In the panel organized by Sarıgöl Environmental Association and Aegean Environment and Culture Platform in Sarıgöl district of Manisa, the effects of geothermal power plants on agriculture and the environment were evaluated. EGEÇEP co-spokesperson İpek Sarıca, scientific committee members Erhan İçöz and Prof. attended the panel. Dr. Ali Osman Karababa, Çiftçi-Sen Organizing Secretary Adnan Çobanoğlu and Prof. Dr. Mustafa Demircioğlu took part as a speaker. At the panel, Sarıgöl Mayor Tahsin Akdeniz stated that they, together with environmental organizations, the chamber of agriculture and the public, were determined not to allow geothermal power plants in Sarıgöl.
THERE ARE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
Scientists participating in the panel emphasized the environmental effects of geothermal power plants, the damage they cause to agriculture and grape production, which is the most important source of the regional economy, and their negative effects on human health. In his presentation, chemistry professor Mustafa Demircioğlu pointed out the sources of chemical and radioactive pollution contained in groundwater used in energy production. Stating that there are serious environmental problems in the applications of geothermal energy, which is called clean energy, in Turkey, Erhan İçöz noted that despite the claims of the companies, pollution started in many cases during drilling. He shared examples showing that these determinations were made not only by environmentalists fighting against geothermal energy, but also by state officials. Noting that the main source of income of the region is grape production, Çiftçi-Sen Organizing Secretary Adnan Çobanoğlu pointed out that this started to be lost as the ecological balance began to deteriorate. Public health expert Prof., member of the Central Council of the Turkish Medical Association. Dr. Ali Osman Karababa stated that the chemical heavy metals and gases released underground during mining and energy production activities can cause many health problems, especially cancer, and said, “Although data on cancer is requested in Turkey, it is not disclosed by the Ministry of Health. If there were data at the regional level, mines and GPPs “We will be able to see the effects of ‘s much more clearly,” he said. EGEÇEP co-spokesperson, Lawyer İpek Sarıca, emphasized that all these mining and energy activities are a violation of the fundamental human right to live in a healthy environment. Sharing information about EIA processes, legal legislation and procedures through sample cases, Sarıca said, “Legal processes, which start with obstacles such as filing a lawsuit and expert fees, work in favor of companies.”
Source: www.cumhuriyet.com.tr
