Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç Soyerinformed the members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe about the process of the poison ship Nae Sao Paulo, whose route was turned back as a result of the joint struggle, while it was on its way to Turkey to be dismantled in Aliağa. At the meeting held on the Bergama Ferry, President Soyer said, “We proved that no power can stand in the way of the power of the people and participatory democracy.”
Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç Soyer The people of Izmir told the members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) about the process of preventing the poison ship Nae Sao Paulo from coming to Aliağa, after their one-hearted struggle with members of professional chambers, non-governmental organizations and environmental organizations. At the panel within the scope of the information meeting held on the Bergama Ferry, TMMOB İzmir Provincial Coordination Board Secretary Aykut Akdemir, İzmir Bar Association President Özkan Yücel, İzmir Medical Chamber High Board Member Fahri Yüce Ayhan participated as speakers. Selin Sayek Böke, President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development Commission and CHP Secretary General, congratulated the city defenders for their struggle.
Our resistance set an example to the world
President Tunç Soyer“The return of the poisoned ship is an important achievement. This struggle we have achieved together is unique in Turkey. This resistance has inspired the world and Turkey in many areas. First, our workers won. Thanks to our struggle, we have protected the rights of shipbreaking workers who will be directly affected by the dismantling of this ship and whose health will be endangered. Secondly, our nature won, it became an exemplary nature resistance. We prevented the intercontinental transport of tons of hazardous waste that would enter the Mediterranean. We put up a struggle that went down in history to defend the rights of nature. And finally, solidarity won. In this difficult period when the pressures of the central governments are felt in every aspect of life, we have displayed an exemplary solidarity from the local to the universal. As a local government, we acted in full harmony with the people of Aliağa, İzmir, professional organizations, trade unions and civil society. We proved that no power can stand in the way of the power of the people and participatory democracy.”
Akdemir: “Turkey's pollution is Europe's pollution”
Saying that dismantling in Turkey should be at world standards, TMMOB İzmir Provincial Coordination Board Secretary Aykut Akdemir said, “This dump will create a butterfly effect. When we pollute Aliağa, Europe does not remain clean or the rest of the world does not remain clean. All kinds of hazardous waste that we leave into the sea circulates in all the oceans of the world, causing pollution of the whole world. Our struggle in Aliağa is not just about protecting Aliağa. Turkey's pollution is Europe's pollution, the whole world's pollution," he said.
Yücel: “The point we have reached is a success story”
İzmir Bar Association President Özkan Yücel stated that the court processes are not functioning properly in Turkey and said: “Perhaps it is a decision taken to discourage the great struggle that has emerged in İzmir. We have learned not to give up. We have seen the pleasure of fighting together, we are aware that we can win if we fight. Everyone knows that if they try to change what they want to change from today to tomorrow, and if they try to bring that mass of poison to İzmir by other methods, they will find the same strength and determination in front of them. The point we have reached is a success story. The struggle continues. The example in Izmir will spread to the whole of Turkey.”
Ayhan: “This struggle has been good for all of us”
Saying that asbestos problems after 2010 may appear in 2030, İzmir Medical Chamber High Council Member Fahri Yüce Ayhan said, “This creates a dire future for us. We had a successful struggle, this struggle was good for all of us. We were happy, we trusted ourselves. We have gained strength from being together, but we doubt whether we will be able to reach the targeted health policy in 2030," he said.
Böke: “Local authorities are very important”
Selin Sayek Böke, President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development Commission and CHP General Secretary, İzmir Deputy, said, “There are 4,5 million people living here. Do not let toxic ships come to create unhealthy environments. Let them not bring death to people. Beneath this is the economy, but it must be sustainable and healthy. Local authorities have a very important place in this sense. We are here to celebrate local forces. They made sure that the toxic ship did not come. We must do this to ensure that tomorrow also does not come. This is an opportunity for us” and stated that their support as parliamentarians will continue.
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