3. Ecological Project

 

 

VISION:

A more organic Europe, in particular a more organic Croatia.

 

MISSION:

To sensitize Europeans and Croatians to the organic and holistic aspects of their individual identity.

 

GOALS:

Increase solar energy use in Zagreb and surrounding areas by 7% by 2018.

 

TASKS:

Educate: several Croatian business leaders as to the lasting, longer-term gains of solar energy.

Design: solar-panels that are aesthetically compatible with traditional European architecture and landscape.

Install: 1500 solar-panels throughout the Zagreb region.

Support: businesses with routine updates about solar energy efficiency and regular panel inspections.

 

 

Croatia is such a major tourist destination in Europe primarily because of its natural beauty: mountains, rivers, and the blue Adriatic coast.  If Croatia is known for anything other than inventing the necktie, it is its beautiful location sets for spaghetti westerns: green forests, waterfalls, and crystal clear lakes. For Croats, Croatia is the place where the cows still graze, where, at reasonable prices you get organic food grown not by disgruntled intellectuals but by some two or three hundred thousand farmers and fishermen.

This organic aspect of Croatia – its national parks – are a part of the world’s heritage. In Croatia, ecology is, unfortunately, a prerogative of the ideological left wing.  But ecology, as many on both sides of the political aisle have been realizing, is not a partisan affair. No political party or easily identifiable interest group can generate enough enthusiasm for protecting an organic planet.  Fortunately, ecology is good business.  Organic, holistic concerns are compatible with the philosophy of the invisible hand and with private enterprise.

Obviously, there are just ecological concerns that are not immediately market competitive.  But the Akademy has not just short term but also medium and long term plans.

 

 

Project Directors: Mario Bebek—Vanja Glogovac