At the invitation of the non-governmental organization ANIMA from Kotor, a representative of EXPEDITIO took part at the final conference of the project “Promotion of the European charter for equality of women and men in local life”. The conference was held in Mostar, on November 2, 2012. A chapter of this charter is dedicated to the topic of Planning and Sustainable Development treated from gender perspective.

On 4 November 2012, the round table “Activities for the protection and valorization of chestnut forests and Vrmac Hill” was held in Kostanjica. It was organized by the Association “Kamelija” and the Local Community of Stoliv as part of the traditional event “Kostanjada Stoliv 2012”.

Representatives of Expeditio Tatjana Rajić and Jelena Pejković completed the course "Living Laboratories: Resilience and Sustainability of Municipalities" which took place on Isola di San Servolo, Venice, from November 26, 2012 to December 5, 2012. A total of 27 representatives of Turkey, Hungary, Poland, Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia were invited to participate in this course.

From 21 to 28 October 2012 a workshop on “Dragon Dreaming” was held on the island of Brač.  Dragon Dreaming is a holistic method for the implementation of creative, collaborative, sustainable projects.

The workshop on urban planning, tourism and (agri)culture entitled „Cetinje / Bajice or the Town out in the Fields”, organized by the Petrović Njegoš Foundation, in cooperation with the Municipality of Cetinje, Architectural Faculty from Podgorica, NGO Expeditio, NGO Green Home and Vukica Martinović, began on 3 October 2012 in a Martinović family memorial house in Bajice.  The workshop will last until 11 October 2012. It is a continuation of the Meetings of Petrović Njegoš Foundation organized during the first ten days of September 2012, when the workshop “Agriculture, Landscape and Economic Development” was held in the village of Gornja Lastva

A report on the dry stone worshop held in Boka Kotorska on 30 September 2012 and organized by Expeditio and Dragodid has been published on Dragodid’s website.

The report entitled With EXPEDITIO in Boka Kotorska can be read here.

On Sunday, 30 September 2012, a workshop and presentation on dry stone masonry techniques were organized by EXPEDITIO and the association Dragodid from Croatia. The workshop was held in an olive grove in the village of Tići on Luštica Peninsula. The workshop was led by Filip Bubalo and Grga Frankeš, representatives of the Dragodid association.

The workshop was followed by a public presentation on dry stone masonry techniques and activities of the Dragodid association. The presentation was held at 8.00 p.m. at the Gallery of Solidarity (Flour Square – next to Pima Palace) in the Old Town of Kotor.

Expeditio representative Jelena Pejković was selected to participate in the UNESCO Regional School on Sustainable Energy Governance in Dubrovnik, Croatia from September 29 to October 5, 2012. The school is a unique educational opportunity to enhance capacity-building in sustainable energy by conveying in a single venue a substantial capital of knowledge developed in UNESCO designated sites (World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves) in Europe. Experienced lecturers will highlight the links between advanced technology in the field of energy efficiency and the preservation of historical buildings and natural settings. The course will include a number of team-working sessions and field exercises using the World Heritage site of Dubrovnik as a real training scenario laboratory.

Architectural Studio Sinestezia from Belgrade organized an international architectural competition for the Preliminary Architectural Design for the Boka Artist Residence in Boka Kotorska. By the decision of an international jury composed of seven members, including a representative of Expeditio, the winner is a Japanese architect Tomohiro Hata from Kobe.

Expeditio representative took part in the workshop “Participatory approach to spatial planning, strategic documents development and public policy making”, which was held in the Municipality of Tivat on 13 September 2012.  The workshop, as a part of the LAMP project, was organized by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism in cooperation with the World Bank. The workshop included presentations held by: representative of the Municipality of Tivat, LAMP representative -Dragan Cvetković, lawyer Rade Jovanović, journalist Dušanka Pejović, Svetlana Jovanović – representative of the Republic Institute for Urban Planning and Design and spatial planner Dragoljub Marković.   

Expeditio received a one year license for using the latest version of ArcGIS software throught the Esri Nonprofit Organization Program.

