TO LOVE NATURE

Chapter 1

A new more day was coming to life while Sevgi opens her oval black eyes in this first light of morning. She should have quickly worn her clothes before the nanny came home for Deniz. Sevgi puts on a casual wear consist of pants and blouse and prepares a small suitcase because she was going from Istanbul to Izmir by bus at 09.30 am today. She had been entrusted with preparing the environmental impact assessment report for a gold mining plant that is active in Bergama district of Izmir.

Deniz was again crying upon waking. The little girl was uneasy since her parents divorced two months ago. She was unable to get used to her new home and life.

Meanwhile, the nanny of Deniz comes into the home. Welcome, Tulin! Unhappily, Deniz is still missing her father although she meets with him every weekend. I understand that this is a difficult situation for her, says Tulin. I also had such trouble when my parents divorced.

Tulin who goes to continuation school of child development was caring for Deniz every day except weekend.

You know that I am going to Bergama. I will stay there for a few days. My mother and father will come here this evening. Okay, I will wait for them, says Tulin. But, I am worried about leaving them in the lurch. I wish I didn’t have to take final exams next week.

No matter, as long as you succeed in all exams. Sevgi eats something in a hurry for going out immediately while Tulin dresses up Deniz. Deniz was only two years old. Having to leave her motherless even if only for a short time was afflicting to Sevgi.

Sevgi kisses her to inhale Deniz’s scent. Mummy, don’t go!

Sevgi goes out without looking back. Deniz starts to cry. Tulin has to take her away to the window. Mummy! Come here...

No fear, your father will be here tomorrow. I will return there very soon too. Sevgi was trying to cheer Deniz up, but she was also sick at heart. Good-bye, my baby! I love you...

Sevgi was an idealist environmental engineer. She always loved nature since her childhood. She was a willing warrior of nature.

Sevgi was walking to bus station. Her thin brunette face was carrying the traces of emotional stress she just lives. Long black hair moving down from her shoulder starts to fly by a high wind coming up suddenly. And now, a summer rain is falling down while Sevgi tries to hide her tears as if nature was consoling its daughter. Rain helps Sevgi relaxes.

But at the same time, this atmosphere causes to open her heart― I have to go Bergama for stopping environmental damage and ecological destruction, and also for supporting the fight against gold mining company of peoples who live in there. I should be able to continue to stand for Deniz and all children living on this planet. If I can walk the route my mind-produced thoughts determine without forget Deniz, I will then feel to live. This world will endure together with nature. Nature lovers will keep nature alive.

Now, Sevgi was going by bus while old remembrances call her to face. She was resisting for no thinking Kenan and marriage process since their divorce. She had left him two months ago yet. At this transition period, everything could start over again when she looks back. On the other side, she was knowing that she also has to face with past for being able to go towards next. The dilemma was not going to leave her alone throughout this journey.

Her first encounter with Kenan was due to a bad surprise. Sevgi was at environment exploration around Cayagzi brook near Cumhuriyet village that is located in the Northern Forests of Istanbul. This brook wasn’t flowing cleanly anymore. The wastewater pouring from Istanbul Municipality’s treatment facility as well as some factories had led to the death of the fishes living in the brook. Sevgi was here for collecting water and soil samples from brook and nearby places.

I must take the last sample from that hillside near the brook. Ugh! Here are again slaughtered too many trees. Northern Forests cover coastline of all Black Sea region and Istanbul until inners of Bulgaria in South of Black Sea, continuing along East Coast of this inland sea. These forests provide more rain in this region. For the sake of urbanization, if the destruction of Northern Forests continues, Northern Anatolia will, unfortunately, be a desert-like Middle Anatolia too. Just then, Sevgi lives a shock.

Yahhh! A scream was hearing. Ooh! I don’t believe― a man is falling down a steep hillside, gets flurried Sevgi. Immediately, she starts to run toward there. I have to catch him before he nailed his head to the ground, Sevgi gets out of breath.

Kenan was fast falling down to bump to the boughs from a height of at least 60 meters. He was trying to hold the branches of trees, but it wasn’t being. Kenan was turning around from time to time and hence his falling speed had increased.

