Request letter addressed the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning and the Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency:
Dear officials of MESP and KEPA,
I am writing concerning the Sunny Hill Festival festivalthat is organized in Pristina, more precisely in Gërmia Park for many years in a row now. This year, from the 2nd to 4th August.
We, as an organization for the protection of animals in Kosovo, but also as individuals, are extremely concerned about the fact that this festival will be organized in a natural environment such as the Germia park.We are also very shocked by the way the festival organizers work because as seen in the picture, they are destroying the greenery / environment and a very important part of the park that serves the citizens who actually pay taxes for the maintenance of this park.
Moreover, the festival, which will last three days this year, will be extremely harmful to the fauna that lives in the Germia park, more specifically to the birds.Environmental pollution through noise causes serious damages to animals and the environment, just like any other pollution in the environment.
We are very interested whether you have given specific permission for organizing this festival in Germia Park?
If they have a permit, we would like to see it and start the necessary procedures to prevent such a thing now and especially for the other times to come.
Moreover, we have the news that you are planning to organize this festival in Bernica village, where environment, wildlife and wildlife will be again affected by noise pollution and thus the degradation of the environment begins 1. from the fact that it is necessary to get the venue ready for the festival (as now in Germia) and 2. by the large turnout of people that automatically implies many garbage, cigarettes thrown into the ground and many other pollutants that will greatly destroy the environment. This shouldn’t be allowed!
What is the strategic plan of the Sunny Hill Festival or the Pristina Municipality to revitalize Germia Park after the festival ends?How should greenery be provided again? Who measures the consequences caused to animals that live in the Germia park because of the festival?
These negligence and outlawing acts committed just to organize a “entertainment” festival are unacceptable and very harmful to the environment and animals.
I ask you kindly as a Ministry to ask the Sunny Hill Festival team to either a.cancel the concert in Germia Park (which is now impossible because you have already give the permission to it) or b. reduce the noise/musicvolume by 50% less than usual to avoid the shock, stress and anxiety of the birds and other animals living in Germia Park.
In addition to stress and anxiety, such noise also harms the (ecological) migratory birds corridors that are about to migrate – depending on the bird species; one thing that has not been analyzed before permission is granted for this festival.
From the relevant institutions like you, we urgently ask that no permits be issued for festivals that pollute the environment and especially in parks, nature or near places where it can cause concern for humans and non-human animals (be it wild or even domesticated).
We all are taxpayers of the Republic of Kosovo and we have the right to request that these few inherited natural / environmental heritages, get protected at all cost!
We will soon make public calls to all environmental protection organizations in Kosovo to mobilize ourselves with campaigns against the misuse of natural environments in Kosovo, as it is currently happening.
Looking forward hearing from you!
Thank you!