Who We Are
Europe–Kurdistan Ecology Movement (TEV–EKO)
Tev-Eko
With the rise of capitalist modernity, nature and natural life are either being destroyed or severely damaged, losing their richness and diversity. In recent years, the climate system has changed to such an extent that even in Europe the crisis is now being experienced in its full depth. This situation is seriously disrupting the balance of life. In rapidly expanding and distorted urban environments, people increasingly focus on the concept of “sustainability,” yet continue to move further away from nature every day.
In Kurdistan, while both nature and communities face major losses due to the climate crisis and capitalist policies, the geography itself is being gradually destroyed through the war policies of colonial states. In Kurdistan, an ecocide is taking place.
Ecology has long been one of the fundamental principles of the Kurdish Freedom Movement. A free, functional, and effective system can only be achieved when individuals collectively organize every aspect of their lives while holding their own destiny in their hands. Only in this way can a radical, anti-capitalist, social, and self-governing structure be built.
While ecological work has continued in Kurdistan, the Europe–Kurdistan Ecology Movement (TEV–EKO) was established in 2024 through the coming together of many Kurdish ecology activists living in Europe and those working in solidarity with them.
TEV–EKO is organized on the basis of the democratic, ecological, and women’s liberation paradigm, and carries out its struggle and activities within this framework. Accordingly, it takes social ecology as a guiding principle in its work.
TEV–EKO recognizes that the exploitation and destruction of nature beyond basic needs is directly connected to the hierarchical system that began with the oppression of women. For this reason, it sees the struggle for women’s freedom as inseparable from its own struggle. Today, people face discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, belief, and other differences, while also being subjected to economic exploitation. In response, we view the goal of building a free and solidaristic society as a necessary and just approach.
Recognizing nature as a subject and as the foundation of life, and defending the rights of all living beings, is of vital importance. We approach life as a whole and see ourselves as part of nature. For us, defending nature is equivalent to defending life itself.
In light of these principles, the goal of the Kurdistan Ecology Movement is to raise ecological awareness—particularly among Kurdish communities living in Europe—ensure that this awareness shapes all fields of activity, and, as part of the broader European ecological movement, struggle wherever we are to build an ecological society against capitalist exploitation and industrial policies.
The stronger the ecological movement becomes in each country and region, the greater the possibility of achieving these goals. We invite everyone who wishes to contribute to these aims to join and support our work.