This is a photo taken today or yesterday at the heart of Istanbul. Some people decided to destroy one of the very few green areas left in the the city and build a shopping mall instead. The area cannot legally be given to a third party to destroy but "somehow" they managed to get the permit. The ridiculous legal system in Turkey makes it almost impossible to legally fight against this in court and even if it was possible it would take at least several years and by then the area would be long gone.
However, activists from all over Istanbul and neighbouring cities started a protest and kept construction machines away from the area for the last three days. Despite their peaceful attitude Turkish police entered the area early in the morning and used tear gas against peaceful protesters. They also allegedly set the tents of the protesters on fire to clear the area. Some activists despite not using resistance got beaten and are in surgery right now. Those who are in the area supporting the movement include many artists, musicians, intellectuals and members of the opposing parties.
The reason I explain this to my friends who have little or no interest of what is happening in Turkey is that we are living in an era where people who are far away can make a difference simply by spreading the word and not being indifferent to the injustice and indecency. So please take a moment from your revision and let people around you what is going on far away. I include some other pictures from the protest as well as a new article in English:
http://www.goodmorningturkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/GeziParki.jpg
http://www.narphotos.net/MansetResimleri/IMG_3320.jpg
They put police uniforms on contractor employees to assault protestors. They aimed tear gas bombs to people's faces. Many in the hospital seriously injured and there is an alleged death. Police blocked ambulances coming to the area to pick up injured people. It is estimated that throughout the night at any time there were between 5,000 ~ 10,000 people protesting. Yet NONE of the mainstream media agencies deliver the news because they are oppressed by the government. Those who do are either independent and small agencies or delivering the news as if there were few people making some noise. One of the MPs of the ruling party tweeted that "Protesters obviously needed some gas to motivate." And the prime minister is only few kms away giving a talk on the harms of cigarette smoke. Enjoy the irony. It has been revealed that one of the top names of the ruling party is a huge share holder in the new shopping mall that they want to build in the area. Police says they were given orders from the "top" to do WHATEVER it takes to remove everyone from there. BUT still people are gathering around the place with increasing numbers. People started protesting the event in at least three different cities in Turkey as well as Turkish citizens in New York.
Don't be indifferent, help us. Follow it on #direngeziparkı Twitter stream: https://twitter.com/search/realtime?q=%23DirenGeziParkı&src=tren
News article: http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/201305302148-0022796
Youtube video in which they throw tear gas to one of the MPs in opposition supporting the protestors and while they are removing tents of protestors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXmOt2egAi8#!
Some pictures that might explain a lot:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/400395_10151693191046318_1505961772_n.jpg https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/968961_10151693190656318_1922513990_n.jpg
