The 'Yağma Hasan's Pastry' Law

CYANIDE DIARIES FROM BERGAMA-17.

The legend goes like this:

In olden times, a man named Hasan once prepared pastries in an open area (a square, market, village wedding, etc.) and laid them out on the ground. It was not clear for whom he had made the pastries.

Those who saw this shouted, "It's a free-for-all!" and pounced on the pastries. Everyone started grabbing whatever they could reach and eating it. Hasan, however, did not object or intervene.

At that moment, someone asked:

— “Hey, whose pastries are these?”

The answer came:

— “Yağma Hasan’s pastry!” (Hasan’s free-for-all pastry!)

Meaning: “The owner isn't interfering, let whoever wants take as much as they want!”

(A well-known Anatolian story-Illustration: AI)

**

Global capitalism's obsession with "metal and energy mining" has reached a level of "hysteria."

In this field, there is both plenty of money and these materials are strategic.

States are shielding this situation.

Turkey is included in this.

The most ruthless methods of "savage capitalism" are being used in this mining. Initiatives in this direction are now being strengthened even further through legal regulations.

Even US President Donald Trump is trying to seize the "precious metal" mines of war-torn Ukraine, supposedly in the name of protecting it.

Turning nature upside down with the most brutal practices, using toxic substances like "cyanide" and highly corrosive, dissolving substances like "sulfuric acid," and obtaining metals such as gold, silver, and copper through methods that leave behind piles of toxic waste has begun to be the primary target of domestic and foreign companies in Turkey.

For now, they are poisoning the soil in about twenty places in our country, such as Erzincan-Çöpler, Uşak-Kışladağ, and İzmir-Efemçukuru.

There are about 500 more places in line.

Along with these, cutting down thousands of trees for low-quality lignite mines—which are inefficient in energy transition and difficult to profit from on their own, but can make money for miners through state-supported models—and rendering arable agricultural land unusable is another face of savage capitalism.

This situation is occurring in 48 villages located in the Menteşe, Milas, and Yatağan districts of Muğla.

(Resistance against the cutting of the Muğla-Milas-İkizköy-Akbelen Forests)

Perhaps there are others in line!

Thermal power plants that will be operated with state subsidies using such low-quality coal will provide cheap energy to the "savage capitalists" who consume massive amounts of water and electricity and spew poison into the environment in cyanide gold mines.

Total profit, total poison.

Instead of social progress, a natural disaster.

The plunder of olive groves in Muğla is not just for electricity, but in a sense, to feed the cyanide mines!

The arms of the cyanide octopus, one of the most monstrous parts of imperialism, have entered our country as multinational foreign companies, and now greedy domestic companies are deeply ruining nature.

Political power holders who cannot solve their countries' problems are also protecting them with all their might.

The country is like a new colony!

***

(Grand National Assembly of Turkey - TBMM)

The omnibus bill numbered 215, submitted to the TBMM on June 16, 2025, was first accepted by the "Industry, Trade, Energy, Natural Resources and Technology Commission" after 26 hours of deliberations.

The articles, including those related to "olive groves" and "potential polluting enterprises" that came to the TBMM General Assembly, have passed or are passing through Parliament.

The work of the poisoners is being made unusually easy.

In Turkey, look at what is being legislated or is being legislated for such investments, especially toxic mining and inefficient coal operations.

According to 18 environmental non-governmental organizations, including the Istanbul Climate Justice Coalition and the Ecology Union, as well as EGEÇEP and Muğla ÇEP:

“The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) application, which was put in place for such enterprises due to the insistence of the public during the environmental struggle against the cyanide gold mine in Bergama and whose effect was later gradually reduced through regulations, is being almost completely eliminated.”

“In other words, the examination that should be done before an enterprise opens to see if it is harmful to the environment or not is being extremely relaxed.”

“EIA processes are being shortened to provide convenience to companies.”

