The movie “Blue Heart” on tour around Albania

The film by the prestigious Californian sportswear company Patagonia, made by the Farm League, shows the ongoing efforts of local communities and activists in the Balkans to protect their rivers from the massive development of hydropower projects with around 3,000 HPPs planned to be built in the whole peninsula. During 40 minutes, the stories of Albania, Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are documented in support of the campaign for the protection of the rivers of the Balkans, "Saving the Blue Heart of Europe". The history of Vjosa's defense is that of the struggle of the residents of Kuta in Mallakastër, the organizations of Albanian activists and the successful legal battle against the construction of the Pocem hydropower plant. The screening of the film started with the premiere in Tirana and continued in the Vjosa valley, where it was also shown for the communities affected by the HPP projects planned in Vjosa. Kuta (May 7), Përmet (May 8), Tepelën (May 9), Qesarat (Memaliaj/ (May 11), Selenica (May 12), as well as in Shkodër (May 14).