Occupational safety and health

After the mining accident in Soma, the elevator accident that resulted in the loss of 10 workers at an Istanbul construction site was the final straw. The protests that began right after the incident are still continuing.

After a recent elevator accident in which 10 people died, the subject of work safety has been discussed out loud in Turkey. We do speak, but unfortunately we forget what we speak, and to start speaking again, another terrific accident must happen.

The question is this: The relevant law has been enacted but occupational accidents keep on repeating; we now witness worker deaths on a regular basis. Then what is the problem, where is the problem? The answer is obvious; there are laws but no law.

Greek authorities have partially evacuated a southern village near a major archaeological site due to a large wildfire that is being swept on by strong winds.

The fire brigade says that nine aircraft and helicopters are dropping water over the blaze that broke out Monday near Mavromati, a village of about 300 people some 200 kilometers (124 miles) southwest of Athens.

A relatively mild summer this year resulted in 25 percent fewer wildfires than in 2013, according to new fire service figures seen by Kathimerini.

A total of 3,846 fires broke out on agricultural and forest land between January 1 and July 31 of this year compared to 5,066 in the same period last year, official figures show.

The Public Power Corporation (PPC) on Monday announced the creation of a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a 42-year-old worker who was electrocuted at the power board’s Megalopolis plant on Sunday afternoon.

Opponents of the gold mine in the area of Skouries are planning to camp in the Halkidiki forest from August 22 until the end of the month.

Protesters plan to use this period to organize peaceful demonstrations, concerts and other events to display their opposition to the activities of Canadian-owned Hellas Gold in the area.

A group of villagers has risen against the establishment of mines to extract gold, silver and copper in Artvin after a court gave the green light to a mining company by controversially approving the mandatory environmental impact assessment (ÇED) report for the project.

A wildfire that broke out near the city of Arta in northwestern Greece on Sunday was under partial control on Monday morning.

Two water bombing airplanes helped in the effort to put out the blaze, which got to within a few hundred meters of a local hospital and homes.

Forest engineer Yücel Çağlar is very knowledgeable on the issue of our country’s forests. It would not be too much of an exaggeration if we were to say he has dedicated himself to the forests.