The 2nd Mesopotamia Water Forum (MSF), which seeks to protect water resources in Mesopotamia, ensure ecological justice, and defend people’s right to water, has begun in Amed (tr: Diyarbakır).
The forum, organized by the Mesopotamia Ecology Movement, Amed Metropolitan Municipality, Save the Tigris Campaign, TMMOB (Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects), Van and Mardin Ecology Associations, and environmental organizations from Iraq and Syria, will last for three days.
Speaking at the opening, Fatih Şahin stated that the forum would focus on the ecological destruction in the Tigris, Euphrates, and Lake Van.
Co-Mayor of Amed Metropolitan Municipality, Doğan Hatun, stressed that water was still being used as a weapon. Hatun said, “The starting point of humanity is Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia has been the stronghold of labor. Today, water is once again playing this role.”
Co-Chair of the DBP (Democratic Regions Party), Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar, stated that capitalism was destroying water resources and called for the protection of nature and water resources. “If we join hands and resist, we believe we can save nature and water resources,” she said.
Derya Akyol from the Mesopotamia Ecology Movement stressed that water was vital not only for humans but for the entire ecosystem. Akyol said, “The future of humanity lies in living in harmony with nature and protecting water resources.”
The second session of the forum at the ÇandAmed Culture and Congress Center continues closed to the press.