In Chechnya, trauma surgeon Khassan Baiev, carried out medical operations for the injured on both sides of the conflict in the First and Second Chechen-Russian wars of 1994-96 and 1999-2009. He upheld his Hippocratic Oath; and refused to perceive his act as “treating the enemy”. He was later forced to abandon his country because of the pressure he was under.
Emek Bizim, İstanbul Bizim Platformu, the Emek Movie Theater Belongs to Us, Istanbul Belongs to Us Platform, was founded against the demolition of the Emek Movie Theater, the oldest movie theater of the Republican Period, as part of the so-called transformation project for the Serkildoryan/Cercle d’Orient building in the Beyoğlu neighbourhood; and in general, against the depredation of cultural heritage by capitalist ventures. The Platform promoted the issue and their resistance on the public agenda, informed the public about developments and resisted police violence. The Emek Movie Theater was eventually demolished, however the struggle of the Platform consolidated and inspired the will in Turkey for the voicing of social demands.
The Landfill Harmonic Orchestra in Paraguay was founded when a garbage collector called Nicolás Gómez, known locally as ‘Cola’ in Cateura, a slum on the skirts of capital city Asunción, began to make musical instruments from recycled materials. A youth orchestra was formed of young people playing the instruments made from garbage. These children from a community with restricted means have taken another step closer to their dreams with music.
Bremen Mızıkacıları Perküsyon Grubu, the Town Musicians of Bremen Percussion Group, established by Engellerin Ötesinde Derneği, the Beyond Disabilities Association, is formed of individuals with mental disabilities. The group is proof that the attention deficit these individuals sometimes suffer from because of their neurological condition can be overcome with the power of music and that they can integrate with society.
During a period of tension between Israel and Iran, Israeli graphic designer Ronny Edry posted a photograph of himself and his daughter on Facebook with the caption, “Iranians, we love you.” Within a short period of time, many Israelis designed their own posters to spread the same message. Iranians responded to this initiative with their own “Iran loves Israel” posters and Facebook groups. This small step of communication created an alternative channel for the establishment of peace between societies.
In Turkey, Hakikat Adalet Hafıza Merkezi, the Truth Justice Memory Center, documents human rights violations according to universal standards, monitors legal cases that can serve as important precedents and generates public opinion for such cases, communicates the truth regarding severe human rights violations to society at large and carries out projects for the recognition of unjust treatment and compensation for and prevention of rights’ violations, thus contributing to social peace and democracy.
In Armenia, the Army in Reality - Panagn Iraganum group was formed when three mothers whose sons were killed while carrying out their military service gathered every Thursday in front of the Presidential Office every Thursday and grew in time. The group campaigns for a more transparent army, holds silent candlelight vigils and informs society about injustices and abuses that take place in the military forces.
Haydarpaşa Dayanışması Platformu, the Haydarpaşa Solidarity Platform, was formed to protect Haydarpaşa Train Station, part of the common cultural heritage of Turkey, by various professional chambers, civil society organizations, political parties and citizens. Although the ‘Conservation Development Plan’ that in the long term aims to dysfunctionalize and transform Haydarpaşa Train Station was approved by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Council in November 2011, the platform continues its legal and social struggle for the preservation of the station without losing its historical character, and campaigns to generate public opinion.
In the USA, since 2004, Invisible Children, Inc., has brought awareness to the atrocities carried out in Central Africa in one of the world’s longest-standing conflict zones, by the Lord’s Resistance Army, which include abductions and abuse of children and forcing them to serve as soldiers. With the collaboration of many institutions and local leaders, the association issues “return home” calls to various groups that form the LRA, distributing leaflets that include photographs of soldiers that respond to the call, and directives regarding returning home. The association particularly focuses on children abducted by the LRA to force them to serve as soldiers.
In Turkey, Karadeniz İsyandadır Platformu, the Black Sea Revolts Platform, is opposed to the valleys and rivers in the Black Sea Region – already broken off from the sea with the coastal motorway project, and left to die following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster - being sold to large companies for the construction of HES [hydroelectric power plant] projects and turned into waste dumps by nuclear power plant projects. The platform organizes actions to inform the people of the region about profit-oriented projects that will damage nature and human health, and continues to resist such attempts.
In Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, following the increase announced in July to public transport fares, the city’s residents gathered in front of the Municipality building to voice their demand for the annulment of the increase and the reduction of working hours of drivers working for the public transport system. During the protests, drivers of privately-owned vehicles invited people waiting at public transport stops for free rides, showing how the action was supported by the wider masses. This civilian action proved victorious with the withdrawal of the increase by the municipality.
In Turkey, Taksim Plaformu, or the Taksim Platform, on the basis of environmental and urban sensitivities and around the slogan “Taksim belongs to all of us”, initiated a struggle to preserve Gezi Park. Affiliated with no political view, Taksim Platformu established an environment of dialogue by reaching out to and bringing together different groups in society, and initiated social action to claim and protect the cultural heritage of the city. Taksim Platformu showed how society could demand its rights through civilian methods in cases where democratic decision-making mechanisms failed to function.
Gezi Parkı Kütüphanesi, the Gezi Park Library, formed of books of various topics in various languages brought to the park and donated by people supporting the Gezi Resistance showed that books were as fundamental a need as food, drink and medicine.
In Turkey, the Volunteer doctors provided medical support under difficult conditions and with restricted means to resisters who were subjected to police violence and adversely affected by pepper gas.
On the seventh day of the Gezi Resistance, a group of women came together to paint over or modify homophobic and sexist slogans sprayed and painted on walls around Taksim Square, İstiklal Street and Gümüşsuyu. Using purple and white spray paint, the group painted over discriminatory slogans and replaced them with the symbol of Venus representing women, and with the symbol of peace, showing that the language of the resistance is as important as the resistance itself.
