A basic objective of the Access Initiative is to increase the number of informed, involved participants in environmental policy-making. Greater participation strengthens democratic environmental governance by broadening the number of stakeholders and by bringing diverse issues and viewpoints to decision makers. In Macedonia, TAI partner Florozon is working toward the goal of adding more voices by increasing public knowledge of access rights through a large outreach campaign.

In 2008 Florozon led the TAI Macedonia coalition in conducting the country’s first TAI assessment. The assessment revealed an insufficient knowledge of access rights among not only the public, but also the public administration and the judiciary. “Before the TAI coalition was formed, the public, including the experts, had no knowledge at all regarding the basic rights to access information” said Vesna Sukuloska, Research Coordinator for Florozon.

Florozon is now targeting these groups in order to bring them closer to access issues. “Florozon’s expectations are to inform and educate the public about the three access rights, to respect the existing procedures, to include new legal remedies, and to create an atmosphere of democratic society regarding the environment” said Sukuloska. The public awareness campaign revolves around an informative mass media blitz that will take place over the course of a year. In the following months, Florozon will be broadcasting ten interactive one-hour radio programs intended to make direct contact with citizens and discuss their experiences. These broadcasts will highlight the following:

• Environmental rights as human rights

• Legal procedures for accessing information

• Cases from national research

• The importance of public participation in environmental policy-making

Florozon is also using television ads and newspaper submissions to raise public awareness through educational slogans and informative messages.

Florozon credits the media as essential to attracting government attention and forcing change in Macedonia. Newspaper articles played a central role in Florozon’s work on the OKTA refinery and the polluting of the Kamenicka Reka River. “With the published stories in the newspapers we most frequently achieve changes” said Sukuloska. The campaign is aiming to harness the influential power of the media by strengthening Florozon’s partnership with journalists who will champion access rights. Florozon has already formed a co-operation with a number of “green journalists” and is working to expand this coalition through seminars and conferences intended to educated journalists on access rights.

Florozon has already proven adept at bringing about change through outreach. The TAI assessment found that the OKTA crude oil refinery located in the village of Miladinovci was responsible for the release of large amounts of sulfur dioxide linked to public illness and environmental degradation. Reacting to these findings, Florozon set out to draw government attention through an extensive media campaign including radio, television, and print. Their methods proved valuable, particularly via published newspaper stories. The public responded with large locally organized protests calling for action and reform. Thanks greatly to these protests and Florozon’s lobbying, there was a change in legal legislation regarding fines for polluters and a greater number of measurements stations to monitor the OKTA refinery.

Through its work, Florozon has become a recognized brand to Macedonia’s environmentalists and environmental governing institutions. The number of attendees at Florozon conferences and seminars always outnumbers capacity limits and continues to grow. Their current outreach program strives to maintain this growth by engaging more voices in Macedonia’s environmental policy-making.