People: Biljana Stevanovska

I would change the low environmental awareness in Macedonia

Professional experience: As a biochemical engineer, I am professionally engaged designing programmes for environmental protection in several national and foreign institutions. 

Engagement in the civil sector: I have been a member of the Environmental Association “Opstanok” since 1991; I was Secretary General of the Macedonian Ecologists’ Movement, and since 1998, I have been a director of ORT – association for information, training and sustainable development. I am an associate of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions for Traffic in Macedonia and I used to be a member of the MCIC’ s First Assembly and the elections’ commission.  

Hobbies and Interests: Skiing provides me with energy and joy, although I don’t do it much in the last two years because of the lack of snow. I have skied since I was four in the ski-centers in Macedonia.  

Toughest decision: I cannot choose one.  

Ambitions: A successful manager. MA title.  

In her free time she reads: Fashion magazines and professional literature. 

Where does she go in her free time: I visit my friends or we go together in cafes. When we have a lot to talk about, we go to the City Park. 

At weekends: If I am not at work (which is usually the case), I relax at home or clean my room.  

Which national problem does she find especially important and why? The low awareness and not having and sense for caring about the community which is a general problem of all people in Macedonia. It is obstacle for development. It can be seen all around, starting from the impolite pushes at the check-outs in supermarkets, not queuing at the counters, chaotic driving to throwing the trash from ones balconies. It can be seen inside the companies, where the employed people are not interested in the development, but in pure exploitation of the resources, while the managers lack orientation towards quality and higher standards. 

Which global problem does she find especially important and why? The enormous pollution is a problem that burdens the whole humankind, although nobody wants to accept that. Despite the fact that some world research centers alarm, most of the people close their eyes when faced with the bad life they have.  

What would she change in Macedonia and the world? The low environmental awareness, the impulse to harm those who do well, the discrepancy between the rich countries and those who suffer for food.  

Advice/message: Love yourself, show understanding for other people’s  needs, help the others, learn for your own perfection as much as you can and as often as you can.  

I could never: So far, there has been nothing I was not able to do. We will see what happens in future.