Sunday, October 27, 2013

Statement of Support to Middle East Technical University's Resistance against the Government's Unlawful Environmental Massacre on Their Campus


Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, led by the AKP (Justice and Development Party) has, despite opposition, initiated a road construction project that goes through a forest area located in Ankara’s inner city , which is also property of Middle East Technical University (METU).

University students, the University faculty as well as the residents of the neighborhood located right next to the campus have opposed this project. Student resistance initially halted various attempts by the Municipal demolition teams to cut down the trees. Although the University administration’s appeal of Ankara Municipality’s proposed plan was still under legal consideration, the Municipality committed an environmental massacre by destroying 3,000 trees on the night of October 18. The land was cleared overnight, without any prior notice or permission. The night raid of the Ankara Municipality demolition teams backed by riot police was followed by an army of construction vehicles, working day and night to complete the unlawful highway as soon as possible.  Meanwhile, the government foiled all possible legal attempts to resolve the conflict. The police have responded to the opposition from the University with excessive use of tear gas and water cannons. In other words, METU’s fight for its forest has also become a fight for its democratic right to protest and to exercise its freedom of speech.
 

Police attack in campus

This act shows how the government turns a blind eye to the environmental concerns of the people as firmly expressed during the Gezi Uprising.  The attack on METU confirms the government’s commitment to sacrifice public green space for the ongoing construction projects. We also state that this action poses a vivid example of the government’s encroachment on the autonomy of higher education in Turkey.

 
We, the undersigned academics, condemn the unlawful environmental massacre and the police brutality in the Middle East Technical University campus. It is an unethical and unacceptable attack on METU as well as the academia in Turkey. We declare our full support and solidarity with all resisting METU students, academic personnel and staff.

