Our Media: Urgent call for solidarity for Ecotopia gathering Turkey

Monday, August 25, 2008

Urgent call for solidarity for Ecotopia gathering Turkey

Urgent call for solidarity,

Shocking repression in Turkey!

Greens, environmentalists, peace and nature supporters, and NGO's from
all over the World gathered on the 9th of August to join the 20th
international Ecotopia gathering being held at Sarikum nature reserve in
Sinop, Turkey. Ecotopia gatherings promote sustainable ways of living,
harmony with nature, and dıscuss social justice issues. This year,
Ecotopia has supported local anti-nuclear groups, raised consciousness
of nuclear issues and promoted alternative energy sources. However, for
the last week, local police have been exerting supression on the camp by
making regular visits, and following and intimidating participants
outside of the camp.

On Wednesday 20th August, 6 internationals and 5 Turkish people were
placed under custody while staging a peaceful vigil outside the Atomic
Energy Agency (TAEK) in Sinop. Police have also shown supression
towards locals of Gerze town who approached the Ecotopia camp to request
solidarity against the Thermal Coal Plant planned for construction in
their town. Today, the 22nd August, approximately 10 armed officers,
ordered by the governor of Sinop, raided the Ecotopia camp to threaten
forceful eviction if the sıte was not emptied within 3 hours. In
summary, 2 days before our legal permit for he site ends, it has been
forcefully demanded that we shut down activities immediately.

In Turkey, where democracy is regressing, the authorities do not
tolerate the advocacy of their people to lıve a safe, sustainable and
healthy life. In addition, authorities in the Turkish state and Sinop
(where it it planned to build one nuclear technology centre and 3
Thermal Coal plants) are dısturbed by the increasing local attention on
these projects, and are reluctant to allow people's awareness and
knowledge to grow independently. As participants representing more than
30 countries, we are asking for your solidarity, and request you to send
the following text to the Turkish authorities using the contact
information given below.

*For a nuclear-free world and a more democratic Turkey, let's block the
phones and faxes of the Turkish authorities! *

Ecotopia 2008 participants

EYFA (European Youth For Action)

SINYAD (Sinop Nükleersiz Kent ve Yaşam Derneği)

To whom it may concern,

We have been informed that the Ecotopia meeting being held at Sarikum
nature reserve in Sinop, which was announced and received approval of
its permit many months ago, is now undergoing a period of intense police
suppression. This event ıs legitimate and legal, and we are demanding
that the pressure is released. We will keep ourselves informed on how
this situation develops and will follow up on this request if necessary.

Name/organization:

Country:

Signature:

CONTACTS:

*Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Sinop Valiliği ( Governership of Sinop)*

Tel : 0(368) 261 15 00 -

Faks: 0368 261 15 02 - 261 55 05 -

e-posta: *valilik@sinop.gov.tr* <mailto:valilik@sinop.gov.tr>

*Türkiye Cumhuriyeti **İçişleri Bakanlığı (Ministry of Internal Affairs) *

Telefon: +90 (312 )425 72 14

Faks: + 90 (312) 418 12 60

E-posta: *basin@icisleri.gov.tr* <mailto:basin@icisleri.gov.tr>