Aegean Municipalities Union and Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyerspoke at the “Long Live Marmara Lake” event in Manisa Salihli. Soyer said, “Together, we will prevent the formation of a desert in Manisa, in the middle of the Aegean. Have no doubt, we will do whatever we can to bring the lake to the water, so as not to let one more person from Tekelioğlu Village go.”
Aegean Municipalities Union and Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer'Long Live the Lake of Marmara', organized on 22 March World Water Day, was held in Tekelioğlu Village in Salihli, Manisa. Nature lovers drew attention to Lake Marmara, which is about to dry up, at the event organized in partnership with İZSU, Gölmarmara and Surrounding Fisheries Cooperative, Gediz Basin Anti-Erosion, Afforestation, Environment and Development (GEMA) Foundation, Nature Association, Aegean Forest Foundation and Natural Rotary Club.
“The drought was left without water due to wrong planning”
The President, who was welcomed by the enthusiastic crowd waiting for him at the event area in Tekelioğlu Village, with the slogans "Manisa is proud of you" and banners reading "People's Proud of the Aegean". Tunç Soyer“All civilizations have had a relationship with water. The most magnificent civilizations were established by the water, and again many civilizations perished because they lost their water. In the age we live in, every wetland we have left is more precious than ever. The future of our civilization will determine whether we can protect these areas or not. That's why every lake, every fish, and every grain of wheat matters so much. Marmara Lake is the largest lake in Manisa. There is nothing like this lake in İzmir and its surrounding provinces. A few years ago, the Marmara Lake, which stretched magnificently right next to us, was used for agricultural irrigation and was a food for fishermen. While feeding groundwater, it was also home to tens of thousands of birds. Our lake was the apple of the eye of both Manisa and the Aegean. Unfortunately, on the one hand, the drought and on the other hand, it was dehydrated and dried up by wrong planning. When the wrong plan and drought come together, the lakes dry up. We know that this is not destiny. We will never allow such a destruction of nature,” he said.
“The lake becomes a desert, the village becomes empty and there is migration”
Saying that when a lake dries up, fish and birds leave first, then those who make their bread from that lake and fishermen leave, President Soyer continued his words as follows: “Then the underground waters recede. Agricultural irrigation ends, soil and climate become dry. Eventually, agricultural production in the region stops and the farmers leave their villages and go. The lake becomes a desert. The village empties, there is migration. This is not the first time we have seen this disaster here. We experienced this disaster in Konya, Ereğli, Hotamış, Cihanbeyli, Burdur and many other places. But this time we have a solution and a solution. We have not come to the end in Manisa yet. Together, we will prevent the formation of a desert in Manisa, in the middle of the Aegean. My colleagues met with the State Hydraulic Works. We will do whatever it takes, from transferring water from Gördes to Ahmetli Regulator, Demirköprü Dam and the flow of streams here. If the pumps of Ahmetli Regulator are broken, we will repair them,” he said.
“We are determined to prevent this great disaster in our region”
Stating that nature has no lawyer, union, parliament and assembly, President Soyer continued: “Nature is the only one. sözcüIt is the conscience that has the last word when we lay our head on the pillow. That's why we will continue to stand by this beautiful lake, pelicans, fish, fishermen and farmers. We are determined to prevent this great disaster in our region. We can't have a more important job than this. We will not give up the struggle until our citizens living in and around the lake get the water they deserve. We hear the cry of this lake. We hear the cry of Tekelioğlu and all our villagers who eat bread from this lake. You will see, we will announce this cry to everyone who needs to hear it. All non-governmental organizations present here, and our Republican People's Party provincial and district organizations contributed greatly to the realization of this valuable meeting. I am proud to walk with them. We will not let anyone from Tekelioğlu leave until this sparkling lake is home to birds and fish again.”
President Soyer, in his statement at the event area, emphasized that the drying of the lake is a drama and said, “Now the lake is far from providing food. It's a drama. This is a very sad picture. This is possible to change. Together, we will take the steps to change this. Together we will end this tragedy. Our people here will continue to get their bread from Marmara Lake," he concluded.
“There is a president in the wolf who takes care of the bird”
Tekelioğlu Village Headman Selim Selvioğlu thanked everyone who contributed to the struggle against the drying up of the lake. Rafet Kerse, Member of the Board of the Gölmarmara and Surrounding Fisheries Cooperative, said, “We want our lake back. Marmara Lake should not be ignored. There are 7 villages around it. I am grateful to you for your support.”
Aegean Forest Foundation Deputy General Manager Yasemin Bilgili stated that Marmara Lake lost most of its surface areas due to wrong water and agricultural policies in the 10-year period and said, "We have to preserve a healthy lake ecosystem and transfer it to future generations."
Natural Rotary Club President Meltem Onay said: “I have never seen a lake dry up in my life. I came here two months ago and what I saw was a terrible sight. After seeing the fishing boats on the ground, I said something needs to be done here. We started a signature campaign. We heard you and we are here. This lake is all of us and we all have a lot of work to do.”
Dicle Tuba Karcı, Chairman of the Board of Nature Association, thanked everyone who heard the voice of Marmara Lake and said, “Not only İzmir, but Gediz Basin. Tunç Soyer He is very lucky to have a president like him. The wolf has a president who takes care of the bird,” he said. Şener Kilimcigöldelioğlu, Chairman of the GEMA Foundation, said, “Our Bronze President is always with us, we toured our entire Gediz Basin together. "I want support from the entire parliament," he said.
Water written with human body
In the event, a mini-concert of İnci Foundation Children's Orchestra and a film screening of Marmara Lake were held. After the speeches, they marched towards the lake in a cortege with banners. The program is about “water!” with the human body on the lake shore. completed with writing.
Visit to three municipalities
President Tunç Soyer, within the scope of Manisa program, visited Turgutlu Mayor Çetin Akın, Akhisar Mayor Besim Dutlulu and Saruhanlı Mayor Zeki Bilgin in their office. Soyer thanked the mayors for their support and said, “It was really nice. Participation was very high. People came enthusiastically on their own initiative. We thank you for your support to the entire organization.”
Who participated?
Hundreds of nature lovers from Manisa, İzmir and surrounding cities, especially the villagers and non-governmental organizations, İzmir Village Coop Union President Neptün Soyer, Republican People's Party (CHP) Manisa Deputy Ahmet Vehbi Bakırlıoğlu, CHP Manisa Provincial President Semih Balaban, Foça Mayor Fatih Gürbüz, Mayor of Kemalpaşa Rıdvan Karakayalı, Mayor of Gaziemir Halil Arda, Mayor of Ödemiş Mehmet Eriş, Mayor of Turgutlu Çetin Akın, Mayor of Alaşehir Ahmet Öküzcüoğlu, Mayor of Akhisar Besim Dutlulu, Mayor of Saruhanlı Zeki Bilgin, 17 CHP's in Manisa. The head of the district, the bureaucrats of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, the general managers, the heads of departments, the heads of the Izmir Küçük Menderes Basin Agricultural Development Cooperative, headmen and citizens took part.
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