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September 2013 Esteemed Members of the International Olympic Commitee; This is a call from Istanbullites agonized by the ecocide and urban apartheid the city is being drawn into through mega construction and transportation projects which are expected to be accelerated under the guise of constructions for the infrastructures of Summer Olympics 2020 if Istanbul is selected as the host city. This is a cry not solely of the citizens of Istanbul but of its ecological and natural integrity areas, of its cultural and historic assets, of its endemic plants and wildlife as well. This is a legitimate call to avert the decease of an ages old city pushed into ecological and social unsustainability and insecurity. This is a call from more than 2 million families from settled neighbourhoods who will be faced with forced evictions and demolishments. This is a call from a city under the imminent threat of an expected earthquake, whose governments play the last days of Pompei with their mega transportation and mega construction projects rather than investing in the security of the city. We believe that our call will not be turned down. Boycott Istanbul 2020 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Olimpiyatlara-Hay%C4%B1r/533108613393568

WHY ISTANBUL SHOULD NOT BE SELECTED AS THE HOST FOR 2020:

I)

Sustainability

In the Candidature File for Istanbul, it is asserted that The very essence of stanbul 2020s concept enshrines sustainability and its commitment to staging the Games with minimal environmental impact. 1and promised that The Games will enable higher standards of
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Istanbul 2020 Candidature file, Vol-1, p.63

sustainable design and compliance, particularly the preservation of natural and built environments, and improved public access to foreshores and much-needed green space within the city. 2. When these welcoming statements are closely scrutinized vis a vis the projects of Istanbul 2020, it is revealed, on the contrary, that their adverse impacts will be enormous, causing unrepairable damages to the environment, ecology and historical and cultural assets of the city as well as on its settled populations. Istanbul 2020 is an unsustainable project, socially and ecologically; a project that does not take into account legacy of the Games, one of the pillars of the Olympics, either. Unrepairable Damages to the Environment, Ecology and Historical and Cultural Assets Haydarpaa, Belgrad Forests, Yedikule and Northern regions of the city, as spelled out in the Candidature file, comprise natural presevation and cultural heritage areas. The reason lying behind the choice of these particular venues is not the Olympic spirit. These are profitable regions of urban rent where it has not been easy to intervene before due to their natural and historical values or urban resistance. Olympics will ease the hands of central and local governments. Besides, in the name of Olympics, ecologically vital areas of the city will be targeted as disclosed by Ahmet Haluk Karabel, the President of the Mass Housing Administration (TOKI), during his press conference on March 2013. He announced a new city to be planned for the Games in the vicinity of the 3rd Bridge and the 3rd Airport, comprising 420 square km.s. 3:

2 3

Istanbul 2020 Candidature file, Vol-1, p.21 http://www.olimpikturk.com/2013/03/istanbul-2020-olimpiyat-adaylg-ioc-ec.html

First and foremost, neither the 3rd Bridge nor the 3rd Airport can be found in the Master Plan of Istanbul, which plans the development of the city on the East-West axis, carefully avoiding any construction on the North-South where ecological integrity areas, water basins, forests, and precious agrarian lands of the city exist 4. This part constitutes the lungs of the city, and literally it is. These mega transportation projects including the Canale have been decided from a top-down manner without any public participation. Against all warnings and notices from relevant experts, academicians and professional chambers; against all press calls, rallies and demonstrations from the public and even against the court cases opened by the Chambers of Architects, Environmental Architects and Planners, they were pursued with a stubborn fervour. In order to evade any legal interventions in the long run, these projects were taken out of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). 5 The attitude of the authorities can be summarized as development at whatever cost as is unveiled by an outright disregard of EIA for mega transportation projects (having run into financial diffuculties, to be able to get credits from foreign banks for the 3rd Bridge, very recently, the government asked for an EIA Report from a board which is not independent and which is expected to work under political pressure). The construction of the 3rd Bridge has already started and around 4 million trees are expected to be cut down. Each day, one part of the northern forests of Istanbul is buldozed to the ground to open the routes of the Bridge: It is not only the trees indeed but the whole ecosystem that is being murdered:

