“Brave women of Kruščica” receive EuroNatur Award 2019

++ EuroNatur Award goes to dedicated river conservationists from Bosnia-Herzegovina ++ Dam boom threatens the last wild rivers of our continent ++

Medina Zukan, Maida Bilal und Safija Ahmić (f.l.t.r.), the delegation of the „brave women of Kruščica“ at the EuroNatur-Awarding 2019.

© Gerald Jarausch

A picture of solidarity: The "brave women of Kruščica" guarded their beloved river round the clock.

© Andrew Burr

Radolfzell, Mainau Island. A delegation of the “Brave women of Kruščica” accepted the EuroNatur Award 2019 today on the island of Mainau on Lake Constance. The award honours the women’s extraordinary courage and perseverance in protecting their river.

For more than 500 days and nights a group of women from the village of Kruščica occupied a bridge over the river of the same name and thus averted the construction of two hydropower plants. Believing that women would not be attacked by the security forces, it was only the women from the village of Kruščica who blocked the bridge over their river from August 2017 to December 2018. “Neither police violence nor attempts at intimidation by the investor could make the courageous women give up defending their river – and for what a long period of time. I hold the courage and determination, stamina and solidarity of this community in high regard,” said EuroNatur President Christel Schroeder in her laudatory speech.

In late 2018, the competent court supported the objections against the planned hydropower plants in Kruščica and the women could finally leave the bridge. But the fight against the dam frenzy in the Balkans continues in many other places. For many civil society groups, the “Brave women of Kruščica” provide inspiration for their resistance.

 

Background information:
EuroNatur Award: By receiving the EuroNatur Award, the “Brave women of Kruščica” join a long row of esteemed personalities. Laureates of previous years include Jonathan Franzen, Dr. Luc Hoffmann, Dr. Mario F. Broggi, Gudrun Steinacker, and Roberto Epple. The EuroNatur Award is non-monetary. It shall honour outstanding commitments in the field of nature conservation. The EuroNatur Award 2016 was given to a delegation of the Kruščica women on 10 October 2019 at 5 p.m. on Mainau Island (Lake Constance).

Campaign to save the Balkan rivers: Between Slovenia and Albania, around 3,000 new hydropower plants are currently either planned or under construction. In order to oppose this tidal wave of destruction, nature conservation organisations EuroNatur and Riverwatch, together with local partners in the Balkans, launched the “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” campaign.

Please find further information and pictures in printable quality in the download section.

Press contact:
Christian Stielow, Mail: christian.stielow(at)euronatur.org, Tel: +49 (0)7732 92 72 15

How you can help

Donation

Future needs nature. EuroNatur cares for it. Please use your possibilities to help. With your donation you will make an effective contribution to a more livable environment.

Sustaining membership

EuroNatur focuses on long-term nature conservation projects instead of quick fixes. With your regular donations, you give us the planning security we need.

News

Urgent call to halt implementation of Odra Revitalisation Act

Construction will have devastating consequences on the Odra and surrounding areas. 51 projects aim to engineer the rivers, create artificial…

Skavica mega dam: Albanian court to scrutinise special law for U.S. contractor Bechtel

++ Constitutional complaint filed by NGOs accepted for trial ++ First milestone in fight against one of Europe’s largest reservoirs ++ Thousands of…

Growing opposition to Albanian airport

++ Bern Convention calls on Albania to stop airport construction near Narta Lagoon ++ Project in Vjosa Delta endangers thousands of migratory birds ++…

EU Commission targets the wolf

Ursula von der Leyen warns of allegedly "dangerous wolves" - nature conservation organisations criticise misleading statements and dubious data…

Romanian forests: EuroNatur calls for a logging moratorium

+++ Open letter to Commissioner Sinkevičius calls for a logging moratorium in protected areas to end destruction of Romanian forests +++ Fourth…

Controversial airport construction in Albanian protected area casts shadow as far as Munich

++ Operating company Munich Airport International (MAI) is linked to illegal Vlora airport ++ Construction to take place in protected area of special…

Swimming for the monk seal

The Croatian free water swimmer Dina Levačić has been swimming in potential monk seal territories. Her campaign is aimed at drawing attention to the…

Wolf Offspring confirmed in the Black Forest

++ Photo trap image from the community of Schluchsee provides evidence of offspring ++ First wolf pack in over 150 years in Baden-Württemberg ++

Stork Village meeting in Tykocin, Poland

It was an anniversary celebrated in style: For the 20th annual meeting, representatives of the European Stork Villages met for the first time in the…