The jubilee, tenth edition of the Montenegrin human rights film festival "Accelerate", organized by the Center for Civic Education, was opened tonight in the Great Hall of the Montenegrin National Theatre, with the awarding of annual awards.
Daliborka Uljarević, executive director of the CGO, awarded the Center for Bird Protection, the president of the "Martin Šnajder" society, Zenepi Lika, and Dr. Milena Popović Samardžić.
"Almost two decades ago, a group of young enthusiastic ornithologists embarked on a pioneering mission to protect birds and other plant and animal species in Montenegro, and to educate citizens about something that seemed to many to be completely irrelevant. Their dedicated struggle was often neglected, thanks to their efforts and expertise, we still preserved a part of our precious biodiversity," said Uljarević before presenting the award to CZIP.
"I am glad that the birds flew into this hall tonight. I am extremely honored to be able to receive this award in front of my colleagues, who are with me, but were shy to go on stage and introduce themselves. The Ulcinj Saltworks has been for more than a decade valuable story. Our first love and second home. In the name of a hundred thousand different beaks and twice as many colorful wings - I thank you," said Jovana Janjušević in front of CZIP.
"The fight for environmental protection does not belong only to institutions or organizations, it is also carried by extraordinary individuals like our laureate, who returned from abroad after 32 years and stood first in line for environmental protection. One battle for the salt pan has been won, and in addition to all of important factors that made up the defensive wall of Solana, among which was CZIP, Zenepa Lika stands out," Uljarević announced the next winner.
"I know it was difficult for you, because there are a lot of people who are active in this country. That's why I want to share this award with all free and active citizens of Montenegro, who are not in the public eye, but are active and fight battles on their own their own way for a better and more humane world, for a healthy environment. They do not close their eyes to injustice, they raise their voices for human rights, which are universal rights, even here in Montenegro," Lika emphasized in her speech.
"They say that the three basic pillars of the development of any society are healthcare, justice and education. For us, these pillars are very shaky, deeply and widely permeated with corruption, and we all feel the reflection of that. And there is no recovery for them until people with integrity emerge from those structures who will fight for the profession, but also against nepotism, corruption and party restraints. Our laureate does this with faith, commitment and energy, which is rarely seen in new forces and in civil society. She demonstrated the knowledge to make a good diagnosis and spoke courageously about the necessary therapy for our healthcare to recover," Uljarević announced to Dr. Milena Popović Samardžić.
"It is very difficult to speak after Daliborka Uljarević, especially after such an announcement. The first thing I want to say is that I am sure that I would not be here tonight and receive this award if it were not for the support of my colleagues, so I consider them directly responsible for all this. I wish to say that our fight is not only a fight for the status of a profession, but for a system of values that we want to be improved in our country," said Popović Smaradžić when accepting the award.
After the awarding of the annual awards, the screening of the film "Diary of Dijana Budisavljević" followed, and a large number of interested people remained in front of the CNP, because there was not enough room in the Great Hall for everyone who wanted to watch this production.
"This festival exists because of its audience, and unfortunately a number of that audience stayed in front of the hall tonight, because they couldn't be with us, the hall was apparently too small. WE have already solved it and the film 'Diary of Diane Budisavljević' will be shown again on Saturday at 15 pm," promised Uljarević, who then conveyed the apology of the director of the production, Dana Budisavljević, who could not attend the premiere in Podgorica due to health problems.
Bonus video:
