The Voice of the Silent Majority: Turkey's Map of Change Through Change.org

The digital age has fundamentally changed the way citizens make their voices heard. Now, individuals can reach tens of thousands, even millions, of people with just a few clicks to draw attention to a social problem, stand against an injustice or demand an improvement. One of the most powerful platforms of this digital activism is undoubtedly Change.org. This platform, where people turn their complaints, suggestions and demands towards institutions and organisations into a mass signature, actually serves as an invaluable barometer for measuring a country's social pulse.

So, what do people in Turkey most want to change? Which topics move consciences, which problems are awaiting solutions? When we examine thousands of campaigns started on Change.org, we see that demands that seem individual are actually part of a much bigger and collective search. In this article, by gathering the prominent campaign titles on the platform and adding our own commentary, we aimed to draw the real map of change for Turkey. By grouping these demands under five main themes, we will try to better understand the deepest concerns and hopes of society. Here is the map shaped by the power of a signature...

1. The Right to Life and Conscience: The Struggle for Animal Rights

The most distinct, most passionate and most crowded theme on Turkey's map of change demands is undoubtedly animal rights. Across a wide spectrum extending from our friends on the streets to pets, from wildlife to shelter conditions, it is clearly seen that society is in a moral mobilisation. The demands on this matter have evolved into a fundamental "right to life" advocacy that goes far beyond simple animal love.

At the top of the campaigns is the demand that torture, abuse and rape against animals be considered not a "misdemeanour" but a "crime" with deterrent penalties. This is perhaps the most basic and most widespread demand. The inadequacy of existing laws and the perpetrators getting away with paltry fines deeply wound the social conscience. People cry out that the consequences of intentionally harming a being should be severe, and that justice must work not only for humans but for all living beings.

Another important title is stopping the sale of live animals in pet shops. This demand is based on the idea that animals are not "goods" but living beings. The tragedy of animals displayed in tiny cages, in poor conditions, often bought unconsciously and abandoned on the streets shortly after, is the biggest motivation behind these campaigns. Society wants to spread the culture of "don't buy, adopt" and to end this commercial exploitation.

The living conditions of street animals are at least as important as these. Campaigns such as "Don't Waste, Share", which ask supermarkets to share food whose expiry date is approaching with animals instead of destroying it, offer a practical and conscientious solution to both food waste and hunger on the streets. Likewise, the demands that animal shelters' conditions be improved, regularly inspected, and that these places be not "concentration camps" but real rehabilitation centres are also quite strong. More specific but vital campaigns such as the establishment of Animal Blood Banks show how much the value given to animal health has increased.

Finally, demands such as the campaigns started against the exploitation of horses in horse-drawn carriages, which succeeded with the introduction of electric carriages, and the right of pets to travel on public transport, reflect a modern and civilised understanding that animals should now be accepted not just as "souls on the streets" but as part of urban life.

2. Nature, City and Human: The Search for a Sustainable Future

The second major theme on Turkey's map of change is deep concerns about the environment and city life. Citizens defend nature, forests, water resources and liveable cities against projects that lead to irreversible destruction. These demands are not a "green" fantasy, but a reflection of the responsibility to leave a liveable world for future generations.

Campaigns opposing the opening of olive groves, forests and national parks to mining, dam or construction activities are the sharpest struggles in this area. The struggle for the protection of natural heritage in every part of the country, from the Kaz Mountains to the Northern Forests, shows that the destruction carried out under the name of "development" is being questioned. People emphasise that natural assets are not just resources but ecosystems that must be protected.

With the effects of climate change, the protection of water resources and taking permanent measures against drought is also a major source of concern. There is an expectation that basic resources such as electricity and water should not be wasted, sustainable consumption habits should be encouraged, and local governments should develop concrete projects on this matter. This is a demand for a management approach that plans the future, not one that saves the day.

In urban life, however, a longing for human-centred planning comes to the fore. Increasing pedestrian and bicycle paths, preserving existing roads and creating alternatives to motorised vehicle traffic are wanted. This is not just a transport demand, but also a desire for healthier, calmer and more environmentally friendly cities.