From 1 to 10 September 2012, an international workshop entitled “Agriculture, Landscape and Economic Development” was held in the village of Gornja Lastva, Tivat. The workshop was organized by the Petrović Njegoš Foundation and NGO “Cultural Heritage Association NAPREDAK Gornja Lastva“, Tivat, in cooperation with NGOs EXPEDITIO from Kotor and Green Home from Podgorica.

We wan to inform you that Expeditio office will be closed August 1^st-20^th, 2012, due to summer vacations.

Between 9 and 20 July 2012 a Regional training on sustainable energy and transport entitled “Young leaders for sustainable future” was held on the island of Šolta, Croatia. A total of nineteen representatives of organizations from Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in this event.

Nevladina organizacija EXPEDITIO uputila je Reagovanje na izjavu gradonačelnice Opštine Kotor i medija (novinara Skala radia i TV Atlas) o dostavljanju pogrešnih informacija Komitetu za svjetsku baštinu UNESCO od strane NVO Expeditio. Reagovanje može učitati ovdje.

NGO Expeditio engagement in matters relating to the issue of the roundabout in the Municipality of Kotor was in the form of participation of the Expeditio representative in the labor of the Expert team for expert opinion with proposed measures to address the issues of detour in the Municipality of Kotor.

On 17 July 2012, Expeditio organized a presentation entitled ”A new approach to learning the traditional building techniques" – Restoration of the architectural heritage through examples of Regional restoration camps organized in Gjirokastra, Albania”.

On Wednesday, June 13th 2012, visiting NGO Expeditio were students from the University of Vienna BOKU (University of Natural Resources and Applied Natural Sciences) who were from June 10th to 16th, 2012 in the study visit to protected areas of Montenegro. A representative of the NGO Expeditio, Tatjana Rajic, in the hall of the Music School (in the hall of the church Holy spirit), gave a presentation on the Expeditio activities.

Recognizing the attractiveness the action “Joga in the Park” has had for the citizens of Kotor and tourists visiting the town, the Tourist Board of Kotor decided to support financially the follow-up of yoga practicing in Kotor Park.

Expeditio representative, Zorica Tomanović, took part in the conference “The role of civil society in the promotion of sustainable transport”, which was held in Brussels on 26-29 June 2012. Additional information on the conference can be found here.

Reagovanje povodom teksta objavljenog 24. juna 2012. u dnevnim novinama „Dan“ nastalog na osnovu izjave direktora NVO „Mladi zeleni“ g. Dejana Kovačevića: „Vlada povela duple predstavnike“

Uredništvu dnevnih novina "Dan": Povodom  teksta pod nazivom „Vlada povela duple predstavnike“, objavljenog u Vašim novinama dana 24. juna 2012. godine, dostavljamo Vam sljedeće reagovanje  sa ciljem da se javnost pravilno informiše, odnosno da se ne unosi zabuna pogrešnim podacima iznijetim u navedenom tekstu.

From 22 to 24 June 2012, a two-day course on permaculture was held at the House of Free Thought in Kavač. It was attended by 17 participants from Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. The course, led by the lecturers from Slovenia, presented a chance for the participants to learn about the basic principles of permaculture.

Meeting of the Network of Open Society Foundations and NGOs of Montenegro, was held on Wednesday, 20th June 2012, at the Hotel Podgorica Congress Hall. The meeting represented discussion and exchange of opinions, and among the 30 NGOs representatives from Montenegro, the meeting was attended by representatives of Expeditio, as well.

Our colleague Biljana Gligoric is current located in Rio de Janeiro at the third World Summit on Sustainable Development Rio +20. At the Rio +20 conference, world leaders, along with thousands of participants from government, private sector, NGOs and other groups, along will consider possibilities of how we can reduce poverty, improve social equity and ensure environmental protection in order to create the future we want. 

Dragi prijatelji/ce, nakon 3 dana vježbanja joge, prethodnog vikenda u kotorskom Parku Slobode, nastavljamo projekat "Joga u parku" u Velikom gradskom parku u Tivtu. Od 22-24.06.2012, vježbaće se svakog dana po sljedećem rasporedu:
09.00 - 10.00 h Joga
12.00 - 13.00 h Joga, disanje
15.00 - 16.00 h Joga, meditacija
18.00 - 19.00 h Joga, disanje, meditacija
19.00 - 20.00 h Predavanje: Joga za zdrav i srećan život
Učešće je besplatno.

