Financial statement and activities implemented by Shtastlivetza Sofia Civil Association (SSCA) (2006-2008)
For the period 2006-2008 Shtastlivetza Sofia Civil Association has taken part in the following inititiatives and actions:
- Official communication with the respective authorities on local, national and European level and application of the legislative regulations for data access together with other civil initiatives ,organizations and active students;
- Launching, realizing and handing in petitions to the respective authorities; (petition for preservation and protection for the Black Sea coastline and for the Bulgarian nature in the Bulgarian National Assembly and in the European Parliament);
- Organization and holding of consultative open meetings and debates;
- appointments and discussions with representatives from respective environmental and nature protection Departments and Units –Мministry of waters and environment, parliamental Commission of waters, forests and environment;
- permanent civil participation in the Municipal Commission for of waters, forests and environment (entitled to deposit standpoint papers, recommendations, subject to commission’s voting and approval );
- New Sofia Urban Plan discussions - participation by means of official recommendations and standpoint papers;
- co- organization and realization of protest marchings and demonstrations against the illegal garbage packing, incl. a common demonstrations of all civil initiatives and NGOs, committed to Sofia’s garbage crisis resolving;
- co- organization and participation in NATURA 200, Save Irakli, Save Strandja and Save Rila protest marchings and demonstrations along with NGOs and other civil initiatives;
- organization and carrying out in academic environment debates, seminars and other events concerning the main filed of interest and priorities of Shtastlivetza Association (debate with Stavros Dimas - EU Environment Commissioner, NATURA 200 seminar with a following debate, students action for the Earth Day and films screening in New Bulgarian University, “Urban planning, regulation, nature and sustainable development” debate in University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy- Sofia) ;
- launching and realization of a journalistic investigation (documentary, concerning the garbage crisis in Sofia ( Nova TV broadcast– Na chisto broadcasting- Promedia Production) ;
- drafting, preparation, publication and distribution of informational materials, announcements, reposrts (Bluelink, News bg, Mediapool, Save Irakli, For the Nature (forthenature.org), media events – interviews, participation in TV broadcasts and discussions (Bulgarian National Radio, Bulgarian National Television, 24 hours newspaper, etc.); maintaining mail list and blog of the coalition.
- Preparation, publication and distribution of reviews and scientific reports on the topic of civil participation in nature protection in Bulgaria (Bluelink, For The Nature Coalition site, Save Irakli site, science collections of New Bulgarian University);
- active support of and cooperation with civil initiatives (Save Irakli, Save Rila, Save Strandja
- initiation and participation in environmental protection coalitions (Zero Waste coalition, For The Nature in Bulgaria coalition);
- business trips for research and documentation of particular environmental protection causes
- conducting individual expert consultations to interested local parties and people and to representatives of civil initiatives
- filing a case against the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Waters (RIEW) – Sofia for violating the ecological legislation
- forming a team committed to implementing a University civil campaign for promotion of principles and values of civil participation and sustainable development;
- strengthening of the partnerships established and creating new ones with agents from civil initiatives, NGOs and academic milieus.
The financial flows of the Association for 2006 amount to Performing Genuine Civil Control over the Activities of the Sofia Municipality, the Concessionaires and the State Institutions Aimed at a Proper (Environmentally and Publicly Acceptable) Solution to the Sofia Waste Crisis (a 5 months project funded by Open Society Institute, Sofia, implemented for the period 2006, April – November), carried out within Vindication campaigns for improving the local policies. The principal recipient of the above- mentioned project is Shtastlivetza Sofia Civil Association (formerly known as The Initiative Committee For Cleanness and legality).
The project’s grant (5000 BGN) was spent for carrying out journalistic investigations and business/ field trips in the concerned sites, organizing exhibition, drafting and translating experts’ stand papers (see above).
For 2007 the generated revenue of Shtastlivetza Association is solely from membership fees that amounts to 840 BGN. The implementation of all of the abovementioned activities is co-funded and supported of environmental NGOs, civil initiatives, and Sofia’s New Bulgarian University and University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy (UACEG)’s Departments.
