Turkey's Intellectuals Join Forces Against Climate Change

Turkey's intellectuals, artists, academicians and activists signed a manifesto released by Istanbul Policy Center, Sabancı University and Stiftung Mercator Initiative to raise public awareness on climate change.

The manifesto has been released on Saturday after a ceremony at Istanbul Policy Center's Karakoy district headquarters that brought together Turkey's most sensitive activists and intellectuals.  

"For the first time in Turkey, famous intellectuals and artists are raising their voices to bring awareness on climate change. I believe we can promote an economical, political and cultural change in Turkey before it is too late. We can form a pressure group to push decision makers to implement consistent and long-lasting policies on renewable energy," Ömer Madra, editor-in-chief of the radio channel “Açık Radyo”, said in the opening speech of the ceremony.

Authors Adalet Ağaoğlu and Yaşar Kemal, photographer Ara Güler, musicians Harun Tekin and Sezen Aksu, Tarkan were among the first supporters of the manifesto.

The manifesto was also supported by at least 40 organizations including Açık Radyo, TEMA, Greenpeace Mediterranean, KAOS GL, Helsinki Citizens' Assembly and Human Rights Association of Turkey.  

Reminding that the latest forest blazes, sudden floods, droughts and draining groundwater were not sporadic cases, the manifesto warned the public to take action before too late.

"Our planet is constantly warning us. But as long as we will keep a blind eye on these signs, we will eventually see how our contempt will bring us to an ultimate disaster," the manifesto said. (BM/HK)