Events that we call Gezi Park protests, which broke out in recent months, are now at the top of the agenda. It is obvious that those with a plot to stage a coup on the pretext of 5 or 6 trees being cut down intend to slide the country into chaos. The fact that the whole matter is not about trees being cut down has been explicitly articulated by an artist, who leads the demonstrations. It would be better to provide some reminders to those who think it is purely about environmental awareness. Gezi Park protests were attended mostly by generation Y, those born in ’90s. Taking to the streets with nostalgic inspiration from predecessors involved in conflicts between the left and the right, these young people need to hear the whole story this from us to see how political, social and environmental problems are eliminated particularly in Istanbul and how the Prime Minister, who they call for his resignation, is truly environmentalist.
From an objective and scientific perspective on what actions Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has taken for environmental issues since he took office as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, one can fathom the fact that Turkey is actually being run by the most environmentalist leader ever in the republican era.
Chamber did not even take him seriously
It would suffice to look into some data to make it clear that the Prime Minister Erdoğan has done so much over the past 20 years including his tenures as a mayor and prime minister. Let’s start with an anecdote dating back to 1994. This was told by a friend who used to play a role in the Environmental Specialization Commission of Istanbul Chamber of Industry: The commission took a resolution prior to local elections in 1994 to invite candidates to offer their vision and projects about the environment. Candidates other than Recep Tayyip Erdoğan did not even reply to the invitation. That was why the event was cancelled. However, Erdoğan and his team insisted on attending the event even if they would be on their own. Nevertheless, the event was cancelled by the chamber’s officials. Erdoğan personally gave a call to the chamber and told that he would like to inform about his projects but the Chamber of Industry denied his request based on a few excuses as Erdoğan was not favored to win. Being elected as the mayor in a surprising fashion in the aftermath of the elections in March 1994, Erdoğan started to put his projects, which he could not have the chance to tell about to the Chamber of Industry, into practice one by one.
From piles of garbage to the Golden Horn
He set to work, hiring environmentalist academics with expertise from universities for critical roles at Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. He then offered solutions for problems that nobody thought they could be resolved.
Gezi Park protesters will not remember that as they were just kids back then. Istanbul was writhing in water-related problems before Erdoğan took office. People used to line up in front of a local fountain early in the morning, with cans to fill up. The explosion of trashes in an unsanitary landfill in the town of Hekimbaşı caused the death of 38 people. Piles of garbage would amass in the streets as they were not picked up. The stinking smell of the Golden Horn was spreading out across the seven hills as people were accustomed to it. Medical wastes and regular garbages were intermingled. Green spaces and parks were scarce in Istanbul. Air pollution ran rampant. The city could not get a chance to offer services as it was involved in corruption. I am sure everybody remembers what went down in ISKI scandal. This was the city, which was basically buried in wreckage, Erdoğan took over. Nobody believed that he could resolve such problems. In fact, one of the newspapers released a headline: “Only Allah can save Tayyip.”
Achieving what was thought to improbable
Nobody believed in him but Erdoğan and his team were heartfeltly confident that they could offer scientific solutions to environmental problems, which took a gangrenous turn in Istanbul. To begin with, Erdoğan offered a solution for the water scarcity in Istanbul, bringing water from Istıranca brooks. Imported from Melen to go under the Bosphorus, water supply is set to last until 2070 for Istanbul. He established two sanitary landfills, one on the Asian side and one on the European side of the city, making sure wastes are collected on a regular basis. He took a resolution to deny access of any poor-quality coal to the city and regulated the whole process with coal being put in bags to resolve the air pollution problem. On top of that, he introduced natural gas, with which the entire city was equipped at a short notice, to offer an ultimate solution. I still remember newspapers would give away gas masks back then. In addition, Erdoğan, who kicked off a modern sense of urbanization, put an end to squatting, along with the early signs of environmentally-friendly urbanization in Başak and Hilal Residences. A compost premises was established in Istanbul to generate manure out of wastes. A system was rolled out to collect medical wastes from hospitals on an individual basis while a medical waste incineration plant was built. His team imported trees, which brought the size of green spaces making up 45 percent of the city’s territory in 1994 to 55 percent, along with the introduction of parks and greenery zones that used to be empty fields. E-5 route, which we would go through on a daily basis, was decked out with greenery zones whereas there had not anything green down the route before. Once a traveler makes it to Istanbul after 20 years, he/she can easily tell the difference. Sometimes people are so much distracted by “trees” that they miss the fact they are within a forest. Modern young people may find it incredible but it was a pipe dream to clean up the Golden Horn, which had grown into sewage as it was contaminated more and more. Some people would suggest that it be filled up. They dared to say so. Erdoğan and his team had the Golden Horn cleaned up in line with new exemplary systems that made the world stunned. People can go fishing in the Golden Horn now. Not to mention the fact that tens of biological and chemical waste treatment plants were built across Istanbul. This is just a few to name.
