TO WHOM THE BOTTLE CAPS SERVE FOR?

 

             We have seen people while they are blending garbage or collecting bottle caps to arrange a wheelchair for people who has disability.This social responsibility project was started 3 years ago by Kushtrim Ahmet who studies at Dentisty Faculty of Ege University and after the administration of the faculty supported this campaign, it outspreaded the country in a short time. Until now 400 tons blue bottle caps have been collected and according to the government, 600 disabled people owned a wheelchair  thanks  to this project. However, disabled people are against this project for  and psychological reasons.

                First of all, there is no direct relationship between wheelchairs and collecting bottle  caps. Thus storing them doesn’t provide any benefits them. As SGK has already given both power and accumulator wheelchairs. What’s more, while 250 kilograms caps are equivalent to a wheelchair which is approximately 200 TL, SGK provides a wheelchair that is in the value of between 300 and 700 TL which means that the project causes to have a lower quality wheelchair. In this way, disability problem is reduced to a wheelchair issue which is not disabled’s desire.

                Secondly, people who relieves their conscience by gathering caps see these disabled ones as a need of great help. Besides, when they come across with disabled person , they crow by saying  “I’ve helped you by collecting many caps.”. Thus this project leads to a misunderstanding that all they need is solely caps or their lives based on caps. In a Word, contrary to expectations this Project affect their psychology badly.

                By and large, there is no need to collect bottle caps for them to have a wheelchair because this need is already delivered by better materials. In fact, all they need is a assistance for benefit from the rights that the laws provide. Plus, if there is a purpose for the collection of caps, it has to be increasing the awareness about environmental issues.



ANNA KARENINA

 

            Considering the approaching holiday and weather condition, it is the best time for watching the movie in my opinion. Nearly every two of weeks, at least two or three movies are released and it is important to pick the best one. Thus I strongly suggest Anna Karenina which is based on a novel by the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. Although it was filmed four times, from my 2001’s and 2009’s version experience I can say that it is the best one.

             For those who hasn’t read the novel and watched the movie, here is an brief summary. This romantic and dramatic movie is about Anna Karenina’s life. Mrs.Karenina who owns a high society position goes to Moscow to help to save her brother, Oblonsky’s marriage. On the way to Moscow she meets with army officer Vronsky who is son of Countess Vronsky and the interaction develops between them. When Anna goes back to St.Petersburg, Vronsky comes after her and their passionate love creates a scandal in the society. Although it looks like a ordinary cheat story, when you watch you will understand what makes it so immortal is not the cheat her husband or fall in love with someone but is the price that she pays for  the forbidden love which is her death. Furthermore, the movie takes place in no where else but theatre. Yet no one is annoyed from it. To  sum up, I believe that Anna Karenina is one of the top movies that have to be watched in “movie” season.

 

THE TRAILER OF ANNA KARENINA 2012



ŞIRINCE'S HOPE TURNED INTO THE DISAPPOINTMENT

              3 weeks ago, people were getting nervous and became stressful due to the approaching Day of Reckoning which is 21th December 2012 at 13.11 pm. Of course, this was valid solely for who believed this theory. Plus, people’s belief maket hem take measures against the doomsday. The precautions changed from person to person. Some people built shelters for theirselves, stored nutriments such as canned food, biscuits that are not decomposed easily or stayed in Bugarach,France or Şirince, Turkey. As these two towns would survive after the Day of Reckoning according to Maya community. However, Bugarach and Şirince were predicted to be invaded by so many tourists who came from various parts of world that experts said that if our predictions came true, it looked like in Şirince and Bugarach the doomsday would had already happened before the last day.

HOW ŞIRINCE CAME OVER WITH THIS SITUATION THAT HAD NEVER BEEN EXPERIENCED?

