Call for more public, individual and civil society action and participation in helping the country move forward is a welcomed sign for all.
Tirana Times editorial
TIRANA, June 21 – The United States, in cooperation with some of Albania’s top civil society leaders, have announced an initiative to promote community and civil society participation in solving the country’s biggest problems. The goal is to push every Albanian citizen to have his or her voice heard and fight the apathy and malaise created by the the domination of politics of conflict.
Appropriately called “Act Now” – the initiative was launched by U.S. Ambassador Alexander Arvizu, who urged all Albanian citizens to unite to solve the fundamental challenges Albania faces in good governance, environment, education and health – all key factors of a healthy society.
The initiative comes out of concern that space for civil society activity is shrinking, and people’s concerns often go unheard by those in power or in the political elites.
Albania’s most famous author Ismail Kadare, former President Alfred Moisiu and many activists and scholars have joined the initiative. They say it’s the right thing to deal with issues currently plaguing life in Albania. And this newspaper agrees.
To put it in Mr. Kadare’s words: We need to to deal with the destruction of the coastline, a moral abyss tied to corruption, a deterioration of culture and the weakening of the education system. Furthermore, the country is headed into a complete disaster if everyone believes the justice system simply does not work to punish crime and corruption.
This newspaper believes this initiative is the right thing at the right time. Albania has been held back by lack of political will and by the domination of politics of conflict that serve only those in power and the political elite and leave the common citizen voiceless. In the absence of will or action from the political class, it is the time of civil society and common citizens to take the country’s fate in their hands and have their voices be heard.
The initiative is a great strategic idea, which has the potential to become a social movement, a cultural movement and a political movement – not in the typical political party sense but in the context of society engagement to advance the future of this country.
We have had enough of the status quo – the total domination of everyday life in Albania by politicians, political parties and the government. This country can’t go on like this. It needs to develop a completely different model, where the entire community participates. That’s what a modern society looks like. That’s what Albania should look like.
We urge all readers to participate, support and attend all events the U.S. Embassy is expected to organize in cooperation with local governments, nongovernmental organizations and business circles to increase the sensitivity of citizens to the present and most acute challenges Albania faces and strengthen participation in finding solutions. To put it simply: We must all Act Now.
