On a makeshift podium in Europa Park, next to the Tirana Municipality, activists from "Civic Resistance" organized an awareness-raising activity today against the noise caused by the free use of fireworks.
Denouncing the lack of public peace, especially during the night hours, they ironically awarded "medals" to the most patient citizens and demanded punitive measures from the municipality.
"Third prize" was awarded to Armand Skuka, a citizen who managed to sleep, despite the nightly explosions under the window.
"This is a man who, instead of a morning alarm, had fireworks on the first floor," said activist Jura Çitozi, who presented the awards, with irony.
The "second prize" was awarded to Ines Mulellari, the mother who for ten nights in a row had hugged her children frightened by the noise, whispering: "Don't be afraid, there are people who haven't yet learned to celebrate with their hearts, but with noise."
While the "First National Peace Award" was awarded to Rea Xhuke, a student who endured the explosions for 30 consecutive nights without reacting with anger.
The ironic action aimed to draw attention to the noise of fireworks, which are set off freely without a schedule, a problem that has become a daily part of life in the capital.
One of the ladies present at the protest told Citizens.al that she was quite concerned about the noise, especially for the little ones.
"It's the children who need to be protected. For me, fireworks are not needed in such a way that they burn, kill children, children don't understand anything," she said.
"The most patient citizen of Tirana", Rea Xhuke, said that this initiative came from the need to awaken civic consciousness.
“For us students who are relatively eager to study at night, that is the only quiet time to concentrate. These noises make it impossible to concentrate,” she said, emphasizing that the symbolic protest was a form of public awareness.
Petition against noise
Activists announced the launch of a citizen petition that will be sent to the Tirana Municipal Council, to impose fines on unauthorized users of fireworks.
The medals distributed had a code on the back that allowed access to the online petition.
According to Çitozi, this civic initiative calls for a ban on the use of fireworks, especially during night hours (21:00 PM-06:00 AM) and the declaration of protected areas near hospitals, social centers, etc.
In 2018, three ministries adopted decisions prohibiting the free import and use of fireworks and firecrackers, except on official holidays.
In April 2024, former Interior Minister Taulant Balla announced criminal measures and new rules for their licensing and storage.
"Today, at the government meeting, we approved new rules [...] we will be very strict in this regard," he said at the time.
However, the situation on the ground remains unchanged. Fireworks continue to be sold and set off freely, especially in the late hours, causing concern and uncertainty for citizens.
Erisa Kryeziu has completed higher studies in Journalism and Communication and Master of Science in Public Relations at the University of Tirana. She has been a journalist and project manager at Citizens.al for five years, where she reports on social issues and human rights, especially on issues of rights at work, in education, gender equality, marginalized groups, people with disabilities such as and for environmental issues. At the same time, she works as a project coordinator with a focus on youth and media education. User of new reporting techniques such as "Mobile Journalism" and citizen engagement tools in reporting (ECR-Engage Citizens Journalism).