4 5

http://www.spoist.org/dokuman/kitaplar/Kopru_raporu_eng.pdf You can refer to the 3rd Bridge Evaluation Report of the Chamber of City Planners: http://www.spoist.org/dokuman/kitaplar/Kopru_raporu_eng.pdf

3rd Bridge construction site in Northern Forests- View from Garipce to Poyrazkoy http://fotogaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/galeridetay/72848/2/1/24623936/istanbulda-yesile-veda

http://www.koprufotograflari.com/p/fotograf-arsivi.html http://www.todayszaman.com/news-322977-istanbuls-new-bridge-highway-canal-threatencitys-northern-forests.html Short videos on the massacre of forests, taken from the construction site of the 3rd Bridge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6axBD25Xwc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgQmI3DTjoI In this context, TOKI President Karabels speech and the map shown by him is enough of an evidence of how the Games will be exploited to open the most delicate parts of the city to further construction. Istanbul think-tank Betam has just published a research note on the economics of the new airport. 6 The airport will be feasible for the developers if Turkey manages to grow at its potential. However, thats not a given unless the country manages to implement key structural reforms. Shadowing the prospect is the fact that Turkish economy is not doing well lately and in recent months, the Turkish lira has lost 4.5 percent of its value against the dolar. 7 Betam reporters note that, in order to make profit out of the 3rd Airport project, the developers will resort to construction on the land allocated. Since all the firms in the consortium are in construction, and so they may be hoping to get some extra income from extracurricular rent-seeking activities such as real estate and infrastructure development around the airport. 8

This is just one of the many cases documenting the ambition under the bid. Olympic Games will be used, not to encourage sports but stimulate construction activities around these mega transportation projects. This is why 420 km2 region close to mega projects is particularly chosen. Concerns for the environment, ecology, and nature are subordinated to urban rent of construction companies close to TOKI.

As part of the Northern Forests, the projects in the Belgrad Forest promised to undergo a major remediation programme to return green space to stanbul residents 9 will on the contrary grab the last green spaces from Istanbullites by attracting projects in the vicinity already occuppied by the star projects of pro-AKP developers. All these developers, thanks to their political stance, pursue close relations with TOKI.
6 7

Olympic establishments in the

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/Default.aspx?pageID=238&nid=49613

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/21/business/global/turkish-skyline-foreshadows-emerging-marketslowdown.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hpw& 8 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/Default.aspx?pageID=238&nid=49613
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Istanbul 2020 Candidature file, Vol-2, p.29

Belgrad Forest will make them more than happy, promoting their sales. As for the Olympic legacy, we can predict that it will serve the high incomes in the environs rather than Istanbullites.

Ali Aaoglus Maslak 1453

Aydnl Groups Vadistanbul

Eroglu Groups Skyland Istanbul

The historical and cultural sites, inter alia, Yedikule Castles and Haydarpaa are also under risk of damage due to planned Olympic projects. Some of the historical vegetable gardens from the Byzantium times in Yedikule are demolished at the moment 10. When projects start in the area, remaining gardens may confront the same fate while forced evictions and demolishments await the community next door. Haydarpaa Port project has been on the agenda of the central and local governments for a long time. It is also sued by the Chambers and there is a popular resistance mobilized under Haydarpaa Solidarity against the project. Reading again from the Candidature file, The redeveloped Haydarpaa Port will be the focal point of the Bosphorus Zone. The Olympic Games will provide the catalyst for this project, one of the most significant urban projects planned for the City of stanbul. 11, the pragmatism of constructing legitimacy for such a contentious project through exploitation of the Games is quite well disclosed.