In solidarity,


Name Institution  Country
Aalyia FA Sadruddin Yale University United States
Adam David Morton University of Sydney Australia
Adem Y. Elveren Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University Turkey
Adnan Akçay Middle East Technical University Turkey
Agnes van der Meij Middle East Technical University Turkey
Ahmet Altuğ Çilingir Istanbul University Turkey
Ahmet Beyaz Middle East Technical University Turkey
Ahmet Ersoy Bogazici University Turkey
Ahmet Ertunga Yeğin University of Manchester UK
Ahmet İnam Middle East Technical University Turkey
Ahmet Insel Galatasaray University Turkey
Ahmet Kaşlı Okan University Turkey
Ahu Ersözlü Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Ahu Karasulu Yıldız Technical University Turkey
Akin Karabeyoglu Middle East Technical University Turkey
Akın Tek Istanbul Sehir University Turkey
Al Campbell University of Utah United States
Alan Libert Middle East Technical University Turkey
Alaz Kilicarslan Boston University United States
Albeniz Tuğçe Ezme University of Cincinnati United States
Alberto Siani Yeditepe University Turkey
Aleksandar Şopov Harvard University United States
Alessandra Ricci Koç University Turkey
Alevgül Şorman Autonomous University of Barcelona Spain
Alexander K. Vidybida Bogolyubov Institute for Theoretical Physics Ukraine
Ali B. Arslan Brown University  United States
Ali Baykal Bahçeşehir University Turkey
Ali Cenap Yologlu Mersin University Turkey
Ali Ekber Doğan Mersin University Turkey
Ali Emre Benli Luiss Guido Carli University Italy
Ali Ersan Karadeniz Istanbul Technical University Turkey
Ali K. Saysel Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Ali Rıza Güngen Ondokuz Mayıs University Turkey
Alia Al Ghussain University of Sussex UK
Alicia Kozma University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States
Alidost Numan University of Chicago  United States
Alim Ormeci     Max Planck Institute Germany
Alison Ayers Simon Fraser University Canada
Alper Acik Ozyegin University Turkey
Alper Hayreter Ozyegin University Turkey
Altan Ercan Harvard Medical School United States
Altay Manço  IRFAM Belgium
Aman Rassouli Eastern Mediterranean University Cyprus
Amy Stopper Sabancı University Turkey
Andrea Quaden University of Hamburg Germany
Andreas Bieler University of Nottingham UK
Andrew Littlejohn Harvard University United States
Andy Inch University of Sheffield UK
Andy Lockhart University of Sheffield UK
Angela Joya York University Canada
Anıl Albaglar Middle East Technical University Turkey
Aninne Schneider Sabancı University Turkey
Anlam Filiz Emory University United States
Ann Mische University of Notre Dame United States
Anna Tsing University of California United States
Anthony Alessandrini City University of New York United States
Ariel Salzmann, Queen’s University Canada
Arlene Stein Rutgers University United States
Arman Aksoy Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center United States
Arturo Escobar University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill United States
Arzu Akkoyunlu Wigley Hacettepe University Turkey
Asan Bacak  University of Manchester UK
Asef Bayat University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States
Asiye Akgün Istanbul Kultur University Turkey
Asli Aydemir  Dicle University Turkey
Aslı Igsiz New York University United States
Aslı Öcal Autonomous University of Madrid Spain
Aslı Orhon Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Asli Peker New York University United States
Aslihan Karatas  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States
Ataman Avdan Simon Fraser University Canada
Aybüke Garipcan Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Aydin Cem Keser University of Maryland United States
Aydin Ozipek Northwestern University United States
Ayfer Karakaya-Stump The College of William and Mary United States
Aykut Arapoğlu Eskisehir Osmangazi University Turkey
Aykut Coban Ankara University Turkey
Aylin Altınay Cingöz Istanbul University Turkey
Aylın Dikmen Özarslan  Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Turkey
Aylin Unaldi Bogazici University turkey
Aynur Soydan Erdemir Istanbul University Turkey
Ayse Balas Longwood University United States
Ayşe Çavdar European University of Viadrina Germany
Ayse Esra Sirin  Brown University  United States
Ayşe Gül Altınay Sabancı University Turkey
Ayşe Parla Sabancı University Turkey
Aysegul Demirtas Arizona State University United States
Ayşegül Ergül Carleton University Canada
Aysegul Kayagil New School for Social Research United States
Ayşegül Yakar Önal Istanbul University Turkey
Ayşen Candaş Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Aysun Gezen Ankara University Turkey
Ayten Alkan Istanbul University Turkey
Aziz Guzel York University Canada
Bahar Baser University of Warwick United States
Bakis Kutlu Kurtulus Middle East Technical University Turkey
Barış Altaylıgil Istanbul University Turkey
Barış Balcıoğlu Sabancı University Turkey
Barış Güven Yildiz Technical University Turkey
Baris Tasyakan University of California, San Diego  United States
Barış Tuğrul Hacettepe University Turkey
Başak Demir Galatasaray University Turkey
Başak Deniz Özdoğan Bogazici University Turkey
Basak Durgun George Mason University United States
Başak Ergil Kadir Has University Turkey
Basak Kale Middle East Technical University Turkey
Başak Tanyeri Bilkent University Turkey
Başar Çağlar Eindhoven University of Technology Netherlands 
Bedir Kablan Mersin University Turkey
Begüm Aydın New York University United States
Begüm Kösemen Marmara University Turkey
Begum Ozkaynak Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Behrooz Moazami  New York University United States
Bengi Akbulut Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Bengi Ruken Cengiz Sabancı University Turkey
Bengü Kurtege-Sefer SUNY Binghamton University United States
Benjamin Miller University of Sydney Australia
Berrak Karahoda Istanbul Bilgi University Turkey
Betigül Ongen Istanbul University Turkey
Beyza Ustun Yıldız Technical University Turkey
Bilal E. Kerman The Salk Institute United States
Bilge Serin Middle East Technical University Turkey
Bilgen Ekim Ustunel Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Germany
Binali Tercan Abant Izzet Baysal University Turkey
Bora Acun  University of Houston United States
Bora Ataman Doğuş University Turkey
Boris Kotchoubey University of Tübingen Germany
Bronwyn Isaacs Harvard University United States
Buket Akgün Istanbul University Turkey
Buket Türkmen Galatasaray University Turkey
Bünyat Burak Aykanat Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Turkey
Burak Başaranlar SUNY Binghamton University United States
Burak Cesme Northeastern University United States
Burak Kose York University Canada
Burak Özçetin Akdeniz University Turkey
Burak Ulman Yıldız Technical University Turkey
Burcu Baykurt Columbia University  United States
Burcu Bestas Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden
Burcu Binboğa Middle East Technical University Turkey
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Burcu Egilmez
Izmir Economy University Turkey
Burcu Toğral Eskişehir Osmangazi University Turkey
Burcu Yigit Turan Ozyegin University Turkey
Büşra Hepgüzel Istanbul Technical University Turkey
Cagdas Tuna University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States
Caghan Kizil German Center for Neurodegenerative Dis. Germany
Çağın Bölükbaşı SUNY Binghamton University United States
Çağla Bozer Sabancı University Turkey
Çağla Orpen New School for Social Research  United States
Çağlar Dölek Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Caglayan Cetin Loyola University Chicago United States
Can Candan Boğaziçi University  Turkey
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Can Evren
Duke University United States
Can Eyup Cekic Bilkent University Turkey
Can Gündüz Izmir Institute of Technology Turkey
Can Irmak Özinanır Ankara University Turkey
Canan Acar University of Ontario Institute of Technology Canada
Caner Hamarat Delft University of Technology Netherlands 
Caner Özdemir Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Cansu Çöl University of Wollongong Australia
Cansu Paksoy Middle East Technical University Turkey
Carlos Figueroa   University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States
Carol Burga University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States
Cem Akgüner Yildiz Technical University Turkey
Cem Oğuz Ankara University Turkey
Cem Özatalay Galatasaray University Turkey
Cemal Burak Tansel University of Nottingham. UK
Cemile Ezer Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Cengiz Ekiz Abant Izzet Baysal University Turkey
Cenk Saraçoğlu Başkent University Turkey
Ceren Civelek Galatasaray University Turkey
Ceren Gamze Yaşar Middle East Technical University Turkey
Ceren Göğüş Istanbul Kultur University Turkey
Ceren Gürkan Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya Spain
Ceren Kutlu Istanbul Technical University Turkey
Ceren Lord London School of Economics UK
Ceren Sözeri Galatasaray University Turkey
Çetin Veysal Mersin University Turkey
Cevahir Kayam Istanbul University Turkey
Ceyda Oğuz Koç University Turkey
Ceyda Sungur Istanbul Technical University Turkey
Ceylan Gundeger Hacettepe University Turkey
Ceylin Ozcan  Arel University Turkey
Chloe Skinner University of Sheffield UK
Cicek Ilengiz Central European University Hungary
Cigdem Akalin Akkok Oslo University Hospital Norway
Çiğdem Oğuz Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Cihan Tugal Univeristy of California, Berkley United States
Claudio Sopranzetti All Souls College, Oxford UK
Coşku Çelik Celal Bayar University Turkey
Dağlar Tanrıkulu Rutgers University United States
David Selim Sayers San Francisco State University United States
Deniz Aksen Koç University Turkey
Deniz Arzuk Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Deniz Atikoglu Middle East Technical University Turkey
Deniz Ay University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States
Deniz Ayas Mersin University Turkey
Deniz Ilhan SUNY Stony Brook University United States
Deniz Ozdemir Yaşar University Turkey
Deniz Parlak Istanbul Kemerburgaz University Turkey
Deniz Tarba Ceylan Sabancı University Turkey
Deniz Yükseker Koç University Turkey
Derya Akdemir Marmara University Turkey
Derya Özkan University of Munich Germany
Derya Özkaya Sabanci University Turkey
Derya Ülker Mimar Sinan University Turkey
Derya Yildirim University of Montana United States
Desiree Weber Northwestern University United States
Devrim Çimen Bahçeşehir University Turkey
Devrim Kılıçer Ankara University Turkey
Didem Kılıçkıran Kadir Has University Turkey
Didem Oral European University Institute Italy
Didem Türkoğlu University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill United States
Dikmen Bezmez Koç University Turkey
Dilara Demir Rutgers University United States
Dilce Gozuyasli DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Germany
Dilege Gülmez Univeristy of Bonn Germany
Dilek Barlas Koç University Turkey
Dinçer Çevik Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Turkey
Doğu Erdener  METU - Northern Cyprus Campus Cyprus
Dolunay Bulut New School for Social Research United States
Don Ray University of Calgary Canada
Doruk Doğu Ohio State University United States
Doruk Tunaoğlu Sabanci University Turkey
Duran Üstek Istanbul University Turkey
Durukan Kuzu London School of Economics UK
Duygu Cihanger Middle East Technical University Turkey
Duygu Kasdogan York University Canada
E. Çetin Gürer Villanova University United States
Ebru Aykut Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Turkey
Ebru Aylar Ankara University Turkey
Ebru Eroglu Bogazici University Turkey
Ebru Isgin West Chester University of Pennsylvania United States
Ebru Kamaci Yüzüncü Yıl University Turkey
Ebru Ustundag Brock University Canada
Ebru Webb  Michigan State University United States
Ece Öztan Yildiz Technical University Turkey
Eda Ulus University of the West of England UK
Efe Kerem Sözeri University of Amsterdam Netherlands 
Efe Murat Balıkçıoğlu Harvard University United States
Efe Peker Simon Fraser University Canada
Efe Soyman Rutgers University United States
Ekin Altan Stuttgart University Germany
Ekin Emek Berber SUNY Binghamton University United States
Ekin Kurtic Harvard University United States
Elaine Swan University of Sydney Australia
Elçin Arabacı Georgetown University United States
Elif Genc York University Canada
Elif Keskiner Erasmus University Rotterdam Holland
Elif Kuş Saillard Ankara University Turkey
Elif Met Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Turkey
Elif Persinger Eastern Michigan University United States
Elinor Rooks University of Leeds UK
Eloísa Pires University of Virginia United States
Elvan Gökçe Erkmen Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Turkey
Emek Köse St. Mary's College of Maryland United States
Emel Göksu Dokuz Eylül University Turkey
Emel Guldogan University of Rochester United States
Emel Tastekin Yasar University Turkey
Emine Alaaddinoğlu Baskent University Turkey
Emine İncirlioğlu Maltepe University Turkey
Emrah Altindis Harvard Medical School United States
Emre Akbas University of California United States
Emre Canpolat Hacettepe University Turkey
Emre Gürcanlı Istanbul Technical University Turkey
Emre Özçelik METU - Northern Cyprus Campus Cyprus
Emre S. Tasci Middle East Technical University Turkey
Emre Şahin SUNY Binghamton University United States
Emre Uğur University of Innsbruck Austria
Engin Akyurek Istanbul University Turkey
Erdal Özmen Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Erdem Cipa University of Michigan, Ann Arbor United States
Erdem Güven TODAIE Turkey
Erdem Üngür Istanbul Kultur University Turkey
Erdem Yörük Koç University Turkey
Erdinc Erdem New School for Social Research United States
Erdogan Sendemir Uludag University Turkey
Eren Karaca  SUNY Binghamton University United States
Ergin Bulut University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Turkey
Erik Swyngedouw Manchester University UK
Erkan Bayir University of Pittsburgh United States
Erol Köroğlu Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Ersan Demiralp Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Ertug Tombus New School for Social Research United States
