Jesteśmy lasem. Słowacy w lustrze inicjatywy ekologicznej My sme les
We Are the Forest: Slovaks in the Mirror of the Ecological Initiative My sme les

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to explore the common points between the ecological movement and citizenship by discussing My sme les, a Slovak citizens’ initiative to protect Slovak forests. The Slovaks’ involvement in nature conservation as demonstrated by the My sme les campaign was recognised here not only as a manifestation of global trends in changing ecological awareness but also as a reflection of the special bond between man and nature ingrained in Slovak culture and mentality. The ecological movement currently developing in new media forms in Slovakia was introduced with an analysis of various (mainly online and audio-visual) sources related to the My sme les campaign. The article highlights the influence of the Deep Ecology trend on Slovak activists and the projects they have implemented. The My sme les initiative is not only an appeal for the social responsibility of Slovaks when it comes to the devastation of native nature, but also proves to be an important step towards a deeper civic engagement with the community. The Slovak case provides confirmation of the main thesis of Deep Ecology, namely that humans are not above nature, but are an integral part of it. Thanks to the My sme les initiative, in the context of Slovak culture, the forest emerged as a new cultural symbol, polemical towards the mountains, traditionally interpreted in a national-cultural key.

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