This project consists of three crossborder stories -- each conducted by journalists from two countries -- that investigates the unique ways that environmental activists resist business interests, nationalist politicos, and crossborder complexities.
The PL-DE team explored the campaign to limit pollution of Oder River. The SR-BiH tandem investigated the campaign to regulate lithium mining in Majevica mountain region along SR-BiH border. DE-GR-USA threesome dug into the biodiversity conservation movement in Prespa lakes region.
Integral to our method was that the journalists from the different countries met one another on location and worked together there crossborder, as well as later when writing. We found it very important to speak with the people involved in order to dig deeply into their operations. We sought information more detailed than journalists normally seek in order to reveal the way these crossborder projects work.
Key findings:
- Despite the obstacles of languages and borders and differences in approach, the environmental activists worked together much better than do their national states.
- The activists learned from one another and used this information to their advantages.
- The environmental concerns took precedence over the nationalist issues and forged bonds between the activists.
Illustration by Slave Nakev/MES. Activists in Greater Prespa Lake from the three organizations -- from Greece, North Macedonia, Albania -- that participate in the PrespaNet network 13-9-2023.