Sevgi was at the foothill now. However, her heart was beating too hard due to running very fast at quite a long distance. On the other hand, she was also seeing that Kenan hadn’t still succeeded to hold a bough. At this moment, Sevgi thus feels a pressure on her. But, she didn’t ever intend to give up.

Sit tight, waits for Sevgi bravely. Kenan’s falling speed somewhat slows down thank the trees becoming more frequent at lower. Ahhhhh! Now, Kenan is above Sevgi on the ground. Sevgi had planned everything in a few minutes. She was thus able to keep herself from a head injury by a backpack. Kenan was taking a rapid breath. His eyes had locked on those of Sevgi. He was staring into her eyes― what are you doing here?

I saw you’re falling down and I immediately ran here. Are you okay? Yeah, not very bad! Kenan carefully turns onto his back from above Sevgi. His almost all energy had come to an end. Sevgi just removes her backpack and puts under his neck. Do you have a pain anywhere? My entire body is aching, but at least I suppose that I don’t have any fracture. You saved my life. Thank you!

You’re welcome! Any people could do same. But, you risked your life for me!― Kenan objects to her. In other words, you aren’t any person. You are someone that is worth recognizing. I am Kenan.I am a forest guard. I was controlling this forest and its periphery. I often come to around Cumhuriyet village, but I don’t ever remember I saw you here.

I thank you for your compliments. I am Sevgi. I came here several times. I am an environmental engineer. While I collect the sample for the chemical analysis from the brook, I saw that you rapid fall down.As a human, I wanted to save you without leading to the death of both of us. How did you fall down?

Hımm, there was a small loose rock. But, someone at the top of the mountain was looking at you while you fall down, asks Sevgi. I don’t know him, says Kenan. Before fall down, he was 50 meters far away from me. I suppose that he should have come here for he wonders about what happened to me. Sevgi suspects― if he had wondered about you, he would be here now. Even, an ambulance would have come here within 15 minutes. Miss Sevgi, please don’t be anxious about me. I didn’t fall down owing to him.

Kenan was better now. He tries to sit down. Ahhh... Please act slowly. You have not yet examined by a doctor. I will call an ambulance now. Oh no, it is not required. You may have an internal bleeding. I just call the ambulance.Kenan keeps quite. He was knowing that he won’t persuade her. Okay, an ambulance will be here soon.

When will the result of chemical analysis come out?― asks Kenan. It will be out approximately a week. Can I then take information from you? If you give me your number, I call you. Thanks... I know that Cayagzi brook is polluted by which foundations, adds Kenan. I had informed the competent authorities about brook pollution and those that pollute it. One of the polluters is Istanbul Municipality. However, any authority didn’t attempt to prevent doing harm to the natural resources and in particular marine species until now. Numerous fishes died due to this pollution.

Therefore, Sevgi is very angry― someones must call the human being to account for the death of fishes and nature damage. This is a crime and nature carnage too. Miss Sevgi, I have no intention to leave this struggling. Mr. Kenan, I see you don’t lose heart. I know that complaint of you and some villagers arrived Environmental Ministry. In addition, we via the Chamber of Environmental Engineers, multiple environmental organizations, Istanbul Bar Association and some press agencies intensely stimulated the ministry for doing an assessment of environmental impacts of wastewater pouring into Cayagzi brook. I am thus here now.

Hi, I suppose that lady who calls 112 Emergency Service was you. Oh yes, I called you. I am Sevgi. My name is Dr. Muzaffer too. Our vehicle stayed 100 meters below. We couldn’t come until here by the ambulance because of narrow pathway.

Hi Muzaffer, I have got rid of this accident without being seriously wounded, thanks to Miss Sevgi! At first, Dr. Muzaffer had not known Kenan due to wounds and scratches on his face. Kenan! Were you? How did you succeed falling down? A loose rock impaired my balance. I fell to bump now into stone, now into tree bough.

