It is not just the ground that is shaking

While celebrating April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day, a day when a nation took ownership of its destiny and sovereignty was transferred from palaces to the people, another reality hit us in Istanbul: a 6.2 magnitude earthquake and the 184 aftershocks that followed!

The "big earthquake" that has been discussed for years is no longer just a possibility; it is practically knocking at our door.

It is not just the city that is shaking; our sense of security, our preparations, and our priorities have also been displaced.

Experts have issued warnings, reports have been presented, and the public has raised its voice time and again. But ears are turned in another direction. Instead of building earthquake-resistant cities, there is an insistence on building Kanal Istanbul, a controversial project!

While sovereignty should belong to the nation, today the nation cannot make its voice heard. Because sovereignty is trapped in the hands of a handful of privileged people, behind high walls, in a palace far removed from reality.

The earthquake we experienced on April 23 showed once again how alone the public is.

Because shopping malls were built on assembly areas, people threw themselves into schoolyards. Even side streets were jammed with traffic. People who rushed out of their homes got into their cars and caused hours of traffic jams trying to reach the nearest park or square. In this crush, we realized that the real need, before solid ground, is a solid common sense. It is not the ground beneath Istanbul that is shaking, but our decisions. And we must not forget that this shaking threatens the future of children most of all.

The earthquake we experienced on April 23 is a very important reminder; it tells us loudly: Sovereignty is not just a right won in the past; it is a responsibility that must be upheld and protected today.