Either Canal or Istanbul Coordination handed out leaflets in Kadıköy explaining why it says no to the Canal Istanbul project. "More money - said the Coordination - is needed to deal with earthquakes."
The petitions against the changes made by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization in the 1/100.000 scale Environmental Plan of Canal Istanbul Reserve Building Area will be received until 28 January.
Members of the "Either Canal or Istanbul Coordination" gathered in Kadıköy and called for participation in the action that they are organising on 28 January at 1 pm in front of Beşiktaş Directorate of Environment and Urbanization. Police prevented the group from distributing leaflets and opening an information stand.
The statement issued by the Coordination said: "Environmental Plan Change will cause the destruction of forest and agricultural areas, basins, wetlands and protected areas. It is a death warrant that will destroy the habitats of plants and animals and turn Istanbul into a concrete island."
The statement recalled that "earthquakes hurt every day in different parts of our country, yesterday in Adapazarı, Van, today in Elazig. While people are dying all over the country not because of an earthquake, but because of poor construction, no budget is set aside to deal with such emergencies."
The statement invited "all our citizens to file an objection to the Environmental Plan using their Constitutional rights and to come together on Tuesday, 28 January to stop Canal Istanbul together."
