Civil Society In The Days Of Corona: The Multiplying Effect of Solidarity

Posing a “very high” level of risk at global level, fight against coronavirus requires solidarity and cooperation of all segments including civilian, public, and private sector initiatives as well as social and technological ones. As Civil Pages, we’ve compiled various civilian, innovative and technological formations including solidarity groups that support the fight against coronavirus over the past few weeks. 

Addresses of Correct Information in Corona Days

During the corona days, confirming the accuracy of the information we receive and spreading it afterwards have become even more important.

The first address that comes to mind in this regard is of course teyit.org website and the recently launched COVID19 Post (COVID19 Postası) can also be followed. Teyit.org says: “Do not believe all the information on circulation about the coronavirus. You can ask us to investigate any suspicious claims by writing us on our social media accounts. You can also subscribe to the Covid-19 Newsletter to keep up to date with confirmed developments throughout the pandemic.”

Another source of information is the Corona News Post newsletter (Korona Haber Postası”) prepared by the Public Health Experts Association, which contains a lot of current and useful information about the outbreak.

For those who want to follow the corona virus updates from an English resource, the page specifically reserved by New York Times (sayfa) can be followed. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) page (Dünya Sağlık Örgütü) can also be reviewed.

A resource that can be used by healthcare professionals is the COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment Handbook (“COVID-19 Önleme ve Tedavi El Kitabı”) written on the experiences of Chinese doctors. It was translated into Turkish by volunteer doctors and published as an e-book.

On one of the communication tools we use most frequently in the corona days which is WhatsApp, the WhatsApp Coronavirus Information Center (WhatsApp Koronavirüs Bilgi Merkezi) came into action by cooperations with UNDP, World Health Organization and UNICEF in order to spread the correct information and to support the global fight against the COVID-19 outbreak. It aims to provide real-time and correct health information to billions of people. WhatsApp has also donated $ 1 million to the International Fast Checking Network (IFCN) to spread accurate information.

Solidarity Networks Against Coronavirus

The recently opened “Solidarity Networks” account (Dayanışma Ağları) on social media has called for volunteers to form a translation and documentation working group to support local governments for creating COVID19 Emergency Action Plans and strategies. Volunteer solidarity networks formed in Beşiktaş and Kadıköy are now actively working.

Another formation for those who want to organize at a more micro level which would be more of neighborhoods and streets is the Solidarity Assemblies (Dayanışma Meclisleri). It calls on volunteers to provide support for issues such as online education, legal Support and shopping assistance to risky groups by establishing a Solidarity Assembly in their neighborhoods and streets.

Molecular Biology Association (Moleküler Biyoloji Derneği) has founded the “Biologists’ Initiative – Corona Emergency Action Team” which consists of four associations against the COVID-19 outbreak. They explained that they had the necessary devices and enough diagnostic kits in their laboratories in order to carry out 50 thousand tests in a week, and that more than 4 thousand people had applied to the association claiming that they were ready for the task.

#BiologistsInitiative (#Biyologlarİnisiyatifi)

Beraberce Association (Beraberce Derneği) wants to share its experiences on online learning infrastructure and expertise with civil society.

Solidarity Examples For Disadvantageous Groups

There are NGOs that draw attention to the vital risks of employees, health workers, women, elderly people and refugees who have to work without their life safety ensured during the corona days and that conduct campaigns with various demands.

Trade unions such as Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK) and KESK (Confederation of Public Employees Trade Union) demand the stopping of non-compulsory enterprises and  #PaidLeaves (#Ücretliİzin) as well as free and #WiderTests (#YayginTest) with the slogans: “Workers’ Life Cannot Be Abandoned to the Sake of Bosses!”, #EmployeesUnderRisk (#EmekcilerRiskAltında) and  #PrivateSectorWorkersAreHumanToo.

In addition, DİSK, KESK, Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) ve Turkish Medical Association (TTB) made a press statement entitled “Respond To The Public Needs And Meet People’s Demands!” (“Halkın Sesine Kulak Verin, Yaşamsal Talepleri Karşılayın!”) in their joint statement and relayed their demands.

Turkish Medical Association (Türk Tabipler Birliği) who draws attention to the fact that there not being enough protective equipment for health workers, is running a #ProtectiveEquipmentForHealthCareWorkers campaign (#SağlıkçıyaKoruyucuMalzeme). In addition, various NGOs such as the Support to Life Association demand support for providing healthcare workers with the equipment they need to take care of both themselves and us with the cooperation of the Orthopedics and Traumatology Aid Association, Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty Foundation, Istanbul Medical Faculty Foundation via İş Bank.

