Zlatko Kokanović, a 48-year-old Serbian farmer, is fiercely opposed to a proposed lithium mine in his farming valley, vowing to resist its opening at any cost.

The Jadar valley in western Serbia, rich in lithium, has become a battleground, with the government seeing the mine as an economic boon, while critics fear it will cause irreversible environmental damage.

The project, led by Rio Tinto, has sparked widespread protests against President Aleksandar Vučić’s administration.

Thousands are expected to rally in Belgrade, demanding a ban on lithium mining in Serbia, the Associated Press has reported.

Kokanović and his group, “We Won’t Give up Jadar,” are determined to protect the land for future generations.

Written by B.C. Begley