Western Balkans Environment Programe

KOBRA TV, FESTA TV, EMI TV, SITEL TV, MIA NEWS AGENCY, 15.03.2010

Seminar on Investigative Journalism Reporting

Summary: More than 15 journalists attended the seminar on investigative environmental journalism, organized in the frames of UNDP Hotspots Project, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, Macedonian Institute for Media and the NGO Green Center. The main objective of the seminar was to discuss best ways of putting environmental topics higher on the media priority agenda.

KOBRA TV, FESTA TV, EMI TV 09.03.2010

Training of Educational Institutions on the Impact of Industrial Pollution on Environment and Health

Summary: In the frames of UNDP Hot Spots project, a training was held for the all primary school and kindergarden teachers in Radovis. The teachers were trained on the best ways to convey messages on healthy and clean environment to the students, through interactive lectures and exercises.

KOBRA TV, FESTA TV, EMI TV 15.02.2010

Training for Initiatives and Campaigns for Environmental Protection

Summary: The Macedonian Green Center from Skopje, the Center for Local Development in Radovis i the Association of intelectual women from Lipkovo, undertook a series of activities to strenghten the capacities of the local associations of citizens in implementing initiatives and campaigns for environment protection. More than 20 representatives of citizens' associations from the municipalities of Radovis, Lipkovo, Resen and Stip took part in the activities. 

Training for Primary Health Care Personnel

Summary: the Macedonian Green Center from Skopje and the Center for Local Development from Radovis implemented a series of activities for public awareness raising and strenghtening of local citizens' capacities in the frames of UNDP Hotspot project. The latest activities targeted the primary health care personnel in order to ensure that the local population is as protected as possible from the negative effects of historic pollution. 

KOBRA TV, FESTA TV, EMI TV, 07.12.2009

Hotspots Project - Planning Workshop 

Summary: A planning workshop was held in Mavrovo. It was organized by the Macedonian Green Center from Skopje, the Center for Local Development Radovis and the Association of Intellectual Women from Lipkovo. The main aim of the workshop was to gather all interested parties from Lipkovo and Radovis, who are directly affected by the Bucim and Lojane mines, and jointly prepare an activity plan, a list of tasks and working materials in order to ensure that the pollution has as little effects as possible. 

KANAL 5 TV, 07.12.2009

The End of a 30 Year Golgotha of Four Radovis Villages

Summary: By signing the agreement for the implementation of UNDP Hot Spots project, financed by the Dutch Government and the Bucim Mine, an end is finally being put to the 30 year long environmental golgotha of thousands of citizens living in four Radovis villages. The Bucim mine started the activities for cleaning up the Kriva Lakavica and Topolnica rivers, that were totally polluted from the mining processes. 

Link: http://www.kanal5.com.mk/default.aspx?mId=37&eventId=54692

KANAL 5 TV, 19.10.2009

Bucim Will No Longer Be Polluting the Rivers 

Summary: The Hot Spots project intervention consists of construction of a system for collection and treatment of the waters from the mining zone and the waste-rock dump and pumping the polluted waters back into the technological process and tha tailings reservoir. This will prevent the release of pollutants downstream, thus eliminating pollution of the rivers and soil. Also, measures have been undertaken for protection from fugitive dust.

Link: http://www.kanal5.com.mk/default.aspx?mId=37&egId=13&eventId=54493

UTRINSKI VESNIK, 24.09.09

Bucim To Clean-Up the Polluted Rivers

Summary: Activities for cleaning up the rivers around the Bucim mine have started, aiming to put an end to the long years of pollution. This is being done thanks to a project financed by the Dutch Government and implemented by UNDP. 

Link: http://www.utrinski.com.mk/?ItemID=BAAC1547D2770046ACD08D5DD97A88D4

VECER, 30.04.2009

Clean Up of Bucim and Lojane Mines 

Summary: The Bucim and Lojane mines have been selected as priority environmentally hazardous hotspots in the country. Most of the interventions under this programme are primarily focusing on the removal of hazardous waste concentrates and prevention of emission of pollutants into the environment, by clean-up, capping and re-cultivation of the area hazardous hotspots. 
Link:http://www.netpress.com.mk/vest.asp?id=54935&kategorija=7

WEEKLY MAGAZINE GLOBUS, 06.01.09

Summary: Bucim has invested in its production and also in its development programme. It was greatly assisted by the Dutch Government and UNDP. A total of 1,5 million euro were invested for the clean up of the Bucim and Lojane mines to ensure that the living environment becomes healthier for all

