Turkey's illegal actions in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, the use of migrants in Turkey's hybrid warfare against Greece, the multiple war fronts Turkey has opened and Ankara's support for terrorism, have led to a global response to these actions, not as much as it should by the political leadership of countries, but by the citizens.
Thus, an initiative of people who condemn the escalation of Turkish aggression and the overall militarization of the country, is the petition for the boycott of Turkish products, the incomes of which end up strengthening the Turkish war industry.
"We hope that the outcome of the boycott of Turkish products will diminish Turkey's buying power, coupled with the fall of the lira and worsening of Turkey's economic situation will prevent Erdogan from further militarizing, financing ISIS, hiring mercenaries to attack different countries and peaceful people, and stop committing human rights violations that continue to go unpunished." Mary Baboyan, Head of PR, The Crowdfunding Formula, told Pentapostagma.
- The petition to boycoltt turkish products seems like a powerful way to spread the message against Turkish authoritarianism and aggression. Is it getting through to the public?
We think so. The average person is not aware of Turkey's neo-Ottomonist plans and does not realize the impact of their buying power. This petition, and the act of not purchasing Turkish products gives the people the power to act, where governments fail. By using the social media platform, we hope to reach as many people as possible to raise awareness. To let people know that the income from their purchases of turkish products is being used by Turkey to further enhance its military powers. Turkey spends millions of dollars lobbying and hiring PR firms around the world to portray Turkey as it wishes, keeping the world blind to their neo-Ottomonist agenda. I think the average person is not interested in helping finance Turkey's militarization to enforce their neo-Ottomonist plans to rule the world via terrorism and aggression. The average person wants to live in a peaceful world, raise our children in a world absent of terrorism and aggression.
- Is the banning of Turkish products enough to end neo-Ottomonist aggression? What else should be done by EU countries?
Banning of Turkish products, if done by people in majority of countries, should curtail Turkey's income and prevent them from having the funds to spend on over-militarization. 26% of the income from exported goods from Turkey go to the state; 22% of the money of state goes to the military budget. Is it enough to end neo-Ottomonist aggression? Probably not. EU countries, along with other countries, that are interested in preventing further tragedies around the world, should pose sanctions and ban the import of Turkish products altogether, and stop doing business with terrorists. We hope that the boycotting of Turkish productst will help devalue Turkish brands and make Turkey an unpopular investment opportunity – thus minimizing future investment, and Turkeys ability to expand their territory and policy.
Money should not be more important than human lives. Unfortunately, that seems to be the case at the moment. Human lives seem to have no value, while profits from the sale of arms or oil seem to be the priority.
- How does the public react to this petition? Is the reaction global, or at least regional, or limited to the Greek population?
The public's reaction in different countries has been different. People who understand the situation at hand, react well. Understand the benefits of the banning of Turkish products. People who are completely unaware, mistake this petition for a "hateful" act. But it is not. It is actually the contrary. The petition's purpose is to prevent further hateful acts -- e.g., Syria, Libya, Cyprus, Armenia, etc. This petition is to raise awareness, to inform people of what is going on, and present them with a possible solution that the average person can contribute to, and not feel altogether helpless. This petition and movement is a global effort, because after all, Turkey's actions of aggression and terrorism affect the world -- as witnessed recently in France, Germany, Armenia, and other countries. Unfortunately, based on Turkey's recent actions -- transformation of Hagia Sophia, drilling for oil in the Aegean sea, invasion of Cyprus -- it is evident that Greece is pretty high on Turkey's target list. Their direct association and financing of ISIS makes the entire world vulnerable to their terror and aggression.
- Turkey has become a regional threat, being aggressive towards Greece, Cyprus, Syria, Armenia, Egypt and Israel. What's the ultimate goal against the aggressor?
The ultimate goal against the aggressor is to render it powerless enough that it will cease and desist actions of terror around the world, through its economy and lack of finance. To promote a peaceful world where we can all coexist in peace.
- The petition is specifically to ban Turkish origin products in Europe. What about other countries?
The petition is to ban Turkish origin products everywhere. We are creating petitions in more European countries, to then bundle them together and form a massive PR campaign. This is a global movement that we hope the peaceful people of the world will want to partake and excerise the power of the people to right the wrongs that affect us all, while we wait for governments to act.
- What's your message to the Greek people and other countries targeted by Turkish imperialist aggression?
We, the people of the world, have the power to curtail Turkey's aggressions and terrorism around the world by stopping to contribute to their economy. By buying Turkish products, we finance Turkey's militarization and financing of terrorists. The answer is simple -- don't buy = don't arm. #boycottturkey
