Members of the Eskişehir Nature and Life Platform, who traveled to Ankara to continue their protest against the cyanide-based gold mine that Cengiz Holding plans to build in the Alpagut and Atalan neighborhoods of Eskişehir, made a public statement in front of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change prior to the Environmental Impact Assessment Commission (EIA) meeting.

During the gathering outside the ministry, banners reading ‘Do not let the Sakarya Valley disappear’ and ‘Do not forget Ilic, do not touch Alpagut and Atalan’ were displayed. Protesters chanted slogans such as ‘Nature, life, freedom,’ ‘Cengiz, get out — this land is ours,’ and ‘We won’t give up even a single tree.’

We will be forced to migrate

The demonstration drew numerous representatives of political parties and civil society organizations. Platform member Sezgi Tağaç stated: “Our region is one of only two microclimatic zones in the country, along with Iğdır. The project area hosts 28 endemic plant species, 61 vertebrate species, and 128 bird species. It is located just 200 meters from a first-degree archaeological site. We are talking about one of the most treasured areas of our city and our country, with its forests, agricultural lands, pastures, rivers, and rich cultural heritage. This project will lead to the destruction of our trees, forests, and farmlands. Millions of tons of water will be used for drilling, blasting, and mining operations, causing our water sources to dry up. Agriculture, natural life, and beekeeping will disappear. Our buildings will be damaged, our clean air will turn into dust, and the people who have cultivated these lands for centuries may be forced to abandon their villages in despair.”

It will cause various diseases

Tağaç also drew attention to the serious health risks posed by the project and stated: “Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and mercury—naturally found in the soil and rendered toxic when exposed to cyanide— will infiltrate groundwater sources feeding the Sakarya River via evaporation, rainfall, leakage, and overflow. These substances will enter the human body through inhalation, skin contact, or contaminated drinking and utility water, as well as through food. These heavy metals and cyanide can lead to blood disorders, heart failure, kidney failure, mental illnesses, birth defects, developmental delays in infants, and various cancers including skin, prostate, liver, bladder, kidney, and lung cancers. In addition, the dust generated during drilling, blasting, and transportation will lead to respiratory diseases such as emphysema, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD) disease, and cancer.”

We will not allow this plunder

Sezgi Tağaç criticized the Public Participation Meeting previously organized by the Eskişehir Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, stating that it was conducted in violation of procedure, without taking into account objections from civil society organizations, professional chambers, experts on the subject, or local residents. She also noted that the official meeting records were never shared with them. Emphasizing that ecological destruction is taking place in many areas and that mining companies continue to increase their profits without paying taxes, Tağaç said: “It is a well-known fact that these companies show utter disregard for nature and life. Once again, we declare it here. As those who suffer from the destruction inflicted upon these lands—as the rightful owners of this soil, whose lives, forests, rivers, and living spaces have been seized for the unchecked greed of these companies—we will not allow the plunder of nature and life in Alpagut and Atalan.”

A delegation of activists and members of parliament departed to attend the EIA meeting after the statement was delivered.

The demonstrators continued their vigil in front of the ministry, standing firm in the rain until the meeting came to an end.