In Gospić, a large protest was held on Saturday, titled 'Walk for Lika, walk for Croatia', in which citizens expressed deep dissatisfaction with the current state of the environment in their town. The protest was organised by civic associations, and the gathering began at midday, precisely on time, drawing in many local residents concerned about the ecological situation in their town.
The main reason for the gathering was the response to the long-standing problem of tens of tons of illegally dumped waste in the area of Gospić. Protesters highlighted the urgent need for the remediation of environmental damage, stressing the danger to the health of people and the environment. The protest was organised as an expression of general dissatisfaction, with participants calling for the immediate intervention of the relevant authorities to resolve the pollution problem that has been weighing on the local community for years.
The protest received high-level support. The President of the Republic, Zoran Milanović, directly supported the protest, highlighting that it was a call for the institutions to address the problem of pollution more quickly and effectively. He stressed the need to establish responsibility for the import and illegal dumping of waste, pointing out that the state must take responsibility for the damage caused by the mismanagement of waste.
In addition to civic associations, the protest was supported by representatives of trade unions, including SSSH, HNS, and the unions of journalistic and police professions, which demonstrated broad societal support for the protection of the environment. Participants stressed that this was a general problem requiring urgent measures, not just local interventions, and that long-term solutions for the protection of the environment and the health of citizens were necessary.