Link: http://www.globusmagazin.com.mk/?ItemID=4597E55612CE6E44919FFCC090910AE0

MIA, 29.04.2008

Historic Pollution - A Topic of Discussion in the Frames of the Hotspots Project 

Summary: National Hot Spots project coordinator Vladimir Stavric stated that the historic pollution is a legacy of the previous system. He also stated that the key objectives of this project consist in enhancing the capacities
for good environmental management at local and national level, securing significant progress in mitigation of negative impact of the mining operations and increase the public awareness on issues related to environmental hotspots. The main interventions focus on clean up and remediation, demonstration and information sharing as well as on strengthening the supply of professional consultancy services. 

Link:http://www.mia.mk/default.aspx?mId=5&vId=64207758&lId=1&title=%D0%9C%D0%90%D0%9A%D0%95%D0%94%D0%9E%D0%9D%D0%98%D0%88%D0%90+-+%D0%95%D0%9A%D0%9E%D0%9B%D0%9E%D0%93%D0%98%D0%88%D0%90 

DNEVNIK, 13.03.2008

Bucim Gets 1,2 Million USD to Tackle Environmental Issues

Summary: A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between UNDP and the Ministry of Environment  for the implementation of the Hotspots project. The funds in the amount of 1,2 USD were donated by the Kingdom of Netherlands. The first effects of the project are expected to be visible in two years from now.

Link:http://www.dnevnik.com.mk/?itemID=F0CB6EE9D611954882B43DB74F126FE4&arc=1

VECER, 13.03.2008

Memorandum of Understanding Signed Between UNDP and Bucim

Summary: A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between UNDP and the Ministry of Environment  for the implementation of the Hotspots project. The funds in the amount of 1,2 USD were donated by the Kingdom of Netherlands. The first effects of the project are expected to be visible in two years from now. Link:http://www.vecer.com.mk/?ItemID=6127EC63B9F0304488D991893BC35BE8

MIA, 13.02.2008

Bucim to Clean Up Waters

Summary: The Hotspots project intervention consists of construction of a system for collection and treatment of the waters from the mining zone and the waste-rock dump and pumping the polluted waters back into the technological process and the tailings reservoir. This prevents release of pollutants downstream, thus eliminating pollution of the rivers and soil. Also, measures have been undertaken for protection from fugitive dust. More than 12 ha of biologically inactive bare land have been re-vegetated and a system for irrigation and wetting is under construction. The interventions are designed to prevent dust generation and minimize its propagation. Project interventions in Bucim can serve as an example of public-private partnership for
other locations where historical pollution exists and where environmental liabilities have not been satisfactorily delineated during transformation of the enterprises, UNDP Resident Representative Maria Luisa Silva stated.

Link: http://www.idividi.com.mk/vesti/makedonija/427531/index.htm

UTRINSKI VESNIK, 25.02.2008:

Environmental Problems of the Bucim Mine to Be Solved

Summary: The environmental problems of the Bucim Mine will be solved with 1,5 million euros, thanks to a joint initiative of the Government of Netherlands, UNDP, the Ministry of Environment and the Bucim Mine. The Hotspots project will aim at improving the environmental situation and quality of life for citizens living around polluted areas in the most economical way, improving the local and national policy dialogue, institutional strengthening and increasing the supply of domestic professional services in the environmental
management sector.  

Линк:

http://www.utrinski.com.mk/?ItemID=9A4447E3D3EB06428C39E71DDC995E46

DNEVNIK, 13.03.2008

Bucim Received 1,2 Million USD to Tackle Environmental Issues

Summary: The Radovis Mine Bucim will start tackling pollution issues thanks to a donation of 1,2 million USD from the Kingdom of Netherlands through the United Nations Development Programme, in coordination with the Ministry of Environment. The first effects of the project activities are expected to be visible in two years from now.

Link: 

http://www.dnevnik.com.mk/?itemID=F0CB6EE9D611954882B43DB74F126FE4&arc=1 

VECER, 14.03.2008

Clean Up of Bucim Mine

Summary:  The Clean up of the Bucim Mine has started, thanks to a donation from the Dutch Government. The project is implemented by UNDP. " The problem with water pollution in the region is an old one, and we hope to put an end to it with this project" UNDP Resident Representative Maria Luisa Silva stated.

Link:

http://www.vecer.com.mk/?ItemID=2DF2A167DC82734E84C77935B7FA39CC