Tuesday 26 November 2024 | 02:23

"We stand in solidarity with environmentalists”

26.07.2012  |  Society   |  Yulia Inysheva, EuroBelarus | Translated by Yauhenija Kamarova, EuroBelarus,  
"We stand in solidarity with environmentalists”

How did the Belarusian civil society representatives perceive the information about the detention of their colleagues? How can such a tough reaction against environmentalists be explained? Do public organizations’ representatives feel secured against...

How did the Belarusian civil society representatives perceive the information about the detention of their colleagues? How can such a tough reaction against environmentalists be explained? Do public organizations’ representatives feel secured against such actions of the authorities? Will they thereafter behave more cautiously in their social activities? With such questions the Information service of "EuroBelarus" referred to the civil society leaders.

Director of the Centre for European transformation Andrei Yahorau:

- I perceived with sorrow the report on the detention of my fellows, environmentalists.

The reaction of the authorities can be explained with the fact that the Belarusian Anti-nuclear Campaign activists have been directed against the nuclear power plant construction in Astravyets, and these actions are related to the arrival of dignitaries from the neighboring state. Traditionally, in such cases, they try in our country to prevent public activists from performing any kinds of actions.

Of course, nobody can feel secured against such actions. For me it's the violation of my personal space, the space of the Consortium "EuroBelarus" activities, where the CET enters. This is a pressure exerted on all of us.

We face challenges that we all must address, and we understand all the risks associated with it. And we will continue to do what we must do. In this situation, only the common solidarity and strengthening the civil society at the national level can solve private, individual issues. Any social activist will be subjected to the pressure as long as we do not change the situation in the country.

Activist of the Association "Green Network" Jaroslav Bekish:

- At first I perceived the report emotionally, then more philosophically. But how can we perceive the illegal detentions by people in civilian clothes! Only as lowdown acts; but such acts can be performed by a person, but in this case such totalitarian actions are performed by the state apparatus.

Such a reaction of the authorities is understandable. Medvedev came, and one of the items of the meeting agenda was the signing of the general contract on the nuclear power plant construction. And the guys have prepared purposeful appeals, regarding the point, - that the contract couldn’t be signed. This is a petition not on the dangers of the nuclear energy as such, but on the direct technical and legal violations related to the construction in Astravyets.

Anti-nuclear physicists wanted to convey to the message to the Russian leadership, and I think they’ve managed to do this. Their detention has given a resonance to the very appeal: after half an hour after the arrest, not only Belarusian, but also the foreign media - Polish, Lithuanian, Swedish, Danish – were reporting about it, with the text of the appeal enclosed.

I was not involved in preparation of the appeal draft, thus I find it hard to judge on how effective it is addressing the Belarusian and international authorities with such petitions. They are already aware of the violations. It would be naive to think that you will put them up to the truth. However, there is need to make such appeals in order to make the facts public. I think this message should be addressed to the Belarusians and Russians, the people, not the governments.

There is a limit to every kind of prudence. We, as a public organization, are defending public interest and the right of people to a healthy environment. If we act more cautiously in such circumstances, that will be equal to doing nothing at all. Apparently, the authorities are striving to achieve this goal. The matter was about an appeal - not about subversion, but the attempt of communication, which was severely suppressed. It is impossible to act more cautiously. We can either do nothing or act more aggressively.

Chairman of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Zhanna Litvina:

- Journalists carry out their professional duties, and every man makes his choice, whether to be cautious or not. Our environmentalists deserve the utmost respect for the fact that they’ve made a civil action. I think they were driven by the sense of citizenship, and thus all of us, journalists and members of other public organizations, should stand in solidarity with them.

Deputy leader of the campaign "Tell the truth!" Alexander Feduta:

- There are currently tough authorities’ reactions on everything, starting from teddy bears and ending with protests against the nuclear wastes disposal in Belarus. Therefore, from this point of view, nothing extraordinary has happened. It was also clear fact that the government would sooner or later press on any uncontrolled by it informal movement of people, including ecological one. If we remember, one of the objectives of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s visit was the final settlement of issues of the issues of the nuclear power plant construction in Belarus. Therefore, the authorities were afraid that they can get any visible protest from the opponents of this project.

No one can feel secured against accusation of swearing obscenities. We have seen the swearing Belarusian-speaking editor, although there are no foul words in the Belarusian language, as we know. We have seen the Professor of the European University at St. Petersburg, now we’ve got environmentalists swearing like troopers. It remains to expect that the authorities start arresting cats and poodles because their meowing and yapping will seem to someone similar to a threat or a swearing.

When I was charged in court under Article 342 for actions that resulted in gross violations of the public order, I promised that next time while encouraging people to participate in the revolution, I would specially ask them to walk only on sidewalks.

Director of the PA “Center for Social Innovations” Leonid Kalitenya:

- In the absence of a dialogue and mutual understanding between the civil society and the state power, even the slightest civil action causes a tough reaction. If the authorities need to demonstrate their opinion, all they need to do is just holing people. And holing takes place by using false testimonies on that someone was swearing obscenities. And this is a farce. The situation has gone beyond the acceptable.

Submission of an appeal is not a great civil action, not lying on the rails, not something violating the public order. And there are simply no other tools and methods of the authorities, except for holing people. It evidences of the poverty of their “offer”, of the defectiveness of strategies of interaction with their civil society.

