For them, it is etiquette not to "miss" the bucket, they prove their patriotism by "spreading" bags instead of flags, replacing slogans with gloves, cleaning Nikšić with their hands, not platitudes.
They wanted to write fines to them, because they clean our garbage, they asked who finances their environmental curiosity, because nobody "normal" cleans the city for nothing, they asked them to pay or take away the garbage themselves, because it is not enough that they collected it.
For seven months, they have been trying to "take Trebjesa off the inhaler", because the "lungs of the city" have long been struggling to "breathe", "wash" the area around Krupac, make Bistrica worthy of the name... And they do not intend to give up, although they often return to the place "crime" because others quickly try to destroy all their efforts for the day.
"We didn't start to give up so easily. We will be persistent, so we will see who will overcome whom", he says with a smile Veljko Delibašić, one of the main culprits that "Ekobonton", as they called their group, exists in Nikšić.
They are not a non-governmental organization, they are not a political movement or a citizens' association, they are just young people who clean the city almost every weekend. Another group called itself "Ecopatriotism" and their place of action is mainly Trebjesa because, unfortunately, "it hides numerous landfills".
Often these two groups "cross" gloves, admitting that they have never regretted starting the big "cleaning" of the city in March.
Time is running out to save nature
"We were angry at the situation we found ourselves in, were taken aback both by the situation and by the reactions of individuals with whom we did not find understanding, were desperate and furious at what awaited us during our actions, but no remorse appeared. On the contrary, our desire to continue cleaning grew stronger and expanded, because we became more aware of how much our city and our environment actually need it," he says. Jelena Lacman, member of "Ecopatriotism".
He admits that sometimes it seems to them that they are "going round and round", that they are doing the same work over and over again and that there is no progress.
"What we are doing is new in our community and we are aware that we need a little more time to, first of all, reach even more people, to hear us, to see us, to join the actions, to live the idea that we are living all this time, and feel the spirit that lives on actions. We are very proud of the healthy atmosphere that grows from weekend to weekend and are very happy that new people join us on their own initiative, who were not invited to the event, but saw the announcement and felt the desire to come. That is the greatest value of these actions, because we have individuals who are aware and ready to give themselves for a change that is important for the whole society", says Jelena.
There will be progress, Veljko believes, when the authorities start applying the law and punishing. This is the best and most effective way to change habits.
"The most unpleasant situation was when we were cleaning Krupac and came across the corpses of pets and domestic animals in various mini-dumps. That's why the children and their parents, who joined us in the cleaning action behind the balloon hall, improved our day and showed that there is still hope for generations to come. As for us, we are young, healthy and ready to do anything to protect nature as much as possible and to let people know that they have to get rid of bad habits, to understand how alarming the situation is for our health and the environment".
Jelena adds that despite the fact that even after seven months their group is still cleaning Trebjesa and discovering new landfills, they don't have time to be "demoralized".
"We have a big task and a big job ahead of us, because the time to save nature is running out. We started from Trebjesa and are still in the same location, because from action to action we discover new landfills. Trebjesa is known as the 'lungs of Nikšić'. Do we need to tell you how disappointing it is when we come across such a sight in the 'pearl' of the city and a green oasis. The hardest thing for us was learning about the existence of those hidden landfills so close to us, and the most demanding thing was cleaning the stream under Trebjes, into which some, despite the cold water, entered to take out waste, and that waste was represented by furniture, from plastic chairs to shower cabins. We wouldn't be us if we didn't include humor, this time unfortunately black, and make an 'ecological studio' with a view of the stream", Jelena shares impressions from some of the actions.
Ready to "share" a bag, gloves, smile and companionship
They don't count the cleaned landfills, because they might once have been counted, but they do their best to teach fellow citizens that nature should be respected. And they don't intend to give up on cleaning up the city.
"The only thing that disappoints is that the response to the actions is weak, because people quickly lose their will when they see what the situation is on the ground. And we will clean as much as it takes for people to understand that they must not pollute the nature, aware that we are probably waiting for a large number of cleaning actions," says Veljko.
Jelena says that she believes that Nikšić can become a clean city, and Montenegro can become an ecological country in reality, not just on paper.
"If everyone takes their share of responsibility, Nikšić can shine very quickly. The problem arises precisely with this assumption of responsibility - from the individual to the institutions. The main driver of change in each individual is a sufficiently developed awareness of the importance of protecting and maintaining the environment. Without nature, man has no life, and she can live without man. We are not talking about fear and intimidation, we are talking about repressed love for life. With our actions, we are voting for health, peace, culture, and life. We know and believe that this is possible in Nikšić, because the people of this city are fertile ground for noble ideas. Good things spread quickly and that wave can then easily cover the whole of Montenegro, and then we can justify, and proudly carry the prefix ecological for decades".
And while Jelena believes that the people of Nikšić will quickly become eco-patriots, Veljko is aware of the fact that they are so close, yet so far, from eco etiquette.
"We are optimistic and we will say that the people of Nikšić, despite their traditional stubbornness and 'stubbornness', are good and smart people who understand the vision of 'Ecopatriotism', and who, if they are not already, will soon become true ecopatriots".
Jelena promises everyone who joins them a great time together and an even better feeling when they see the space they have cleaned, but she also points out that nature can be helped in various ways - by recycling, education, making compost, carrying bags instead of bags...
"The point is not just to clean, but to create a new lifestyle. Healthy and sustainable", says Jelena. And Veljko has a message for fellow citizens:
"Join us, let's beautify this city together. You can always get a bag, gloves, smile and companionship from us".
That in this time, when we are slowly losing both nature and ourselves, is more than enough. And that is what Veljko and Jelena are saying, but also Sara, Elida, Marko, two more Present, Željko, Ivana, Hot, Bojana, Marko... but also a six-year-old Paul and two years older Nikola who, as naively and purely as only children know, believe that signs with inscriptions - "no littering" - could change things for the better.
Bonus video:
