Costa-Gavras joins at Emek Theater protest
from Hurriyet Daily News
A group of thousands, including director Costa-Gavras and many actors, marched to Istanbul’s iconic Emek Cinema Theater.
Posts Tagged ‘Turkish Society’
Turkey’s another shame: Violent intervention to Emek Theatre protest in Istanbul…
In Uncategorized on April 7, 2013 at 18:38From Turkey with love. ‘Gate to Hell’ in Found… ‘Conjugal visit’ rooms for prisoners introduced…
In Uncategorized on April 2, 2013 at 21:36‘Gate to Hell’ in Turkey Found by Archaeologist
from Yahoo News Photos
‘Gate to hell’ in Turkey found: Researchers said recently they found the so-called “gate to hell,” which was described in ancient Greek and Roman mythology, in Turkey .
Example ‘conjugal visit’ rooms introduced in eastern province
from Hurriyet Daily News
Rooms where inmates will be able to meet their spouses and children following recent regulation changes…
One third of Turkish women feel unsafe, uneasy on street
from Hurriyet Daily News
Turkish women overall have more worries about their safety both at home and on the streets than men
Turkish mayor falls while paragliding
from Hurriyet Daily News
The mayor of the Black Sea province of Rize has suffered a minor fall while attempting to paraglide
First online university to be set up in Ankara
from Hurriyet Daily News
Three universities in the capital city of Ankara join forces to form the country’s very first virtual university. However, some clasess, like medicine or denstistry labs, will be held at physical classes
Alcohol ban in public spaces overturned by Turkish court
from Hurriyet Daily News
An administrative court in the inner Aegean province of..
Faithful on hajj waiting list to go on pilgrimage in 2014: Top Turkish cleric
from Hurriyet Daily News
People who have been waiting for the past seven years to make the hajj from Turkey will be granted.
Gay Rights: Where is Turkey Heading?
by Acturca
German Marshall Fund of the United States, March 28, 2013 Diba Nigar Göksel * The realities and debates of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons reflect the clashing social, political, and geostrategic trends in Turkey. While more openness, awareness-building, and concrete demands are rising from some segments of society, these are
Politics roundup. After ceasefire, who will be the Wise People?
In Uncategorized on March 27, 2013 at 16:43Two problems: Who can be the Wise People? And Who will choose them?
Turkish PKK Peace Plan Trajectory
from Kamil Pasha by Jenny White
In information leaked by Ankara sources to the press, the peace plan announced March 21 between the Turkish AKP government and Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned leader of the Kurdish PKK, is to proceed in three stages with implementation expected to be complete by local elections in March 2014. Stage 1: disarming of PKK militants (about 1500) and withdrawal from Turkey; Stage 2: Legal and political management of this process; Stage 3: Normalization, including the reintegration of former PKK rebels into society.
Kurdish New Year’s Resolutions
from NYT > Turkey by By ANDREW FINKEL
Turkey’s prime minister is making good progress negotiating with Kurdish militants. Now he needs to convince his own constituents that compromising means peace, not defeat.
Atatürk’s aphorism on Turkishness replaced with one promoting peace
from Hurriyet Daily News
The removal of “How happy is the one who says ‘I am a Turk,’” a proverb..
PKK should leave unarmed, says Turkish president
from Hurriyet Daily News
Turkish President Abdullah Gül says that the disarmament of the outlawed PKK militants is the essence of the ongoing peace process.
Kurdish peace scenarios in Ankara
from Hurriyet Daily News
The Turkish government has started to draft its scenarios in order to take further steps to realize.
A Kurdish Spring on Many Fronts
from NYT > Turkey by By HARVEY MORRIS
An anticipated truce between Turkey and Kurdish rebels could mark the latest advance for the largest nation in the world without a state of its own.
The Ultimate concurrence: Obama, Öcalan, Barzani
from Hurriyet Daily News
“The only way to truly protect the Israeli people is through the absence of war. Put yourself in their shoes..
Words enough for safe PKK retreat, AKP says
from Hurriyet Daily News
PM Erdoğan’s word is enough to guarantee a safe PKK walkout from the country..
Nationalist leader firm on ‘threatening’ words
from Hurriyet Daily News
A quarrel between the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the ruling Justice and Development Party
Turkey mulls ‘wise people’ group for Kurd peace process
from Yahoo News Photos
Turkey ‘s government is planning to establish a consultative body to oversee the ongoing peace negotiations with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, the prime minister says.
Three or four ‘wise men’ commissions to be formed: Turkish PM Erdoğan
from Hurriyet Daily News
Three or four “wise men” commissions, each comprised of seven representatives of civil society, could be formed to guide the ongoing peace process.
Turkey : PKK peace process raises constitutional change questions
The people of Turkey are digesting the historic statement from jailed rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, who called for a PKK ceasefire on March 21. The…
Analysis: Turkey and PKK on the road to peace
from AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH)
Peace talks between Turkey’s government and Kurdish fighters are progressing quickly, but major hurdles remain.
Turkey’s voting for censors
from World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Peter Preston
A leading columnist has been frozen out of his newspaper for revealing details of secret government talks with the PKK
Ocalan Newruz Text in English
from Mavi Boncuk by M.A.M
Mavi Boncuk |
Let all the oppressed have a free and happy Newroz!
Greetings to all peoples of Middle East and Central Asia who celebrate newroz, the day of revival and rejoice, with the greatest participation in the world…
Greetings to all other peoples of the world who celebrate newroz, the landmark of a new era and sunshine, with enthusiasm and a democratic tolerance.
Turkey’s growing constitutional conundrum
from open Democracy News Analysis – by Aslan Amani
Why does Turkey need a new constitution and what makes it so difficult to draft one?
OIC Secretary General commends Turkish government’s ‘determination for peace’
from Hurriyet Daily News
The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, has welcomed the call for a cease-fire..
Singing in Kurdish And Other Good Tidings
from Kamil Pasha by Jenny White
There’s so much good news in a row that it’s giving me vertigo. First, the Turkish government and the PKK call for an end to their long, vicious war. Then Israel makes up with Turkey by apologizing for the Mavi Marmara incident. And now, oh the irony, the Turkish government has kindly offered the financially ruined Greek Cypriots the opportunity to join the Turkish Lira Zone, should they be booted out of the Euro Zone.
A critical take on Turkey’s peace process
from Hurriyet Daily News
Turkey’s fledgling efforts to give peace a chance has taken a crucial turn on Nevruz day with a tremendous crowd..
KCK, PKK, HPG Declare Ceasefire
from Bianet :: English
KCK Executive Council Chair Murat Karayılan declared an official ceasefire with Turkey yesterday, adding that they were ready to withdraw from Turkey depending on Turkish administration’s response to the ongoing peace efforts.
Is a ‘Wise Men Commission’ being formed?
from Hurriyet Daily News
While Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was answering the questions of journalists during his Netherlands..
Barzani welcomes Öcalan’s call, ready for role in process
from Hurriyet Daily News
The president of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Masoud Barzani…
Sabotage : Pas de drapeau turc au Newroz de Diyarbakir !
from YOL (routes de Turquie et d’ailleurs) by anne
L’annonce de la fin du conflit armé, la ”fraternité turco kurde” et même l’éloge de “la bannière musulmane” sous laquelle elle se serait épanouie avant la naissance de la République (ça c’est plus nouveau) proclamé par le message d’Öcalan devant une immense foule en liesse lors du Newroz à Diyarbakir, n’ont pas suffit. Certes, tout le monde ou presque se réjouit.
……………….
Drapeau turc que le président du CHP Kemal Kiliçdaroglu affichait sur son compte Twitter, assorti d’un court extrait de l’hymne national turc :
“Turks no more smoke like Turk”… A Social Fabric roundup…
In Uncategorized on March 24, 2013 at 18:12
Turks no more smoke like Turk, report shows
from Hurriyet Daily News
Turkey has witnessed an above-average decrease in smoking…
Spider-Man’s Prayer Rug and A Penguin’s Headscarf
from The Istanbulian by Emre Kızılkaya
The Erdogan government’s education reform was controversial on many levels, which had drawn a lot of criticism, including the allegations that it would standardize the society in an Islamist way to the detriment of democratic pluralism in Turkey.
1970 | LIFE Magazine Article on Turkey
from Mavi Boncuk by M.A.M
Brothel for women ‘needed’: Turkish NGO
from Hurriyet Daily News
The Turkish anti-poverty association, ŞEFKAT-DER, filed a petition to Parliament on March 8..
Bulgarians, Azeris top list of new Turkish citizens
from Hurriyet Daily News
More than 124,000 foreigners received Turkish citizenship over the past.
Turkish Science Fiction in Translation
from Kamil Pasha by Jenny White
A commenter on this blog asked whether any Turkish science fiction was available in English. I put that question to the successful fantasy writer Barış Müstecaplıoğlu, whose work has been translated into several languages, including Chinese. He told me that in the scifi genre Levent Şenyürek’s The Book of Madness was available in English (Turkish title Çıldırtan Kitap). Booklist called it “excellent, intelligent entertainment”.
Ouf ! Le Soliman de la série culte Muhteşem Yüzyıl (le Siècle Magnifique) restera en liberté !
from YOL (routes de Turquie et d’ailleurs) by anne
Ouf ! On est rassuré. La très populaire série Muhteşem Yüzyıl (le Siècle Magnifique) a beau avoir été “censurée” par la Turkish Airline, au motif qu’elle donnerait une image insuffisamment glorieuse du sultan Soliman le Magnifique - en fait sans doute surtout car elle ne convient pas à l’image que Recep Tayyip Erdogan le chef de gouvernement s’en fait – un procureur d’Istanbul a décidé qu’il n’y avait pas “insulte contre le Sultan”.
Government to take time for headscarf legislation
from Hurriyet Daily News
The government is to wait for a social and political “maturing”.
Turkey Today: Nevruz comes with Ceasefire, Pressure on Media more than ever, Grave state of Ergenekon Case…
In Uncategorized on March 21, 2013 at 12:36Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan declares ceasefire with Turkey
from World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Constanze Letsch
PKK leader makes historic gesture to end 30-year Kurdish war, stressing need ‘to solve arms problem without losing another life’
Kurdish separatists in Turkey are poised today to take the most critical step yet in efforts to end a 30-year conflict with the Turkish state when they call a ceasefire.
Newroz 2013 : la foule à Siverek, la neige (et la foule aussi) à Hakkari.
from YOL (routes de Turquie et d’ailleurs) by anne
Cette fois les Urfa Haber n’ont pas escamoté son W à Newroz (comme la plupart des médias turcs (pas tous) continuent de le faire, toujours aussi coincés malgré le processus de paix). Et les images sont impressionnantes : il y avait foule à Siverek pour fêter Newroz 2013.
Hundreds of thousands gather in Diyarbakır for Nevruz
from Hurriyet Daily News
Around 200,000 people gathered in Diyarbakır’s Nevruz Park in the early hours of the morning.
Erdoğan’s negotiations with the PKK and the Syrian Kurds
from Hurriyet Daily News
The Syrian opposition elected their first prime minister at an Istanbul meeting.
The Nevruz threshold for Turkey’s future
from Hurriyet Daily News
I was trying not to make a single move as the policemen literally kicked blood out of my legs as I felt.
Turquie: Erdogan fait le pari risqué de la paix avec les Kurdes
by Acturca
Agence France Presse, Mercredi 20 mars 2013 Par Burak Akinci, Ankara En acceptant de discuter avec le « terroriste » honni Abdullah Öcalan, le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan s’est engagé à mettre un terme au conflit kurde, un pari risqué mais qui pourrait faire de lui, selon les analystes, le « Lincoln de la Turquie ». Concrétisation
PKK leader’s message will be read in Kurdish and Turkish: BDP
from Hurriyet Daily News
The message sent by the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)
BDP condemns attacks on ministry and AKP HQ in Ankara, warns of provocation
from Hurriyet Daily News
The Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) condemned today simultaneous attacks targeting the Justice
Blast Hits AKP Headquarters, Justice Ministry
from Bianet :: English
Explosions hit Turkey’s Justice Ministry building and governing AKP headquarters on Tuesday night, a series of attacks later on claimed by DHKP-C organization
Double bomb attack in Ankara targets ‘resolution process’: Turkish PM Erdoğan
from Hurriyet Daily News
The double attack against AKP headquarters and the Justice Ministry aimed to damage the ongoing “resolution process”.
Turkey ‘s ‘secret-keeper’: spy chief Hakan Fidan
from Yahoo news
The head of Turkish intelligence, Hakan Fidan, is the driving force behind the state’s clandestine peace talks with a jailed Kurdish rebel chief that aim to end a bloody three-decade insurgency.
Fraternity main theme in leaders’ Nevruz calls
from Hurriyet Daily News
Messages marking the spring holiday Nevruz, which will be celebrated today, offered an opportunity.
