DİYARBAKIR - Drawing attention to the damage caused by the war in Kurdistan to the ecosystem, Ecologist Zeki Kanay said: “In the past, the state burned villages and forced them to migrate, now they are destroying memory by cutting trees. Some renters, occupiers and capitalists profit from the war here." 

 

The geography of Kurdistan is being ecologically destroyed by the Hydroelectric Power Plant (HES), Solar Power Plant (GES), Wind Power Plant (RES), security dams, mines, as well as chemical weapons and bombs used on the battlefield.

 

The destruction is sometimes carried out by the trustees, which is defined as "the usurpation of will". A 25-meter road was opened under the name of "Kültür Park" project in Hevsel Gardens in Sur district of Amed. Drawing attention to the ecological destruction carried out by trustees, Ecology Association member and Peace Academician Zeki Kanay evaluated the effects of the methods used on cultural memory.

 

'PLUNDERING CONTINUES IN HEVSEL'

 

Reminding that Hevsel has a history of 8 thousand years and was included in the World Heritage list by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2015, Kanay said: “Many animals live in this garden; however, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, one of UNESCO's interlocutors, has closed its eyes and ears to this robbery. As this order continued, the looting grew even more. Finally, they want to build 25 meters of road in Hevsel. They want to pave the way for rent with this. They want to park there, fill the river, cut down trees. We have prepared a report against this, but the work has not been stopped so far and the plundering continues.”

 

BURNING HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH PLUNDERING

 

Stating that this invasion of the sovereigns is aimed at destroying the memory of our country, Kanay said: "They also victimize the people who make a living there. They rob some farmers to get money from there. They carried out a massacre not only in Hevsel but also in Cudi for 2 years. A mass protest against it was held in Judi a few months ago. They continue to cut down trees there, too. In addition, trees have been cut down in Pasur and Lice districts of Amed for years. They used to burn them, but now they cut down trees, leaving no living space, forcing people to migrate. They cut it off to the guards and sell it. For years, the land of Kurdistan has been devastated by mines. They cut down trees and then make way for miners. Likewise, even a single HEPP poses a great threat to the nature of Kurdistan, there is no river left without a HEPP. In other words, they used to burn villages and drive people away from this country, now by building dams, villages and cities are flooded, people are driven from these lands. The state is acting like an invader. They look at the people here with a negative eye. They are forced to migrate the citizens here, they are made to work as cheap labor in the metropolis, they say they should be needy, they support people with pasta and small donations."

 

'HUMANITY NEEDS NATURE'

 

Reminding that geography does not need humans, but humans need nature and animals, Kanay said: “Ecosystems are formed over years, but it can deteriorate within a year. Animals are affected by the cutting of trees. For example, 200 species of animals live in Hevsel. When trees are cut down in Hevsel, the reproduction of chickens is also affected. It has a very bad effect on all humanity. When a person moves away from his memory and geography, he moves away from his economy and becomes a slave. They want to deprive us of our food, to make us needy. At the same time, this plunder is destroying the culture and nature of all humanity. A culture of thousands of years has been formed, and when you leave this geography, you cannot continue without your share. People in Sur have built a culture for thousands of years. Now they are harming that culture.”

 

'NATURE OF KURDISTAN IS DESTROYED WITH BOMBS'

 

Drawing attention to the effects of the war in Kurdistan on nature, Kanay continued: “Some renters, invaders and capitalists benefit from the war here. We are against this war that is killing people, animals and nature. War affects water and air, that is, the natural climate. Nature of Kurdistan is destroyed by bombing. Animals are killed, forests are burned, and this is changing the world's climate. When an airplane flies, the fuel it emits releases very bad gases into the atmosphere, causing climate change. Rain and snow have not been falling well in our region for several years and the villagers are not making a living. This is also the effect of war on climate and nature. Guns, planes, bombs etc. As war equipment these are the first factors natural deterioration. When the US used chemical weapons against Vietnamese guerrillas in the Vietnam War, those chemicals killed not only people but also many animals and nature. The same thing is done in our geography. All institutions, intellectuals, parties must oppose the war because war is a crime against humanity.”

 

'REACTION SHOULD BE STRONG'

 

Emphasizing that there should be an equal reaction to ecological destruction, regardless of whether it is east-west or another region, Kanay concluded his words as follows: “Some ecological institutions that are active in Turkey do not show strong reactions; however, in recent years, both in Kurdistan and Turkey, ecology unity has been achieved and common reactions have been given. Although it is not enough, it can be said that it gives hope for the future when we look forward. The ties are getting stronger. The stronger we react, the more we can prevent this destruction. In other words, if unity is achieved, these cries will decrease. In 2003, the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization started a project in the Tigris Valley, but at that time there was a strong reaction from the public and the project was stopped. If the people act responsibly and oppose, their destruction will be stopped.”