Sri Lanka Environmental Journalists Forum(SLEJF)

Name: Natallia Sliadneva
Date of Birth: 24 February 1956
Nationality: Belarus
Country: Republic of Belarus
Organization:
The private industrial unitary enterprise
Designation:
Director and editor-in-chief of magazines «Ecologist and Me and "The World of Animals"
Address: st. Osipov,
15/207,
Gomel,
246010 Belarus
Web ; http://ecofauna.org ; http://fauna.iatp.by

Natallia Sliadneva is the founder and the editor-in-chief of the ecological editions — magazines "The World of Animals" and «Ecologist and Her journalistic activity has begun in 1997. Since the edition of information leaflet of a society of animals' protection, then newspaper, under her management "The World of Animals" has turned to glossy magazine for these years. With the first numbers of the edition there has begun a work of a heading «Chair of ecology» which because of the urgency and presence of a considerable quantity of problem materials has been allocated and transformed in due course to the newspaper «Ecologist and Me». In a kind of absence of financing, since 2006 N. Sliadneva has incurred all expenses under the edition and became the founder and the publisher of magazines. Ecological knowledge of the population promotes public opinion formation in environment protection, provides realization of the ecological rights and duties of citizens in the field of preservation of the environment. Considering that introduction of ecological culture is necessary for beginning with a family, she spends the big work in the given direction. The offered information material is perceived by the reader with interest and desire to learn even more. And as the result, magazines extend not only on territory of Belarus, but also Russia, the countries of near and far abroad.

N. Sliadneva's activity was recognized and also found a support from the side of Ministry of natural resources and preservation of the environment, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of culture, training-methodical association of higher educational institutions of Belarus by ecological formation. Magazines are recommended for schools and country libraries, for use as in the organization of educational work with pupils and students, and in educational process.

N. Sliadneva has taken part in different competitions, round tables, projects and etc. Some of her activity is listed below: — The project “the Edition of the newspaper "The World of Animals" in 2002 with the support of the American Agency on the International development of the USA through fund Eurasia within the limits of the program «Save up dews white», carried out corporation «ISAR, Inc» in Belarus: the newspaper develops (is registered and the second newspaper is issued — “Ecologist and Me”), the volume, circulation, distribution territory are increased;

N. Sliadneva possesses a high sense of responsibility for the business, firmness and courage. Without having any professional journalistic education but only strong desire and enthusiasm, she has lifted the magazines on high and qualitative level, has made them leading ecological editions in the country. It is necessary to mention that she has studied independently all the stages of the magazines' edition. During an economic crisis when there is a closing of newspapers and magazines all around, N. Sliadneva has made the decision, on which not each journalist will dare. To cut expenses and to keep magazines, she has refused the wages, all preparation of magazines on the computer she does be herself. The fidelity to her business she draws to herself those who supports her sights. The colleagues respect her and she is accepted in members of the Public association “Belarus union of journalists”.

With her magazines the whole generation has grown. The youth which she helps to develop creative abilities aspires to her also, to choose the way of life. After school many of them began to learn the ecology, literature, veterinary science, journalism, psychology and etc. For those who've selected a trade of the journalist, magazines became a launching pad. Here any interested person gains the first journalistic experience that is very important for the higher education of young people.

Natallia Sliadneva is a good example of an active and productive cooperation with NGOs and governmental structures directed for the ecological literacy and culture development of our society. Her name is known beyond the bounds of Belarus on the Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Denmark, France, Switzerland and etc. She is utterly devoted to her work. She is held in respect and enjoys her partners' confidence. She is always in search of new contacts, ideas, projects. She takes part in significant events, receiving the invitations for the participation, for example, to take a part in the Republican Ecological Forums, international scientific conferences “Sakharov's Reading: Environmental problems of XXI century” and etc.

N. Sliadneva responds to a question why she has decided to take part in the competition: «First of all, this dialogue with like-minded people. It is important to me to know that there are a lot of us, those who is not indifferent to a life, to problems of the Mother-earth, its children. Without it my existence seems senseless. And moves me — the love. The love granted to me by God, helps me to survive as a person and the journalist, to help another to become more kindly, more tolerant. All of us need to learn how to appreciate happiness of human dialogue, to become true owners of invaluable riches under the name of life. All the years of my journalistic life I never changed to the principles». N. Sliadneva is assured that low level of ecological culture of a society — a principal cause of ecological crisis. She considers that only ecologically competent society will not admit ecological accidents and will keep the Earth for the future generations