The representative of Expeditio Martina Đeković participated at the 10th annual meeting of the SEE Heritage Network, which was held in Skopje in the period from June 8th till 10rh, 2012. The meeting was followed by training on accession to EU funds, with particular emphasis on the IPA. 25 representatives of the SEE Heritage Network members from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia participated in the meeting and training. During the meeting, participants had the opportunity to listen to the presentation of the TASCO office in Skopje, who presented the work of TASCO in the region and the possibility of EU funding for civil society organizations. 
 

Training on accession to EU funds to representatives of SEE Heritage Network members, was held also by representatives of TASCO office in Macedonia.

The organization of the meeting and training was financially supported by the Headley Trust UK.

Building with wood is an initiative that promotes wood as building material. Through informing professionals (architects, builders, investors and companies), as well as general public, it aims to increase the use of wood in construction. Expeditio representative will participate in a basic two-day seminar focusing on new wood products and wood structures designing, new modern European technologies and simple solutions suited to Serbian standards. The seminar, intended for achitects and civil engineers, will take place in Belgrade on 13-14 June 2012.

Biljana Gligoric, Vice President of the Council for Sustainable Development and representative of NGO Expeditio, chaired the 24^th session of the National Council for Sustainable Development, held on June 1, 2012. The session was an opportunity to discuss a draft expert document that is to form the basis of the Platform for the presentation of Montenegro at the Third World Summit on Sustainable Development (the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development - Rio+20), and a draft of the Fourth annual report on the implementation of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development during the period  January 1 - December 31, 2011.

At the Rio+20 Conference, world leaders, along with thousands of participants from governments, the private sector, NGOs and other groups, will come together to shape how we can reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection on an ever more crowded planet to get to the future we want.

Within the Second Coordination Meeting of Project Coordinators of Ljubljana process II, held in Bar on May 16-17, 2012, the representative of Expeditio gave a presentation on "Process of Development of Preliminary Technical Assessment (PTA) through Example of Old Town Bar"

A representative of Expeditio participated on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at the conference on homelessness organized by the Housing Center from Belgrade. Housing Center, in partnership with the organization DISC from the UK, is realizing the project “Social Inclusion of Homeless Persons in Serbia“, and one of the activities within the project was organizing of the mentioned conference.

We would like to thank all those who contacted us by e-mail and FaceBook to congratulate us for our birthday. We would like to apologize in advance if we fail to reply to all of you individually, but we want you to know that we were very glad and touched by your contacts and your support.

On May 10, 2012, Expeditio is celebrating 15 years of its existence. Our first, student project - Expedition Perast '97 was realized in 1997. Since then, our organization has realized over 50 projects and a large number of various activities in the field of cultural heritage, sustainable architecture and physical planning.

Expeditio took part in an international symposium entitled "Shaping Cities - International Symposium of European Organizations Operating in Space City" which took place in Prague 22-23. May 2012.

Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism within the project: "Fostering dialogue and partnership for sustainable development between the Government and the business sector in Montenegro", which the Government of Montenegro implements in cooperation with the Agency NL in the Government of the Netherlands, formed the Network for Corporate Social Responsibility (Network CSR). Network member is representatives of Expeditio Biljana Gligoric.

The objective of the formation of the Network for CSR is to promote and raise awareness of the state administration, professional institutions and business and professional associations as well as the general public about the concept of corporate social responsibility as one of the mechanisms for sustainable development. Members of Network are representatives of state and academic institutions, business and professional associations, and professional and civil society organizations. Network members tasksTasks are related to active participation in the preparation and implementation of the Action Plan network, then making the Manual for CSR for SMEs in Montenegro, tracking workshops and other meetings on the topic of CSR, preparing Network bulletin and participation in the organization of joint concrete socially responsible initiatives.

The first meeting of the Network was held on Friday, April 27th at 10 am at the premises of the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism.