              A weeks before the last day, Şirince’s public started their preparations as it was calculated between 15.000 - 20.000 tourists would come there. They increased the accommodation capacity from 250 to 500, all supermarkets, hotels, restaurants held up food stuffs. What’s more, “The Hot Maya Chocolate “ was prepared and the t-shirts having Maya calendar on it was published. Both were ready to be offered for sale. Except the decorated streets, Headman Niyazi Aysel and tradesmen also adjusted their concepts for  the doomsday. For instance, all food names icluding our traditional foods was changed for a while and attracted the visitors. Here is the Day of Reckoning Menu:
-Doomsday Soup
-Fire of Pilau
-Paradise Kebab
-Dessert of Forbidden Apple and closure with Last Breat Tena

THE UNEXPECTED END
               Contrary to expectations, on 21th December 2012 nothing happened and Şirince community couldn’t welcome the expected number of visitors. This situation was mostly upset shopkeepers. As all their appetites, preliminary works, hopes turned into the disappointment. It did not only dash shopkeeper’s hope but also disappoint gendarmerie and the press. The press had been waiting for this day for a days to catch interesting pictures of crowd. On the other hand, gendarmerie sent 400 men in advance the possibility of congestion. Nevertheless, except some religious groups and roughly 200-300 tourists nobody turned up there. In a word, Şirince’s unforgettable day which had been waited since the beginning of 2012 ended with disappointment. On the contrary Şirince society, the ones who had faith in this theory weeped for joy after 13.11 pm.

THE CRYPTIC WORLD

              The most interesting side that I cannot get it is while these things are going through, how come these people could believe any theory which was not scientifically proved? How this news stayed at the top news of the world for a weeks? Are the society really interested in these kinds of event? or Are they sick and tired of common occasions such as global warming, economic depression? All I can say in response to these questions is sometimes it’s hard to predict people’s reaction to the events. They can find a case logical in their current psychology even if this case won’t seem realistic after a while.

 

REAL MEN DON'T BUY GIRLS

 

                Throughout the history, we have read in our history boks that slavery was first abolished in England and USA in the first quarter of 19th century then League of Nations prohibited the slavery in 1926. Nevertheless, this worldwide issue has never disappeared and in fact more people are slaves today than ever before and the numbers are soaring. Men, women and children are enslaved for many purposes including sex, pornography, forced labor . Yet what the most people cannot stand is kidnapping innocent children then forcing them to work for them.

               Child prostitution has become a national issue in the World. According to the documents, solely in the United States between 100,000 and 300,000 children are enslaved and sold for sex. Plus, the average age of entry into prostitution is 13. I f we consider this problem worldwide, the numbers can frighten us. Over two million children are bought and sold in the global commercial sex trade. Against this issue , numerous campaigns, actions which are films like Pretty Baby, Life Above All, Gardens of the Night etc. and worldwide known organizations like UNICEF, DNA have been launched to educate society about this growing issue, eliminate the demand for sex slavery and to make it harder for people to be a part of this abusive industry. Despite the efforst, child traffickng has never been a agenda topic UNTIL NOW.

               

              American celebrities who are Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore recently launched their own foundation to address, try and combat the issue. Surprisingly none of the organizations have been heard that much. Thus how did these events start? Or How they became interested in the issue? It all started via NBC’s weekly news Show Dateline on sex trafficking in Cambodia. After watching it, Kutcher was so affected from the story of 13-year-old girl that he decided to launch a campaign with his wife, Demi Moore. And now, they have enlisted the help of their celebrity friends such as Justin Timberlake, Sean Penn to launch an interactive video campaign which they hope it wil educate people about shocking trade. What’s more, as a means of help Demi travelled to Nepal to film a documentary for CNN about this problem and visited Maiti Nepal which is an organization aimed to protect women and girls from the crimes related to the sex trafficking industry.

               In a nutshell, the issue of sex slavery is more fundamental than most people realize. Do you really still believe that the slavery was abolished in 1926? or Are you a real man? If you don’t want tol ive in a world where these things are happenning, then you can make a donation via http://demiandashton.org/ and make a difference for millions of women, men, children around the world. Or at least, by liking the page on Facebook you can show your sensitivity. Don’t forget that one minute of your time might change the victim’s destiny.



 

THE ONLY THING THAT DOESN'T CHANGE

Date: B.C. 1280 - The two most powerful states in the region which are Egypt and the Hittite Empire were in the battle. For what? For SYRIA. Their war ended with Kadeş Treaty which was written on the stone.

Date: A.D. 2013 - The world's two super powers are in the battle. For what? For SYRIA. Their war is still going on..

Between these dates there are many things that have changed but MONEY and GREED FOR POWER.