Ervin Sezgin Istanbul Technical University Turkey
Eser Baysal Institut libre Marie Haps Belgium
Eser Y. Sözmen Ege University Turkey
Esin Duzel University of California, San Diego United States
Esin Erdem Middle East Technical University Turkey
Esin Gülsen Mersin University Turkey
Esin Kasapoğlu Istanbul Kultur University Turkey
Esra Arsan  Istanbul Bilgi University Turkey
Esra Danacioglu Tamur Yildiz Technical University Turkey
Esra Ergüzeloğlu Kilim Mersin University Turkey
Esra Mungan Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Esra Mungan Istanbul University Turkey
Esra Sancakli Middle East Technical University Turkey
Ethemcan Turhan Autonomous University of Barcelona Spain
Etienne Balibar Columbia University United States
Evren Barın Egrik Beykent University Turkey
Evrim Didem Güneş Koç University Turkey
Evrim Emir-Sayers San Francisco State University United States
Evrim Kılıç University of Sussex UK
Eylem Çamuroğlu Çığ Mersin University Turkey
Eylem Özaltun Harvard University United States
Ezgi Pehlivan Middle East Technical University Turkey
Ezgi Sedef Kara Middle East Technical University Turkey
Ezgi Toplu Demirtaş Middle East Technical University Turkey
Fabio Ciaravella Università della Basilicata Italy
Fahriye Sancar  University of Colorado United States
Faranak Miraftab University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States
fatmagül Berktay Istanbul University Turkey
Feray Coskun  Freie Universitaet Germany
Ferhat Ay University of Washington United States
Feryal Saygılıgil Istanbul Arel University Turkey
Feza Kerestecioğlu Kadir Has University Turkey
Figen F. Oktem University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States
Fikret Adaman Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Fikret Görün Middle East Technical University Turkey
Filippe Moura University of Minho Portugal
Filiz Gozenman University of Nevada, Reno United States
Filiz Kahraman University of Washington United States
Fisun Guven Middle East Technical University Turkey
Francisco Barceló University of Illes Balears Spain
Funda Atun  Politecnico di Milano Italy
Funda Tamer Hacettepe University Turkey
Funda Üstek University of Oxford UK
Füsun Alioğlu Kadir Has University Turkey
Gabriela Ibarra University of Sheffield UK
Galip Deniz Altınay Mersin University Turkey
Gamze Evcimen SUNY Binghamton University United States
Gary M. Grossman Arizona State University United States
Gaye Çankaya Eksen Galatasaray University Turkey
Geoff Kennedy Durham University UK
George Messo University of East Anglia UK
Gevher Gökçe Acar Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Turkey
Giray Enkavi University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States
Gizem Gezer  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States
Gizem Inak Hertie Institute Tübingen  Germany
Gizem Kezban Cakmak York University Canada
Gökcan Aydoğan  Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry CzechRepublic
Gökçe Zeybek Hacettepe University Turkey
Gökçeçiçek Savaşır Dokuz Eylül University Turkey
Gökhan Atınç University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States
Gökhan Çelik Ohio State University United States
Gokhan Inan North Carolina State University United States
Goksel N. Demirer Middle East Technical University Turkey
Gonca Arik Istanbul Kultur University Turkey
Gönül   Öguz Development Bank of Turkey Turkey
Görkem Akgöz Hacettepe University Turkey
Gorkem Aydemir George Washington Univeristy United States
Gozde Burcu Ege University of Washington  United States
Guher Camliyurt University of Southern California United States
Gül Çatır Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Gul Gurkan  Tilburg University Netherlands 
Gül Okutucu Middle East Technical University Turkey
Gül Ünsal Barlas Marmara University Turkey
Gülay Er Pasin Istanbul University Turkey
Gülay Hasdoğan Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Gülay Türkmen Yale University United States
Gülcan Türker Kocaeli University Turkey
Gulcin Alpoge Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Gülçin Con Purdue University United States
Gulcin Torunoglu Turan Istanbul Technical University Turkey
Guldem ozatagan İzmir Institute of Technology Turkey
Güler Fişek Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Gülhan Türkay Istanbul University Turkey
Gülhan Türkay Hoştürk Istanbul University Turkey
Gülru Çakmak University of Massachusetts Amherst United States
Gülşah Gülen Middle East Technical University Turkey
Gulsah Pekgoz Institute of Molecular Biology Austria
Günay Kocasoy Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Günce Orman Galatasaray University Turkey
Gunel Najafzade Azerbaijan Architecture and Construction University Azerbaijan
Güneş Şöyler Max Planck Institute  Germany
Gürbüz Celebi Ege University Turkey
Güven Gürkan Öztan Istanbul University Turkey
Güven Güzeldere Harvard University United States
Güvenç Şahin Sabancı University Turkey
Guzin Erlat  Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Habibe Burcu Baba Queen's University Canada
Hade Turkmen Cardiff University UK
Hajar Huseynova Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy Azerbaijan
Hakan Bilhan Istanbul University Turkey
Hakan Erturk Bogazici University Turkey
Hakan Mıhcı Hacettepe University Turkey
Hakan Topal State University of New York United States
Haluk Ay Ohio State University United States
Haluk Erlat Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Hamdullah Yuecel Max Planck Institute  Germany
Handan Gürbüz Yıldız Technical Umiversity Turkey
Hande Ogutcu SUNY Binghamton University United States
Hande Sungur VU University Netherlands 
Hanifi Barış University of Aberdeen Scotland,UK
Hasan Dudu European Commission Joint Research Centre Spain
Hasan Yılmaz University of Twente Netherlands 
Hazal Azeri Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Turkey
Hazel Başköy Ufuk University Turkey
Heidi Lam Yale University United States
Heloise Weber  University of Queensland Australia
Hilal Atasoy Temple University United States
Hilal Onur-İnce Hacettepe University Turkey
Hilal Ozcetin Simon Fraser University Canada
Holly Straut Eppsteiner University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill United States
Hülya Adak Sabancı University Turkey
Hülya Gökalp Brunel University UK
Hüseyin Alparslan Şahin Ondokuz Mayıs University Turkey
Hüseyin İçen Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Hüseyin Yener Erköse Koç University Turkey
Ibrahim Ilgaz Soykal Oak Ridge National Laboratories United States
İbrahim Kaya  Dokuz Eylül University Turkey
Ibrahim Saylan Izmir University of Economics Turkey
İlkay Özküralpli Istanbul Arel University Turkey
İlke Şanlıer Yüksel Doğuş University Turkey
İlke Tekin Istanbul Kultur University Turkey
İlke Toygur Autonomous University of Madrid Spain
İlkem Kayıcan Istanbul Bilgi University Turkey
Ilker Ozkan Middle East Technical University  Turkey
İlker Urlu Ağrı İbrahim Ceçen University Turkey
Immanel Wallerstein SUNY Binghamton University United States
İnan Şenses Hacettepe University Turkey