On the Earth Day, 22.04.2012, members of social networks TW, FB, G+,... from Montenegro organized #BicikloUP, bicycle ride through the streets of Podgorica. The goal of the action was to draw attention that Montenegrin towns need bicycle paths, in order to promote this type of transport and recreation but also to celebrate the Day of our dear Planet Earth.

A few days ago, within the project CORNERS, Balkan expedition set off with thirty artists and researchers from 7 countries from Europe who look for stories and inspiration for the work by travelling. This artistic venture of crossing the rocky Balkan started in Zagreb on 15.04.2012, and it ends in Rijeka on 29.04.2012. The CORNERS expedition will be in Cetinje on 23.04.2012.

STRAND – Sustainable Urban Society Association organize an international sympozijum "New Urbanity: Cities vs. Global Challenges" in Belgrade 26-28, April 2012 . The Symposium addresses a variety of themes, with the aim of recognizing analysis and potentials of urban policies for the predicting and directing development, innovative methodological framework, in the context of the legislative framework, under the following topics:

- Effective urban policies
- City planning in a period of transition
- Integrated plan, Corporative planning, Improvement of administration -  initiatives for improvement
- Urban planning as an instrument for sustainability
Influence of spatial planning, urban design and arhitectural form on urban sustainability
- Best practices, local and international

Schools and universities have great potential to serve as living laboratories for education of generations that will accept environment protection as a part of their everyday life. School and university campuses are specific urban units because they remind in their form and their function of miniature settlements. Strategies for planning and designing university campus, which is an open space classroom in its broadest sense, will be considered through discussions on the principles of sustainability, on LEED protocol for settlements and through examples from the practice. A lecture on the topic of “Campus as a Miniature Town: University Complex Design” will be held in Novi Sad, at the Faculty of Technical Sciences (Department for Architecture Lecture hall Ranko Radović), on April 19, 2012 at 10.15h. The lecturer is Jelena Pejković, the representative of Expeditio in Serbia.

Expeditio news for the March 2012 can be read here.

“Earth Hour 2012” will be organized worldwide on Saturday, 31 March 2012, from 8.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. At this hour, citizens worldwide will turn off their lights for one hour to raise awareness about the need to take action on climate change. In Montenegro, the event will be organized by the NGO Green Home from Podgorica, in cooperation with partners from different Montenegrin towns. Expeditio supports the action. We invite all the citizens, institutions, households and businesses to participate in the event by turning off their lights, contributing in that way to protecting our planet.

Akcija "Sat za planetu" organizuje se i ove godine širom svijeta. U subotu 23. marta 2013. godine sa početkom u 20.30h, građani/ke naše planete koji žele da doprinesu zaštiti životne sredine, ugasiće svjetla na 60 minuta. Expeditio podržava akciju i ove godine. Pozivamo i sve građane/ke, institucije, preduzeća i sve zainteresovane, da se pridružie inicijativi i na taj način doprinesu očuvanju naše planete.

Action "Earth Hour" is organized this year around the world. On Saturday, March 29th, 2014, starting at 20.30h, citizens of our planet who want to contribute to environmental protection, will turn off the lights for 60 minutes. Expeditio also supports this action. We invite all citizens, institutions, businesses companies and all interested parties to join the initiative and thus contribute to the preservation of our planet. 

Radio Free Europe’s Diary for the last week was written by the architect Biljana Gligorić, programme director at Expeditio, Centre for Sustainable Development in Kotor. The diary can be listen to and read here.

EXPEDITIO representative, Biljana Gligorić, participated in the National Conference for secondary school students focusing on the European integration process, organized within the project “Enjoying European Values for Young People”. The conference was held in Budva from 23^rd to 26^th March 2012. In addition to being a visiting lecturer at the panel discussing the topics of environmental protection and sustainable development, Biljana moderated a working group treating the same subjects. The conference was organized by the NGO Juventas from Podgorica, in cooperation with the project partners. Additional information on Juventas can be found here.

The Balkan Xpedition begins soon within the CORNERS project. The Xpedition will include 30 artists and researchers from seven European countries who are exploring the outer regions and coasts of Europe in search of stories and inspiration for their new work.  This joint venture “across the hilly Balkans” begins in Zagreb on 15 April 2012 and ends in Rijeka on 29 April 2012.