Do not let Belgrade d(r)own

Do not let Belgrade d(r)own (Serbian: Не да(ви)мо Београд, romanized: Ne da(vi)mo Beograd, abbr. NDM BGD) is a opposition centre-left to left-wing green municipalist organization formed in 2015. It was founded as a citizens' association aimed at criticizing and reforming the current political system through "involving citizens in the development of their environment" and transparency. The initiative is made up of a group of people of different profiles, professions, and beliefs interested in urban and cultural policies, sustainable urban development, and equitable use of shared resources.

Do not let Belgrade d(r)own

Ne da(vi)mo Beograd
Не да(ви)мо Београд
AbbreviationNDM BGD
LeaderDobrica Veselinović
Founded2015
HeadquartersBelgrade
IdeologyGreen municipalism[1]
Social democracy[1]
E-democracy[1]
Direct democracy[1]
Anti-nationalism[2]
Green politics
Alter-globalization[1]
Political positionCenter-left to left-wing
Slogan"Whose city, our city"
City Assembly of Belgrade
0 / 120
National Assembly of Serbia
0 / 120
Website
nedavimobeograd.rs

Political activities

Early actions

Citizens of Belgrade have gathered around a civic initiative "Do not let Belgrade d(r)own", whose trademark has become a big yellow duck. The initiative have organized a number of actions and protests to criticize the Belgrade waterfront urban project which, according to them, is an extremely harmful project.[3] The public attention was drawn during the protest of 26 April and in 2015 in front of the Belgrade Cooperatives building, during the signing of the Belgrade Waterfront Contract. Then a crowd gathered with the intervention of the police enclosed by stopping two GSP trams in the middle of a roundabout in front of the Cooperative building.[4]

The police have halted the performance of NDM BGD during the Belgrade Ship Carnival on 29 August 2015, when the duly registered vessel of the organization was excluded from the procession only because of the prominent inscription "Do not let Belgrade D(r)own".[5]

Activities after the Demolition in Savamala

As a result of the demolition of the facilities in Hercegovacka Street, which was carried out, according to a witness, by individuals with phantom masks, at night between 24 and 25 April 2016, this citizens' movement have organized 8 massive street protests from 11. May 2016 to 15 February 2017.[6][7]

Participation in Elections

During the 2017 presidential elections, the initiative has supported several candidates from opposition organizations, including Saša Janković.

This initiative participated in Belgrade assembly elections in 2018 under the list called "Initiative do not let Belgrade drown - Yellow duck - Whose city, our city - Ksenija Radovanović", introducing political platform regarding 20 agendas.[8][9] The initiative's electoral efforts were supported by various local movements in municipalities across Serbia, the initiative's participation was also supported by Yanis Varoufakis with his movement DiEM25, from Barcelona's mayor Ada Colau, as well as a Croatian movement "Zagreb is OURS!".[10][11]

The initiative got 3.44% of votes, which was not enough to gain threshold for entering the city's assembly (they needed 5% or higher).[12] Best results were acquired in municipalities Stari Grad (8.06%), Vračar (7.47%) and Savski venac (6.56%).

Activities during the Coronavirus pandemic

On 26 April 2020, the initiative have called citizens to protest against growing authoritarianism in the country by banging pots everyday at 20:05.[13][14] On 28 April, the initiative have suggested the authorities to take better control on the traffic during the pandemic, to protect the cyclists from inconsiderate drivers.[15]

Activities regarding the air pollution and environment

The initiative have taken serious stance toward the air pollution in Serbia. They have pointed out that the air quality stations are not working (not showing the current pollution).[16] They have made protests in the Serbian capital Belgrade.[17]

Electoral results on parliamentary and presidential elections
City Assembly of Belgrade
Year Popular vote % of popular vote # of seats Seat change Government
2018 28,017 3.44%
0 / 110
 New No seats
President of Serbia
Year Candidate Rank 1st round vote % of vote 2nd round vote % of vote
2017 Saša Janković[a] 2nd 597,728 16.35%
—
—

a Independent candidate, support

Other activities

Since 2016, the initiative became a part of a broader coalition of similar local initiatives across Serbia,[18] such as:

  • Civic front of Serbia, nationalwide coalition
  • Local front, an initiative from Kraljevo
  • Association of presidents of tenant assemblies, an initiative from Niš
  • Bureau of Social Research, an initiative from Belgrade
  • Support RTV (Radio television of Vojvodina), an initiative from Novi Sad
  • League of Romani people
  • Multi-ethnic center for the region's development Danube 21, an initiative from Bor

Representatives of the initiative joined a working group to create a joint platform on fair elections and the media scene in Serbia at a meeting of the entire opposition on October 12, 2018.[19] The movement later signed the agreement, which stemmed from these arrangements, and also took part in the One in Five Million protests.[20]

See also

References
  1. Програм иницијативе Не давимо Београд
  2. Građanski front - odgovor na nacionalističko nadigravanje vlasti i opozicije | N1 Srbija
  3. "Ugovor o Beogradu na vodi otkriva veliku prevaru". Radio Slobodna Evropa. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  4. "Protest zbog ugovora za BG na vodi". B92.net. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  5. Брод са натписом „Не да(ви)мо Београд” удаљен са карневала, Н1, 29 August 2015.
  6. "Ni policija ne zna ko je rušio u Savamali". N1 Srbija. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  7. "Šetnja kroz grad i protest zbog rušenja u Savamali". N1 Srbija. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  8. Online, Piše: Danas. "Inicijativa Ne davimo Beograd podnela listu za gradske izbore". Dnevni list Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  9. "ПРОГРАМ". Иницијатива Не давимо Београд. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  10. Fonet, Piše. "Varufakis podržao Inicijativu Ne davimo Beograd". Dnevni list Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  11. "Održana konferencija podrške Ne davimo Beograd: Građanski front u Beogradu!". espreso.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  12. "Pobeda SNS-a u Beogradu, još tri liste prešle cenzus". Radio Slobodna Evropa (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  13. "Svaki dan digni glas: Bukom protiv diktature". Иницијатива Не давимо Београд. 2020-04-26. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  14. Insajder. "Treći dan akcije Bukom protiv diktature uz pištaljke i lupanje u šerpe". Insajder (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  15. Beta, Piše (2020-04-28). "Ulice za bicikliste i Ne davimo Beograd predlažu mere za regulaciju saobraćaja". Dnevni list Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  16. Beta, Piše (2020-02-01). "Inicijativa Ne davimo Beograd: Van funkcije stanice koje mere zagađenje vazduha". Dnevni list Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  17. "Protest za čist vazduh!". Иницијатива Не давимо Београд. 2020-01-15. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  18. Torović, Marko Tašković-Vesna. "SRBIJA DOBIJA NOVU OPOZICIJU Šta je Građanski front i kako planiraju da smene vlast". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  19. "Opozicija spremna da sarađuje za fer izbore i slobodu medija". N1 Srbija (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  20. "Opozicioni savezi i stranke potpisali dokument o uslovima za fer izbore". N1 Srbija (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-04-29.
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