There is a myth that hydropower is the cheapest, greenest and most modern technology. In reality, hydropower facilities have a dramatic impact on the environment and people. Construction of large dams floods forests, terrestrial and riparian ecosystems, agricultural lands, changes river flow and results in coastal erosion. Batumi coastline is a good example of the damage that hydropower plants cause to the environment. The guest of the series of “This Country is Yours” podcasts is Manana Kochladze, who is going to tell us about the impact that hydropower facilities can have on the environment and people. More... (GEO)

What is independence? Freedom? Identity? Ilia Chavchavadze starts talking about these topics a long time ago and if we get to know his work well, we will understand that he is contemporary with us. While problems related to these issues exist today too. Meeting within the framework of the #ThisCountryIsYours campaign with Lasha Bugadze, Nestan Nene Kvinikadze and Toresa Mossy at the Ilia Chavchavadze House-Museum in Kvareli. Read more (Geo)...

The “1anoba” (unity) platform was created on March 23, 2020 in response to problems entailed by COVID-19. In the framework of a three-month activity, “1anoba” has already helped hundreds of socially vulnerable people with special needs.  The platform brings together volunteers, business companies, public, donor organizations and the state. In the Georgian reality, “1anoba” is a good example of cross-sectoral cooperation. Enthusiastic volunteers, who are specially trained and help vulnerable groups on a daily basis, make a great contribution to the effective implementation of the activity. Nikoloz Mnatobishvili is one of the volunteers registered on the website of “1anoba”: “I would like to thank creators of the foundation for giving us the opportunity to participate in this good work. People need our help a lot during this time and when I see their happy faces, it makes me feel emotional too. I hope the foundation will further develop and help more people even after the pandemic”.  This is not the first volunteer experience for Nikoloz. He has also participated in cleaning of the Vere Valley together with a group of volunteers from the City Hall after the June 13 developments. Besides, he and his friends have repeatedly helped a family, having various needs, as well as an orphanage with their own resources.  “1anoba” helps people with disabilities, elderly people up to 70 years of age and single mothers who have been granted status by the state. The platform shares an emotional letter of one of the beneficiaries, which won’t really leave you indifferent: “I decided to purchase food stocks for a short term and noticed a known granny at the cashier- she was counting coins to buy one bread and butter. At some time, this granny used to help her mother, she used to bring milk to my brother. I come from a large family. My conscience bothered me, so I came to her and handed over the products I had purchased. She was refusing for a while, but I didn't give up either, I gave my products to her. And when I got home, I lied to children that I had lost money. Today I was thinking, maybe I could survive somehow until I get a social assistance and at that time they called me from “1anoba” saying: - “Hello Ma’am, we are bringing food products to you”. I was lost, could not speak for a while, I barely managed to say our address. I cannot express my gratitude to you in words, I saw God in you”, - T.R., a platform beneficiary.  Nino Zambakhidze, Co-Founder of “1anoba”, Chairperson of the Georgian Farmers’ Association, talked to the representative of csogeorgia.org, the web portal of civil society organizations, about the idea of the platform, performed activities and future plans. Interviewed by Tekle Karosanidze Read more (GEO)

Measures taken against the new Coronavirus have entailed mixed reactions within the society. There are still debates in regard to restrictions, imposed by the Government, arguing whether they were adequate to threats or not. In this context, the greatest emphasis is given to restriction of human rights and freedom.  Lazare Jibladze, a lawyer of the Human Rights Center, talks about how correctly the Government acts, whether or not our rights are violated in the conditions of the state of emergency, and when we should give up part of our freedom.  Interviewed by Maka Jaiani Read more (GEO)

Activities of civil society organizations have shifted to the online space due to the pandemic, caused by the Corona virus. Their activities are diverse and loaded even in the state of emergency. CsoGeorgia.org - the web portal of civil society organizations shares useful information about online activities planned and carried out by CSOs that may be of interest to yo see more (geo)…

Georgia and the entire world confronted different reality due to a new coronavirus. Human relationships, responsibilities to ourselves, to those around us and to society as a whole have gained different weight. What does civic responsibility mean and do we humans manage to assume it in case of necessity? We have talked to Zaza Piralishvili, a philosopher, about this.  Interviewed by Maka Jaiani Read more (Geo)

According to a study published by the UN Women in 2017, one of every four women has experienced some form of gender-based violence throughout her life. The same study shows that in 2017, as compared with 2009, appliance to law enforcement agencies due to domestic violence increased - in 2009 only 1.5% of women applied to police reporting about such abuse, while in 2017 this figure increased up to 18%. What is the situation in terms of this and, in general, gender related issues in Georgia? - Tamar Dekanosidze, Lawyer, a representative of GYLA and Equality Now talks about this subject. Interviewed by Tekle Karosanidze Read more (Geo)...

Oliver Reisner - Professor at Ilia State University, he has been living and working in Georgia for years.  It is interesting to hear his opinion about the stereotype well known in the society – “We are deprived of Georgianity”. Read more (GEO)

The third sector has presented a number of studies on ecological situation of Georgia, construction of HPPs and related issues to the public during last months. Such interest first of all indicates acuteness of the topic. Conclusions experts, problems caused by unsuccessful constructions, and frequent protest rallies of population make it obvious that there are a lot of unresolved issues in this field. Manana Kochladze, Chairwoman of a public organization “Green Alternative”, states that one of the main reasons for this is the lack of a development plan for energetics in the state. Interviewed by Maka Jaiani Read more... 

The third sector struggles for improvement of the third government. Fortunately, it is not alone in this fight - society demands an independent and well operational judicial power. The reform that is split into waves and is offered to us by the government in order to change this system fundamentally, raises further more questions. How should a really independent and well operational judicial power look like, what should be done for this purpose, what is done and what is not done? Giorgi Mshvenieradze, current Head of the "Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary”, Chairman of the "Georgian Democracy Initiative”, will talk to us about challenges that the judiciary of Georgia faces. Read more (geo)…

''Children are not voters, that is why nobody cares about their benevolence'', - states Ana Arganashvili, Executive Director of ''Partnership for Human Rights'' (PHR), a human rights defender, who has been interviewed on issues related to complex causes of violence against children, shortcomings existing in the child protection system and level of influence of civil society organizations on solution of these issues. Read more (geo)…

From January 1, 2019, the Law of Georgia on Accumulative Pension has been fully enacted in Georgia, respectively, transfer of contributions of those employed and employers to the Pension Agency, as stipulated by law, has been initiated. Results of the last two months show that new regulations have created a challenge to civil society organizations and, in general, to N(N)LE-s in a lot of directions. In particular, Davit Tivishvili, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Financial Manager of the "Civil Society Institute”, explains what problems this type of organizations face and how they can be solved. Read more (geo)…