We Totally Collapsed in the Earthquake!

by Cem Kapukaya

Hello to everyone,

Another disaster has befallen our country. We have lived through, and will continue to live through, the indescribable earthquake disaster in which thousands of our citizens died, tens of thousands were injured and hundreds of thousands were left homeless. We pray for Allah’s mercy for those who have passed away, for a speedy recovery for those who have been injured, for our homeless people to find a warm home and that we do our best to help them.

The postponement of the fair, which was on the agenda at the time of these events, started to be discussed on a common platform (as a WhatsApp group). There were approximately 178 participants from across Turkey in the group. Ninety-five percent of these people were company owners, and 70% of them were company owners who had a booth at the Istanbul Elevator Fair. 

The consensus was that it was not morally appropriate to hold a fair in this environment. Petitions were submitted to the fair organization to postpone the event. In fact, there were so many clear opinions about the postponement that a spokesperson was even appointed to ensure that no different voices were raised. 

There were two results that I observed in this group: first, there were some company owners who were very successful in supporting each other, and second, there were some people who were in the group but did not speak out. They just listened to the events and did not make any comments but read what was written very well.

Isn’t that always the case? Some people always remain on the sidelines. They may have ideas, but they don’t express them. Because the postponement of the fair disturbs some people. Indeed, they already know that it will not be postponed, so they keep quiet. That is what hurts the sector the most, those who know what is happening but do not share their ideas and knowledge.

Again, as usual, a flash in the pan of solidarity and then frustration. In order to prevent these divisions, there is a truth that I always emphasize: to stick together as much as possible without being separated. In order to achieve this, everyone needs to take a hand in the matter. I hope that the group that made efforts to postpone this last fair would have been given a clear explanation from the beginning, or that they would not have been considered as a separate group, and that the people whose phone numbers were registered but remained silent would have expressed their opinions. In short, I hope that we could have become a sector that can argue but eventually agree.

The fair is a very important event for our sector. The fact that this fair has grown into what it is, that it has become an international platform and that its future will be even brighter is in all of our interests. This fair, a nearly 35-year-long endeavor, is very important. Therefore, this fair is not just an event managed by an association in Istanbul. 

Let’s take care of our Elevator Fair together. Even though we are heartbroken, I wish everyone a successful fair at the fair we will organize. We have done a lot of work …