By Ercan Ayboga, Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive & the Mesopotamian Ecology Movement:
We call activists, social movements and NGOs in the world to join an action day for the conservation of Hasankeyf and the Tigris River on 20th September 2015! Let’s protest together against the Ilisu Dam Project; one of most controversial ones in the world!
On Sunday, 20th September, we organize a big protest in the 10.000 years old town Hasankeyf which is threatened by the Ilisu Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant Project. If the construction of the ongoing project is completed, there will be a massive social, ecological and cultural destruction in Turkish-Kurdistan, the North of Mesopotamia. Up to 80,000 people will end up in greater poverty and the unique Tigris River will lose its outstanding ecological value. Considering the developments in the Middle East, the Ilisu Project will also intensify the ongoing conflicts within and outside the Turkish borders, latter is valid for Iraq and Syria in particular.
20th September will be the last day of a three day resistance camp. Hundreds of affected people and activists will gather in order to resist the Ilisu Project. Thousands of people will join us in a big march on 20th September. Since the end of the 90s there have been campaigns against he Ilisu project which was halted several times in the past.
You are invited to organize a public action in your city or country against the destructive Ilisu Project. You are free to chose the type of action. The demands should target mainly the Turkish government, the Austrian company Andritz – the most crucial company in the Ilisu consortium – or the Iraqi government, which is silent about the upcoming drying out of its country. Do not hesitate to contact us or inform us about your planned action.
Xwedî Derkeve - Defend our culture, land and people!
By Ercan Ayboga, for the Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive and the Mesopotamian Ecology Movement
Batman/Turkey
hasankeyfgirisimi@gmail.com
www.hasankeyfgirisimi.net
http://www.hasankeyfgirisimi.