Good gardening gloves, bags, a protective mask and a bottle of water. That's all you need to "clean up" the city. Of course, you also need the will, environmental awareness, but also a proper understanding of the term patriotism. All this has three women from Nikšić, Ivana Čogurić, Jelena Jovićević and Bojana Kršikapa, who on their own initiative embarked on a major cleaning of the city.
"The idea for cleaning is technically not even an idea, but the product of a walk that resulted in cleaning. But the feeling of fulfillment we had after the 'private' action gave birth to the idea for ecopatriotism. A good feeling drives everything. It even has the power to help the planet to turn properly again", says Ivana Čogurić for "Vijesti".
They started cleaning from Trebjesa.
"So far, we have organized three actions to clean Trebjesa, one of which we partially devoted to cleaning the surroundings of the Temple of St. Basil. There is still work to be done there, but nature is harsh and impudent because it is not cared for, so we could not fully approach it. We have proven that we live in an uncultured way, now we need to prove that we are ready to change", says Ivana, and when asked how much there is to clean, she answers: "As much as you want".
The three of them started cleaning, but now they are no longer alone. There are also Jelena, Marko, Janko and Žarko. There is also the boy Andrija who, according to Ivana, is the hardest working among them, but also the "walkers" who help them in accordance with their free time.
"The reaction of the citizens in a huge number of cases is great. We had open invitations from families to 'run into' lunch and coffee after the event. Some came and helped. We got chocolate and juices from a gentleman. Older people welcome the action and "throw" us an anecdote or two as they pass. They 'throw' both compliments and criticism at today's youth. They don't understand why we are like this. I think we are left to chance, but chance can also be controlled", says Ivana.
It is difficult for people to understand that someone has decided to clean the city just the way it is, because he is bothered by the garbage that surrounds him, because he wants a healthy and clean environment, so it is not uncommon for those who ask them who finances them, which party is behind them and who "sponsors" their ecological curiosity.
"We are not curious, but hardworking and we don't have a 'sponsor'. We are a self-initiated community without financial profit and hair on the tongue. We deal kindly with such people and invite them to join us".
Since there is a lot to clean these girls need any help, so their plans for the future are simple - to strengthen the workforce. And they are also willing to receive politicians, because they have an excellent recipe to stop all motorcades, flagging and divisions.
"Invite the politicians to put on some lighter clothes and go buy the trash they left around Nikšić. Before the election, a lot of money is spent on propaganda material, which ends up in nature. The elections are over, and the consequences are waving at us both from the branches and from the small screens. Here, they have an open invitation to join us and invite their like-minded people to feel the spirit of ecopatriotism. Let them bring masks and a glass bottle of water. Social distance and bags are provided. But let them not come if they are not ready to admit that what our garden is like, our imagination is like that. And our gardens have never been more horrible," said Ivana Čogurić.
The public is informed about all the actions of these three girls through social networks. Their page is "ecopatriotism", and the call for participation in actions is always open.
The hard-working women of Nikšić called their "movement" ecopatriotism, and the energy that drives it ecopatriotism.
"Ecopatriotism is when you don't feel that someone diminished your value or the value of a fellow ecopatriot, when they called you trash. The one when you look at the whole picture of what's on our mind, but also on the road. When you see how dissatisfied and 'forgetful' we are in terms of the culture of life, we poison nature. Eco-patriotism is when you empathize with the environment, because it empathizes with us. Why ecomatriotism? Because we are witnessing where the patriarchal upbringing has led us. Because we really need matriarchy, because everything is different when the mother approaches the problem. A mother nurtures no matter what. This is not a battle of the sexes, but a matter of survival. That's why our self-initiative is both ecopatriotic and ecomatriotic, because we need each other, despite the divisions that serve us," says Ivana.
The three of them have no dilemma as to what patriotism is for them - "love for Montenegro, its nature, its essence, for the character traits of the people, for the ancestors who shaped us historically".
When a professor, an engineer and a journalist come together
The three young ladies, as well as the rest of the team that joined them, can boast, as they said, of a good formal and informal education.
"At one point, we all did what we had to do in order to one day find ourselves. So we were no stranger to jobs in the hospitality industry. Jelena has behind her knowledge of the Italian language and literature and the soul of an artist who has an unquestionable eye for macro photography, which she has been studying and practicing for years. He is a perfectionist with whom you don't argue much, calm water that plunges the mountain. Bojana has the status of the most patient among us, because she has a diploma from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (majoring in energy) and is a star at the Employment Agency because she 'hangs' on the same. Apart from that, the most beautiful is the girl from Nikšić who can't accept a compliment, but is very good at making jokes about herself. I'm the one they 'threaten' with if someone touches them. And in fact I am a classic female (flower/carnivorous plant) and a journalist who works as a presenter and editor for Radio S and a content writer for the Robot Code software company".
Bonus video:
