The Akbelen Forest Resistance

According to recent news reports, there is ongoing resistance to the cutting of trees for a coal mine in the Akbelen forest in Turkey[1][2][3][4][5][6]. Villagers and activists have been protesting the expansion of the coal mine, which they say will destroy the forest[1]. The coal mine of the thermal power plant has reached the border of the Akbelen forest, and activists claim that the forest will be totally destroyed by July 31 if the deforestation continues[1][3]. The Turkish gendarmerie have intervened against villagers and activists, and some activists have been hospitalized[1][2]. The opposition has expressed support for the ongoing resistance to preserve the forest[4].

Citations:
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/protesters-occupy-forest-stop-turkish-coal-mine-expansion-2023-07-27/
[2] https://www.duvarenglish.com/turkish-gendarmerie-tear-gas-villagers-for-resisting-coal-mine-project-in-akbelen-forest-8-detained-news-62789
[3] https://www.internationaliststandpoint.org/call-for-international-solidarity-to-stop-the-massacre-in-akbelen-forest-in-turkey/
[4] https://www.turkishminute.com/2023/07/28/opposition-supports-ongoing-resistance-to-preserve-turkeys-akbelen-forest/amp/
[5] https://globalvoices.org/2023/07/27/in-turkey-when-forests-are-not-on-fire-they-are-being-destroyed-by-greedy-men-in-suits/
[6] https://uk.news.yahoo.com/not-turkish-forest-became-fierce-124053333.html

Akbelen Forest resistance: CHP faces protests by locals, gendarmerie assaults Green Left MP

Gendarme and police push villagers, hugging trees to prevent logging, out of Akbelen forest

Akbelen Ormanı’nda yaşananları haberleştiren gazetecilere jandarma engel oluyor. Gazetecilerin gözüne biber gazı sıkıldı, kalkanla kamerası kırıldı. Gerçekleri kamuoyuna duyurmak bizim görevimiz. #GazeteciyeDokunma #AkbeleneDokunma pic.twitter.com/wp1Wql1qre

— Gazeteciler Sendikası (@TGS_org_tr) July 28, 2023

"Ağaçlarıma sarıldım. 'Kestirmeyeceğim çocuklarımı' diye şapur şupur öptüm"

Akbelen Ormanı'nı savunan Muğlalı kadınların portreleri pic.twitter.com/IgejYh7cGe

— +90 (@plus90) July 28, 2023

#Akbelen #ikizköy
Dümdüz duran insanlara şu saldırıya bakın! Hem de ne için?
Yazıklar olsun pic.twitter.com/OwTdG8eqVT

— berna lacin🌟 (@bernalacin35) July 28, 2023

Akbelen in peril: Energy company destroys forest for coal as activists flood to defend trees

Gendarme and police push villagers, hugging trees to prevent logging, out of Akbelen forest

Direnişe destek her geçen gün daha da artıyor. Ülkenin farklı noktalarından gelen doğa severler Akbelen direnişine destek veriyor. "Hoşgeldiniz gözüm" #AkbeleneDokunma pic.twitter.com/ZH2PixcNQt

— Hakan Tosun (@HakanTosunn) July 28, 2023

İktidarın çölleştirdiği Akbelen !!! pic.twitter.com/rz81QsV9F0

— Evrim Rızvanoğlu (@RizvanogluEvrim) July 28, 2023

o sırada akbelen: https://t.co/k8YBL7MZ55 pic.twitter.com/oAVJtn0uxH

— Sultan Eylem Keleş (@esultankeles) July 28, 2023