Dr. Muzaffer starts the physical examination. Miss Sevgi, were you here during the accident? Yeah, I was somewhat further. I was taking a soil sample for chemical analysis from the region near the brook. Then, I saw the fast fall of Mr. Kenan. In addition, there was a man who looks at him during falling down. Aaa Muzaffer, that man is not related to this accident, adds Kenan immediately.Hımm, who is that man?, asks Muzaffer. I don’t know. He was at a distance of 50 meters from me before falling. What were you doing here? You know, I always do routine controls every month in this region. In addition, I follow the developments relating to the pollution of Cayagzi brook. Therefore, I started to come here more frequently.

Which foundations pollute this brook? Some factories and Istanbul Municipality... We recently reported the various heavy metal poisonings possibly due to contaminated drinking water in some cases from nearby locations. Therefore, I am also a follower of this pollution, says Dr. Muzaffer. Unfortunately, I was expecting that such a contamination happened in drinking water, says Sevgi. At the same time, heavy metal accumulation should have also caused fish deaths in the Cayagzi brook.

Kenan reacts against the current system― damn it! I don’t understand why responsible authorities can’t foresee these conclusions. This shortsightedness results in devastation of the natural living areas. You know that Northern Forests of this region are under a big risk due to third bridge, airport and urbanization plans.

Make sure that I know these all plans that will lead to an environmental damage, says Muzaffer. Now, they plan a reconstruction for urbanization in Polonezkoy that is a village located Northern Forests. These plans will mean the end of Northern Forests.

As an environmental engineer, I participated in many struggles to prevent the destruction of nature and the loss of species in this region. Unhappily, most people here are unaware of their power. In fact, we can generally say this for a vast majority of society in Turkey. If Turkish people did not want, could the connection way of the third bridge be passed through the heart of Belgrade Forest?

Take it from me! They couldn’t even dare to build the bridge, says Muzaffer. They always saw the nature as a vehicle of income. Yeah, you’re right! Whereas, knowing the nature’s value would preserve the future of Istanbul, says Sevgi.

Miss Sevgi, I understand you very well, Kenan participates in the conversation. You know that Belgrade Forest and its water resources were thus valued greatly along almost all history of Istanbul.

But yet, Anatolian forests and other natural living areas were not kept substantially, says Sevgi. Today, Turkey’s system problem still continues. This country needs effective civil society organizations and an honest management mentality, which will build an advanced civilization along with the naturalist/humanist culture to destroy this order instead of the destruction of nature and humanity.

Miss Sevgi, I completely agree with you, says Muzaffer. I hope that we can also continue later talking and collaboration in particular environmental problems. But now, we should immediately take Kenan to the Emergency Service. Oh sure, says Sevgi.

Kenan, we should get you under control due to the risk of internal bleeding, Dr. Muzaffer calls his paramedic co-worker. We will carry you down soon on a stretcher.

Hi Cevdet, you’re too fast. Elder brother, I won’t be modest about this my ability. I come to fly here anytime you want. But, I was already too close here when you called me. Hımm, you are both too fast and too honest, smiles Dr. Muzaffer. Come on, we just take Kenan above the stretcher. Kenan, you don’t have any fracture. But, numerous contusions in your body may give you a pain. Are you ready? You know I endure all sufferings, replies Kenan. Cevdet! One, two and three, now...

At this point, something from Cevdet’s pocket falls onto the ground. I wasn’t knowing that you have a gun, says Muzaffer. No, I don’t already have. I found it below. I was going to tell you, but when we are lonely.

Ahh, it is mine, interrupts Kenan immediately. You know I am a forest guard. Can I see your forest guard-identity card?― suspects Cevdet.

Cevdet, Kenan is my friend, says Muzaffer. You can trust him. Now give his gun to Kenan!

Okay but, there was one more gun. Why did you bring it here? It is heavy as well as I won’t be able to bring it here along with the stretcher. Kenan, is that gun also yours? No, I don’t have such a gun.

Already, you can’t have such a gun, says Cevdet. It is a sniper rifle.I know that it was used as an assassination gun shooting target from the long distances.

Mr. Kenan, who was that man?― asks Sevgi one more time.

Bus attendant― would you like tea or coffee? Miss Sevgi, do you hear me?

Oh, I’m sorry, I was lost in thought. A cup of tea, please...