we asked the question which directly refers to the civic awareness of the environment: are you ready to select the home waste if the country or the business sector raises initiatives for recycling different types of waste? In Skopje, we are witnessing the positive experience from the paper selection by citizens, economic subjects and different organizations and institutions, initiated by AD "Komuna", which collects and recycles old paper. Are you ready to do the same with the glass and plastic bottles, the cans, textile waste, even organic waste, if somebody agrees to collect it from your homes or work places, in order to reduce the waste that pollutes our environment, and efficiently use it (recycle it) for new production? Are you ready to cooperate for the common interests - cleaner environment, less rubbish and more possibilities for development, employment, and encouraging the production? This is how some people active in the civic sector reflect upon this issue:

Natasha Stojkovska, ISC:
Yes, immediately! I would not only select my home waste, but I would also encourage and support actions in my building or in the neighbourhood. I would support people who need more time to adjust, I would talk to them. At the same time, I would do some propaganda for actions for reducing the waste in general, following the example of our grandparents who used other materials, and not plastic. We should look back and recycle the packaging, not throw it all the time. Let us return to the ways that we abandoned, but still exist in our memory.

Zarko Koneski, ISC:
I already select two types of waste at home - at my house, we separate and reuse paper, and we also select the organic waste, making compost of it. If some enterprise (or any other) shows initiative for organized collection and recycling of the home waste, I would certainly select plastic, glass and metal as well.