Wise-men commission may gather outside Parliament
from Hurriyet Daily News
The government is likely to take concrete steps next week to form a “wise men’s commission”
Turkish gov’t rescuing the PKK, convicting military: Nationalist leader
from Hurriyet Daily News
Prosecutors’ demands, released on March 18, for aggravated life imprisonment of
*******************
Main opposition leader Kılıçdaroğlu criticizes Ergenekon prosecutors
Hurriyet Daily News
“I apologize to respectable and fair judges and prosecutors for calling those judges and prosecutors judges and prosecutors. We will settle accounts sooner or later with judges and prosecutors who destroyed the notion of justice
Ergenekon coup plot similar to Gladio, prosecutors say
Hurriyet Daily News
“’Ergenekon,’ is the name of a secret organization in Turkey, like counter guerrilla groups in Europe, according to the evidence belonging to the Ergenekon terror organization,” read the final opinion, prepared by the public prosecutors Mehmet Ali
Daily Milliyet parts ways with prominent journalist Cemal after İmralı leaks debate
from Hurriyet Daily News
Columnist Hasan Cemal has quit writing for daily Milliyet after the Turkish newspaper refused.
PEN Turkey continues to fight freedom of speech
from Hurriyet Daily News
“At present, Turkey is still a wonderful country for tourists, but it is becoming
At Least 575 Children Killed in Turkey in 2012
from Bianet :: English
A recent report released by a migration organization indicated that 5285 children were hit by right abuses in Turkey in 2012 with at least 575 cases concerning right to life.
Ergenekon coup case suspects dismiss prosecutor’s demand for life imprisonment
Hurriyet Daily News
The suspects in the alleged Ergenekon coup-plot case have rejected the prosecutor’s demand of aggravated life imprisonment for dozens in the trial, including retired and active generals, journalists and other military officers, declaring the probe to
Prosecutors Charge Retired Generals with Life Sentence
from Bianet :: English
Turkey’s Ergenokon trial reached its 281th hearing yesterday, with prosecutors summing up their case to seek life sentences for 64 defendants including retired generals and an ex-military chief.
Turkey Found Guilty For Torture
from Bianet :: English
The European Court of Human Rights found Turkey guilty for inflicting torture on Ayhan Mimtaş, ordering the Turkish state to pay 12,750 euros as damages.
Looking at Parliament’s monitoring function from Uludere
from Hurriyet Daily News
You will remember that on Dec. 28, 2011, 34 citizens, most of whom were very young, died as a result.
Turkish women by numbers… and a social fabric roundup…
In Uncategorized on March 11, 2013 at 17:34Turkish Women: By The Numbers
from Kamil Pasha by Jenny White
Photo by Jenny White
Here are some of the latest figures on the status of women in Turkey. These are from the 2012 Turkish Statistical Institute’s report on women.
They make up half of Turkey’s population of 75 million. In 2013, they had a life expectancy at birth of 79 (men 75).
Most women-friendly cities of Turkey revealed
from Hurriyet Daily News
Daily Hürriyet has revealed the best Turkish cities for women.
Gazoz: Turkish Fizzardry
from Istanbul Eats by vlarson
One of every three working women employed in unpaid family works
from Hurriyet Daily News
Nearly one of every three working women employed as an unpaid family worker, according to the “Women in Statistics 2012” report..
Turkey’s tourism ranks 46 out of 140 countries
from Hurriyet Daily News
Turkey’s travel and tourism sector ranks 46 among 140 industrialized and developing countries this year.
Being a Woman in Turkey and in the Middle East
from Yahoo News Photos
International Women’s Day, observed every March 8, is a global celebration of women’s economic, political and social achievements.
8 mars : journée de la femme kurde sous fond de processus de paix.
from YOL (routes de Turquie et d’ailleurs) by anne
Le 8 mars, journée de la femme, est un des temps forts des mobilisations kurdes en Turquie, une sorte de répétition entre femmes avant les grandes fêtes de Newroz (autour du 20 mars). Cette année avec le processus de paix en cours, Newroz revêtira une solennité toute particulière. Les 3 députés BDP qui lui ont rendu visite la semaine dernière dans son île prison d’Imrali ont rapporté qu’Abdullah Öcalan devrait dévoiler sa feuille de route à cette occasion. Les réponses aux courriers qu’il a fait envoyer toujours par les députés BDP au parti kurde, à Qandil et au PKK Europe devraient lui être parvenues.
Number of Turkish military personnel revealed
from Hurriyet Daily News
The Turkish General Staff has updated its personnel statistics, which amount
Exploring the North East Region of Turkey
from Turkish Images by noreply@blogger.com (Turkish Images)
Turkish minister criticizes archaeology excavations
from Hurriyet Daily News
Some of the archaeologists currently working at excavation sites around Turkey.
