Today a Rockstar Saved a Town
Since then, it's all: Is he, or is he not? My colleagues from the European Ilisu campaign just showed me the Berliner Zeitung article and laughed about it, as if it was clear that Tarkan was not going to meet with Merkel. But is it that clear? Just some weeks ago, Tarkan met with the Turkish minister for cultural affairs to discuss the controversial dam in Southeast Turkey that would destroy the livelihoods of more than 60,000 people. And people told me that the meeting took more than two hours because Tarkan had so much to say against the dam and the minister was ready to listen.
Here in Germany, especially in Berlin, Tarkan is THE role model for the large population of Germans with Turkish roots. Born in Germany, Tarkan became famous when he moved back to Turkey and now writes and sings songs such as the popular "Wake Up" where he challenges his fans to take responsibility for the planet. But today in Berlin, he is not singing, he is talking. He campaigned against the Ilisu Dam and for the protection of the ancient city of Hasankeyf which would be flooded by the dam on Berlin's biggest radio show this morning, had a long interview in the country's most influential online magazine - Spiegel - three days back, and will give a keynote speech at a panel discussion on Ilisu this evening in Berlin. Maybe at the panel discussion tonight, he will also disclose whether he met Merkel or not.
And the bigger
question, of course, is whether he, or anyone else, can convince her
that Germany should safeguard the future of the Tigris River, instead of
support its destruction with the Ilisu Dam.