Akbük’s Wake-Up Call: Can We Protect Our Coasts from the Microplastic Threat?

Jonathan, an expat of 20 years, examines the growing microplastic and marine pollution crisis in Mersin, urging local action to protect Turkey’s beautiful coasts, including Akbük.

Ah, the carefree days of youth! With a backpack on my shoulders and the winds of freedom in my soul… I remember breathing in the crystal waters of Goa’s beaches, the serene mountain air of Nepal, and the ancient wisdom of Kathmandu. How naively I believed then that the sea and the land would remain free from human ambition! Now, as an expat of 20 years, nearing 70, looking out at Akbük’s tranquil coves, news from the Eastern Mediterranean sends a shiver down my spine. The insidious enemy creeping along the Mersin coastline – microplastics and marine pollution – is knocking, or will soon be knocking, at all our doors.

A wise voice from Mersin University, Erkan Aktaş, a faculty member in the Economics Department, recently highlighted this growing concern on social media. He vividly exposed how our coastlines, our vital seas, their unique ecosystems, and, most importantly, public health, are under a reckless threat. Marine pollution and those invisible yet pervasive microplastics aren’t just a problem for Mersin; they are mortgaging the future of our entire coastline, and by extension, our beloved Akbük.

It’s no coincidence that Professor Aktaş referenced Alanya as an example. Their City Council has actively pursued the issue, gathered information, and taken action. But what about our local governments and esteemed city councils here in Mersin? Don’t they need to be more ‘visible’ and ‘present’ in this environmental struggle? Simply shifting the blame to central government is too easy. From the oversight of recycling facilities to malfunctions in wastewater treatment systems, and from land-based waste to microplastic pollution in our seas – a wide spectrum of issues screams out for local responsibility.

What Can Local Government Do?

Our municipalities, those institutions we call our ‘service providers’… First and foremost, they must keep a watchful eye and pressure the central government to tighten controls on waste import. But beyond that, they must clean their own house. They need to meticulously inspect waste and recycling facilities, holding them accountable for fires and toxic runoff into the soil and rivers. Urgent action plans must be implemented to rectify any shortcomings in wastewater treatment systems. The Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, along with all coastal district municipalities and city councils, should lend their support to civil initiatives like the Mersin Environment Platform, amplifying their voices. Let’s not forget, this isn’t about ‘politics’; it’s about ‘Mersin’s land, water, sea, and its future.’ Akbük must learn these lessons before we too suffer the consequences.

What Can We Do as Citizens?

We, the long-standing residents of this land, those who cherish Akbük and the entire Mediterranean, cannot simply stand by and wait. Each of us, starting from our own homes, must cultivate the habit of waste separation and avoid single-use plastics as much as possible. We should actively participate in non-governmental organizations and not hesitate to report sources of pollution to the relevant authorities. By joining city councils and environmental platforms, we can make our voices heard and offer solutions. Remember, scientists are sounding the alarm about how tiny plastic fragments eventually turn into microplastics and infiltrate our food chain. This is our collective struggle. Just like the ancient wisdom of Nepal, living in harmony with nature, rather than battling it, is within our grasp. This fight against pollution in the Eastern Mediterranean will determine the fate of not just Mersin, but our entire coastline. Let’s unite this universal energy for goodness and protection.