EFD Rights Watch: the PM forcing the journalist to reveal sources.. Unsatisfying Uludere Massacre report… In the last 16 years 366 women abused in custody…
In Uncategorized on March 8, 2013 at 11:53Reveal İmralı leak sources or we might: Turkish PM Erdoğan
from Hurriyet Daily News
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has urged the media to reveal its sources.
Turkish PM urges media to reveal İmralı leak sources
from Hurriyet Daily News
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has urged the media to reveal its sources.
Uludere report points to lack of coordination
from Hurriyet Daily News
A flaw in coordination between military and security officials was the main reason behind the Uludere tragedy
Turkish prime minister to press: censor what you write
from World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Roy Greenslade
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused the country’s media of trying to undermine a nascent Kurdish peace process, according to a Reuters report.
The agency says he has called on journalists to censor themselves if they love their nation, a suggestion that has gone down badly with the press.
PM Erdogan’s Remarks on Imrali Process Are Concerning, IPI Says
from Bianet :: English
International Press Institute released a statement yesterday, expressing its concerns over PM Erdogan’s critical remarks on the publishing of Imrali peace process talks outlines by Milliyet newspaper.
366 women raped or abused while in custody in the last 16 years in Turkey
from Hurriyet Daily News
During the last 16 years, at least 83 women have been raped in custody while as many as 366 women have been sexually assaulted.
Turkish Deputy PM announces new legislation for jailed journalists
from Hurriyet Daily News
A new law that will decriminalize the creation and publication of propaganda
Journalist, CHP deputy marks fourth year in jail
from Hurriyet Daily News
Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) İzmir deputy and journalist Mustafa Balbay is marking.
66666: A Bad Omen in Turkey’s Most Controversial Legal Case?
from The Istanbulian by Emre Kızılkaya
It can be argued that the Sledgehammer Case, with its “doctored evidence”, is the most controversial judicial process in Turkey.
PKK’s Captives Interviewed
from Bianet :: English
Firat News Agency has released a series of interviews with 8 state workers – including Turkish army officers, prospective governor and policeman – who are being held as captives by PKK since 2011
One more retired general arrested in Feb 28 coup probe
from Hurriyet Daily News
A local court ordered the arrest of a retired Gen. İzzettin İyigün as part of the newest wave in Feb 28 coup probe.
Suspects in key murders of minority members ‘similar’
from Hurriyet Daily News
A judge of the case of three murders at a Malatya publishing house says suspects in similar recent crimes, mainly against minorities, have a similar profile…
Social fabric roundup: Müslüm Gürses laid to rest… Arda Turan’s wedding, another instance of hypocricy…
In Uncategorized on March 5, 2013 at 14:18
Müslüm Gürses was laid to rest after a ceremony at the Teşvikiye Mosque. Photo by Emrah Gürel
Thousands pay last respects to Müslüm Father
from Hurriyet Daily News
Müslüm Gürses, the famous Turkish singer who passed away March 2, was laid to rest in Istanbul.
Turkish singer Muslum Gurses dies | National Music News | Idahostatesman.com
Müslüm Baba a tiré sa dernière arabesk…
from YOL (routes de Turquie et d’ailleurs) by anne
Alcohol will be served after PM Erdoğan gone. This is a decision “out of respect” to PM Erdoğan’s piety… :
Atletico Madrid’s Arda Turan to have no-alcohol wedding for Turkish PM
from Hurriyet Daily News
Turkish international and Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan will not serve any alcohol at his upcoming wedding.
A culture war embodied in the length of a hemline
by Acturca
International Herald Tribune (USA) Tuesday, February 26, 2013, p. 17 By Tim Arango, Istanbul When flight attendants first rode aboard Turkish Airlines in the late 1940s they wore cotton blouses under blue suits tailored to accentuate « the contours of the body, » as a fashion history of the airline puts it. In the ’60s and ’70s
Book production in 2012 announced
from Hurriyet Daily News
Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik has announced 42,625 book titles were published in Turkey in 2012..
