“Turkish Water for Turkish Cyprus”

Turkish water pipeline to Northern Cyprus

Will the pipeline deliver more than water alone?

The much vaunted and long awaited water pipeline, which will become the physical link between motherland Turkey and Turkish Cyprus is now expected to be finally connected early next year. Delivering some 70 Million cubic metres of potable water directly into the Gecitköy reservoir, this hugely valuable resource has the capability of augmenting vitally needed drinking water to the island as a whole. Whether this initiative could be a positive bargaining chip for the Turkish Cypriot negotiators during the ‘talks’, is a matter for conjecture, for it is entirely likely that the Orthodox Church will dismiss Turkish water as ‘evil’  just as it did with electricity supplies from North Cyprus, after one of south Cyprus’ power stations blew up last year. 

It had been speculated that the pipeline project would be completed by September of this year, but the bad winter had a considerable impact on progress and further delays have now been encountered. A project of this magnitude does however, tend to contain the potential for unforeseen circumstances; most civil engineering projects do, from the writers close personal experience, and a complex scheme such as this one, can be no exception to the rule. Sub-Marine topography is one thing, but security of the facility especially in this region, will be another significant factor and a high degree of secrecy envelopes the management of this project.

There has been a lot of speculation that in addition to the supply of seemingly endless quantities of high quality drinking water, the pipeline could also support, via fibre optic cables ‘piggy-backing’ the pipeline bearing Hydro Electric Power. There are no technical reasons why this added benefit could not be achieved (save for security measures) but very little is being revealed as to Turkey’s intentions in this regard. 

The flags on the hill to remind the Greeks of their 'place'

Clearly, any measure especially a ‘clean, green’ one, which bears electricity to Northern Cyprus, is going to be very much welcomed, for as recent articles have revealed, the TRNC is close to its limits in terms of electricity generation at the present time. HEP, in conjunction with other ‘green energy’ projects would materially benefit the Turkish Cypriot economy by a very considerable degree indeed. Municipal Waste to Energy, depending upon plant type and size selected, could add 50 MWH to the grid daily. Add to this, Bio-Waste to Energy and possibly HEP too, the potential for an energy surplus is a real one.

Quite how the government of the south Cyprus regime would view its neighbour being armed with energy self-reliance does not take too much thought or speculation. The reaction would be one of indignant jealousy added to other negative outbursts. On the other hand, this columnist learned from contacts in the south of the island, that there are plans to construct a Bio-Waste to energy plant on a diary farm however this would produce only some 2 MWH. The government have placed limits by way of its licensing regime in this respect. It is further understood that household waste too, might be converted to energy using a plant designed by an Austrian/Canadian consortium, in the same location.

Surely it cannot be beyond the wit of Turkish Cypriot politicians to realise that not only is energy self-sufficiency for Northern Cyprus a key goal, but it is highly attainable too and within a relatively short time-frame as well. For example, a Municipal Waste to Energy plant of a size that would deliver 25 MWH continuously, 7 days a week for at least 300 days per annum. There is nothing to stop a second such plant from being constructed especially if garbage could also be imported for energy conversion purposes.

Green-Energy (yeşil enerji) that includes HEP from Turkey via the pipeline, waste to energy conversion initiatives AND solar power, can all materially augment the energy needs of Northern Cyprus and power the country towards the ‘nirvana’ of energy self-sufficiency. It has to be the hope of the citizens and residents of Turkish Cyprus that their politicians avail themselves of the opportunities that now freely present themselves.

By

Chris Green  

Beşparmak Media Services

“The abuse of Women’s Rights abound”

Farzana Parveen, 25, who was three months pregnant, was killed by nearly 20 members of the woman's family, including her father and brothers in Lahore.

Sacrificed upon the altar of ‘religion’

By

Chris Green

The world’s media in recent months have been filled with accounts of the most horrific incidents of abuse, kidnap, rape and murder of women and girls in a variety of countries. The common denominator under-pinning the majority of these crimes, appears to be that of religion or at least interpretations thereof as a justification for the acts of males (they cannot be described as men) against vulnerable women and girls. At a time when legions of Islamophobes need little excuse to attack those of the Muslim Faith, more ammunition is freely delivered to them by way of these barbarous acts overseas.

In South Sudan, a 27 year old, married woman now languishes in jail awaiting the delivery of 100 lashes for adultery, to be followed by the death penalty by hanging, for apostasy. Meriam Ibrahim, herself a doctor was brought up in the Christian faith, married a US (Christian) citizen of Sudanese origins and, because the South Sudanese authorities do not recognise their marriage, she was found guilty of adultery. She has just given birth to a daughter whilst in jail, which is the second child to this couple. Both children are held in prison with her in reportedly appalling conditions. Having been given time to recant her Christian Faith, which she has refused, she will be hanged in two years time unless international pressure successfully intervenes in the meantime.

In Pakistan recently, a woman was attacked and stoned to death by her own father and close relatives for the ‘crime’ of marrying a man of her own choice, for mutual love. Her father’s ‘honour’ having been impugned, the couple were ambushed outside of a courthouse where they had had their marriage registered and despite her husbands vain attempts to protect her, she died the most unimaginable death as did her unborn child inside her. Sometime ago, also in Sudan, a 13 year old girl was buried up to her neck and then stoned to death for adultery. She had been gang-raped, and her father reported this to the authorities that the perpetrators might be apprehended; this proved to be fatal for the poor defenceless girl as described.

More recently, and in India this time two girls aged 14 and 15 respectively were found hanging from a Mango tree following their both having been gang-raped. Crimes of this nature are tragically common-place in the subcontinent, but this particular outrage has caused a wholly justifiable outcry across the entire nation and internationally too. Images of these poor girls hanging from the tree were compelling enough, but the wider spectacle of the crowds that gathered beneath them made for deeper thought and reflection too. In these images, women are clearly sobbing with grief and perhaps empathy too, for there is every reason to suspect that one or more of them might have been previously subjected to such an ordeal.

In the latter case, there seems to be no link to Islam whereas in the previous examples, religion appears to be used as some sort of justification for the actions taken. The same applies to the Boko Harem group in Nigeria who have recently carried out a mass-capture of hundreds of young girls and have threatened to sell them into slavery and other such horrific fates including sex-crimes upon them, all in the name of their perverted interpretation of what after all is a peaceful religion.

It is the strongly held view of this writer, that every penny of the £42+ Millions of aid granted to South Sudan by the UK should now be withheld, certainly until such time as Dr Meriam Ibrahim and her children are released from prison. Similarly so, all aid should be halted to Pakistan whilst India does not really need the aid the UK gives anyway!

The murder of the young and pregnant, lawfully married Pakistani woman who married the man of her choice for love, is particularly poignant. Choosing ones words with precise and deliberate detail, until such a time that a man and woman are free to marry each other for mutual love, irrespective of creed, colour or religious calling this world nor any country in it, will be truly multi-cultural nor indeed free.

Beşparmak Media Services