Ever since ‘the clouds of Chernobyl’ passed above us in 1986, political leaders have tried to deceive the public on the risks of radiation by proclaiming that radiation did not have any negative health effects. The amalgamation of the ‘alla turca-ness’ and the absurdity of their statements–such as ‘a little bit of radiation is good for you’, ‘radioactive tea tastes better’, ‘radiation is good for the bones’, ‘the household propane tank in your kitchen is as risky as nuclear,’—along with stories about the nuclear history of Turkey since the 1930s, have given birth to this tragicomical documentary. In Nuclear alla Turca, we will hear these little-known stories from those who have had first-hand experiences, and as well as witnesses, experts, activists, and politicians among others.

Together with  archival materials, animations by Cem Dinlenmiş and Mozart’s ‘Rondo alla Turca’ (a.k.a. ‘Turkish March’),  reportedly inspired by the Janissary marching band, we are envisioning Nuclear alla Turca as a feature-length documentary that will make viewers sometimes think and sometimes laugh, but will finally leave them amazed and horrorified.

Turkey today stands at a critical crossroads for the first time in its nuclear history: It will either become a country that generates nuclear energy, or it will abandon its nuclear aspirations as many countries have.

Turkey has signed an agreement with Russia (see Chernobyl) to build its first nuclear plant at Mersin-Akkuyu and another with Japan (see Fukushima) to build its second at Sinop-Inceburun. Nevertheless, not only ecologists but even the International Atomic Energy Agency, whose goal has been spreading nuclear energy, has warned of Turkey’s inadequate nuclear infrastructure. According to polls conducted after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, at least 65% of people in Turkey are against constructing nuclear power plants.

We, standing at this nuclear crossroads, in a period in which ‘Akkuyu Nuclear’ ads are disturbingly flashed around and the company responsible for it conducts propaganda even at schools, embarked upon making this film for several reasons: to ask the question, ‘How did we get to today?’; to bring nuclear energy into question; and to tell the sometimes unsettling, sometimes tragicomical, and most of the time absurd nuclear stories of Turkey, all in the name of having a say in decisions being made for our future. Our aim is to bring this discussion forward into the public sphere, telling the untold and veiled nuclear history of Turkey, and amplifying efforts to raise more awareness.

While we are confronted with a nuclear lobby that thunders with its multi-million dollar propaganda budget, voicing our concerns and raising awareness are only possible with your support. Come and let’s make this documentary together!