Turkish Women Speak Up: My Body, My Decision
from Global Voices Online by Baran Mavzer
Two weeks ago, Turkish courts released Fatih Nerede, who has a criminal history of rape and robbery, after he raped a woman in Diyarbakir, a city in the southeast region of Turkey, in front of her three year-old child. The reason behind the decision to release him by the court pending trial is, that as the institution of forensic medicine told to the court “It is not possible to decide if the rape victim was psychologically damaged by the rape or not, before 18 months after the incident.” This incident might be shocking but unfortunately it is not the only one.
I.H.T. SPECIAL; Construction of Disputed Turkish Dam Continues
from NYT > Turkey by By SUSANNE GÜSTEN;
A massive dam project barrels along in Turkey despite the displacement of local people, worries about ancient artifacts and environmental concerns.
Turkey’s housing administration to restore historic Sulukule buildings
from Hurriyet Daily News
Turkey’s Housing Settlement Administration (TOKİ) will be restoring 24 different historic.
Forbes Billionaires 2012 | Turkey
from Mavi Boncuk by M.A.M
Forbes Wealth team gears up to bring you the Billionaires issue this March
See Mavi Boncuk foe a previous ranking .
Brave New Turkey, non-coed
from Hurriyet Daily News
Hello and welcome to our new country, the Brave New Turkey.
AKP seeking to create own women’s movement: Lawyer
from Hurriyet Daily News
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is attempting to sideline
Evacuated Sulukule to be restored as ‘heritage’
from Hurriyet Daily News
A limited amount of houses in the historic Sulukule neighborhood, which saw an urban renewal, will be restored by the state-run contractor
Hundreds Stand Up Against Hotel Project in Haydarpaşa
from Bianet :: English
Hundreds of protestors in Istanbul and across Europe rallied on Wednesday night to protest the municipality project to transform Istanbul’s century-old train station into a hotel.
Deniz Erkmen: Bırakın boş dursun: Tabiatı Koruma Kanun Tasarısı, Doğa ve İnsan Olmak Üzerine
In Uncategorized on March 4, 2013 at 14:49
image via
Bırakın boş dursun: Tabiatı Koruma Kanun Tasarısı, Doğa ve İnsan Olmak Üzerine
Deniz Erkmen
Son günlerde Tabiatı ve Biyolojik Çeşitliliği Koruma Kanun Tasarısı ile ilgili haberleri okurken aklıma yazın gazetelerde yer alan, Bodrum’da 2nci derece SIT alanı Cennet Koyunda Mandarin Oriental’in inşaası ile ilgili haberler geldi. Bir tanesinde Bodrum kaymakamı Mehmet Gödekmerdan şöyle diyordu:
“Son haline uzaktan gidip baktım. Bölgedeki en büyük yatırım. Bodrum büyüyor. Yatırımlar geliyor. Büyük markalar geliyor. Mandarin onlardan biri. Yatırımın gelmesi bizim için yadırganacak, kötü bir şey değil. Bunlar yapılırken doğaya zarar vermemesi önemli. Bir milyon bitki / ağaç diktiler, daha da dikecekler. Orası normalde taşlık, kayalık bir yerdi, bittiğinde cennet gibi olacak. İtalya’dan özel olarak çok büyük ağaçlar getirildi. Bir yandan inşaat devam ederken, diğer yandan yeşillendirme devam ediyor.”
Ortaya koyduğu, dile döktüğü anlayış itibari ile Mehmet Gödekmerdan’in söyledikleri çok açıklayıcı. “Taşlık, kayalık yer” “cennet” karşıtlığı, “doğayı korumak” için bir yandan inşaat yaparken bir yandan İtalya’dan özel olarak getirilen ağaçlar ile “yeşillendirme” vurgusu… Bir de arka planda ne yani, taş toprak boş boş duran koylar mı daha iyi, yoksa “yatırım” mı sorusu ve hissiyatı. “Yatırım” kötü bir şey olabilir mi, haşaa” durumu…
Yasalaşmak üzere olan ironik isimli Tabiatı ve Biyolojik Çeşitliliği Koruma Kanun Tasarısı’nın derdi belli; doğal alanları korumak yerine “işletmek” kararını Bakanlar Kuruluna ve onların belirleyeceği ne olduğu belirsiz “üstün kamu yararı” tanımlarına bırakmak… Oysaki baraj açılışında “helalinden firmalara bol kazanç ihsan buyur” diye dua eden devlet büyüklerimizden “ekonomik büyüme/yatırım/işletim/bol kazanç”tan başka bir türlü “kamu yararı” tanımı yapmaları beklenilebilir mi, özellikle çevre konusunda? “Yatırım,” hele şişme inşaat sektörüne olanı, şu anda Türkiye’nin kabesi… Yatırımdan büyük kamu yararı mı olur?
