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Sinop (Turkey), 23rd of August 2008*. *This afternoon, Turkish police arrested 30 international and local Turkish activists who took part in a peaceful "die-in" action in front of the house of the governor of Sinop. The police arrested also people that were just observing or standing nearby.

The protests are directed against the plans to build a Nuclear Technology Centre in the Sinop region. Participants are members of environmentalist movements worldwide. They want to draw attention to the fact that nuclear energy is dangerous, polluting and expensive. Instead of investing in nuclear technology, Turkey should use its great potential for solar and wind power, as well as increasing energy efficiency.

"The Turkish state seems very afraid of people learning how dangerous nuclear power is. That is why authorities do not tolerate any protest, especially when foreigeners are involved. We are seriously concerned about the denial of freedom of speech in Turkey. ", says Niklas Hartmann from Germany.