ELAZIG GUNISIGI NEWSPAPER – September 2012
DON'T RUSH!!!
December 22, 1939 Erzincan Earthquake (Death toll: 32,000+) December 20, 1942 Niksar Earthquake (Death toll: 3,000+) February 1, 1944 Bolu Earthquake (Death toll: 4,000+) August 19, 1966 Varto Earthquake (Death toll: 2,000+) March 28, 1970 Gediz Earthquake (Death toll: 1,000+) September 6, 1975 Lice Earthquake (Death toll: 2,000+) November 24, 1976 Çaldıran-Muradiye Earthquake (Death toll: 3,000+) October 30, 1980 Erzurum Earthquake (Death toll: 1,000+) August 17, 1999 Kocaeli Earthquake (Death toll: 17,000+) May 1, 2003 Bingöl Earthquake (Death toll: 200+) March 8, 2010 Başyurt-Karakoçan Earthquake (Death toll: 40+) October 23, 2011 Van-Erciş Earthquake (Death toll: 600+)
When you write these numbers, it feels like there’s nothing left to say. Throughout the history of the Republic, almost three times as many people have died from earthquakes as those who have died from terrorism. Laziness, inertia, the tendency to do nothing unless there’s personal gain, irresponsibility, indifference, and forgetfulness seem to have been ingrained in our genes. If terrorism stops for three days, we forget about it and drop our guard. When our homes collapse, we remember the earthquake, but three days later, we forget that too. We didn’t change our attitude over the years: "It happened, but it passed; there’s no rush, who knows when the next earthquake will happen." So, what have we gained with this attitude? Debt, death, tears... What have we lost? Hundreds of thousands of our people, our homes, perhaps our future... Minister of Environment and Urbanization Erdoğan Bayraktar made very important statements about urban transformation last weekend. “We will make a groundbreaking start. We are starting in October. We will begin demolitions simultaneously in 30 or 40 different locations across Turkey,” Bayraktar said, quickly listing some provinces: "Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Konya, Bolu, Van." I don’t know if Elazığ is on that list, but I don't see any significant work locally. Everyone loves and uses the term urban transformation, but when it comes to execution, urban transformation becomes a hot potato, passed from hand to hand. It seems like no one is willing to take the first step. In fact, the responsibility for these efforts lies with local governments. They are the centers for organization and action. When I say this, people only think of Elazığ Municipality. I’m referring to all municipalities: central, district, and town municipalities. Palu, Karakoçan, Arıcak, Maden, Sivrice, and the surrounding towns are just as much, if not more, at risk from earthquakes as Elazığ Central. Of course, attention is focused on areas with higher population density. We have no doubt about the love of those who say they love Elazığ, but love comes with working, protecting, developing, and acting together... As we say locally, “It’s not enough just to give lip service.” It seems like we will talk more about this issue. Alongside these problems, the news of our martyrs we hear every day breaks our hearts. May the souls of our brave sons and daughters of the homeland who sacrificed their lives for us rest in heaven. The pain of the martyr’s families is our pain. The Turkish nation is grateful to its martyrs and the families who raised them. Yesterday, I offer my condolences and prayers to the family, loved ones, and the Turkish nation for our hometown hero, brother Fatih Celayir, who was martyred in the ambush of the cursed terrorist organization, and all our martyrs.
The Republic of Turkey is a young state, but it has a deep-rooted tradition. Our state will make the killers, collaborators, and organizers pay for their inhumane and ungrateful actions. Our duty is to stand by our state with patience, prayer, and effort. We are confident that the end of those who try to tailor a shroud for the Turkish nation will be as terrifying as the others before them