Anyone who continues to work in public organizations understands all the risks and price to be paid if these risks will be materialized. But you must do what you must do. Herewith, the risks are just the circumstances of your activity. There are still problems that no one but us can solve. There are no insurances. The only insurance is our solidarity with other colleagues of the civil society corporation in Belarus and from other countries. That's all we have.

Other news section «Society»

What actually the State List of Historical and Cultural Values gives to Belarusan Heritage Sites?
What actually the State List of Historical and Cultural Values gives to Belarusan Heritage Sites?
The Belarus Committee of ICOMOS announces the collection of cases on the effectiveness of the State List of Historical and Cultural Values as a tool of the safeguarding the cultural monuments.
The right to heritage according to the standards of the Faro Convention: is it possible in Belarus?
The right to heritage according to the standards of the Faro Convention: is it possible in Belarus?
On March 27-28, the Belarus ICOMOS and the EuroBelarus held an online expert workshop on expanding opportunities for community participation in the governance of historical and cultural heritage.
“It is our big joint work”
“It is our big joint work”
It is impossible to change life in cities just in three years (the timeline of the “Agenda 50” campaign implementation). But changing the structure of relationships in local communities is possible.
The “Agenda 50” campaign was finalised by the Regional Development Forum
The “Agenda 50” campaign was finalised by the Regional Development Forum
The Forum was devoted not so much to the outputs as to the challenges and prospects after the creation and signing of local agendas.
Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool
Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool
To achieve changes, you need to be interested in them and stop pinning all hopes on the state.
“If a person cannot leave the apartment, he or she does not need an accessible Opera House”
“If a person cannot leave the apartment, he or she does not need an accessible Opera House”
In Stoubcy, they talked about universal design and conducted pilot monitoring of two urban sites accessibility.
Local agenda in Valożyn: mission accomplished
Local agenda in Valożyn: mission accomplished
"Specificity is different, but the priority is general." In Valożyn, a local strategy for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed.
How Ščučyn was proceeding towards the solution of problems of people with disabilities
How Ščučyn was proceeding towards the solution of problems of people with disabilities
The campaign "Agenda 50" was summed up in Ščučyn, and a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed there.
A program to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities was designed in Stolin
A program to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities was designed in Stolin
The regional center has become the second city in Belarus where the local plan for the implementation of the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed.
“Agenda 50” in Belarus: from strategies to implementation
“Agenda 50” in Belarus: from strategies to implementation
Representatives of the campaign “Agenda 50” from five pilot cities discussed achievements in creating local agendas for implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In Stoubcy, a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention was signed
In Stoubcy, a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention was signed
It is noteworthy that out of the five pilot cities, Stoubcy was the last to join the campaign “Agenda 50”, but the first one to complete the preparation of the local agenda.
The monitoring of accessibility was presented in Stolin
The monitoring of accessibility was presented in Stolin
On May 28, the city hosted a presentation of the results of the project "Equal to Equal" which was dedicated to monitoring the barrier-free environment in the city.
“They think if the legs don’t function, neither functions the head.”
“They think if the legs don’t function, neither functions the head.”
In Babruysk, wheelchair users are fighting discrimination.
The real work of the Convention depends on all interested communities and organizations
The real work of the Convention depends on all interested communities and organizations
What results has the campaign "Agenda 50" given, what helps to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the regions?
The Convention is a fight against fears, barriers and stigmata
The Convention is a fight against fears, barriers and stigmata
Experts in Valožyn have determined that the quality of people’s life depends on their awareness.
The Convention should become a "living tool”, rather than remaining just an ordinary document
The Convention should become a "living tool”, rather than remaining just an ordinary document
On March 3, members of the campaign "Agenda 50" from different Belarusian cities met in Minsk. The campaign is aimed at the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The main thing is one’s personal motivation for full active life (PHOTOS)
The main thing is one’s personal motivation for full active life (PHOTOS)
There are being implemented three projects under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities campaign in the city of Babruysk.
One man does not make a team, but united we are able to do a lot
One man does not make a team, but united we are able to do a lot
In Ščučyn, people with disabilities learned to be leaders and to advocate their interests.
Barrier-free environment – it is not a ramp, but a means of independence (PHOTOS)
Barrier-free environment – it is not a ramp, but a means of independence (PHOTOS)
In Stolin, social organizations and local authorities are implementing a project aimed at independent living of persons with disabilities, and creating local agenda for the district.
Polish experts: We say “equality” and you say “inclusion”
Polish experts: We say “equality” and you say “inclusion”
Will creation of local agendas be an effective tool in ensuring rights of persons with disabilities in Belarus, just as it was in Poland?
Gintautas Mažeikis: The relation of political field and arena in the framework of information war

In his report, philosopher Gintautas Mažeikis discusses several concepts that have been a part of the European social and philosophical thought for quite a time.

“It is our big joint work”

It is impossible to change life in cities just in three years (the timeline of the “Agenda 50” campaign implementation). But changing the structure of relationships in local communities is possible.

Shhh! Belarus Wants You to Think It’s Turning Over a New Leaf

Minsk’s muddled media clampdown could jeopardize warming of relations with the West.

Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool

To achieve changes, you need to be interested in them and stop pinning all hopes on the state.