“EIA processes are being carried out by the General Directorate of Mining and Petroleum Affairs (MAPEG) instead of companies.”

“Applications for other permits and licenses can be made without an EIA decision.”

“MAPEG, that is, a state institution, is being given the authority to accelerate and facilitate all permit processes that must be legally obtained from other public institutions.”

“In other words, permission can be granted without fully determining whether an enterprise is harmful to the environment.”

“What if the business projects do not provide sufficient safety, if the poison dams burst!”

“If a 'Necessary Risk' analysis is not done scientifically and socially!”

“If the relevant institutions such as the Ministry of Forestry, State Hydraulic Works, General Directorate of Highways, and the Ministries of Agriculture and Energy do not give the approval requested by MAPEG within four months, it is considered granted.”

“Thus, the transfer of forests to companies is made even easier. Forests in mining areas are transferred to MAPEG free of charge.”

“National parks, protected areas, archaeological sites, wetlands, wildlife protection and development areas are being opened to energy and mining investments.”

“Olive groves are being taken from the villagers by being expropriated for mining and energy companies.”

(Environmentalists from all over Turkey protest the law in front of the TBMM.)

“A special law, in a sense, is being enacted in line with the wishes of Yatağan Termik Enerji Üretim A.Ş., which operates the Yatağan Thermal Power Plant, and Yeniköy Kemerköy Elektrik Üretim ve Ticaret A.Ş., which operates the Yeniköy and Kemerköy Thermal Power Plants.”

“It is decided to uproot and move (!) the olive groves located in the Muğla-Yatağan and Akbelen region, covering 400 thousand decares; the size of 57,140 football fields, and this area is being opened to low-quality lignite mining.”

“Some deputies must have had a change of conscience regarding this article, as they added the planting of 2 trees for every 1 tree to be uprooted to the bill in the TBMM General Assembly.”

“In this context, the way is being paved for the displacement of 48 villages and neighborhoods in Muğla.”

“For this reason, the way is being paved for the amendment of the 'Law on the Improvement of Olive Cultivation and Grafting of Wild Ones,' which was enacted in the early years of the Republic and protects olive groves.”

“Thus, all olive groves in Turkey are under threat.”

“Pastures are being allocated to energy companies.”

“In such investments, urgent expropriation decisions can be made by the state. In this practice, the citizen has no rights left over their own property.”

“A zoning amnesty is being brought for illegal energy investments.”

“The duration of tax discounts granted to companies is being extended.”

“If permission is not granted by the relevant institutions for critical and strategic mines, a board chaired by the Vice President has the authority to grant permission despite everything.”

“The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources is being given the authority to make zoning plans and issue construction permits.”

“Surprisingly, even the Ministry of Public Works and Municipalities are being sidelined.”

“Institutions responsible for forestry and environmental protection are being stripped of their authority, and laws providing protection are being rendered ineffective.”

Oh, how wonderful!

There is no error in the analogy; our country's lands are like "Yağma Hasan's pastry"!

Legislative regulations containing such articles are being made, or are about to be made.

(Environmentalists from all over Turkey protest the law.)

***

If the laws expressed above are enacted and implemented, look at what could happen in Turkey:

There are examples of this in the world.

The subjects of these examples are in our country, in every corner!

As is known, toxic metal and cyanide gold mining entered Turkey via Bergama.

With the most powerful elements of imperialism: with giant German, US, and French companies.

Despite the incredible resistance of the Bergama villagers and environmentalists, the incredibly stubborn insistence of the decision-makers in Ankara, and court decisions; the authorities, ignoring the mental responsibilities they possessed, allowed the mine to be operated.

Without looking at the tears of women, children, squirrels, butterflies, olive and pine trees!

When precious metal imperialism entered our country, among the multinational companies that clung to Anatolia like burrs and surrounded the country like the arms of an octopus, the most common ones were Canadian firms. Behind them were the world's big money bosses.

