Portugal | Spain | Turkey | Iran | Israel

Portugal

COAGRET, along with many of their partners in the region, planned an entire weekend of actions. On March 13, a large demonstration represented the first big action against dams in Portugal. On March 14, they began the morning with meetings and presentations about the exploitation of water, promptly followed by a discussion. After lunch they gathered near the Tâmega River for speeches, sign making and to perform their Wild River Dance!

Contact
Pedro Couteiro
E-mail: coagret [dot] pt [at] gmail [dot] com
Web: https://coagret.wordpress.com, http://salvarotamega.wordpress.com/
Photos: http://www.rockyou.com/show_my_gallery2.php?instanceid=156979404

 

Spain

Appealing to the Administration

The Association Pescaleon sent letters to the hydraulic administration about current problems with their dams and complaints for new dam projects. They also held a meeting of people and the administration to further address and discuss these issues.

Contact
Jose Ruben Gonzalez
Title: President
E-mail: asociacion [at] pescaleon [dot] com

Resistance Against the Yesa Dam

Contact
Asociacion Rio Aragon
E-mail: rio [dot] aragon [at] yesano [dot] com
Web: www.yesano.com and www.riosdecultura.org

River Film Festival

The "Filmoteca de Extremadura" in Spain hosted viewings of the movies "The River" directed by Jean Renoir (1951), "Frozen River" by Courtney Hunt (2008), and "Les Enfants Du Marais" by Jean Becker (1999). The showings were scheduled for March 16, March 23, and March 30th respectively. The films promote awareness of "RIOS CON VIDA" (Living Rivers). In addition, for the first time ever the National Spanish TV broadcasted two reports of the Day of Action for Rivers about the corruption of dams. Rios Con Vida has celebrated an article from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) that reported a dam to be removed in Spain, and noted that many more dams are on their way out as well.

Read the Spanish WWF Article

Contact
Pedro Brufao
E-mail: pbrufao [at] hotmail [dot] com
Web: www.riosconvida.es

Sunday Show

Individuals with COAGRET (Coordinadora de Afectados por Grandes Embalses y Trasvases) came together in front of Confederacion Hidrografica del Ebro (CHE) (Ebro Hydrographic Confederation) in Zaragoza and put on a "show" in the street to draw attention to the Day of Action for Rivers. People were dressed in all blue clothes decorated with "happy fishes." A folk song entitled "Habanera Triste,"a popular ecology tune which tells of people who had to leave their homes and villages as a result of dam flooding, was played on an accordion and sung by the crowd. In addition, they asked people to write short articles expressing their commitment to rivers detailing harmful practices that they disagree with, which they submitted for publication in local newspapers.

Local News Coverage

Watch Video of "Habanera Triste"

Check Out the Event Photo Album

Contact
Victoria Trigo
E-mail: victoriatrigo2 [at] hotmail [dot] com

Turkey

New Large Scale Celebration

Protest in Istabul on March 14

The Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive, fighting against the Ilisu Dam, identified thirteen anti-dam movements across Turkey. The initiative mobilized these groups in more than fifteen provinces on March 14 to protest against the dam, energy, and water policy of the Turkish state. On March 15th they held vigils in front of the Garatibank and Akbank offices to directly oppose the controversial project. This was the first time the International Day of Action for Rivers will be honored on such a broad scale in the country.

Contact
Ercan Ayboga
E-mail: e [dot] ayboga [at] gmx [dot] net
Web: www.hasankeyfgirisimi.com

Widespread Protests in Turkey

Berta Bridge over the Coruh River

In Izmir, a demonstration of 1,200 people was organized by the Allianoi Initiative Group and Munzur Conservation Council. In Artvin at the historical Berta Bridge over the Coruh River several thousands of people in costumes gathered to oppose the large dams and hydroelectric power plants in the Coruh Basin by holding banners, dancing, and throwing flowers in to the river. The Dersim Environmental Initiative rallied 300 people to protest the recently flooded Uzuncayir dam on the Munzur River. In Istanbul up to 1,000 people met in front of the AKP Istanbul Center to protest the group's water, energy, and development policies. And in the Mugla province at the Yuvarlakcay River a rally supporting the International Day of Action for Rivers was held.

Contact
Heike Drillisch
E-mail: heike [dot] drillisch [at] gegenstroemung [dot] org 

Iran

Science to the People!

The Tonekabon Women Society Against Environmental Pollution (TWSAEP) held a scientific seminar explaining better solutions than large, destructive dams for meeting water and energy needs to 300 participants. In Tonekabon City, a public participatory seminar showed a film, played traditional music, and held a lecture with key speakers with 200 people listening and sharing their views about river conservation afterwards. TWSAEP has utilized the Day of Action printable materials on the International Rivers website as promotion pieces for their events. 

Contact
Zahra Arabani
Title: General Director
E-mail: z_arabani [at] yahoo [dot] com

Teaching the Challenges of Big Dams

A multimedia tutorial was offered to introduce the issues surrounding big dams in Iran and in the rest of the world. Iran's Cultural and Natural History Lovers participated in this meeting, making it their 2nd observance of the Day of Action for Rivers.

Contact
Majid Khanaki
E-mail: iranwatchers [at] gmail [dot] com

 

Israel

Youth River Rescue

Friends of the Earth, Middle East held a Palestinian-Israeli children's "Water Trustees" meeting on March 19th as part of the Emek Hefer Parade where all activities around the Alexander River were about keeping rivers and streams clean. They also held a "Jordan Valley Youth Leadership" workshop at the end of February where children learned about the rehabilitation of the Lower Jordan River. For the Day of Action for Rivers, students who participated in the February workshop presented the project to their schools to teach about the importance of the Lower Jordan River.

Contact
Mira Edelstein
E-mail: mira [at] foeme [dot] org