"Commercial Dam Projects Harm Environment and Society"

On World Water Day on 14 March, activists from different regions all over Turkey struggling for water rights and against environmental destruction called their fellow citizens to claim responsibility for the future.

The organizations pointed out that on an international scale 90 million people are forced to leave their homes and migrate to different places by reason of dams and hydroelectric power plants (HES). In their joint statement, they summarized the situation in Turkey as follows:

"The only ones benefiting from dam projects realised in the name of development are companies, administration officials and owners of a large estate. The rest of society is only losing from those projects".

The organizations first of all demand to stop the construction of hydroelectric power plants and dams immediately and to include different sections of society into the development of water policies. Sufficient resources should be allocated accordingly.

The World Water Day initiative on 14 March was carried out for the first time in 1998.

The following organizations signed the joint statement:

Allianoi Initiative Group, Çoruh Reservoir Platform, Artvin-Bursa Water Platform (AS-DER), Green Artvin Association, Artvin, Lower River Region, Ardanuç, River Association, Ardanuç Water Assembly, Aksu Valley Conservation and Sustenance Association, İspir/Yedigöl, Borçka Streams, Çamlıkaya Environmental Development and Solidarity Association, İspir, Şavşat Papart Valley, Yusufeli Protection and Sustenance Initiative, Demirköy Protection Initiative, Yusufeli, Kılıçkaya Culture and Assistance Association, Yusufeli, Tortum Associations for the Protection of Nature and Culture (4 associations), Artvin Non-Governmental Organizations, Hasankeyf Sustenance Initiative, Dersim Environment Initiative, Munzur Protection Istitution, Black Sea Insurrection Platform, Senoz Valley Recovery Platform, Cilo Nature Association ,Hakkari, Cizre Culture Protection Initiative, Kayy-Der, Peri Reservoir Platform, Yuvarlakçay Protection Platform.(EÜ/VK)