Michal Kravcik

Hydrologist Michal Kravcik of Slovakia won the 1999 Goldman Prize for Europe due to his ceaseless environmental work, as well as his dedication to helping create a functioning democratic government.

In 1989, Slovakia's communist regime was replaced by a democratic system, but it was difficult to change the mindsets of citizens and officials alike. Centralized power continued as the means of ruling the country, and progress was slow.

In 1992, the Slovakian government revived an old plan to build a dam at Tichy Potok on the Upper Torysa River, providing drinking water and other supplies for East Slovakia's cities. This angered many environmentalists, because for more than 50 years, outdated Slovakian dams have destroyed more than 200 kilometers of river systems and forced the relocation of 100,000 people.

This dam was no different. It would have ruined the environment and four 700-year old villages. Kravcik, who had long disagreed with the national water management plans and outdated political polices, fought back. He designed an alternative strategy of small dams and reservoirs that were customized for the region's topography while still protecting the wetlands.

In 1993, he proposed Water for a Third Millennium, an alternative water management concept for the entire nation, and People and Water, a local grassroots organization.

People and Water encouraged Slovakians to democratically organize town meetings to question officials about the legality of the dam-building plans.

Kravcik showed how the current drinking-water reservoirs had not been used to their fullest extent, as well as how much water was wasted by an old and repair-needing distribution system.

His alternative plan outlined steps to fix these problems while minimizing the destructive impacts on the environment. Features of Kravcik’s plan included:

• resources managed by a local association of villages, requiring de-centralization of power;

• the creation of 35 microbasins;

• creation of a series of small dams on the streams;

• the restoration of agricultural lands;

• the protection of the historical villages.

The Ministry of Environment wouldn’t consider Kravcik’s proposal, and instead used the press to discredit him with unethical attacks. People and Water constructed a number of catch basins to show how well this plan would work, but the Ministry fined the group for working without a permit. Under Kravcik's leadership, People and Water helped organize a series of public meetings, helping Slovakians test the Environmental Impact Assessment law and really experience democracy in action. As a result, the government canceled plans for the dam in 1996.

In 1998, Kravcik organized a non-partisan voter education campaign that resulted in unprecedented participation in national elections. In the end, 84 percent of Slovakian citizens ousted the prime minister who had advocated the much-hated dam at Tichy Potok.

Today, Kravcik is still working hard to protect people and the environment. He continues to work in the region with Villages for the Third Millennium, a development program involving 24 villages that is focused on preserving the cultural heritage while providing “environmentally sensitive economic development.”