News around different countries regarding increased violence against women in corona days remark that women’s organizations in Italy are working 24 hours a day to combat violence, that despite the specific legal preparations in Austria, there hasn’t been any urgent action plans in Turkey and that 10 women being killed since the virus entered Turkey’s agenda in March. “We Will Stop Women Murders” formation which lists the #ThingsToBeDoneForWomenInCoronaDays (#KoronaGünlerindeKadınlarİçin) considering the reality of gender inequality has prepared  a list of solution offers (çözüm önerileri).

Young Humanitarian Relief Foundation (Genç İHH) supports the works in all its organizations throughout Turkey by acting in coordination with the “Vefa Social Support Group” created by the directive of Ministry of the Internal Affairs for people over the age of 65 and with chronic illnesses.

Yeryüzü Cooperative (Yeryüzü Kooperatifi) brings the grocery orders of people over 65 across the Anatolian side of Istanbul.

Tarlabaşı Solidarity (Tarlabaşı  Dayanışma) calls for urgent assistance for all immigrants and homeless citizens in and out of Edirne who we encounter, contact and have no roof over their heads.

The Deep Poverty Network (Derin Yoksulluk Ağı,) finds supporters for families who are unemployed, insecure, and can no longer work on the streets in Istanbul. With the call #ChangefromHome, every supporter shops online for one family.

Innovative and Scientific Solutions on Combat With Corona Virus

The Coranathon Initiative Turkey (Coranathon Türkiye İnisiyatifi), a new initiative which includes Habitat Association (Habitat Derneği), held an online hackathon with its stakeholders and supported ideas and teams by online mentoring over 100 entrepreneurs. Many universities and initiatives such as Turkey’s Ministry of Industry and Technology, Turkish Informatics Foundation, Facebook, Technology Development Foundation of Turkey, Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), UNDP, Boğaziçi, METU and ITU are within the stakeholders of Coronathon Initiative Turkey.

The Open Innovation Association (Açık İnovasyon Derneği) emphasized the importance of science and cooperation in the fight against corona, and called on everyone who wants to join the COVID-19 Collaboration and Solidarity Network (COVID-19 İşbirliği ve Dayanışma Ağı).

The 3DSupport (3BoyutluDestek) formation, which recently opened its social media account and which defines itself as a “collective production movement” manufactures medical tools and equipment with the 3D printer network in Turkey.

Founded by volunteers who offer 3D support to the need for medical parts in the fight against COVID-19, 3D Support aims to provide production with 3D printers in case of need for medical devices and materials. Turkey 3D Printer Network, established by 3D Support aims to ensure that the products produced by the 3D printers in 3D production laboratories across Turkey are delivered to hospitals, healthcare institutions or individuals in need. 

Again, Tridi Workshop (Tridi Atölye) which provides product design and prototyping support to the firms that produce products related to Covid-19 as well as technical support for mass production.

In order to support healthcare workers, Hazar Association (Hazar Derneği) produces protective visors, which are produced quickly and practically with easy-to-find materials and volunteers, and delivers them free of charge to healthcare providers and employees.

TikTok and Facebook cooperated with health institutions against the corona epidemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) also cooperated with TikTok in order to spread the correct information and launched a “#washyourhands” campaign (başlattı). The Ministry of Health, in cooperation with Facebook, directs users to the website of the Ministry of Health and encourages the spreading of correct information via Facebook.

Emphasizing the importance of technology in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak which affects the whole world and asking “What kind of a role can Blockhain have in this fight?” (“Blokzinciri bu savaşta nasıl bir rol üstlenebilir?”), Blockchain Turkey encourages the transition to cashless life and says that COVID-19 which can survive up to three days on banknotes also requires reducing cash use. It also states that this would only be possible by completely digitalizing the money and switching to a cashless economy.

Project Supports On Fighting Against Corona 

New calls (çağrılar) were opened by the European Union Presidency under the Horizon2020 Program to support COVID-19 virus researches.

Drawing attention to the importance of leadership and solidarity in dealing with the epidemic, UNDP (UNDP, ) will support the corona-affected countries in various ways within the framework of their experience in epidemics including Ebola and Zika, HIV, TB and malaria.

Solidarity In The Days Of Corona Keeps Alive

These days when we begin to experience the transformation of the world and its effects in political, social, economic and many other fields, we witness beautiful examples of solidarity and new voluntary formations. As if the saying “Solidarity keeps alive” in the days of the corona has turned into a reality… Although we all seem to be imprisoned in our homes, with the opportunities provided by technology Corona days show us that we can both work and contribute to combating the epidemic in many ways. Corona days show how much progress can be achieved with civil initiatives, social innovations, cooperation of private sector, public and all other sectors as well as with solidarity.