Positive Social Transformation: An Idea Whose Time Has Come
January 28, 2025, Novi Sad, Serbia, Nataša Heror
I’ve been thinking for days about how to start. The best way is from the beginning.
When I was first invited to join an online event of Ecocivilization in the autumn of 2020, it became clear
to me that I wanted to be a part of building this movement.
How? I had no idea.
Everything felt so logical, noble, and a little utopian. A defining feature of Ecocivilization is that those who resonate with the idea really like it, but they can’t quite explain what it’s about, including myself.
For three whole years, I’ve been observing and thinking about what Serbia can offer the world without feeling embarrassed.
My intuitive understanding has never wavered: the time for positive social transformation has come.
I’ll quote Hugo: “Nothing is stronger than an idea whose time has come.”
With great pride, I am speaking from Serbia, where something entirely new is being born we are witnessing a social process led by students.
To understand this process, let me provide some context: on November 1, 2024, a tragedy occurred at the Novi Sad railway station when 15 people lost their lives due to a canopy collapse.
It’s important to note that the station had been recently renovated and opened to the public only a few months before the tragedy.
Corruption and incompetence led to this horrific event. Since that day, nothing has been the same in Serbia. Protests have been organized daily, with moments of silence at 11:52 AM—the time of the tragedy.
At the end of November 2024, university student’s protests began. Soon, high school students joined in.
Don’t forget, Christmas and New Year’s came, followed by the winter break. The protests didn’t stop; in fact, the new semester didn’t start on time in primary schools, and some didn’t start at all.
International context: neither Western nor Eastern politicians are supporting the citizens of Serbia. We are finally cleaning up our own backyard.
So, what’s new about the social movement led by young people? They don’t have a leader. Decisions are made by direct voting during plenums, with good manners, intelligence, and education taking center stage. They communicate through silence, well-founded statements, and fantastic humor on their protest banners. They are doing things differently from previous generations that had the chance to confront authoritarian regimes.
As a result, our society will have different outcomes. They’ve turned the game around. The rhizomatic approach that Ecocivilization carries within it is crucial for designing new relationships, which are the most important task in creating a sustainable present and future.
P.S. While writing this, I listened to Dvořák’s Symphonie No 9 “Du Nouveau Monde” and the Government of the Republic of Serbia fell.
How? I had no idea.
Everything felt so logical, noble, and a little utopian. A defining feature of Ecocivilization is that those who resonate with the idea really like it, but they can’t quite explain what it’s about, including myself.
For three whole years, I’ve been observing and thinking about what Serbia can offer the world without feeling embarrassed.
My intuitive understanding has never wavered: the time for positive social transformation has come.
I’ll quote Hugo: “Nothing is stronger than an idea whose time has come.”
With great pride, I am speaking from Serbia, where something entirely new is being born we are witnessing a social process led by students.
To understand this process, let me provide some context: on November 1, 2024, a tragedy occurred at the Novi Sad railway station when 15 people lost their lives due to a canopy collapse.
It’s important to note that the station had been recently renovated and opened to the public only a few months before the tragedy.
Corruption and incompetence led to this horrific event. Since that day, nothing has been the same in Serbia. Protests have been organized daily, with moments of silence at 11:52 AM—the time of the tragedy.
At the end of November 2024, university student’s protests began. Soon, high school students joined in.
Don’t forget, Christmas and New Year’s came, followed by the winter break. The protests didn’t stop; in fact, the new semester didn’t start on time in primary schools, and some didn’t start at all.
International context: neither Western nor Eastern politicians are supporting the citizens of Serbia. We are finally cleaning up our own backyard.
So, what’s new about the social movement led by young people? They don’t have a leader. Decisions are made by direct voting during plenums, with good manners, intelligence, and education taking center stage. They communicate through silence, well-founded statements, and fantastic humor on their protest banners. They are doing things differently from previous generations that had the chance to confront authoritarian regimes.
As a result, our society will have different outcomes. They’ve turned the game around. The rhizomatic approach that Ecocivilization carries within it is crucial for designing new relationships, which are the most important task in creating a sustainable present and future.
P.S. While writing this, I listened to Dvořák’s Symphonie No 9 “Du Nouveau Monde” and the Government of the Republic of Serbia fell.
Description: The photo was taken on January 27, 2025, during the 24-hour blockade of Autokomanda in
Belgrade, Serbia. Photo: Luka Stojković