Adverse Social Impacts

As has been documented by various research, studies and reports, especially by UN-Habitat Advisory Group on Forced Evictions 12, neighborhood demolishments, forced evictions and resistances of the communities have been on the agenda of Istanbul since 2005. Through various state-led gentrification and renewal projects, communities and low income neighbourhoods are either expulsed from the center or are under threat of displacement. An apartheid city, resting on economic cleavages if not on ethnic/ racist lines is being created. Reading from the Candidature file, the long-term betterment of the area and its inhabitants mean forced evictions of low income communites residing in the project areas and demolishments of their neighbourhoods to be turned into the hands of developers and/or TOKI for luxurious projects. Thus, Olympics will be exploited by the authorities to furnish legitmacy to the current state-led gentrification projects, accelerating the process and
10

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/local-municipality-to-demolish-historical-byzantine-gardens-inistanbul.aspx?pageID=238&nID=50436&NewsCatID=341 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/archeologists-issue-warning-on-destruction-of-istanbuls-yedikulegardens.aspx?pageID=238&nID=51024&NewsCatID=341
11

Istanbul 2020 Candidature file, Vol-2, p.29 http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/10008_1_593995.pdf

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engendering new ones. The social impact will be great. What is more, resentments have been simmering in the city and populations have the right to resist against the demolishment of their living spaces. Taking into consideration the outbursts in Brazil as well as the brutal interventions of the riot police against Gezi demonstrators in Istanbul, the future of Istanbul can easily be portrayed. The adverse impacts of building a new city within an already populated city of 15 million people and attracting more populations to the city without making any future plans for the traffic and the infrastructure of the city are other controversial issues. The city has reached its population threshold long before and the traffic jam and congestion are already irksome.

The Earthquake

While Istanbul awaits its earthquake and Istanbulites live under its threat every day, the central and local authorities seem to be captured by mega transportation and construction projects, turning each green plot and every open space into a construction site. These public spaces as vital areas of protection in times of earthquake have been buldozed one after the other ruthlessly. The Emergency Action Plan dated 2001 has completely been ignored and if an earthquake happens, noone knows what to do, including the authorities themselves. According to the Plan, a zone was reserved in each district for putting up emergency tents. Today, at every zone, there is a high rise. The report of Planners for People analyzes all the districts of Istanbul and documents the projects erected on emergency tent areas 13. Trump Towers happen to be one of such zones.
BACILAR
nar Olimpia Park

Toplum in ehircilik Deprem Raporu 2011

Baclar District Map Showing the Emergency Tent Zone and nar Olimpia Park Residential Project Erected on the Zone

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http://www.toplumicinsehircilik.org/documant/istanbulun_acil_eylem_plani.pdf

Maltepe Park and Yenikap Concert and Meeting Area are the other surprising projects of a city awaiting its doom. As if tsunami was not a fact, the sea is being filled to create spaces for these 2 mega projects planned to accommodate 1 million people:

YENKAPI CONCERT & MEETING AREA

No need to pronounce the damage these projects will cause to the environment. Yedikule Olympic venue is in fact close to Yenikapi and this may not be a coincidence. The Law 6306 enacted in 2012 for earthquake risk; on the other hand, is a legal tool for intervention into areas of urban rent 14rather than a tool for building a safe city.

II.

Olympic Legacy

Taking the aforementioned points into consideration, the outcome of Istanbul 2020 may turn out to be undesirable and critical; an unsustainable city with its forests, water basins, agrarian lands, heritage sites and buildings destroyed, its endemic plants, wildlife and bird populations extinct and human populations under threat of evictions and risk of all kinds of health problems, cancers and lung diseases being the first ones (Relevant maps are at the end 1, scroll down please).

The legacy may also prove to be White Elephants all over the historic sites of the city. Atatrk Olympic Stadium constructed for Olympic Games 2000 is seldomly used and needs to be renovated due to its wrongly chosen axis vis a vis the winds while jokes on the Formula 1 Circuit abound as it is mostly used by the goat population! 15Similarly, noone knows what to do with the decaying establishments of 2005 zmir World University Summer Games and

14

http://direitoamoradia.org/?p=13059&lang=en http://bianet.org/english/people/138478-the-biggest-disaster-at-the-parliament 15 http://www.f1katewalker.com/turkey.html

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2011 Erzurum Winter Games. The same fate awaits Mersin which hosted the 2013 Meditteranean Games

III.

