Seminar titled "Atatürk and Love of Nature in the 100th Anniversary of the Republic" from our Foundation

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of our Republic, we held an online seminar titled "Atatürk and Love of Nature in the 100th Anniversary of the Republic", with the presentation of Prof. Dr. Barış Metin, our Board Member and Uşak Provincial Representative.

More than 200 people, including Ms. Deniz Ataç, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Ms. Başak Yalvaç Özçağdaş, our General Manager, our Board Members and our Provincial Representatives, District/Neighbourhood Managers, Team Volunteers, Young TEMA Presidents and Headquarters staff from 45 provinces attended the seminar.

Starting his speech by commemorating Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and all his comrades, Prof. Dr. Barış Metin said, “The most important feature of our Republic that distinguishes it from others is that it is based on the principle of 'national sovereignty'. In Türkiye, the source of sovereignty is based on the independence of the nation and its independence in thought and conscience. Mustafa Kemal Pasha had only one wish; that is to ‘keep the people, soil, trees, birds, in short, all living things in this geography alive at the highest level’”.

“Ankara is a concrete example of Atatürk's relationship with nature”

Stating that one of the concrete examples revealing Atatürk's relationship with nature is the capital Ankara, Prof. Dr. Metin said, “While Ankara was being built as a modern city, it was full of parks and was built in a way that other living things could live in. Despite all the criticism about making Ankara the capital, the city began to recover rapidly, and in a few years, it was transformed from the dust cloud, drought and adobe houses to a modern appearance. Mustafa Kemal Pasha fought hard against the barren land and transformed Ankara into a green city."

“Atatürk Forest Farm is a miracle in steppe”

Stating that Atatürk always aspired to overcome challenges throughout his life, Mr. Metin said, “Mustafa Kemal Pasha's life is a war against all kinds of challenges, slavery, ignorance and poverty. Atatürk showed us his warrior character once again by realising the Forest Farm. He gifted it to his nation by purchasing the land and achieving examples of success there. The farm is a miracle created in the steppe with the success of Mustafa Kemal Pasha. While he was running the state, he also took care of the Forest Farm land. He also participated in the studies personally. He struggled not only intellectually but also physically to transform the arid land into a green oasis."

“Efforts of Atatürk set an example for TEMA Foundation”

Indicating that Atatürk's efforts set an example for the TEMA Foundation, Mr. Metin said, "Mustafa Kemal Pasha says, 'As long as we protect nature, it protects us.' Mustafa Kemal's exemplary practices were the guide for our Founding Honorary President Hayrettin Karaca to take action. While reading the article titled "Atatürk's Love of Trees" by our Grandpa Earth, I saw once again that Hayrettin Karaca took Atatürk as a guide and that TEMA Foundation followed in Atatürk's footsteps. As Hayrettin Karaca said, 'you cannot be an Ataturkist without being a true nature lover."

“Atatürk continues guiding us”

Ms. Başak Yalvaç Özçağdaş, our General Manager, started her speech by stating that it was very meaningful for the TEMA Foundation family to come together in such a seminar and said, "We respectfully acknowledge the Founder of our Republic, the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who continues to guide us with the saying 'The land of the homeland is sacred, it cannot be abandoned to its fate.' I remember it with gratitude. We will continue our work with all our strength as a movement that carries the love of nature and homeland at its heart in the second century of our Republic".

“The Republic is entrusted to us all”

Ms. Deniz Ataç Our, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, said: “Every line we read and every movie we watch reveals once again what an excellent leader we have. Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is a leader approved by the whole world. We all respect and love him very much. We must not forget this; our country is a country that was saved with great difficulty. We need to remember this at every moment of our lives. We owe a serious debt to the people who gave their lives for this country. We have to pay this debt. We continue to work with faith to pay our debt, and we will continue to do so. This Republic is entrusted to all of us."

We are raising hope!                                                                          TEMA Foundation