RESISTANCE AGAINST MINING PROJECT IN ARTVIN AS A COLLECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT

This research aims to analyse the environmental movement raised against the planned mining project just above artvin city. in last 15 years, development projects like energy, mining, highway in rural areas ignited grassroots movements in turkey. there seems a different kind of environmentalism defending their livelihood instead of urban, middle class based concerning natural values. beside that tens of hydroelectric power plants affects rural areas of artvin, now a mining project threats small city centre and citizens. 14 semi-structured interviews were realized with citizens supporting or joining movement as well as media monitoring of protests. the research shows that mining project yields an urban collective movement beyond classical environmentalism. citizens from different classes and groups act together to defend their livelihood. mostly, people are not against mining activities but ask for public interest, development of technology and full implementation of regulations.