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The Friends of Gökova-Akyaka
(GAS-Der)
December 2003
Hello friends of Akyaka,
What did the society do
recently?
In
connection with our "Biyo Gökova" project:
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Our scientific project-team, consisting of Paul Hope and Heike Thol-Schmitz,
continued its investigations. The biological diversity in Eucalyptus
plantings compared to corresponding Güllük-tree forests are the subject of
this work. After termination, the reports will be published. They then will
be Turkey’s most comprehensive work on this subject. In connection with this
subject, there was held a conference arranged by the company of MOPAK. The
MOPAK, a papermill in Dalaman, encourages the farmers to plant Eucalypti
trees. Although the participation of our society was planned, we were, due to
obvious reasons, not invited. The unsustainability of these plantings
concerning the biological diversity is considerable. Despite of being not
invited we have delivered our views to the authorities and stakeholders.
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In order to change the agricultural use of our project zone to a more
ecological basis, we found a very experienced expert on this matter. In the
coming months, we are optimistic that with his help our farmers will change
their way of producing into a protective, natural and sustainable manner.
Hopefully after that we will be able to consume the agricultural products here
without fear or objections.
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The antique rock tombs
situated in Gökova are supposed to be opened for tourism. From our side, all
necessary steps are have been taken, including the financing. The
municipality of Gökova now only must apply for the required and verbally
already given permission. We hope, all this will be settled until the coming
season...
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The protection of the stork colony of the neighbour community Akçapınar
precedes slowly. We could connect this small project to a bigger, Turkeywide
stork protection project. In order to raise the consciousness of the local
population, we prepared a large quantity of public awareness materials with
the collaboration of an organisation from Iskenderun. On the meetings in the
spring, we will be able to distribute these materials.
AN
IMPORTANT NOTE:
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From now on, our members and friends can transfer their contributions or
donations per credit card:
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On our web page we arranged for that a special link.
Those, who have not access to the internet, can send per fax or letter the
following data to us:
KREDIT CARD TYPE, (VISA, MAST o. ä.)
CARD NUMBER
EXPIRY DATE
NAME & FIRST NAME OF CARDHOLDER as well as ADRESS
SECURITY CODE (the last 3 numbers of the number on the back of the card)
SUM AND REFERENCE (contribution / yearly fee)
This modern type of money transfer will not only be simpler for us, but also for
you, we hope.
NAIL ÇAKIRHAN & HALET ÇAMBEL CULTURE and ART HOUSE:
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As a termination of the last season, we prepared an exhibition of our
organisation’s paintings collection. Under the title "Retrospective", we
showed the works of artists that showed their work in the last years. Already
now we have many registrations for the coming exhibition season. We are
always open for new ideas or criticism in this regard. The openings, that
developed gradually into a meeting point not only for friends of arts, will be
missed us in the coming winter months.
-
By means of our exhibitions and other activities, we were able to gain some
new members. Especially pleased us, that some citizens who formerly were
rejecting or opposing our society, now again used our cultural offer.
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As the stairway and the floor of the Nail Çakırhan
& Halet Çambel Culture And Art House had been damaged by the pleasingly
numerous visitors, we had to do some repair work.
OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL WORK
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In order to receive final clarity about the planned building activities along
the river (Kadin Azmak), we had to address the special protection authority in
Ankara. For years repeated inquiries at local or regional offices remained -
if an answer was given at all -, generally unsatisfactory or unclear in the
result. We hope, that the inquiry in Ankara will have better results.
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From Spain Ignasi Ripoll of SEO/ Bird Life visited us. This expert exchange
was promoted and supported by the WWF. In the past year, our chairperson
Heike Thol-Schmitz had been invited to Spain to participate there in works
concerning the sustainable use of the Ebro - Delta.
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We collected a (hopefully) complete list of the Turkish scientific literature
concerning the fish otter. Partially forgotten or missing contributions were
written again in painstaking work and y were made accessible on our web page
for interested circles.
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The illegal hunting in our region could be stopped to a great degree. Here
we have to thank especially the Jandarma and its environmental department
(yes, we have that it in Turkey!) In the framework of our possibilities, we
will continue work here and will carry out our inspections.
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We took part at a workshop in Bodrum. Subject was the threat to the Tuzla
wetlands through a planned gulf place. The meeting was extraordinarily lively
and led to most exited discussions. Our society is more and more acknowledged
by the authorities in its function as a wetland-monitor. This is pleasing and
encouraging in one way, but on the other hand counter reactions became now
somewhat stronger than previously.
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We are now as ever in close contact to the Co-operative for ecological and
sustainable agriculture in Cirali/Antalya. To exchange experiences, we had a
group from Cirali as guests.
FURTHER ACTIVITIES:
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We have now a comprehensive archive of all newsletters and activity reports
since the foundation in 1991 on the Turkish part of our web page.
(Unfortunately until now only in Turkish) This was an enormous typing job and
we thank our helpers, who sacrificed their time. We yet still need help with
the translation of some texts from Turkish into German or English. Therefore,
if you could help us, and want to...
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In August we had planned a boat trip for all members to reduced prices.
Unfortunately the company, with which we had planned the excursion, let us
down. Nevertheless we met everyone and spent a lovely day at the beach. On
this occasion we distributed also our societies new T-shirts.
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Our offer to the municipality to participate in the ceremonies to the 80th
anniversary of the republic, unfortunately was not accepted.
This is the last newsletter before the coming communal elections. We legally
may not express here a recommendation. But we have one proposal:
Thus,
our society and everyone who is aware of art, culture and environment, will get
more political weight in Akyaka.
We wish you Merry
Christmas and a happy new year 2004
in
the name of the society
Thomas Schmitz
Contact:
Gökova-Akyaka’yı Sevenler Derneği
Nail Çakırhan Cad. 7
48640
Akyaka-Ula
E-mail:
akyakadernek@hotmail.com
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