Post
Ecology network in English from BG? WHY NOT!
As continuation to the talk from my previous post about
GREENER BULGARIA = YOUR OPINION,
I decided to answer here to the question of Adela about the consistency of a creation of a green global network on English language with main local focus over Bulgaria.
Such networks` main attention will be local, however not the whole attention!
It must be in English, because:
1) Most of the BG youth is abroad. Such network will prove them that Bulgarians as nation develop also in their country and not only abroad and that they don`t need only the EU regulations telling what a EU member should to for a lighter future.
2) We could attract the international attention.
3) We`ll make easier contacts with international organizations like Greenpeace, PETA and WWF.
4) We could build far more bigger network from people from different countries.
5) We could actively participate in programms of different countries in the region or even far away.
6) I`ll try to change the Bulgarian mentality exactly by convincing the young people to develop by using the foreign language. As a result they will make further contacts with communities interested in the same matter from abroad. And of course they will communicate easier with eachother as persons, sharing experience and knowledge on one and the same language which would not be definetely their mother one`s.
7) Young pros from Bulgaria would be able to participate in benevolent and mobility programs easier. Those of them who won`t have the possibility to travel could be working together online! This will increase the Bulgarian believe in our own powers and creativity concerning public related programes.
8) This will show the bigger need of public attention in our country, because it will pressure the over the government. And why will happen that? Because I already have contacts with media from Armenia, Germany, Spain, USA and Canada and this will have its reflection in the media flow. If we add more 10 people like me, then just think about it!
9) International organizations with no branches here will see the need of creating such and this will rise the awareness over the problematic. Maybe one of us will be the next Greenpeace coordinator in BG?
10) On the same track - international green corporation would have a new market to sell and offer to implement their products. They will share with us their know-how and would show that being green brings green back if you create interesting and effective economicaly projects.
The Bulgarian green companies can easily communicate with the foreign ones if we create them the possibility to do that! Thanks to such companies and firms we could raise money for greening campaigns. Together.
These are only top reasons. Comment.
Comments
Lucy, I was not questioning your reasons, I was telling my view as an outsider.
I haven’t been to Bulgaria yet and except the couple of you who write on this platform & Yordanka who’s published several articles within the community, I don’t know the pressures, the problems and what you have to deal with in your daily life.
You know your country and what you aim through such a network and if you think English is the way to go, then go for it. You don’t need my or anybody else’s approval.
It`s support, not approval. If we think we can make people aware, we need to do it together. I wanted to post that alone to determine how serious I am if there are interested to join me. You are closer then you think
) We are like on 20 km from eachother figurative.
@Adela, you should pay a visit
As an outsider in Bulgaria and Moldova, I saw a big ned for more cooperation between NGO’s in neighbouring countries. For example the Bulgarian greens have good cooperation with several European organisations, but less with environmentalists in Romania, Serbia or Turkey, in spite of many similar problems.
@Lucy great initiative
Thanks Dani!
I try to contact few of them before 3-4 days. I have already a young supporter from the Red Cross, I talked to Vasilena, who was very interesting green blog http://www.nemertini.com/green/blog/ and also to Savlena interested in issues about the Black Sea: http://blogofsavlena.blogspot.com/2009/08/blog-post_15.html I contacted with greenwave of euroekofest.org
Moreover,
I asked the office of Greenpeace why here is no their branch:
Hello,
my name is Lucy Setian. I`m working in the area of media and management. Right now I`m finishing my education at the German faculty of TU-Sofia, computer systems and technologies. I`m taking part in Th!nk About it initative ot EJC and therefore came this question or idea to my mind.
I`d like to ask if there can be a possibility to be opened a Bulgarian branch of Greenpeace and how that can happen?
Dear Lucy,
thanks for your mail that has been forwarded to our office, because Greenpeace in Austria is in charge of Campaign work in Central-and Eastern Europe.
We appreciate your efforts to tackle the problems in your region very much!
Due to limited ressources our office concentrates on specific country strategies and on a step by step process by addressing environmental problems in the region of Central and Eastern Europe.
In the last three years we established offices in Hungary, Poland, are present in Romania and we support the Greenpeace office in Slovakia.
This means that we face a big challenge as well humanresource- as financially-wise.
As you might know, Greenpeace is active in Bulgaria regarding the opposition against Belene and the energy policy of “official” Bulgaria.
But at the moment there is no possibilitiy to support us there locally. This is a pity, but an unchangeable fact.
But we will be very happy, if we could contact you if the situation changes!
Meanwhile it would be great, if you support us by taking part in our online actions and by promoting the ideas and goals of Greenpeace.
Best regards
Heidrun Gröblinger
Greenpeace in Zentral- und Osteuropa
Fernkorngasse 10
1100 Wien
Thanks for the links
I will definitely keep an eye on them.
The Greenpeace answere was also interesting. I know that also Amnesty International has no local groups in Bulgaria, so there is lot to be done
@Lucy - Theoretically, we’re neighbors, practically there are 756 km between Sofia & Iasi. Which is a lot, if you take into account the quality of our roads.
‘It`s support, not approval. If we think we can make people aware, we need to do it together.’ I think we’re already doing this up to a point through our activity here on the platform & locally through volunteering.
Now,
a) I would not be trusted in an international community focusing on Bulgaria, as I don’t live there and only know basic stuff about the country.
b) An English network wouldn’t educate the mass population of Romania at all. As I’ve said many times before, many people here don’t know English. And the ones who do have already left.
but you have my support and if I can help, I’ll do it.
@Daniel - I had plans to spend a couple days in Bulgaria, but they changed. I hope I’ll make it next year.
P.S. Daniel, of what I know there is the Romanian-Bulgarian Transborder Collaboration program signed when both countries joined the EU in 2007.
One of the main goals of this long term common project is the environment. I will however try to find more info about specific projects & get back to you on this, as I don’t know exact details.
It is interesting to know what the others think too. After all, 2 other people are heading to COP15, they must have ideas how to continue their work on the topic after this event.
This is complicated, but possible. A challenge. The important point what I want to point out is not to lose the look to situation outside. If green-thinking gets to much on nerve it will not being successful.
Well, that`s true too. It depends what kind of public channels u use. Not only internet. The Bulgarian media have strong inpact if they want to.
What channels you plan on using?
Well, I have fellows on the journalism faculty in Sofia University, who are in the students`s tv Alma Mater. Also, I have connections with editors of lifestyle and technical magazines. Of course I count the dailies, maybe 2-3 of them. Most of the radio stations (I can think on 3-4 interested) would support such initiative. For the national TV stations I can`t tell, because they are more difficult
Maybe I forgot someone?
Perhaps you can include a Wiki in your project.
Lucy congratulations on your excellent job. I wish you the best. I wish you < high - higher - highest > .
Ioannis
Very sweet! Thanks!
There is no branch of Greenpeace in Bulgaria but there is a strong green movement in Bulgaria.
You can find more at http://forthenature.org/
Here you can find in Bulgarian some of their successes
http://forthenature.org/campaign/19
It will be good to devellop an English network for Bulgaria but I think that it is more important to devellop a network inside Bulgaria. The Bulgarian voters and citizens must press on Bulgarian politicians and choose people who will implement their promises.
The battle is inside Bulgaria not outside and we have to solve our problems.
I am sure that you will be welcome to help the Bulgarian organizations from “For the Nature”