The people of the Cerattepe region in Turkey are fighting to stop their land from being destroyed by a mining company that wants to cut down the forests and pollute the water in order to mine gold, silver and copper.
The people of the Cerattepe region in Turkey are fighting to stop their land from being destroyed by a mining company that wants to cut down the forests and pollute the water in order to mine gold, silver and copper.
In February, protests took place against the mining plans of the company, Cengiz Holding. Demonstrators were beaten by police, and authorities are threatening union members at the local forestry directorate who joined the protests. Those workers have been told they will be transferred to other regions of the country if they don't give up.
In partnership with the Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI), a global union uniting 335 trade unions in 131 countries, TARIM ORMAN-IS, the Civil Servants Union of Agriculture, Forestry, Husbandry and Environment Sectors in Turkey, and the Green Artvin Association, that has been working to keep mining out of Cerattepe for 20 years and protect the region against all kind of environmental threats.
The forestry workers union has now turned to LabourStart with an urgent request for help.
Click here to write a message to Cengiz Holding and to the relevant Turkish authorities to demand an immediate stop to the mining plans and the harassment of union members.