Ben ekolojik dengelerden, tür çeşitliliginden, “taş toprak”in ekolojik açıdan anlamından bahsetmek istemiyorum ki ondan da bahsetmek lazım – dünyada korunmaya değer yegane doğanın ağaçlar, korumanın da yol kenarlarına çiçek ekmek demek olmadığını tekrar tekrar anlatmak lazım, o ayrı. Doğal alanların ayrıca sürdürülebilir turizm ile ilişkisinden bahsedilebilir, o da ayrı. Ben kendimce işletilmeyen doğal alanlara bana hissettirdiklerinden dolayı bir güzelleme yazmak istiyorum…
Benim taş toprak kayalık yerlerle haşır neşir olmam aslen üniversitede başladı. Ondan önce de bayılırdım tek başıma ağaçların arasında koşturmaya, kayalara tırmanıp ortadan kaybolmaya ama aslen Boğaziçi Üniversitesinde okurken dağcılık kulübü sayesinde şehri gerçekten geride bırakıp dağlarda vakit gecirir oldum. Kaçkar dağlarıydı, Aladağlardı (ki bunların ikisi de yeni yasa ile bakanlar kurulunun keyfine bırakılacak, toplamda 41 tane olan Milli Parklarımızdan), günlerce yürünerek ulaşılan yaylalarda, yüksek kamplarda, vadilerde vakit geçirmeme vesile oldu kulüp. Giriş o giriş, ondan sonra da yıllar içinde oraya buraya taşınırken, bir bölge çıksa da hayatımdan bir başkası girdi; dağcılık olmasa tırmanış oldu, yürüyüş oldu; ama insanlardan uzak, vahşi, taş toprak dolu kayalık mekanlar hiç çıkmadı hayatımdan – çıksınlar da istemedim zaten… Şimdi durup bakınca bana öyle geliyorki sanki bu vakit geçirdiği doğa parçaları olmasaydı hayatımda, biraz daha mutsuz olurdum, biraz daha huzursuz, eksik kalırdım biraz daha…
Doğada olmanın yavaşlatıcı bir etkisi var. Şehrin, toplumun belirlediği tempodan, elektrikten, bilgisayarlardan, restorantlardan, barlardan, ofislerden uzakta günün uzunluğunu gerçekten de güneşin doğuşu ve batışı belirliyor. Yapılacak işler, görülecek, bakılacaklar o anda önünüzde olan ile, içinde bulunduğunuz yer ile sınırlanıyor. Bir yandan daralıyor dünyanız, tam o anda olduğunuz yere ve zamana – karşınıza bir sorun çıktığında kaçamıyorsunuz – ama bir yandan da ilginç bir sekilde genişliyor – genişliyor çünkü her zaman içinde bulunduğunuz kalabalıktan çekilip çıkmak kendinizi yeni şekillerde algılamak için bir fırsat da olabiliyor. Kocaman bir dağın üstünde, en yakın kasabadan üç yürüyüş günü uzakta, dağin, fırtınanın, rüzgarın keyfine kalmışken insan ne kadar ufacık, ne kadar güçsüz bir şey olduğunu farkediyor bu dünyanın üstünde. Orada gökyüzünde uçan atmaca da, taşın üstündeki kertenkele de, yerdeki yosun da, bir taş da, sen de aynı değerdesiniz. Orada dağin da dünyanın da umrunda değil sen deli gibi para mı kazanmışsın, harika kitaplar mi yazmışsın, hangi şirketi yönetmişsin… Bir noktasın, o kadar.