Human Rights and Security

As underlined by Human Rights Watch, To host the Olympics, governments and cities pledge not only to build sparkling new stadiums but also to uphold the IOCs Fundamental Principles of Olympism which constitute respect for human dignity and press freedom , Turkeys record of human rights has been worsening as prosecutors and courts continue to use terrorism laws to prosecute and prolong incanceration of thousands of Kurdish political activists, human rights defenders, students, journalists and trade unionists Free speech and media remain restricted and there has been serious violations of fair trial rights. Great obstacles remain in securing justice for victims of abuses by police, military and state officials while there has been no development for combatting impunity16; on the contrary, at every peaceful demonstration or democratic rally, police violence escalates. The most recent crack down happened when 3 young men, ''Justice Walkers'' , started walking from Antalya for the commemoration of those killed and injured during Gezi

demonstrations. They walked for 33 days, travelling over 1100 km.s.and arrived in Istanbul to visit Gezi Park to be confronted by brutality: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wm1uOkgq0I&feature=youtu.be&t=3m38s http://www.sondakika.com/haber/haber-adalet-yuruyusculeri-ne-gumussuyu-nda-polis4962055/ Taking into account that forced evictions and neighbourhood demolishments alongside destructive projects like the 3rd Bridge, 3rd Airport and the Canale can bring about resentments and protests, it is quite obvious that similar crack downs are expected in the future. Recalling the bid leader Hasan Arat, who declared that they had a lot of firsts to offer to the youth and that these events progressed our democracy 17, one can not help wondering if these firsts and progress of democracy include police violence, arbitrary custodies and detentions of
16 17

http://www.hrw.org/world-report/2013/country-chapters/turkey http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/planet/23448545.asp

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hundreds 18, tortures during detensions, more than 4 thousand injuries 19 (12 lost their eyes, 1 who was fatally injured was put to rest) and 5 deaths. In this country, where not one, not a single one of the perpetrators has been convicted so far 20, democracy becomes a farce.

Contrary to the arguments of Hasan Arat, the carnations were thrown by the protestors to the police, not vice-versa on their way to commemorate friends lost While each and every democratic protest, demonstration or rally is confronted with unproportional use of force, violence and brutality, opposing projects and implementations of the government, or taking sides with Gezi may bring about retaliations as press members are fired, contracts of academicians who have supported Gezi are not renewed, film stars are searched for narcotics, students are arbitrarily detained. Besides, by a recent law enacted, the powers of the Chambers of Engineers and Architects were curbed. This was the reprisal for their role as the secretariat of Taksim Solidarity. 21

18 19

http://bianet.org/english/human-rights/149570-police-detains-6-people-just-in-case http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/10103389/Turkey-unrest-Erdogan-vows-to-defyprotesters.html 20 http://www.hlrn.org/news.php?id=pW5naA==#.UiImv9JSg7u 21 http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/23699555.asp

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Opposing Istanbul 2020 can also bring about threats and it is very serious that these threats are voiced by a minister supposed to protect international human rights standards first and foremost, being the Minister of EU. Renown for his declaration of whoever enters Gezi is a terrorist 22, no wonder Ba has also set the stage to blame Gezi protests if Turkey's bid is unsuccessful: Those who protested at Taksim's Gezi Park tried twice to drop Istanbuls candidacy off the candidates list, but they failed. If Istanbul loses, it will be because of them. 23 The promises of the authorities for the IPC that the Games will reinforce the countrys commitment to improving accessibility, delivering a more liveable city 24 dangle in the air when it is recalled that Istanbul is an inaccessible city and the authorities do not feel much of responsibility. To cite an example, all access from the metro station to Taksim Square was closed for the disabled during the construction activities in the Square before Gezi protests. And indeed one should never forget the police gesture! for the disabled protestor 25:

http://www.tmmob.org.tr/genel/bizden_detay.php?kod=9304&tipi=3 22 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/police-to-consider-protesters-in-istanbuls-taksim-square-terrororganization-members-minister.aspx?PageID=238&NID=48875&N 23 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-govt-opposition-at-odds-overolympics.aspx?pageID=238&nid=52805 24 Istanbul 2020 Candidature file, Vol-1, p.19 25 http://bianet.org/english/human-rights/147485-the-moment-that-humanity-ended