The known ones among these are companies such as Metal Mining, El Dorado, Inmet, Alacer, SSR Mining, Fiart Quantum Mining, and Anagold.

Recently, another Canadian company called "Alamos Gold" has emerged.

They carry out their work through a company they established according to Turkish laws called "Doğu Biga."

The board of directors of the supposedly Turkish company "Doğu Biga" is affiliated with the Canadian Alamos Gold. In recent years, the CEO of the foreign company, John McCluskey, has been appointed as the chairman of the board for Doğu Biga. (alamosgold.com + T24 + Yeniçağ Newspaper)

Capital increases are also entirely financed and controlled by Alamos Gold. (T24, ICT Media)

This is how "savage capitalism" manages its business in the world.

Alamos Gold, like other cyanide companies, has a criminal record worldwide.

This company, like many cyanide Canadian companies, has infested Mexico in Latin America.

Just like the Canadian Anagold company in the Erzincan-Çöpler mine and the Canadian El Dorado in Uşak-Kışladağ, they sprayed cyanide onto the soil to extract gold and contaminated everything with poison.

They destroyed nature and caused people's deaths.

Their records are dirty!

(Protest by locals against the Alamos-Mexica, Texico mine-In the world press)

***

In the face of Alamos Gold's attempt to operate a gold mine using cyanide in the Esperanza Silver / Morales / Tetlama region in Mexico, the local people rose up; environmental groups organized peaceful demonstrations.

The indigenous Nahua people living in the region shouted in the demonstrations on 14.01.2022 that the gold mine negatively affected the environment, damaged water resources, dried up the villages' springs, and that the dynamite blasted created large tremors, and they demanded the closure of this mine. (https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/mexico-nahua-people-protest-against-canadian-mining-company-alamos-golds-entry-in-temixco)

However, one of the environmental leaders who played an active role in anti-mining actions in this region reported that they received threats of torture and kidnapping via their personal social media account.

Armed cocaine producers and sellers in Mexico are very ruthless.

Dying and killing is an ordinary event!

The environmental leader's phone number, address, and photos of their family were shared in the threat messages.

The protester applied to the police, saying, "They are trying to silence me." The situation received wide coverage in the press.

This mineral-rich region has been surrounded from all sides by the Canadian-looking arms of the "Cyanide Octopus."

It is reported that there are about 200 Canadian-origin cyanide companies in Mexico.

Again, in the Cacula settlement in the Guerrero region of Mexico, it is a common belief that some people who opposed the gold mines of Canadian companies, including Alamos Gold, were kidnapped and executed by narcotics gangs operating in this region.

It is among the allegations that such criminal networks, which are very powerful in Mexico, are close with the cyanide gold miners.

The relevant company officials said they had nothing to do with these events.

However, a total of 43 people have disappeared in the region: they were kidnapped or killed. (https://www.vice.com/en/article/canadian-mining-companies-are-destroying-latin-america-924/)

***

Look at this:

This Canadian Alamos Gold, in the guise of the "Doğu Biga" company, attempted to operate a cyanide gold mine on the Biga Peninsula, near Çanakkale; first in Balabanlı–Kirazlı (Kartaldağ, Madendağ-Kaletaş), then in Ağı Dağı and Çamyurt.

(somo.nl, alamosgold.com, diken.com.tr, youtube.com, en.wikipedia.org)

It has been known that there is gold ore in the lands of this region since very old times, since the prehistoric Troy period.

It is recorded that it was also operated during the Byzantine, Roman, and Ottoman periods.

The Çanakkale Kartaldağ and Madendağ-Kaletaş gold mines were operated in the 1850s by a British company called "Astyra Gold Mining."

"Astyra" was the name of an ancient city located in this region (3.2 km to Haliloğlu Village).

These poisoners love giving historical mythological names to their companies, just like the US-puppet Australian company that came to Bergama called itself Normandy Poseidon.

I suppose they think they are cleansing their dirty consciences by using these famous names.

