[Binocularface]

Hi

I was recently lucky enough to visit Southern & Central Turkey on a birding trip with friends.
The culture, scenery and amazing biodiversity had a real positive impact on me! However on my return after speaking to Charlie Moores I was shocked to learn that the Turkish government had sold off all the water ways to private companies. There is currently in excess of 2000 dams currently being built and a further 1700+ Hydro schemes planned. This will have a disastrous effect on the countries biodiversity and the displacement of communities will also impact on the ‘micro-cultures’ that make Turkey such an amazing country.

I have taken it upon myself to try and raise as much funds for Doğa Derneği (Birdlife’s partner in Turkey) as I can, hoping that this will go someway to help them in their work to protect the countries biodiversity. The way in which I am hoping to raise funds is as follows:

1. Invite some artists to contribute some artwork depicting some of the iconic birds of Turkey (this original art work will also be auctioned off to raise additional funds).
2. Have a montage of this artwork (totalling a minimum of ten species) tattooed onto my right arm and shoulder. This will be a full sleeve of work!
3. If I raise over £10,000 I will add £1000 of my own money to the pot and have my left arm and shoulder tattooed with a montage of a further ten species.
4. All tattoo work will be paid for by me!

I know this sounds a bit mad, but I was planning on having this type of body art anyway. However I feel passionate about this cause, so it seems a great opportunity to use this to raise funds. I am hoping that because of the unusual nature of this initiative it will attract some media attention which will hopefully and support for Doğa Derneği and their work.

There is more information here:
http://www.binocularface.co.uk/2011/...for-the-cause/

Donations can be made here

http://www.justgiving.com/givingmyrightarm

Regards
Tristan Reid
[I have been given permission from Birdforum Admin to post this thread]

[lashinala]

Mad?
Nah. I know a guy that had an ivory-billed woodpecker tattoo done in the 60's and he's NEVER regretted it. Make a stand, keep your word....that's what it's all about.

[Binocularface]

Originally Posted by lashinala

Mad?

Probably!

Originally Posted by lashinala

Nah. I know a guy that had an ivory-billed woodpecker tattoo done in the 60's and he's NEVER regretted it. Make a stand, keep your word....that's what it's all about.

Certainly will!
Heard from the tattooist today and he has kindly offered to carry the work out at a substantial discount. So I will forward this discount and donate at least £20 for every hour of work

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

You're a legend mate

[halftwo]

Tristan,

Rather you than me, mate, but very well done. A donation on its way.

H

[Binocularface]

Originally Posted by Marcus Conway - ebirder

You're a legend mate

Thanks Marcus;

Hopefully I'll live up to that name and not cry

[Binocularface]

Originally Posted by halftwo

Tristan,

Rather you than me, mate, but very well done. A donation on its way.

H

Thanks for the support; much appreciated

[Binocularface]

With just five days left to vote, the current top ten are:

1. White-throated Robin
2. Wallcreeper
3. Northern Bald Ibis
4. Caspian Snowcock
5. Pallid Scops Owl
6. White-breasted Kingfisher
7. Masked Shrike
8. Black Francolin
9. Red-fronted Serin
10. Spur-winged Plover

You can add your vote here:
http://www.binocularface.co.uk/2011/...for-the-cause/

[BobCesme]

Full report on dams and Hepps here:~


http://vermeyoz.net/dosyalar/hepp_report_web.pdf

[Binocularface]

Originally Posted by BobCesme

Full report on dams and Hepps here:~


http://vermeyoz.net/dosyalar/hepp_report_web.pdf

Many thanks for the link BobCesme. A very grim situation indeed.

[Irish Kite]

Originally Posted by BobCesme

Full report on dams and Hepps here:~


http://vermeyoz.net/dosyalar/hepp_report_web.pdf

Chilling - the sheer amount of state sponsored environmental vandelism is staggering, as is the utter disregard for basic human rights. I think the EU would do well to bring the Turkish government to its senses in this area during assesion talks, for the sake of the Turkish people!!.

PS: Downstream countries such as Iraq would be well advised to keep an eye on what the Turkish government are up too here given there overwhelming reliance on the Euphrates/Tigris system - I can see another "Nile" situation developing in the near future in terms of potential conflict over water resources in the region

[Binocularface]

Hi,

An exciting blog update on my fundraising effort here:
http://www.binocularface.co.uk/2011/...ng-initiative/

Regards
Tristan

P.S Only a few more hours left to vote for the species to be included in the artwork!

[Binocularface]

Thanks to everyone who voted for the ten species to feature in the artwork. The species are as follows:

• Northern Bald Ibis
• White-throated Robin
• Wallcreeper
• Caspian Snowcock
• Pallid Scops Owl
• White-breasted Kingfisher
• Masked Shrike
• Black Francolin
• Spur-winged Plover
• Rüppell’s Warbler

The design is now in progress, so very exciting! I can't wait to see it!
Today we've hit the 3% mark, with £300 raised so far.

Latest updates on my blog include a couple of species profiles:

• http://www.binocularface.co.uk/2011/...-art-work-are/
• http://www.binocularface.co.uk/2011/...ern-bald-ibis/
• http://www.binocularface.co.uk/2011/...winged-plover/

Regards
Tristan

[Binocularface]

The artwork is now being designed. I will update here when the tattoo work will begin!

[Binocularface]

I have also been contacting politians to try and get support for this campaign. Surely the UK government' cannot support this imminent catastrophe!

[nickderry]

Have given a donation - if you could do anything with any artwork of Wallcreepers, (or possibly Bald Ibis as I've sketched them in zoos), just give a shout, would be more than happy to be of assistance.

[Binocularface]

Originally Posted by nickderry

Have given a donation - if you could do anything with any artwork of Wallcreepers, (or possibly Bald Ibis as I've sketched them in zoos), just give a shout, would be more than happy to be of assistance.

Many thanks Nick! I may well be in touch regarding your artwork.

Regards
Tristan

[Richard Klim]

Şekercioğlu, Anderson, Akçay, Bilgin, Can, Semiz, Tavşanoğlu, Yokeş, Soyumert, İpekdal, Sağlam, Yücel & Dalfes. Turkey's globally important biodiversity in crisis. Biol Conserv: in press. [abstract]

[Binocularface]

Originally Posted by Richard Klim

Şekercioğlu, Anderson, Akçay, Bilgin, Can, Semiz, Tavşanoğlu, Yokeş, Soyumert, İpekdal, Sağlam, Yücel & Dalfes. Turkey's globally important biodiversity in crisis. Biol Conserv: in press. [abstract]

Thanks Richard

[BobCesme]

Some good news on the Dam project in Uzundere.

Extract from letter I received:~

Dear all,
I'm happy to tell you that the 3 HEPP constructions planned in that stream, in Coruh valley, Uzundere, have been stopped by the Governor of Erzurum province's own initiative till the end of the court case. Efforts of the locals in that case should be appreciated as they have been resisting for a long time against this dams. And the case is expected to end in favour of the people of the valley.

Regards

Riyat Gul
Nature Research Society, Ankara

[Binocularface]

Originally Posted by BobCesme

Full report on dams and Hepps here:~


http://vermeyoz.net/dosyalar/hepp_report_web.pdf

Hi Bob,

Do you still have access to this report? The link seems to be broken?

Regards
T