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Tear gas and water cannons were used against crowds during the opening of the Mediterranean Games in Mersin as well. Interestingly enough, the solution against protests was found in allocating all the tickets to the protocol while leaving the people outside: While it was all about the show on the northern front, down south in the city, there was tension. Police intervened against a crowd protesting Erdoan with tear gas and water cannon. The local organization committee had played it safe to let the right ones in; Kl admitted that the ministry allocated 20,000 [of 25,000] tickets to protocol seemingly in an attempt to avoid letting a fiery crowd in. Prime Minister Erdoan was booed in stadiums before; at the 2010 World Basketball Championship final in Istanbul and the 2011 opening of the Trk Telekom Arena. 26 IV. The Questionable Role of TOKI

It is claimed that TOKI will be embracing the Olympic project. Since the 2000s, TOK, which has acted both as an official institution shaping the urbanization policies with the application of its projects and a company with its partnerships has become a monopoly in the urban practices through the enactment of legal regulations. 27 In terms of urban land portfolio, it is the number one urban land owner in Turkey. Furthermore, directly linked to the Prime Minister, TOKI happens to be the most hegemonic power over all the lands in Turkey, the sole exception being foreign embassies. It is also the most discussed actor and institution because of its non-accountability, of its ambiguous statute and of its authoritarian ruling methods. TOKI is exempt from the tender law and also from the surveilance of Saytay, the supreme court of public accounts. Its high degree of autonomy as pronounced in the Candidature file, enables it to give out projects to whoever it sees fit. Right before the local elections of April 2014, it is quite easy to forsee who will get the Olympic projects from TOKI in case Istanbul becomes the host. Journalist Harun Grlek documents TOKIs contractors in his well known work AKPs Contractors. 28 It is also reflected that In the unlikely event any such acquisition involves the displacement of persons, existing provisions enable full compensation to be provided to affected individuals, equal to the fair market value of the property. In addition, displaced persons are
26

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/mediterranean-games-in-mersin-start-with-fanfare-controversyhope.aspx?pageID=238&nID=49244&NewsCatID=371 27 http://www.tr.boell.org/web/51-1558.html 28 http://www.pandora.com.tr/urun/akpnin-muteahhitleri/164385

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offered the opportunity to buy a new, low-cost home from TOK, using TOKs progressive 15 year financing plan for low income housing. TOKIs resettlement programs and the 15-year financing have proven to be big failures, ending up with seizures and confiscations as low income groups are unable to pay their montly installments to the banks and end up selling their properties with debt and move out impoverished and deprived, as has been documented by academic research 29 and also UN-Habitat AGFE Istanbul Report 2009 30. Contrary to what is claimed above, forced evictions and acquisitions are not unlikely but more than likely if TOKI is involved. V. The Olympic Spirit

Turkey has never had a proper sports policy. The attitude of a common Turkish person to sports is that of a lack of interest. The country needs to invest in amateur sports and local sports clubs and teams and not only for basketball or football but also for tenis, swimming and the other expensive sports as well. Doping can not be prevented through disciplinary measures but through the creation of a sportsperson vision and sports culture, the same applies to hate speech, racism and discrimination. It was very unfortunate that the wrestler Kayaalp who had sent racist tweets to Gezi protestors, such as Armenian people are celebrating that they have occupied Taksim Square and insulted Turkey easily, I will f..k your protests, you traitors, was given the honour of carrying the Turkish flag in the opening ceremony of Mersin Meditterranean Games. While FILA banned him from attending tournaments for a period, the Turkish Wrestling Federation sided with Kayaalp against FILA: We will not have our kid wasted. We are behind him. We believe to his innocence profoundly. We will take whatever legal action to possible. 31 So Sports culture and Olympic spirit needs to be taught starting from the high ranks of Turkish Sports. Turkey has ratified the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport and has signed the Copenhagen Declaration. The Turkish National Anti-Doping Organisation has been declared compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code. However, the picture that
Just to cite a few: Theses of Tuna Kuyucu, zlem nsal, Bahar Sakizlolu, Ozan Karaman, Cihan Uzunarl Baysal and research by Prof. Tahire Erman, Prof.s Ayfer Bartu Candan-Biray Kolluolu, Prof. Asuman Trkn, Prof. Jean Francois Perouse
29

