The second rally for turkish Strays went well, despite an awful weather and hard conditions.
My friends Loredana from Turin, Italy, Soni from Barcelone, Spain, and Danielle from Geneve, Switzerland came especially to help and support me in my work.
We were about a dozen to gather on the strategic Place du Châtelet in paris last Saturday and the rain started plus a manifestation for palestine on the other side of the square. they had a megaphone and oriental music played very loud, so we waited for them to go. We protected our material and just put our banners and posters near the fountain to be seen.
Some people from Turkey immediately started to ask questions about the protests, and I just told them that I was supporting the Turkish activists in their efforts to help these dogs and make the laws applied in Turkey, so they relaxed a little and we had a nice talk.
As soon as the manifestants left and the rain stopped, we decided to go nearer the stairs of the tube, where there are more people endlessly going in and out. We installed the table, posters, flyers, petitions and banners and I took the megaphone calling the people to come and sign, come and watch, and react to these informations.
Many people gathered around us, astonished by the pictures, and came to sign. Many flyers were given, I was continuously giving these informations and how to help in the megaphone.
Then the rain started again, and we had a hard time protecting the material, I hoped all my work wouldn't be wet and useless, and tried to keep my mood up. My friends were really kind to stay, I thank them forever for their aring and support.
Fortunately the sun came back and I restarted with the megaphone, and finally we managed to get 300 signatures, and give nearly all the flyers.
I gave lots of informations papers for the pet shops and we collected 40 signatures for the traffic of pups and kittens in Paris. I will send them to the association which started the petition.
Finally we stayed for 3 hours, and left quite happy to have been courageous.
A boy I didn't know took pictures, and I took some myself, to be sent to the Turkish Prime Minister with my letter. He offered to send them and I'm grateful cause no one else had bought a camera.
I put the pictures and did a report for the international group, and some of my friends said they would come next time (one more from Italy, Stefania, a girl from Germany, catherine, and so on.)
Next time I will do something bigger if I can, the people who were supposed to bring a tele never contacted me again, so I will manage with someone else. I have to say that this day there was a anti hunt sabotage (and they did to be at least 40 to do it properly) and a protests in front of KFC and McDonald in town.
Good news from Turkey arrived here in my mailbox.
First the Mayor of the municipality of Van lost the elections, and I 'm glad for it because it is the city where poor little Jonah died.
Second I received this link which shows progress in the awareness of animal cruelty in Turkey and all the work done by the activists there.
http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=11280664