Dear Antinuclear Activists and Press,
These lasts days were full of grief. Even though we are receiving terrible news and we are in sorrow every single day, we are trying to continue our daily life. Despite these circumstances, we shouldn’t forget the ongoing plans to construct several nuclear plants. Implementing nuclear plant projects in a period in which the politics of peace in our country is under question, is also questionable. We, who experienced Chernobyl closely and followed the Fukushima disaster from a distance, should focus on how these nuclear plants will hinder the peace process and we should raise our voice again against nuclear in this context of the falling peace process and Say No to Nuclear!
In March 2014, on the anniversary of Fukushima, we invited Fukushima witness, writer and freelance journalist Toshiya Morita to transfer his experience at panels in İstanbul, İzmir, and Sinop. We were inspired by the Morita’s slogan “Power to the people!”. As Nukleersiz.org and the Green Thought Association, we carried-out this awareness project to make it a symbol of our determination to not let those nuclear plants in our country. For this project, amateur rower Hüseyin Ürkmez is traveling 1500 km to İstanbul from Hopa with his 3.5m boat. The project which has been ongoing for 3 months, will come to an end on Sunday, 2 November with the arrival of Hüseyin Ürkmez in İstanbul/Ortaköy with his boat.
Our goal is to refresh the memories in the Blacksea region, which experienced closely the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and to explain how nuclear plants may cause us in our lifetime cancer, and may destroy our lives in case of an accident. Our friend Hüseyin Korkmaz, who was our spokesperson during the project, achieved his goal, talking with villagers, fishers, and kids everywhere along the coast, putting out press releases at the centers of districts or cities on his route and ensuring people discussed nuclear plants at home.
All along this process, we grasped the attention of mayors, especially in Giresun, Sinop, and Gerze; also, we worked together in a great harmony with Samsun Electrical Engineer Chamber (EMO), Sinop Antinuclear Platform, and the Black Sea Environment Platform and with their members. They helped us with some activities such as press releases and, of course, we updated the press constantly. All the journey of Hüseyin Ürkmez was covered in Yeşil Gazete (Green Journal) with three to five day intervals and with all its details, shared with everyone from the internet and accepted, embraced by Turkey. This solidarity has particular importance for solidarity among anti-nuclear movements and activists.
Now the time has come for Istanbul. We should show the same example of solidarity as with the Black Sea and raise our voices together against nuclear plants. On 2 November 13.00, we are awaiting you in Ortaköy deck with your flags, placards, and banners. Come and together, let’s amplify the voice of this colourful and diverse resistance. Let’s shout together: “No to nuclear plants! We don’t want nuclear in Turkey!”.