VITALY (30) ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS DEFENDER IN RUSSIA
HUMAN
Photographer: Anette Brolenius
‘Do what you believe in and believe in what you are doing’ Most people would characterize him as a silent personality, who doesn’t wish to attract too much attention. Vitaly indeed, is a silent rebel who has dedicated all his efforts to help environmental human rights defenders worldwide and preserve the planet’s safety. He has been doing this since a very young age, being 18 years old when he first got involved in this path. “I started reading for the first time about environmental and nuclear activities while I was still at school. As soon as I realized the damage we cause to our planet I thought, “I need to do something from my side too”. It used to be a period of orientation until I got where I am now and decided to focus and adjust my work on environmental activities that can affect everyone. The world we live in can actually become terrible. I experienced and realized this in different occasions and couldn’t close my eyes for this ever since. However this doesn’t mean necessarily that we have to risk everything and struggle for the impossible. If we do small and stable steps, the change will follow. Peace and non-violent activities have been the cornerstones of my work. If I had to suggest something, that would be something that we use every day, at any time. It makes our day more beautiful and helps not only ourselves and the work we do, but also the people we work with. What is that? ‘A Smile’”. In Russia not only environmental rights are being threatened but also our freedom of speech. Our work is getting more and more difficult, especially the last few decades.