BASIC FACTS ABOUT
THE ECOLOGICAL MOVEMENT OF THE CITY OF NOVI SAD
 The
Ecological Movement of the city of Novi Sad was established on 21 April
1990 as an association of citizens gathered around a program of environmental
protection and improvement and the protection and affirmation of the cultural
heritage. It is a non-political, non-government and non-profit organization.
The membership is dual: individual, from kindergartners to academicians,
and collective - kindergartens, elementary schools, high schools, faculties
and their institutes, scientific, cultural and sport clubs, associations,
private and government companies. The Movement gathers over 10,000 individual
members and over 150 collective members. Annual activities of the Movement
are subsidized the annual fees and voluntary activities of the membership.
The members pursue their activities according to their own interest, vocation
or affinity. Most of them are volunteers, with the exception of the fully
employed and part-time staff. The fully employed staff includes a technical
secretary, an organizer of publishing and an organizer of international
events; the part-time staff includes:
- leader of the puppet workshop,
- leader of the ethno-ecological workshop,
- leader of Eco-legal protection,
- leader of cultural activities,
- associate for graphic design,
- two assistants helping the President in the daily duties.
The Ecological Movement of the city of Novi Sad is headed by President
of the Assembly of the Movement and the President as the executive organ
of the Assembly. The latter also has one Vice-President.
According to the internal regulation, the President may be fully or part-time
employed, depending on the financial capabilities of the Movement. Presently,
the President is a volunteer.
The activity of the Ecological Movement proceeds through the following
sections:
- Section of retired university professors and researchers,
- Educational section,
- Publishing and design section,
- Eco-art section, organizer of cultural events,
- Photo and video section,
- Radio amateurs section,
- Divers sections,
- Nautical section,
- Section for animal protection,
- Humanitarian section,
- Eco-patrol,
- Eco-legal protection
- Puppet workshop,
- Ethno-ecological workshop.
The Ecological Movement of the city of Novi Sad has artists under contract,
graduate and post-graduate students on fellowship. It is the only ecological
organization in Yugoslavia to have a representative in the local parliament
in the last three multiparty elections.
Taking an active part in the work of the local parliament, which deals
exclusively with communal and ecological issues, The Ecological Movement
not only increased its impact on the public awareness but also practically
realized that part of Agenda 21 that deals with the participation of the
public in the process of decision-making regarding environmental issues.
At the level of the local parliament, the Ecological Movement, frequently
opposing the opinions of the regime and various interest groups, successfully
defended authentic interests of the citizens as expressed at round tables,
public hearings and meetings.
Following the conclusions of Eco-Conference '95 on Environmental Protection
in Urban and Suburban Areas, the Ecological Movement established Eco-legal
protection service for environmental protection of citizens. This was a
practical realization of Agenda 21 dealing with judicial transparency regarding
environmental issues.
The telephone of the Ecological Movement [ (+38121) 529-096 ] is available to
all citizens 24 hours a day, seven days in the week. All reports dealing
with environmental violations are registered and classified. After that,
lawyers hired by the Ecological Movement start court proceedings on behalf
of the affected citizens, at the expense of the Ecological Movement.
The Ecological Movement has also realized Chapter 3 of Agenda 21 regarding
the availability of information on environmental quality and protection
by establishing the institution of representatives' questions in the local
parliament.
The strategic decision of the Ecological Movement to compete for a place
(and influence) in the local parliament, questioned so intensively at the
beginning, has been fully justified.
The Ecological Movement has developed an extensive international activity
by organizing various international gatherings dealing with environmental
protection.
Eco-Conference on Environmental Protection in Urban and Suburban Areas,
with international participation, is held biennially from 1995.
Conference of Cities on the functioning of the communal economy, Novi Sad
'96, showed a definite possibility for local organizations to help finding
most adequate technological solutions for the communal companies dealing
with water supply, waste water removal, sanitation, green areas and public
transportation.
Organizing these scientific and technical meetings, the Ecological Movement
has established lasting contacts with ecologists from a number of countries
in and outside Europe. On invitation, the Ecological Movement has delegated
its members to participate in international meetings, workshops and camps.
It is evident that, as the Movement approaches its tenth anniversary, it
has grown to be a significant institution for local (and wider) ecological
(and educational) activities, a modern (alternative) and influential organization
for environmental protection and improvement and the preservation and affirmation
of the spiritual heritage.
The current standing of the Ecological Movement is a solid basis for a
continued domestic and international cooperation on ecological issues,
free of unnecessary politicization and immune to attempts to be discredited.
The activities of the Ecological Movement are financed from several sources:
- membership fees of the collective members of the Ecological Movement,
- donators and sponsors, and
- budget of the city of Novi Sad (when different interest groups do not
take the Movement off the budget, trying to discipline it or restrain its
influence)
In 1999, the Ecological Movement established a company for production,
representation and marketing of ecological products and technologies, "Eco-System
NS 1990" D.O.O. Novi Sad. The company includes Eco-Tours Agency, for
the promotion of the spiritual heritage and natural relics, and Eco-Cooperative,
for production of healthy food.
The company, with its qualified staff, is expected to help its founder,
the Ecological Movement, gain financial independence needed for further
diversification of its activities.
President
Nikola Aleksic
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