İnci Özgür İlhan Ankara University Turkey
Insan Tunali Koç University Turkey
Ipek Akpınar Istanbul Technical University Turkey
İpek Çamlı Ankara University Turkey
Ipek Demirsu Sabancı University Turkey
Ipek Mercil Galatasaray University Turkey
Ipek Sakarya Istanbul University Turkey
İpek Seyalıoğlu Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Ipek Tureli McGill University Canada
Irem Erol Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Turkey
Irmak Ertor Autonomous University of Barcelona Spain
Işıl Çakan Hacıibrahimoğlu Istanbul University Turkey
Işıl Uluç  University of Vienna Austria
Işıl Ünal Ankara University Turkey
Isilay Taban  University of Sussex UK
İsmet Akça Yildiz Technical University Turkey
İsmet Koç Hacettepe University Turkey
İstem Fer University of Potsdam Germany
İzzet Paruğ Duru Gedik Imiversity turkey
İzzet Paruğ Duru Cambridge University UK
Jamie Merchant Northwestern University United States
Jan Aart Scholte University of Gothenburg Sweden
Jan Selby University of Sussex UK
Jean Comaroff Harvard University United States
Jeffrey Hibbert Yaşar University Turkey
Jennifer C Lena Columbia University United States
Joe Turner University of Sheffield UK
Jon Clindaniel  Harvard University United States
Joseph Lombardo New School for Social Research United States
Judith Butler University of California, Berkeley United States
Judith Gerson Rutgers University United States
Julia McClure Harvard University United States
Julian Saurin METU - Northern Cyprus Campus Cyprus
Juliana Yordanova, Inst. of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Scie. Bulgaria
K. Ilhan Ikeda Yeditepe University Turkey
K. Mehmet Kentel University of Washington United States
Karabekir Akkoyunlu London School of Economics UK
Katherine Gibson University of Western Sydney Australia
Kaustav Chakrabarti SUNY Binghamton University United States
Kelly Kato Rutgers University United States
Kemal Davaslioglu University of California, Irvine United States
Kemal Kılıç Sabancı University Turkey
Kerem Akartunali University of Strathclyde Scotland,UK 
Kerem Cantekin University of Utah United States
Kerem Nişancıoğlu University of Westminster  UK
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Kevin Chamow
Rutgers University United States
Kıvanç Ersoy Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Turkey
Köksal Muş Middle East Technical University Turkey
Krishna Sivillà  University of Barcelona Spain
Kristen Schorpp University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill United States
Kuban Altinel  Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Kumru Toktamis Pratt Institute United States
Kyle A. Heatherly Indiaana University United States
Lale Orta Okan University Turkey
Lara Kelland University of Louisville United States
Leonard Hammer  Hebrew University Israel
Lerzan Ormeci Koç University Turkey
Leslie Gates  SUNY Binghamton University United States
Levent Kockesen Koç University Turkey
Leyla Neyzi Sabancı University Turkey
Lucho Escobedo University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States
Lucy Ford Oxford Brookes University UK
Luis Antonio Cunha Ribeiro Universidade Federal Fluminense  Brasil
Luke Martell University of Sussex UK
Luke Yates  University of Manchester UK
Lütfiye Bozdağ Kemerburgaz University Turkey
M. Onur Arun  Univeristy of Manchester  UK
Mahinur S. Akkaya Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Mahinur S. Akkaya Middle East Technical University Turkey
Maral Jefroudi  Intrenational Institute of Social History Netherlands 
Maria Lechler Università della Basilicata Italy
Martina Baldwin University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States
Mary McBride Pratt Institute United States
Mefharet Kocatepe  Bilkent University Turkey
Mehmet Ali Olpak Middle East Technical University Turkey
Mehmet Baki Deniz SUNY Binghamton University United States
Mehmet Başoğlu New York Law School United States
Mehmet Can Omay Binghamton University United States
Mehmet Şahin Izmir University of Economics Turkey
Mehmet Saner Abant Izzet Baysal University Turkey
Mehmet Sayar Koç University Turkey
Mehmet Tevfik Özcan Istanbul University Turkey
Mehmet Tunçer Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Mehmet Türkay Marmara University Turkey
Melehat Kutun Mersin University Turkey
Melek Diker Yücel  Middle East Technical University Turkey
Melika Gül Middle East Technical University Turkey
Melike Kesirli Erozlu University of British Columbia Canada
Melike Mermercioğlu Koç University Turkey
Melike Sümertaş Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Melis Serefoglu Koç University Turkey
Melis Varkal Yasar University Turkey
Melisa Kohen Stanford University United States
Meltem Gürle Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Meltem Kayıran Ankara University Turkey
Meltem Odabaş University of Arizona  United States
Meltem Yılmaz Şener Istanbul Bilgi University Turkey
Meral Altıok Mersin University Turkey
Meredith Banasiak University of Colorado Boulder United States
Mert Arslanalp Northwestern University United States
Meryem Kurtulmuş Marmara University Turkey
Mesut Kaya Middle East Technical University Turkey
Mete Turan Roger Williams University United States
Metin Duran Villanova University United States
Michael Herzfeld Harvard University United States
Mikaela Backman Jönköping International Business School Sweden
Mina İşler Lund University Sweden
Mine Eder Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Mine Kalkanci Middle East Technical University Turkey
Mine Tafolar University of Texas at Austin United States
Miriam J. Woods Indiana University United States
Mneesha Gellman Northwestern University United States
Muammer Cetingok University of Tennessee United States
Müge Devrim Üçok Istanbul University Turkey
Muhsin Doğu Yuceil Istanbul Technical University Turkey
Müjgan Şahinoğlu Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Mukadder Okuyan New School for Social Research United States
Murat Akman Institut Mittag-Leffler Sweden
Murat Arcan Kündük Hacettepe University Turkey
Murat Ayas Bilkent University Turkey
Murat Birdal Istanbul University Turkey
Murat Cemal Yalcintan Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Turkey
Murat Fadiloglu Yasar University Turkey
Murat Germen Sabancı University Turkey
Murat Koksalan Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Murat Koyuncu Bogazici University turkey
Murat Ulutaş Mersin University Turkey
Murat Yılmaz Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Mustafa Akgul Bilkent University Turkey
Mustafa F. Ozbilgin Brunel University UK
Mustafa Nejat Gültekin University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill United States
Mustafa Şener Mersin University Turkey
Mustafa Umit Arabul Eindhoven University of Technology Netherlands 
Mustafa Yatin Salem State University United States
Mustafa Yavas Yale University United States
N. Sumru Bayin  New York University United States
Nadide Seçkin Istanbul Kultur University Turkey
Nazan Aksan  University of Iowa United States
Nazli Eylem Tasdemir Vienne University Austria
Necat Akyıldız Abant Izzet Baysal University Turkey
