TIRANA, Oct. 29 – Thousands of Albanians attended Saturday and Sunday two protest concerts over environmental issues, including the waste imports bill and plans for the construction of several hydropower plants along the Valbona River.
On Saturday, people traveled from as far as Tirana and Prishtina to the remote Valbona Valley in northern Albanian Alps and protested against the plan which aims to divert 80 percent of the pristine river into underground tunnels to produce electricity. They called on the government to cancel the plans which will damage the whole valley.
The artistic protest continued Sunday in Tirana, as 2,000 people attended a concert organized by Eda Zari, an Albanian jazz singer living in Germany and Elina Duni, another jazz singer, living in Switzerland.
The free event was also attended by dozens of other artists from Albania and Kosovo such as Armend Xhaferri, Alban Nimani, Olsa Papandili, Ilir Bajri, Emiljano Dhimo, Ermal Rodi, Marsela à‡ibukaj, Genci Salihu, Gent Rushi, Kamela Islamaj and Dj Oda.
Participants condemned government plans to allow waste imports in the county which would transform Albania into Europe’s next garbage bin. The controversial bill was approved on Sept. 22 but was vetoed by President Bujar Nishani. Nishani sent the bill back to parliament, and the ruling majority could still override the veto.
Some members of the junior coalition partner, Socialist Movement for Integration are reluctant to approve the bill, although Prime Minister Edi Rama has insisted that the bill aims to revitalize the country’s recycling industry.
Organizers complained that their protests received almost no coverage from the mainstream media.
Organizers and activists vowed to continue their protests saying that their voices will not be silenced until the government cancels concessionaire contracts for constructions of dozens of hydropower plants in the preserved area of Valbona and abrogated the waste imports bill.
