Protest in Kemalpaşa against mining project: 'Don't turn our hidden paradise into a hidden hell'

The community of Yukarıkızılca in İzmir's Kemalpaşa district is fiercely opposing a proposed zinc and lead mining project. Residents are rallying against Volcan Metal Madencilik Sanayi AŞ, which plans to conduct mining exploration and drilling in an area they describe as a "hidden paradise" close to vital water sources.

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We don't want a mine.

Villagers allege that the company has already begun cutting down trees in the exploration zone. More alarmingly, they claim that sewage water is being used for the drilling process, raising fears of contamination of drinking water. "We don't want a mine," the residents are calling out to authorities, demanding that their pristine environment not be turned into a "hidden hell."

Ibrahim Doğanlı, a 75-year-old lifelong resident, expressed his deep concern about the potential contamination. "The thought of this sent a shiver down my spine," he said. "A place that contributes to the beauty of the whole world. No one has the right to deprive the world of this beauty for a few coins, for momentary gain." He emphasized that the mine would destroy "hundreds of thousands of years of beauty" and that no amount of preventative measures could stop the inevitable pollution from the chemicals used in drilling.

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The thought of this sent a shiver down my spine. A place that contributes to the beauty of the whole world. No one has the right to deprive the world of this beauty for a few coins, for momentary gain. That mine would mean destroying hundreds of thousands of years of beauty.

Berna Ercan, another local resident, echoed these sentiments, stating, "We oppose the pollution of nature, our water, the end of life, the ruin of such a beautiful village." She questioned the necessity of the mine when the area's natural resources sustain life. "There is no one in the village who says 'yes' to mining; everyone says 'no.' Why are these people being ignored?" she asked, expressing hope for a positive outcome from a legal complaint filed with the prosecutor's office.

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We oppose the pollution of nature, our water, the end of life, the ruin of such a beautiful village. There is no one in the village who says 'yes' to mining; everyone says 'no.' Why are these people being ignored?

Durmuş Ilgın, who was offered a job by the company to transport water, refused, stating, "We say no to the mine. We don't want our hidden paradise to become a hidden hell." He is concerned about the future of his children and the pollution of their clean water sources. "What is the meaning of ending our lives for a few people to make money?" he asked. Ilgın revealed he was offered 130,000 Turkish Lira per month but rejected it, unwilling to "sell my child's future" for financial gain.

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We say no to the mine. We don't want our hidden paradise to become a hidden hell. We want to leave a beautiful Yukarıkızılca for our children.