Eco Civil Initiative – more than just concern for the environment
October 2012
The Eco Civil Initiative, or ECOCI, is becoming an increasingly prominent player in care for the environment. The Eco Civil Initiative believes that Slovenia is a wonderful natural environment, and that it depends on us to protect this Garden of Eden and preserve its features and potentials. Respect for nature and people, natural endowments and the upgrading of knowledge by taking into account the facts and current conditions are therefore the common goals of all who are involved in this initiative.
- Photo: ECOCI archive
The purpose of ECOCI is to connect all interested parties and to spread awareness of the importance of caring for the environment in which we live.
The participating members of the Eco Civil Initiative are committed to pursuing meaningful ends in accordance with ethical principles. They highlight the importance of self-sufficiency in food, and energy and economic independence. They respect nature, people and tradition. They also contribute to the changing of values and mentalities, to strengthening awareness of the need to assume responsibility for the self-sustainability of individuals and local communities in terms of sustainable ways of producing food and the rational use of energy. In cooperation with others, they also encourage the integration of people, institutions, knowledge and other entities at all levels for the present and future generations.
How do they work?
- Photo: ECOCI archive
In Slovenia, there are already many good practices in place among individuals, groups, institutions and other players in terms of personal and social life. Due to the flood of information and various topical themes, the Civil Initiative performs periodic checks and regularly exchanges information and opinions. It tries to find and use the best positive solutions and apply them in everyday life. It gathers examples of good practices and publishes useful links and information, encourages critical thinking and searches for good solutions that may be helpful to individuals.
Members and supporters of ECOCI meet regularly every other week-end, to jointly determine where and what might be improved. They believe that one should provide for one's own self-sufficiency in food, energy and health in order to preserve independence, freedom and happiness. Together with the most advanced experts, modern farmers and media support, they strive to promote activities aimed at increasing self-sufficiency in food by taking specific actions such as the 'Seed Relay', 'Ekofejst' and sustainable food production workshops.
Self-sustainability
- Photo: ECOCI archive
The Civil Initiative has engaged in a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of self-sustainability and safe food for the future. Its workshops and lectures organised throughout Slovenia aroused the interest, not only of the population in general, but also of politicians.
ECOCI's wish is to achieve 100% self-sufficiency in sustainably produced food. To that end, it invests heavily in activities aimed at educating and connecting, and in presentations of good practices in cooperation with experts. It also promotes food production among children, adults, cultivators of small garden plots, farmers, institutions, group food producers, etc.
Text by Polona Prešeren, M.Sc, Sinfo, October 2012
Photo: ECOCI archive
Members of the Eco Civil Initiative of Slovenia are committed to pursuing meaningful ends in everyday life. The activity of Eco Civil Initiative of Slovenia ("ECOCI") is not political; its members seek to participate on an individual basis and to pursue meaningful ends through their everyday work, with a positive attitude on their own behalf and on behalf of their families, and the local and wider community. They promote respect for tradition, the acquisition of new knowledge and integration for the benefit of nature, people and energies. Any interested individual may join the initiative to pursue meaningful ends, and leave at any time.
- Photo: Bojana Darovec/Creative Nomad
According to ECOCI's Irena Rotar, the Civil Initiative believes that "Slovenia can produce enough food for its needs by employing advanced farming techniques, applying new knowledge, low soil treatment and sustainable farming, which will include organically biodynamic and permacultural concepts of food production. The better exploitation of mountain farms, following the example of our parents, can ensure the self-sustainability of each farm."
Seed Relay
ECOCI has actively launched a Seed Relay – the exchange, planting and storage of indigenous and local seeds – as nearly 90% of local seed types have been lost. The relay has attracted almost 8,000 individuals thus far. ECOCI also wishes to raise the awareness of farmers about the importance of seeds and their storage, as Slovenia's food safety hinges on agricultural production. "It is our wish that farmers start producing food for the market, stop trusting certain instructions and make decisions based on their own judgment", ECOCI's spokeswoman said.