Nejla Osseiran Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Neriman Yörür Dokuz Eylül University Turkey
Nermin Abadan-Unat Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Neslihan Demirtaş Milz Izmir University of Economics Turkey
Neslihan Dostoglu Istanbul Kultur University Turkey
Neslihan Şen University of Illinois at Chicago United States
Nesrin Algan Ankara University Turkey
Nevzat Kavcar Dokuz Eylül University Turkey
Nezhun Gören Yıldız Technical Umiversity Turkey
Nick Riemer University of Sydney Australia
Nihal Bayraktar Pennsylvania State University United States
Nihan Oya Memluk Gazi University Turkey
Nilay Erten Yale University United States
Nilay Noyan Sabancı University Turkey
Nilgün Erdem  Ankara University Turkey
Nilufer Akalin SUNY Binghamton University United States
Nina Ergin Koç University Turkey
Noam Chomsky Massachusetts Institute of Technology United States
Nora Tataryan Concordia University Canada
Nur Bahar Sakızlıoğlu Utrecht University Netherlands 
Nur Yucer Baylor College of Medicine United States
Nurbanu Karataş Ankara University Turkey
Nursel Şahin Akdeniz University Turkey
Nurunnisa Usul Middle East Technical University Turkey
Odilka Santiago SUNY Binghamton University United States
Oguz Erdur University of North Carolina United States
Oguz Turunc Ghent University Belgium
Okan Yaşarlar Istanbul Bilgi University Turkey
Olcay Kunal Galatasaray University Turkey
Olga S. Hünler Izmir University of Economics Turkey
Olgun Akbulut Kadir Has University Turkey
Ömer Allahverdi Dicle University Turkey
Ömer Turan Istanbul Bilgi University Turkey
Ömür Birler Middle East Technical University Turkey
Ömür Harmanşah University of Texas at Austin United States
Önder Güneş Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Önder Küçükural  Sabancı University Turkey
Onur Erten Rutgers University United States
Onur Geckili Istanbul University Turkey
Onur Güntürkün  University Bochum  Germany
Onur Hamzaoglu Kocaeli University Turkey
Onur Tavaslıoğlu University of Pittsburgh United States
Onur Ulas Ince Koç University Turkey
Onur Yildirim Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Orkun Saip Durmaz Ankara University Turkey
Osman Çeviktay Yıldız Technical Umiversity Turkey
Osman Sahin Koç University Turkey
Oya Akyildiz Gazi University Turkey
Oya Cingoz Columbia University United States
Oya Gözel Durmaz Middle East Technical University Turkey
Oya Kent Okan University Turkey
Oya Tagit Université Paris-Sud France
Ozan Çağlayan Galatasaray University Turkey
Ozan Ekin Kurt CEPN, Université Paris France
Ozan Karaman University of Glasgow Scotland,UK 
Ozden Ocak George Mason University United States
Özel Teraman Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Turkey
Özge Ejder Yeditepe University Turkey
Özge Öner Jönköping International Business School Sweden
Özge Özdüzen Edge Hill University UK
Özge Sarıgül University of Chicago United States
Özge Usluca Mersin University Turkey
Özge Yaşar Worcester Polytechnic Institute United States
Ozge Yol Northern Arizona University United States
Ozgun Topak Queen's University Canada
Özgür Aydın Ankara University Turkey
Özgür Genc University of Kassel Germany
Özgür Narin Ordu University Turkey
Ozgur Oksuz New York University United States
Özgür Öztürk Ondokuz Mayıs University Turkey
Ozgur Taskin Ondokuz Mayıs University Turkey
Özlem ARIKAN University of Warwick UK
Özlem Aslan University of Toronto Canada
Özlem Atalay Middle East Technical University Turkey
Ozlem Berber Istanbul Technical University Turkey
Özlem Çavuşoğlu Delft University of Technology Holland
Ozlem celik University of Sheffield UK
Ozlem Edizel Brunel University UK
Özlem Kaplan Yurtseven Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Özlem Küçükoğlu Universitäts Ulm Germany
Özlem Özcan University of Paderborn Germany
Özlem Özkan Kocaeli University Turkey
Ozlem Tonguc University of Maryland United States
Öznur Özden Istanbul University Turkey
Öznur Sahin University of Western Sydney Australia
Paul Magdalino Koç University Turkey
Pedriye Mutlu Istanbul University Turkey
Pekcan Ungan Koç University Turkey
Pelin Akalan Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Pelin Akçagün Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Pelin Bayindir Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Pelin Çetken Istanbul Kultur University Turkey
Pelin Ercelik Istanbul University Turkey
Pelin G. Canbolat Koç University Turkey
Pervin Oya Taneri Cankiri Karatekin University Turkey
Peter Newell University of Sussex UK
Peter Wilkin Brunel University UK
Peyman Jafari Leiden University Holland
Phaedra Daipha Rutgers University United States
Pınar Bedirhanoğlu Middle East Technical University Turkey
Pınar Çobanyılmaz Oztürk Middle East Technical University Turkey
Pinar Deniz Aksoy Fordham University United States
Pinar Donmez Koç University Turkey
Pinar Ertor Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Pınar Kemerli  Cornell University United States
Pınar Kılıcer Leiden University Netherlands 
Pinar McGivern Karuna Institute UK
Rabia Harmansah University of Pittsburgh United States
Rabia Topkaya Hacettepe University Turkey
Rachel Martins IST, University of Lisbon Portugal
Rachel Sternberg Case Western Reserve University United States
Rakibe Kulcur Brunel University UK
Ram Mudambi Temple University United States
Raşit Tükel Istanbul University Turkey
Rebecca Bryant London School of Economics UK
Recep Avci Montana State University United States
Recep Aydın Ankara University Turkey
Reyhan Tutumlu Sabanci University Turkey
Rezan Tuncay Istanbul University Turkey
Ricardo Brown Pratt Institute United States
Ricardo Laremont SUNY Binghamton University United States
Richard Wilkinson Koç University Turkey
Rico Chenyek University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States
Robert Kohls University of Toronto Canada
Robert O'Brien McMaster University Canada
Rossen L. Djagalov Koç University Turkey
Rüçhan Şahinoğlu Marmara University Turkey
Ruhi Soylu Hacettepe University Turkey
Saadet Aydin  Abant Izzet Baysal University Turkey
Şadiye Can Gül Hacettepe University turkey
Sahika Yuksel Istanbul University Turkey
Sahizer Samuk IMT Institute for Advanced Studies Lucca Italy
Saime S. Kayam Istanbul Technical University Turkey
Sakir Erkoc Middle East Technical University Turkey
Sakire Pogun Ege University Turkey
Salih Can Aciksoz School of Middle Eastern
& North African Studies United States
Sally E. Green University of Colorado at Boulder United States
Samaya Orujova Eskisehir University Turkey
Samuel Andrew Hardy Univeristy College London UK
Sander van Lanen University College Cork Ireland
Sandrine E. Catris Indiana University United States
Sara Suna Yucel The Rockefeller University United States
Sarah Metzker Erdemir Koç University Turkey
Sarp Balcı Ankara University Turkey
Sayd Randle Yale University United States
Saygun Gokariksel CUNY Graduate Center United States
Şebnem Selışık Aksan Koç University Turkey
Sebnem Yalinay Çinici Istanbul Bilgi University Turkey
Secil Bayar Gebze Institute of Technology Turkey
Seçil Doguç Galatasaray University Turkey
Seçkin Çopur Middle East Technical University Turkey
