Category: Ecology
Ecology is one of the three main pillars of the Rojava Revolution and the stateless self-governance model of the Autonomous Administrations of North and East Syria (AANES), as well as the Kurdish freedom movement more broadly, which initiated the revolution.
Although ecology is one of the main pillars of the revolution in North and East Syria, it is also sadly one of the least developed. This is due to the challenges of being at the epicentre of a global conflict and under heavy economic embargo in a desertifying region suffering immense water scarcity that has been forced into a pesticide and chemical fertiliser heavy form of monocrop agriculture for forty years. To add to these troubles, the rivers which flow through the region are controlled by hostile state of Turkey, which frequently detains water flow.
In Bakur (north Kurdistan / southeastern Turkey), ecological destruction is also used as a weapon of war. Hydroelectric megaprojects have been used to control village populations, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and literally submerging entire towns.
Below you can find articles with more information about attempts to create ecological projects in both regions, the ecological pillar of the Rojava Revolution, and the struggle against ecocide in southeastern Turkey.
Rîhan Temo: War deepens environmental problems
Speaking about the effects of the Syrian war and conflicts on the environment, Kongra Star Ecology Committee Spokesperson Rîham Temo said that the main source of the problem is the patriarchal-state system.
“We don’t face male violence here,” says Zeynep Siri, who lives in Jinwar village
Zeynep Siri, one of the women who took shelter in the in Jinwar village due to the pressure and violence they faced, who has been living in the village for four years. “I have been realizing my dreams in the village. Women should stand against the slavery to free themselves. They should defend their rights,” she said.
Life goes on in Jinwar despite the war
War is raging in the autonomous region of northern and eastern Syria, and Turkish bombs have also hit near Jinwar. Nevertheless, life goes on in the women's village.
Women revive life in Teanê
Women revive life in the Teanê village of Shahba by having a communal life.
Sunflower Harvest with Make Rojava Green Again, August 2022
A picture blog about the sunflower harvest by Make Rojava Green Again.
Model organization for all women: Kongra Star [part 11]
The ecological structure is also destroyed in the attacks on Northern and Eastern Syria. The Ecology Committee of Kongra Star has protected nature with the spirit of goddesses. Rihan Temo, spokesperson of the committee, called on women, people, organizations and institutes and said, “Protect your lands, nature because our lands are rich. We want to create the mentality protecting ecology culture in society. We should protect our environment and trees.
Drought Seems Invading NE Syria Arousing Ecology, Food Concerns
Areas around the Khabour basin in the Syrian Jazira (northeast) were well-known as one of the most fertile agrarian lands, however, the drought in the last two years and the reduction of water by Turkey for about two years turned fertile areas into arid ones and vegetation no longer exists.
Level water of Euphrates river is plummeting incredibly in Syrian lands
Large amounts of the flowing water of the Euphrates River had been remarkably reduced due to continuous blocking the flowing water by Turkish occupation since 5 consecutive months, while the director of the Rojava Dam (Tishreen), Engineer Hammoud al-Hamadin, saying” immeasurable suffering would be brought to the area, in which the river will considerably reduce in autumn season.”
10 ways how the Turkish State destroys nature to wage war on Rojava
For the recently announced new invasion we have to expect chemical weapons attacks of Turkey! Already during the Turkish invasion of Serêkaniyê in 2019 the Turkish state used chemical weapons, including white phosphorus and napalm. 33 people were burned in this attack. Nature is being harmed and transformed in the long run. “Effects of chemical
Ninhursag Center treats diseases by using natural methods
Several women established a health center named “Ninhursag” in NE Syria’s Qamishlo city. The center director Şêrîn Welat said that their aim is to promote herbal medicine in order to make their people trust in their own strength.
Model organization for all women: Kongra Star [Parts 3 and 4]
Rihan Loqo: Kongra Star organizes everywhere Riham Loqo, a coordination member of the Kongra Star in Rojava, states that the works of Kongra Star spread everywhere, “We will continue to work in line with the Democratic Nation Paradigm.”
