"Make a Mark on the Future/Plastic-Free July Meeting", organized by the Zero Waste Foundation in cooperation with the Turkish Special Athletes Sports Federation (TÖSSFED) and the Turkish Underwater Sports Federation (TSSF) to raise social awareness against plastic pollution, was held in Üsküdar.
Zero Waste Foundation President Samed Ağırbaş, Turkish Youth Foundation (TÜGVA) Chairman İbrahim Giriş, TÖSSFED President Birol Aydın, TÖSSFED Vice President Ensar Kurt, TSSF board member Ayhan Kasap, Archers Foundation President Hüseyin Topbaş and special athletes and many guests attended the program held opposite the Maiden's Tower on Harem Coastal Road.
Samed Ağırbaş, who made the opening speech of the event, said that the meeting was held for an important issue that concerns health and the future, and said, "According to the United Nations data, it is predicted that there will be more plastic than fish in the seas after 2050. The world is being dragged into a major environmental disaster. To say 'stop' to this, we need to create a zero waste culture. Awareness is temporary. With this culture, we will establish a system that will continue for generations. While starting the zero waste movement under the leadership of Ms. Emine Erdoğan, 'this movement will be the movement of 85 million citizens'." "We held the zero waste forum with the participation of more than 5 thousand people last month. Our President was also with us at the closing program. We are now starting a new environmental activity. If we want to leave these beauties to the next generations, we have to preserve these beauties to the next generations." he said.
İbrahim Beşiktaş underlined that we have entered an important period in terms of environmental mobilization and said, "As the Youth Foundation, we are here with the responsibility of contributing to this organization. We want to leave a mark on the future, not plastic. We invite everyone to this mobilization." he said.
Noting that they will continue to take part in all areas of life, Birol Aydın said, "With the support of our President and Emine Erdoğan, special children played sports and became European and world champions. I thank God for participating in the activities of the Zero Waste Foundation. I promise everyone who contributes to ensure that special children take the field in every field. Disabled citizens in our country will never throw garbage on the ground." made his assessment.
Ayhan Kasap stated that, as the federation, they are always ready to support such events.
After the speeches, divers dived into the water and collected plastic waste from the sea, with the start of Zero Waste Foundation President Samed Ağırbaş and special athletes.
Special athletes helped remove the collected waste from the sea.
Speaking after the waste was removed, Samed Ağırbaş stated that there are plastic wastes in most of the natural areas and said:
"You see the garbage removed from the Bosphorus by special athletes, we need to say 'stop' to this. If we cannot raise this awareness, we will not be able to leave these beauties to the next generations. With the will of our special athletes, we removed the garbage from the bottom together. Our message is clear, we want to leave good marks for the future. Each of our 86 million citizens is valuable to us. We think that a more livable world is possible with our citizens. Let's not throw garbage into our seas, let's not pollute our nature."
The program ended with a group photo.