30

http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/10008_1_593995.pdf http://bianet.org/english/sports/149101-turkish-wrestler-grounded-for-racism

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emerges does not breed optimism as 31 athletes were reported for drug violations while 17 wrestlers tested positive in doping tests. In May Asli Cakir Alptekin, last year's women's 1,500 meters Olympic champion who had already served a two-year doping ban, was provisionally suspended after abnormalities were detected in her "biological passport" while double European 100m hurdles champion Nevin Yanit tested positive for a prohibited substance. 32 On the other hand, as if there was not an issue of doping, the new indoor athletics hall in Atakoy- which is also one of the proposed Olympic venues- was given the name Olympic Champion Asli Cakir Alptekin and Cakir was thus rewarded! Adding to the picture is the news from Kirkpinar, the most significant wrestling competition in the country, dating back to the Ottoman times: Champion Ali Grbz and another 16 oil wrestlers who recently won in different categories of Turkeys longest-running sports event, the Krkpnar Oil Wrestling competition, have tested positive in doping tests. 33 It is quite interesting to note the contradictions in the diplomatical statements of national authorities expressed in front of IOC with those expressed in the national context to be able to realize the actual mentality and attitude of the authorities. Football fans had leading roles during Gezi protests. While they were regarded by bid leader Arat as source of pride because they came together to save the environment, the fans were threatened by Suat Kl, the Minister of Sports: The supporters who bring political protests to stadiums will pay its price. 34 The FIFA Under 20 World Cup witnessed a record-low attendance as games were played to vacant seats. 35

32 33

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/12/us-olympics-istanbul-idUSBRE97B0G920130812 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-govt-opposition-at-odds-overolympics.aspx?pageID=238&nid=52805 34 http://haber.sol.org.tr/spor/spor-bakanindan-kuluplere-ve-taraftarlara-akil-almaz-tehditler-haberi-77827 35 http://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/poor-attendance-at-u20-world-cup-marks-low-point-for-turkish-hopes

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Turkish Wrestler Grounded For Racism

VI.

The Current Condition of Turkish Economy

Although reflected as a strong economy with a high growth ratio, Turkish economy depends on foreign investors to fund its big current account deficit, which is Turkeys biggest economic weakness. The economy grew only 2.6 percent last year, down from 8.5 percent the previous year. As Turkey no longer looks so stable politically, the international investors is also no longer attracted by the strong economic growth. One measure of Turkeys vulnerability to a loss of confidence is that it has an external financing requirement of $205 billion roughly a quarter of GDP over the next year, according to Standard Bank. 36 As a country with border to Syria, and who is willing to have a strong political role in the issue, more difficult days are waiting for Turkish economy.

In need of revenue, if the government resorts to austerity measures, public resentment will be a fact. Against a picture of demolishements, forced evictions and ecocide projects, expenditures for the Games will be just enough to boil the resentment against the Olympics as well, as experienced in Brazil. CONCLUDING The Canditature file of Turkey, unveils the logic behind the bid. What is offered is a mega construction project devoid of Olympic ideals of legacy, sustainability and Olympic spirit. There are no environmental assessments, no consideration for ecology nor are there any social impact evaluations in the file. Communities, neighbourhoods, cultural and historical assets, ages old ecosystem with its forests, endemic plants and
36

http://blogs.reuters.com/hugo-dixon/2013/06/17/turkeys-economy-is-vulnerable/

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wildlife have become details vis a vis this ambitious project. Sustainability, legacy and security are not on the agenda of Turkish authorities captivated by mega construction projects whose environmental and social costs are not even considered.

APPENDIX The maps from the 3rd Bridge Evaluation report of the Chamber of Planners, documenting the water basins, the directions of the winds, land use and ecological, natural preservation areas: http://www.spoist.org/dokuman/kitaplar/Kopru_raporu_eng.pdf

The surface water basins providing water for Istanbul

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