Istanbul followed by Turkey
Elected as the prime minister in 2002, Erdoğan began to roll out major environmental projects this time across Turkey. Sanitary landfills and medical waste sterilization plants have been introduced in Black Sea towns where medical wastes had been dumped to the sea for years. In 2002, 145 waste water treatment plants would serve for 248 municipalities while 444 plants currently serve for them. Having become obsolete for 5 times in 2006, the law on environment was introduced upon the pressure by industrialists. More than 40 environmental regulations were introduced and put into effect as per EU adaptation criteria without any reserve. Systems and plants were put in place to collect wastes from vessels. The number of Licensed Environmental Laboratories, which stood at 8 in 2003, has risen to 153. A law on emergency response was introduced for major marine accidents. A law on animal welfare entered into force. Turkey ratified the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change that even Western countries could not dare to ratify on grounds that their interests would be impaired. Air monitoring stations were founded across Turkey. The number of blue-flag beaches has quintupled and Turkey ranks the third in the number of blue-flag beaches only to follow Spain and Greece. Hundreds of urban forests and natural parks have been rolled out at the disposal of people. The sense of state forests has been replaced by that of people’s forests. A land in the size of the Thrace has been reforested. Wastes are now collected at source on an individual basis. Renewable energy sources and sustainable development have been introduced. Not to mention the reform to ban smoking in indoor spaces, which was welcomed by the people. Introduced by then-Minister of Environment and Urbanization Erdoğan Bayraktar in his tenure to lead TOKI housing projects, 500.000 environmentally-friendly residences were built and equipped with parks and greenery zones. EU and the rest of the world began to praise the Prime Minister Erdoğan for his environmental actions. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan owes his role as the prime minister to his services for the sake of the country’s environment, air, water, soil and last but not least the people themselves. Offered during his nearly 11-year tenure, his services in economy, transport, healthcare and environment will surely go down in history. The Prime Minister Erdoğan’s environmental projects and practices, which span 20 years from 1994 to 2014, speak volumes for anyone with reason and intelligence.
You cannot hide the truth. The funny thing is that the prime minister, who has done so much about environment, is declared enemy of environment based on local Gezi park protests while he should be billed as the best environmentally-friendly politician ever in Turkey. This is unfair to say the least. What past politicians, who had run the country for years, did about environment is pale in comparison to what the Prime Minister has done over the past 20 years. It would not be wrong to regard those, who consider the Prime Minister enemy of environment, or of trees or of parks, as clueless, merciless and even ignorant.
No support. Just a stumbling block
The Prime Minister takes every occasion to tell about what he has done for the country in environmental terms. However, a man, whom the Prime Minister took office with all the time during his tenures as a mayor and now a prime minister, tweeted the following: “I congratulate those on standing up for democracy, freedom, peace, habitable environment and a life of high quality.” The person, whom the Prime Minister took office with in cooperation for 20 years, should have known better, right? What a lack of foresight!
Reasonable intellectuals and non-governmental organizations should give credit where it is due and support the Prime Minister, should not they?
10 out of 10
Remember that the Prime Minister’s 20 years of background would have to be rated 10 out of 10. Nobody could afford to mark him down. People are well aware of services they are provided with despite some nonsense and instigation, and they judge him accordingly. Politicians are tested by ballot boxes. Everybody will be rated deservedly.
I am not sure what interests those failing to stand up for the Prime Minister’s actions and give credit to him pursue but I will do my best. I will continue to write about it on every occasion. Some people point to trees and block young people’s sight to see the entire forest. My part is to tell about the aforementioned services with a relentless effort. I will continue to take a strict stance against attempts by ungrateful and reactionary naysayers to drag through the mud the Prime Minister who has introduced services at the feet of the people for 20 years.
Distinguished Prime Minister, you have introduced the most important services ever in the republican era for 20 years. Conscientious and reasonable people with no ideological perspective are well aware of your services. Pay no mind to those who fail to be so as their soul and conscious are in chains. Cast one’s bread upon the waters.