Seda Altug Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Seda Cekli University of Florida United States
Sefa Feza Arslan Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Turkey
Selcuk Bayin Middle East Technical University Turkey
Selim ÇAKMAKLI Mersin University Turkey
Selim Heper
New School for Social Research United States
Selin Dilli Utrecht University Netherlands 
Selin Erkul University of Sussex UK
Selmin Kara OCAD University Canada
Selvi Beyarslan Tulane University United States
Sema Bayraktar Istanbul Bilgi University Turkey
Sema Sakarya Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Semih Bilgen Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Semih Çelenk Dokuz Eylül University Turkey
Semra Arda Yıldız Technical Umiversity Turkey
Senem Aydin Bocconi University Italy
Serap Türüt Aşık  Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Serdal Bahçe Ankara University Turkey
Sergül Aydöre  University of Southern California United States
Serhat Çakır Middle East Technical University Turkey
Serhat Erkucuk Kadir Has University Turkey
Serim Gursoy Denel California Polytechnic State University United States
Serkan Günay Middle East Technical University Turkey
Serkan Taşkent Sakarya University Turkey
Sertaç Erten Istanbul Bilgi University Turkey
Seval Yildirim Whittier Law School United States
Sevda Alanya Villanova University United States
Sevda Binici Ohio State University United States
Sevdeger Cecen Istanbul Bilgi University Turkey
Sevgin Akış Roney Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Sevinç Peker Arel University Turkey
sevinc topuzoglu Hacettepe University Turkey
sevinc.ildan  Boğaziçi University  turkey
Sezen Bayrak Gurel SUNY Binghamton University United States
Sezgi Akbaş Pamukkale University Turkey
Sezgin Sezer Okan University Turkey
Sibel Karadağ Koç University Turkey
Sıla Akman Middle East Technical University Turkey
Sıla Özkavaf Cardiff University UK
Simge Yüz  Ludwig-Maximilians-University Germany
Sinan Burat Mersin University Turkey
Sinan Eden IST, University of Lisbon Portugal
Sinem Ayhan University of Bologna Italy
Sinem Kavak Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Sipan Aslan Middle East Technical University Turkey
Sonia Mejuto Middle East Technical University Turkey
Stefanie Israel University of Notre Dame United States
Stephen Connely University of Sheffield UK
Suavi Aydın Hacettepe University Turkey
Şükrü Ekin Kocabaş Koç University Turkey
Şule Can SUNY Binghamton University United States
Sumru Atuk The City University of New York United States
Sun-Chul Kim Emory University United States
Suzan Odabasi Middle Tennessee State University United States
Taha Karaman Akdeniz University Turkey
Tamer Demiralp Istanbul University Turkey
Taner Goren Istanbul University Turkey
Taner Özbenli Ondokuz Mayıs University Turkey
Taner Türkmengil University of Freiburg Germany
Tansel Korkmaz Istanbul Bilgi University Turkey
Tarık Nejat Dinç Bahçeşehir University Turkey
Teoman Pamukçu Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Tevhide Altekin Sabancı University Turkey
Tezcan Durna Ankara University Turkey
Tilsa Ponce Harvard University United States
Timo Lajunen Middle East Technical University Turkey
Tolga Kobas Columbia University  United States
Tolga Tezcan TUBITAK Turkey
Tolga Yarman Galatasaray University Turkey
Tuba Akıncılar Galatasaray University Turkey
Tuba Zehir Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Tuba Zehir Middle East Technical University Turkey
Tufan Gokirmak Scripps Institution of Oceanography United States
Tuğba Asrak Hasdemir Gazi University Turkey
Tugce Ellialti University of Pennsylvania United States
Tugrul Giray University of Puerto Rico United States
Tülay Erkan Istanbul University Turkey
Tülin Ödün Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Tülin Selvi Ünlü Mersin University Turkey
Tuna Altınel Université Lyon-1 France
Tuna Mitrani Koç University Turkey
Türkan Yosun Sabanci University Turkey
Tuzer Kalkan Cambridge University UK
Tüzün Yüzer        Koç University Turkey
Ufuk Gülmez Middle East Technical University Turkey
Uğur Soytaş Middle East Technical University Turkey
Ulaş Başar Gezgin İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Turkey
Ümit Fırat Açıkgöz Rice University United States
Umut Onder University of Sussex UK
Umut Şah Istanbul Arel University Turkey
Ünal Zenginobuz Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Ünsal çığ Mersin University Turkey
Ünsal Doğan Başkır Izmir Economy University Turkey
Uraz Aydın Marmara University Turkey
Vangelis Kechriotis Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Vasfi Eldem Okan University Turkey
Vasil Kolev Inst. of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Scie. Bulgaria
Veli Polat  Istanbul University Turkey
Verda İrtiş Galatasaray University Turkey
Vicdan Taşçı Istanbul University Turkey
Vijay Prashad Trinity College  United States
Volkan Çıdam Istanbul Kemerburgaz University Turkey
Welat Zeydanlioglu Kurdish Studies Journal Turkey
Willem van Vliet University of Colorado United States
Wirun Limsawart Harvard University United States
Yalçın Göğüş Middle East Technical University Turkey
Yasemin Dildar University of Massachusetts-Amherst UK
Yasemin Ergin Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Yasemin Karaca Mersin University Turkey
Yasemin Özgün Anadolu University Turkey
Yasemin Sarıkaya Levent Mersin University Turkey
Yavuz Ataman Middle East Technical University Turkey
Yavuz Kaya Middle East Technical University Turkey
Yavuz Yaşar University of Denver United States
Yelda Erçandırlı Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Yelda Yücel Istanbul Bilgi University Turkey
Yener Baş Mersin University Turkey
Yigit Akin Tulane University United States
Yiğit Atılgan Sabancı University Turkey
Yonca Demir Istanbul Bilgi University Turkey
Young Jo University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign United States
Zehra Özkan Ankara University Turkey
Zehra Yıldız Okan University Turkey
Zekiye Sarıkartal  Mardin Artuklu Universitesi Turkey
Zeynep Aksoylu Celal Bayar University Turkey
Zeynep Arikanli Galatasaray University Turkey
Zeynep Atademir Galatasaray University Turkey
Zeynep Atalay St. Mary's College of California United States
Zeynep Direk Galatasaray University Turkey
Zeynep Gambetti Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Zeynep Helvacı University of Münster Germany
Zeynep Kadirbeyoglu Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Zeynep Kalaylıoğlu Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Zeynep kurtulus University of Arizona United States
Zeynep Oğuz Harvard University United States
Zeynep Seref-Ferlengez City College of New York United States
Zeynep Tuna Ultav Izmir University of Economics Turkey
Zeynep Ü. Kaşlı University of Washington  United States
Zeynep Uysal  Boğaziçi University  Turkey
Zeynep Yanasmayan Max Planck Institute  Germany
Zeyno Ustun New School for Social Research  United States
Zulal Fazlioglu Akin Ohio State University United States
Zülfü Aşık Middle East Technical University  Turkey
Zülfükar Sayın Hacettepe University Turkey



