FLASH
Shkruar nga Fatos Tarifa
Civil society in Albania, unfortunately, has become a currency of exchange for all kinds of interests, a large part of which have nothing to do with society or civility.
Stadium
We once had, at the end of 2015, an "alliance" for the protection of the national stadium "Qemal Stafa". Those who formed that "alliance" (even though they were not a structured and organized group), were against the demolition of that stadium and the construction of a new, modern stadium in its place, like the "Air Albania" we have today.
As individuals, or in the name of "civil society" (which civil society?!), they tried to sensitize public opinion and prevent the realization of that urban development project. It was those people who spoke on behalf of the capital city public against the construction of the new stadium on the ruins of the old one.
This, for them, would be an unprecedented act in history, when only ten years ago, in 2007, in London, the new "Wembley" stadium was built in exactly the same place where, since 1923, it had been " The legendary Wembley, probably the most famous stadium in the history of world football.
There were also some, among them some painters or philosophers, who suggested that the new stadium be built outside of Tirana, with the argument that "this happens everywhere".
Where?! Who are the ones who know the locations of all the football stadiums in Europe or in the world and who give advice to the citizens of Tirana? "Santiago Bernabeu" is not outside Madrid, but inside that capital. "Camp Nou" is only 5 km away from the center of Barcelona, this metropolitan city with more than 5.6 million inhabitants. In Liverpool, a city with a population roughly the same as today's Tirana, its two famous stadiums, "Anfield" and "Goodison Park", are only 3 km from the city center and less than 1 km from each other. the other.
The fate of that "alliance" and its "cause"? Both failed. Tirana today has not only a modern stadium, worthy of a big football, but also an architectural object that beautifies the capital, not ugly.
Great Park
There was also one time, in the spring of 2016, "Alliance for the protection of the park" in the hills of the artificial lake of Tirana. Those who formed that "alliance" (some called it a "group") and fought for that cause tried to hinder the project of the municipality of Tirana, especially opposing the construction of the children's playground.
"Alliance" claimed to represent "civil society"! Which civil society?! In support of that "alliance", which considered the project for the transformation of the capital's park not only "concreting the park", but also "concreting freedom", even the president of the republic at that time, Bujar Nishani, who, in April of that year, he personally "inspected" the works for the construction of the toy corner in that park and assured that "alliance" that he had requested "an independent international investigation for the Tirana artificial lake park".
The fate of that "alliance"? It failed, even, for many people it will not even remain as a footnote in the history of the great transformations of our capital.
The fate of Tirana's big park? One of the most beautiful and recreational natural environments of the capital for its residents of all ages and for anyone who loves nature and visits our Tirana.
Theater
We once had, in the spring of 2020, the "Alliance for the protection of the Theatre". This "alliance" was wider in relatively wider participation than the other "alliances" but its cause, like the causes of the "alliances" before it, did not go beyond a narrow cultural, artistic, urban and social civilizing horizon. I have written and spoken publicly more than once about the old theater building that was demolished in favor of the construction of a new modern building for the national theater, supporting the new project with enthusiasm.
What distinguishes the "alliance for the theater" from the others is that the latter continues to exist, with the same name, even after a lost cause, now as a pre-political, militant and violent formation, which has nothing to do with it. with the real art-loving public of the capital, neither with the needs for a richer cultural life in Tirana, nor with today, nor with the future. Today this "alliance for the theater", made up of exponents of opposition parties, supporters of the Freedom Party and members of the Berisha family, violently attack the monumental building of the capital city hall.
The cause, of course, is no longer the defense of the theater. They could not protect the theater that was in the day, nor could they protect it, because the exhausted building of that theater could not be justified and defended in front of a new modern vision and project, even though the "gavrosha" of that alliance, Kryemadhi, was swore that the theater would collapse "only if the fadroma passed over her body"!
Astir
Then there was also an "alliance for Astir", although it was not called that. It was the alliance of several dozen families stuck on someone else's land on the outskirts of the capital, protesting why they would be compensated by the municipality of Tirana for properties that were not theirs and would be moved elsewhere in Tirana, to pave the way for the realization of the largest infrastructure project in the centuries-old history of our capital.
The stability of that "alliance" was severely compromised by infiltration and its use by opposition parties for political purposes. It was an "alliance" without any cause and, as such, would have the same end.
***
Will we see other "alliances" in Tirana? Can such "movements", in the name of "civil society", prevent the growth, development, modernization of our capital and the improvement of living conditions and friendship in the capital?
It is possible, but alliances without causes can only be failed attempts. In Albania, there are many problems, the solution of which requires like-minded alliances of like-minded, informed and engaged citizens, who see beyond the square, the sidewalk or the facade of the building where they live, beyond their noses, beyond narrow business interests or of their party, for a greater good, for the public interest.
Such problems should be made civic causes, and such causes generally triumph.
Be careful! Let's not be deceived by those who speak on behalf of civil society, or who say they represent civil society.
Civil society in Albania, unfortunately, has become a currency of exchange for all kinds of interests, a large part of which have nothing to do with society or civility. With over 21,000 non-governmental associations (which are usually identified with or seen as the personification of civil society, Albania would today have the most vibrant civil society in the world, not "alliances" like those for the stadium, the park, the theater or Astir. / Gazeta DITA
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