Monday, July 2, 2012

UNESCO World Heritage Committee: Save World Heritage on the Tigris River in Mesopotamia


The tremendous cultural and natural heritage of Mesopotamia is in great danger due to the construction of the Ilisu Dam on the Turkish stretch of the Tigris River. Designed to impound an area of more than 310 km², it would impact the right to food and water of thousands of people in and around the planned reservoir as well as downstream. It also threatens precious riverine ecosystems hosting numerous endangered species, hundreds of archaeological sites including the ancient town of Hasankeyf in Turkey, as well as the Mesopotamian Marshes in Iraq.
We are deeply concerned about the impacts of the Ilisu Dam Project constructed on the Tigris River by the Turkish government.
This is why we ask you to sign this petition to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to urge them totake action against the construction of the Ilisu Dam.
The petition letter can be found in several languages: English, Arab, Kurdish, Turkish, Spanish
For offline signatures a Signature List can be downloaded here
Invite people to this facebook event
If you want to list your organization as a supporter, please write to petition@gegenstroemung.org

More information on the the Ilisu Dam Project and Hasankeyf can be found here:
Background text: English, Kurdish (Sorani)

Initiatiators of the petition
- Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive, Batman/Turkey, www.hasankeyfgirisimi.com
- ICSSI – Iraq Civil Society Solidarity Initiative, www.iraqicivilsociety.org and http://icssi08.ning.com/
- CDO – Civil Development Organisation, Sulaimaniah/Iraq-KRG, www.cdo-iraq.org
- CENESTA – Centre for Sustainable Development, Teheran/Iran, www.cenesta.org
Press Release of the Initiators: English, Arab, Kurdish (Sorani), Turkish 
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