For 40 years, the Akbelen Forest, one of the last natural reserves in Milas, has protected İkizköy village from the coal power plants and mines which blight the region. Since 2019, however, the forest and village have been threatened by plans to extend open pit coal mines.

Nejla Işık was born and raised in İkizköy. She is a small-scale farmer and olive production and animal husbandry are her main sources of income. As the president of Karadam ve Karacahisar Mahalleleri Doğayı ve Doğal Hayatı Koruma Güzelleştirme ve Dayanışma Derneği (Karadam Karacahisar Association for the Protection, Improvement, and Solidarity towards Nature and Wildlife), she has been fighting to protect her community and environment against coal for years. 

In April, together with Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe and Milas City Council, we launched the Coal Free Milas project, with a report and documentary showing the benefits of investing in olive production rather than coal. The report is supporting the movement for a Coal Free Milas.

“With the report and the documentary, we have been able to explain and show to people and authorities that we don’t need coal, and that a just transition is possible! 

“If Milas becomes the way I dream it, it will be a place where people live longer and healthier lives, where there is less division and marginalisation, and where the local economy thrives. 

“The 350 Türkiye team is leading among those who reached out to us first, guided us regarding our rights and how to use them. Especially when our voice was not as loud as it is now. For us, they are more than an organisation, they are like a family. It is a very hard-working organisation and we know we can trust and rely on them for all kinds of support. They make us feel that we are not alone in this struggle.”

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