A two-day mass action will be held under the leadership of the Democratic Institutions Platform against the destruction of nature carried out in many areas, particularly the Cudi and Gabar mountains and the Besta region of Şırnak (Şirnex), under the slogan “No to ecocide, we march against the destruction of nature.”
Ecology activists, local residents and defenders of nature will gather on 9 September at Cumhuriyet Square in the city center of Şırnak, where they will issue a statement before starting the march. In the Besta region, a night-long vigil will be held with the participation of Tülay Hatimoğulları, Co-Chair of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), Keskin Bayındır, Co-Chair of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), along with many MP from the DEM Party.
There will also be participation from Diyarbakır (Amed), Batman (Êlih), Mardin (Mêrdîn), Siirt (Sêrt) and surrounding provinces. Ten members of parliament will take part in the march.
The march will start on 9 September at 13:00 from Cumhuriyet Square in Şırnak. Following the press statement and the march, people will move to the Besta region. The vigil in Besta will begin at 16:00 and will conclude on 10 September at 10:00.
Purpose of the action
The institutions organizing the action explained the reasons for their struggle as follows:
– Ending tree cutting
– Saving Mount Cudi from coal mining
– Preventing Mount Gabar from being handed over to oil fields
– Stopping the cutting of the last remaining trees in Besta
– Ensuring the free flow of the Nerdüş river
– Preventing the Heptoprak (Heftborî) valley from being submerged
– Protecting the habitats of mountain goats and other living beings
– Stopping the destruction of the Tigris River by dams
– Preventing Avaspi from being plundered for zinc
– Stopping the depopulation of Şırnak
– Preventing the annihilation of history through ecocide
– Opposing the destruction of life by a thermal power plant in Silopi (Silopiya)
– Protecting the forests of Beytüşşebap from profit-driven projects
Join the march
The Democratic Institutions Platform said: “In Cudi, in Gabar, in Besta, in the mountains, rivers, and forests, stand for ecological life and join the march. In this relentless war against nature, take the side of nature and meet us in the march. Remember: nature is no one’s capital; it is the home of all living beings.”