 

ALAÇATI FISHING TOURNAMENT 2012

 

        Alaçatı International Offshore Fishing Tournament which was started by a few friends' get-together became the largest offshore tournament in Europe and has as well earned itself a respectable place worldwide.With its gradual yearly increasing participation, the tournament showed an incredible development both in the number of participants and the level of the boats and the teams.This year the tournament which has held since 2007 hosted in Alaçatı Port Marina in between 4-7 October.Over 300 contending sportfishermen who is among Cem Boyner, Mustafa Taviloğlu, Mahmut Özgener participated with 70 boats.Sportfishermen who set off with the first light of day and came back at nightfall during 3 days made an effort to catch the biggest fish.At the end of the tournament they had a good time with a party which was organized by Vodafone and caused them to forget their exhaustion.However, like other competition it has rules and awards.

        The competition's priority is protecting the environment as their purpose is not having a lot of fish but competing like sportsman.Thus any action which is harmful for surroundings is not allowed and will be punished.Initially,solely angling is permitted and except natural feed and materials no more equipment such as fish catchy tool can be used.What's more,illegal methods or using fishing net, harpoon, explosive & chemical material is not approved.Lastly,most significant one, hunting in territorial limits is prohibited due to laws.

        What about the eagerly-anticipated part? Rewards,of course.There are mainly 3 categories that have to be considered.First one is "Jury " Special Prize which is 500 USD.This year Zaya Team got this award thanks to 17.150 kilograms of Albacore.The Biggiest Catch Prize which is second category went to June Team for 36.600 kilograms of Blue Fin and they donated 2000 USD to Martyr Foundation.Last one that is Overall Prize went to Cem Boyner's and Mustafa Taviloğlu's team,Uhuru and they also donated 3000 USD to Street Animals Foundation like June Team.

 

 

Here is the some pictures.

 



 

 

At the end of each day,all fishes were weighed and recorded to team's board.

 

 

On last day,also celebrities came to Alaçatı Fishing Tournament and joıned the celebration.

 

 

 

TRAILER OF ALAÇATI FISHING TOURNAMNET 2011

 

 



 

 

 

 

ECHOES OF SILENCE

        Do you keep track events in your hometown?Do you want to just relax when you are troubled?Echoes of Silence is the best advice I can give you for this kind of situations.So what is Echoes of Silence?It's a photographic exhibition that consists of forty-four photographs of libraries and opera houses and is displayed in Arkas Art Center.In this exhibition,you can see Europe's most venerable libraries and opera houses that was taken by Ahmet Ertuğ.

 

 

       Maybe you are unfamiliar with this name,yet Ahmet Ertuğ is known worldwide thanks to his magnificent works and exhibitions that were displayed all orund the world.After studying architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London,as a practise for architect he photographed ancient monuments, covered bazaars, indigenous settlements in Iran and urban street life in London.Awarded a Japan Foundation fellowship, he decided to take up photography as a career while traveling.With his successful works, he owned a good reputation and became known by artists.Since 2001, he has started to open exhibitions in many part of the world such as Paris, New York, Vienna.

        As I mentioned before, this exhibition consists of 40 pieces of picture and unfortunately I cannot talk about all of them but can give you an information from both of them.

 

TEATRO COMUNALE DI BOLOGNA 

 

 

 

        This incredible opera house is one of the most important opera venues in Italy and has a different story that distunguish it from others.

        When it was first constructed, one of Giuseppe Verdi's composition was displayed for the opening ceremony.Yet it was not appreciated and was thought to be grotty.Then central committee decided not to show off his works for a long time.Later it come out that this misconception was resulted from the building's acoustic fault not from theVerdi's work.However, this fault caused 19th century Italian romantic composer to get in depression and avoid from the music.

 

 

THE OVAL ROOM,NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FRANCE,PARIS

 

 

 

       The Oval Room is one of the most fundamental library of both France and the world.Initally, it was founded in Louvre in 1368 then moved to new building due to a series of regime changes.In fact, it was intended to be the storage of all that was published in France.Nonetheless,later it turned into national library.It seems an ordinary one but more than a library.It holds the rarest objects including the first example of human writing.What's more,it contains not only France history but also other nations such as 5.000 Greek manuscript.Apart from the impressing oval reading room and many dedicated libraries, it is also a site for seperate art galleries, hosting numerous exhibits throughout the year.In a word,it should be one of your primal stop while exploring France.

 

PS:You can visit this fabulous exhibition until 30th December 2012 or see same pictures via his website "The Photography of Ahmet Ertuğ".However,the website won't give equal pleasure so I insistly recommend to visit it.