Bunu hissetmek, kavramak o kadar da korkunç bir sey değil zannımca. Tam tersine hiç durmadan egolarımızı beslemeyi, güçlendirmeyi öğrendiğimiz, dünyanın kendimizin ve insanların etrafında döndüğünü zannettiğimiz modern hayatlarımızda gerekli bir ders. Çünkü biz ne kadar ısrarla öyle değilmiş gibi de yapsak, ısrarla kendi bildiğimiz gibi yakıp yıksak da, doğa bir şekilde hatırlatıyor insan dediğimiz varlığın da daha büyük bir düzenin parçası olduğunu; taşan derelerle, depremlerle, tsunamilerle, ısınan okyanuslar, yükselen sular ile…
Doğada, özellikle estetik açıdan milli park olabilecek nitelikte yerlerde bulunmanın bir de çarpıcı bir yanı var, ki bunu hissetmek için öyle günlerce yürümeye gerek yok, kolay ulaşılabilir fakat iyi korunmuş doğal alanlar da aynı etkiyi yaratıyor. Geçenlerde okuduğum bir yazıda insanı çarpan, bakış açısını değiştirmeye zorlayan, dünya ve ötesi arasındaki mesafenin azaldığı, ilahi olanı hissetmenin mümkün olabildiği “incelmiş mekanlardan” bahsediyordu yazar. İlham veren, cezbeden, insanın içini karıştıran, uyandıran yerler; doğada olmasına gerek yok, şehirlerde, insan yapımı, insanla içiçe de bulunabilir. Fakat benim (ve bir dolu başkası) için işte, yüksek dağlarla, suların oyduğu kanyonlar, uçsuz bucaksız bozkırlarla, vadilerle karşılaşmanın, ezber bozan bir fotorafa, inanılmaz bir resme bakmak, etkileyici bir müzik parçasını dinlemek, ya da şaheser bir kilise ya da caminin kapısından adım atmaya benzer bir etkisi var. Bir an nefessiz kalmak gibi; çarpılmak. Bir saniye boşluk, düşünememek, sadece hayranlık hissetmek. Kendinizden büyük olana, anlaşılmaz olana, güzel olana karşı bir hayranlık duymak… Buraları benim için “incelmiş mekanlar…” Residanslarla, avmlerle, ve bunların arasına dikilen ağaçlarla “cennet” haline getirilmelerine gerek yok; zaten varsa daha büyük bir güç, ben buralarda hissediyorum bunu…
Belki de bu yüzden doğada ufacık ve önemsiz hissetmek yalnız hissetmek anlamına gelmiyor. Tam tersine, bir taş ile, bir kertenkele ile, bir dağ çiçeği ile beraber dağın merhametine kalmış olmak, dev gökyüzünün altında, dünyanın güzelliğine, gücüne şaşmak aslında bir aidiyet duygusu da geliştirebiliyor – dünyaya, doğaya, evrene karşı. Kimlik dediğimiz olgu illa milletimizden, dinimizden, sınıfımızdan, ailemizden mi gelmeli? Bir yere “ait olmak” ya da bir yeri sevmek için o yerin illa “milli” bir referansa dayanarak mı adlandırılmış, şekillendirilmiş olmasi lazım? Biraz safça gelse de kulağa, hepimiz bu dünyaya aidiz, farketsekte farketmesekte. Belki de en çok bunu kavrıyorum ben dağda taşta vakit geçirdiğim günlerde – insan olduğumu, inanılmaz güzellikte, vahşilikte doğanın bir parçası olduğumu, bir gün ölüp gideceğimi ve bunun da, tam anlamıyla işte, dünyanın sonu olmayacağını…
Herkes hayatta başka başka dersler öğreniyor, başka başka yerlerde. Ama her gün birilerinin birilerini kesip üçüncü sayfalara haber olduğu, farklı görülen her kimliğin ezildiği, horgörüldüğü, aşağılandığı memlekette biraz daha az benmerkezci hissedebilmenin, kimlikleri sarsmanın, insanın daha büyük bir düzenin parçası olduğunu kavrayabilmenin (kendileri de bir dışlama mekanizması haline gelmiş camilerin ve din derslerinin dışında) fırsatlarını sağlamak “kamu yararı” sayılmaz mı? Herkesin zaten üst üste oturup da sinirden gerim gerim gerildiği şehirleri yeni başka beton çöplüklerle çevrelemektense nefes alacak, bir dakika koşmadan duracak ve ne olduğumuzu, kim olduğumuzu düşünebileceğimiz; tam da anlamadığımız bir sistemi kendi vizyonumuza göre paramparça etmektense, o sistemin parçası olduğumuzu hatırlatacak yerleri korumamız kamu yararı değil mi?
Vizyonunuz cebinize (hem de kısa vadede) girecek kar ile sınırlı ise değil tabii. Ama evrenin vizyonu üç bes aylık değil işte. Onun için ısrar etmeli: bırakın bir yerler de boş dursun. Bırakın da nefes almaya devam edelim…
Mesela bu blogda yazar doğal mekanların dönüştürücü etkisinden bahsediyor Amerikanın güneyindeki Hueco parkını örnek olarak kullanarak. “İncelmiş mekan” kavramına ben bu yazıda rastladım…