Later, these areas passed into the hands of the Germans. The mine was closed during World War I, and a license was given to a Turkish firm during the Republican period. (https://www.academia.edu/45676469/OSMANLIDAN_G%C3%9CN%C3%9CM%C3%9CZE_and_B%C4%B0GA_YARIMADASINDA_ALTIN_MADENC%C4%B0L%C4%B0%C4%9E%C4%B0?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

***

(Trees cut down in Çanakkale Kirazlı and their wood)

The Canadian criminal Alamos Gold company's attempt to operate the Kirazlı mine began with cutting down trees in the area.

It was claimed that approximately 347 thousand trees were cut down in 2019. In official reports, this number was announced as 45 thousand.

Wow, wow, wow, a forest with this many trees!

They didn't feel any pity while cutting!

Among the people, there is a proverb for such situations: "Did they pay money for its seed?"

In Turkish, it is said for people who consume, waste, or plunder recklessly without thinking about the source or future of something.

However, there are approximately 150 thousand martyrs lying in the lands of Çanakkale who died in the defense of the homeland.

A major public movement began after the imperialist company recklessly cut down trees.

Environmentalists protested the deforestation, the extraction of gold with cyanide, and the damage done to groundwater.

Canadian Alamos Gold denied the allegations, arguing that the number of trees cut was exaggerated, that cyanide was not used, and that they were not "gold prospecting" but "preparing for extraction."

(Water and Conscience Watch in the Kaz Mountains in Kirazlı)

In July 2019, the public began the "Water and Conscience Watch." They took the region under surveillance.

Upon increasing reactions, the state did not renew the mining license of the cyanide company, which expired on October 13, 2019, despite the renewal application made.

Environmental groups determined that Alamos Gold was "illegally cutting trees" around Kirazlı; they filed a criminal complaint that the company was continuing its work.

This impudence must have caught the attention of the decision-makers in Ankara, as they listened to the voice of the people this time.

The activities of Alamos Gold, which had a capital of 661.5 million TL as of 2024, in Kirazlı were stopped. There was already no activity in Ağı Dağı and Çamyurt.

The Alamos Gold branch of the "Cyanide Octopus," which was offended by this incident, filed a 1 billion USD compensation lawsuit against the Republic of Turkey at the "International Arbitration Court" on June 7, 2021, on the grounds that it had suffered a loss. (gazeteoksijen.com, artigercek.com, tr.euronews.com)

The lawsuit, the first hearing of which was held in October 2024, has not yet been concluded. (T24+1Aynalı Pazar+1).

(Çanakkale-Kirazlı cyanide gold mine site-Destroyed nature)

***

Now, with the changes that began to be legislated in July 2025, the way is being cleared for such dubious and ambitious cyanide companies.

Undoubtedly, by observing the interests of the homeland (!), a small group at the very top will decide to slash the soil with cyanide without the need for an EIA process, olive and pine trees, pastures, or court decisions.

Gold bars will be extracted!

Our country, without getting stuck in any bureaucratic obstacles, will quickly become rich like countries where gold is obtained with cyanide in their lands!

We will live in prosperity!

We had started not to be the poor guardians of our rich mines, now we will never be!

What is the environment anyway! We will plant new ones for the uprooted olive trees! And two for one!

What is living in a healthy environment anyway! You are living, aren't you!

Just live! What more do you want!

What is the law anyway! A waste of time! Give the order, let it proceed!

What are human rights anyway! What is that?

What about the Constitutional Court? International Environmental Conventions?

Here is the good news for such foreign companies that are representatives of imperialism, the arms of the cyanide octopus; or for domestic companies that have learned the poisonous, dirty, nature-destroying technology from them or have been pushed forward, rubbing their hands to pocket the gold!

The country's lands are being presented to you like this, for instance, like "Yağma Hasan's Pastry"!

The pastry is bitter!

Sefa Taşkın

20.07.2025

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