METU forest in 1960, METU forest in 2000s and METU "forest" now
 





Before and after the Municipal attack on METU

Hükümet Tarafından Yapılan Hukuksuz Çevre Katliamına Karşı ODTÜ Direnişi’ne Destek Açıklaması
 

AKP’li Ankara Büyükşehir Belediyesi, tüm itirazlara rağmen şehrin içinden geçen ve aynı zamanda ODTÜ arazisi olan ormanlık alanda yol yapım projesini başlattı.


Tear gas to disperse students in campus
ODTÜ kampüsü etrafındaki mahalle sakinlerinin yanı sıra ODTÜ öğrencileri ve emekçileri de bu projeye başından beri şiddetle karşı çıktılar. Öğrenciler, belediye ekiplerinin ağaçları kesmesine engel olabilmek için çeşitli girişimlerde bulundu. Ancak Ankara Büyükşehir Belediyesi, üniversite yönetiminin projeye itirazlarını ifade ettiği yasal süreç devam ediyor olmasına rağmen 18 Ekim gecesi herhangi bir uyarı ya da yasal izin olmadan 3000 ağacı yok ederek bir çevre katliamı gerçekleştirdi. Belediye ekiplerinin gece baskınını inşaat araçları ordusu ve protestolara müdahale etmesi için kampüse sevk edilen çevik kuvvet polisleri takip etti. Bu arada, hükümet de sorunu çözmek için yargıdan geçen bütün olası yolları organize bir çaba ile engelledi. Polis inşaata karşı çıkan üniversite öğrencilerine yoğun biber gazı ve tazyikli suyla müdahale etmeye devam ediyor. Başka bir deyişle, ODTÜ’nün kendi ormanı için yürüttüğü mücadele, demokratik hakkı olan protesto ve ifade özgürlüğü mücadelesine dönüşmüştür.

Bu olaylar tıpkı Gezi Direnişi’nde olduğu gibi, hükümetin çevreyle ilgili konularda halkın endişelerini nasıl göz ardı ettiğini gösteriyor. ODTÜ’ye yapılan saldırı, hükümetin inşaat projeleri için kamusal yeşil alanları yok etme kararlılığının sadece bir örneğidir. Ayrıca bu durum hükümetin yüksek öğretimin özerkliğini yok etme çabasının da bir parçasıdır.

Biz, aşağıda imzası olan akademisyenler, Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi kampüsündeki hukuksuz çevre katliamını ve polis şiddetini kınıyoruz. Bu, ODTÜ’ye ve Türkiye akademisine yapılan, etik olmayan ve kabul edilemez bir saldırıdır. Direnen tüm ODTÜ öğrencilerine, akademisyenlerine ve personeline sonsuz destek ve dayanışma içinde bulunduğumuzu bildiririz.

Dayanışmayla!

METU students planting new trees on campus

1 comment:

  1. The great land of Wo was a vast valley surrounded by mountains. All the people lived in that valley, since to go beyond it would be instant death for anyone but "a descendant." The belief was that the valley was blessed and protected by God. The mountains were holy, and the only ones who could climb them had to be holy men of the tribe of Wo, and Wo himself had to lead them. Year after year, Wo would climb the main mountain and do the annual ceremony to keep the rains coming that fed the people, who had learned to farm very proficiently.
    Indeed, the rains would come from the sky, the rivers would run down the mountains, and they would fill up the areas that the men had built for water storage. There were no lakes in this land and no seas, except the mythology that indicated that the "main water" had to be with God and was hidden somewhere. Water was holy.
    When Wo went on his annual holy trip, part of his task was to climb as high as he could on the top mountain and "talk to God." He did, and every year he had overwhelming inspirations that he came down and gave to the people. He never really heard God, but he didn't tell anyone that. Instead, he gave "the messages from God" that he received through his inspiration. He knew that this was the way his ancestors had done it, too, and all was well. The messages were ones filled with instructions and protocol - not much really new, but only affirmations of what was historically known.
    Then, on one of his trips he saw it. He had separated himself from the other descendants with him and gone to the very top of the mountain. The clouds had cleared, and when he looked in the opposite direction of the valley, he saw it. He fell to his knees and stared. There, as the clouds had cleared in an unusual way, was a vast ocean! More water than Wo had ever seen... as far as he could see! This is where the water came from! This was where God must live, and Wo was the only one to ever see it. This was a sign, he felt, that he had seen God. Wo told his story, and gave the information that the water somehow was lifted up from the God-Ocean, and then given to them from the sky over the mountains, flowing down to their reservoirs, allowing food and life to exist.
    One day the elders and politicians were gathered in front of Wo. It was an important annual spiritual convent, a time of expression and thanks, a time of questions and answers that Wo enjoyed. But today was different. The head of the council spoke:
    "Magnificent Wo," he proclaimed, "We are at that stage in our civilization where we really need to know more about God. We have history, books, insights and old teachings from your ancestors. But now we are ready for more."
    Wo leaned into the conversation, fearing a bit what was coming next. They had never come to him with demands before... not even requests other than for healing or the normal things people want and need from their holy leaders.
    "We want you, the only man alive who can do this, to go to the other side of the great mountains and meet God. We want the only man who is capable and authorized, to dip into the great water of God, open his eyes, and report what God really is like. We have no visualization of God. We have no image of God, and it's time we were able to draw his sacred image, put God in our visual thoughts, on our coins, and grow in our spiritual knowledge. We need to know the face of God, Master Wo!"

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