Our pick of what is been going on in Fethiye and around Turkey over the last week.
News
Kocaçalış residents fear another winter of floods
Residents of Kocaçalış fear another winter of floods as they wait for preventative work to be carried out by Fethiye Municipality.
The areas of Mavi Kent, Sağlık Sitesi and Çiçek Sitesi are built on reclaimed marshland bordering on reed beds, rich with plants and wildlife.
An important part of the region’s ecosystem, these wetlands filter rain and snow-melt from the mountains before it enters the Gulf of Fethiye.
Sounds idyllic, however when left to themselves, the reed beds become lakes whenever there are periods of heavy rain, causing a problem for homeowners when the lakes flood.
This falls under the jurisdiction of the regional water authority, MUSKİ, whose responsibility it is to keep the outlet from the lake open to the sea.
On 30 December many homes in Kocaçalış were again flooded when the outlet overflowed.
MUSKİ carried out pumping and cleaning works after the floods.
Spokesperson for the residents, Dave Gardner, told Fethiye Times
“I have been asking MUSKİ for a solution to our flooding problem for the last three years. They claim they do not have the money to carry out the project to solve the flooding problem. The flooding on 30th December was caused by MUSKİ not carrying out adequate cleaning of the outlet.
I have also been asking them for three years to build a simple stone breakwater in the sea to stop the river that drains Koca Çaliş from being blocked every time there is a storm. They have built a small breakwater but it needs to be a lot more substantial for it to work”
In a meeting this week MUSKİ told Gardner that the long term solution is to build a pumping station at the river but they still don’t have the funding for it. They also said they will contact DSİ to have the outlet cleaned out.
Gardner went on to say “We are being let down by a government department. Our homes have been flooded and it will happen again until MUSKİ takes action”
Small steps in the right direction but a long way from providing a permanent solution.
‘Survivor China’ comes to Fethiye
Locals watched with interest as filming for the TV series, Survivor China, took place in Üzümlü on Saturday.
China Zhejiang TV will be in Fethiye for a month filming in various locations including Babadağ, Ölüdeniz, Kayaköy, Çalış an Göcek.
The contest includes eight famous actors and is expected to attract up to one billion viewers.
Zhou Xin, the set’s account manager, said “We are celebrating the year of Turkish-Chinese friendship through this program and we are also introducing Chinese and Turkish cultures, and local clothes and meals are being shown during the shootings”
Tercan Akçin, member of parliament of Fethiye Municipality, stated that they tried to help the team in every way and that the program would contribute to Fethiye tourism contribution and culture integration.
Source: SonDakika
Turkey’s state of emergency to be extended once again
The state of emergency rule will to be extended once again following an advisory decision made by the National Security Council (MGK), the government spokesman and Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ said on Jan. 8.
The state of emergency was first declared on July 21, 2016, in the wake of the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016.
In line with the constitution, which allows state of emergency rule to be endlessly extended albeit in three-month periods, the coming extension is set to be sixth extension since the initial declaration in 2016.
Source: HurriyetDailyNews
Booking.com likely to resume operations in Turkey
The activities of the Netherlands-based online reservation portal Booking.com in Turkey were suspended after the Turkish Travel Agencies Association (TÜRSAB) filed a lawsuit against the leading online travel agency. Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Assistant General Manager of Promotions Ahmet Temurci recently announced the start of negotiations with Booking.com. Temurci stated that Booking.com, which has agreed to pay the necessary fines, can soon resume its operation in the Turkish market.
Hosted by the Turkish Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association’s (MÜSİAD) Antalya branch, the “Turkey Consultancy Meeting” was organized by the MUSİAD Services Sector Council under the main theme of “Tourism Trends in Turkey.” Temurci, who attended the said meeting, later announced the start of negotiations with the leading online travel agency.
Noting that the restrictions on Booking.com solely covers reservations in Turkey, Temurci said it is still possible for users to make reservations in Turkey from abroad and vice versa via the company’s website.
Temurci said the company will resume its operations in Turkey after renewing the website. “This is not a problem that Booking.com has faced in Turkey alone. Similar lawsuits are ongoing in France and Germany, as well,” Temurci said.
Source: Daily Sabah
Turkey drafts new law to jail anyone convicted of animal abuse
All those who are found guilty of animal abuse in Turkey will face jail, a new draft law has proposed.
After increasing reports of animal cruelty, proposals have been tabled to guarantee jail time for anyone who harms animals.
Those found guilty of animal abuse could be jailed for up to four a half years and those who kill endangered animals could face up to seven years behind bars.
Those who have forced animals to fight will be given between two months and two years in jail and the severity of all punishments depends on whether the crime is a first time offence or a reoccurrence.
Gülay Yedekçi the deputy of the opposition Republican People’s Party, requested that parliament put forward this bill to protect animals and said that current punishments are too lenient.
“The provisions of the present law are not sufficient. The legal rights of all living creatures must be recognised. With this law proposal we want animal rights to be secured. The right to life for animals also needs to be defined legally,” Ms Yedekçi said, according to Hurriyet Daily News.
She also called on parliament to change the fact that animals are considered to be people’s “property”.
The draft, which is formed of 27 articles, has been sent to all the necessary ministry departments by the Justice Ministry. They have 30 days to express their opinions.
Source: The Independent
Sport
Basketball
Fethiye Belediyespor won their home match against UPS on Saturday. The final score was 83 – 67.
Fethiyespor
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor update
Fethiyespor have now finished boot camp training in Antalya. The Technical Director/Manager said the training has gone well.
Fethiyespor won a training match in the week. The result was 2-1.
Fethiyespor also signed up four new players this month.
The next league matches are:
Sunday 21st January 2018 away against Hacettepe Spor. Kick off is at 13:30.
Sunday 28th January 2018 at home against Pendikspor. Kick off is at 13:30.
For more information about Fethiyespor please visit Fethiyespor Yabancilar on Facebook.
Turkish Money
Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates:
The British Pound bought 5.14 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 5.06 TL.
The US Dollar bought 3.74 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 3.73 TL.
The Euro bought 4.57 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 4.49 TL.
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Today’s featured image is by local blogger and photographer, Casey Russell.
The post Fethiye Times News – Week Ending 13 January 2018 appeared first on Fethiye Times.