Agricultural sustainability also falls under this heading. The demand for seed laws to be rearranged in a way that protects local and ancestral seeds demonstrates a resistance against the uniformity imposed by industrial agriculture and the will to claim our genetic heritage.

3. Justice, Equality and Freedom: The Voice of Social Conscience

Demands related to justice, equality and basic rights and freedoms, which form the main pillars of society, constitute the most sensitive and most important campaigns on Change.org. These campaigns represent the conscience of society and reveal the will to stand by those seen as "the other".

The most burning title in this area is undoubtedly violence against women and femicides. Demands for the removal of reductions such as "good behaviour" or "unjust provocation" against these crimes, the application of the most severe sanctions against perpetrators and the effective implementation of Law No. 6284 are gathering hundreds of thousands of signatures. This is not just a demand for punishment, but also a strong call for a social change of mentality and for the state to fully fulfil its duty to protect women.

Respecting individuals' sexual orientations and identities, securing LGBTI+ rights legally and effectively combating all kinds of discrimination is also an important agenda item. These campaigns defend the idea that every individual, whoever they are, has equal rights and that the right to live with dignity cannot be obstructed.

Removing discriminatory and othering language towards disabled individuals from the public sphere and adopting universal design principles in projects is another demand for justice. Removing the physical and mental obstacles in front of the full and equal participation of disabled individuals in social life is wanted. This is seen not as a favour but as a basic human right.

4. Democracy, Transparency and Merit: Demands for Governance

Citizens demand a more transparent, fairer and more merit-based system from administrators and institutions. The campaigns in this category reflect the desire for change in a wide area, from politics to education, from the media to the bureaucracy.

The campaigns gathered under the umbrella of "Clean Politics" demand that politicians and senior public officials regularly disclose their assets and that these declarations be effectively audited. This is seen as a fundamental step in the fight against corruption and the protection of public resources.

Media and freedom of expression are also among the most discussed topics. The calls made to RTÜK for the removal of television programmes (especially women's programmes) that are contrary to social values, are of poor quality and incite violence remind us of the social responsibility of the media. On the other hand, campaigns opposing censorship and restrictions on internet access emphasise that freedom of expression and the right to free access to information are indispensable elements of democracy.

The education system is also a major focus of criticism and demand for change. Demands such as opposing the conversion of schools for ideological purposes (for example, converting long-established high schools into imam hatip high schools), Religious Culture and Moral Knowledge classes being elective, and most importantly each teacher teaching in their own field (merit) reveal a strong expectation that education should be based on scientific, secular and contemporary norms.

5. A Life Worthy of Human Beings: Work, Transport and Bureaucratic Burdens

Finally, issues that directly affect the quality of daily life also constitute an important part of demands for change. These demands include citizens expecting the state and institutions to make their lives easier.

Worker health and safety is one of the areas where sensitivity is highest, especially after major disasters such as Soma and Ermenek. The full implementation and inspection of international safety standards in mines and other dangerous lines of work is among the most basic demands. This is a reflection of the principle that "human life is more valuable than profit".

In urban life, extending public transport hours to also cover night shifts stands out as a vital need especially for students and workers living in big cities. This means accepting the reality that the city is an organism that lives 24 hours.

Finally, the lifting of unnecessary bureaucratic and financial burdens on the backs of citizens is wanted. Campaigns such as no charging for new chip ID cards or charging motorcycles at a lower class on bridges and motorways express the expectation that the state should approach its citizens not as a "customer" but as an individual it should serve.

Conclusion: Change is One Signature Away

These campaigns on Change.org take a snapshot of Turkish society. In this photo there is; a deep compassion for animals and nature, an unshakeable desire for justice and equality, a longing for more transparent governance and an expectation of a more liveable life. These demands show how society can unite around common human values even when it appears polarised. It can be thought that a single signature alone cannot change anything, but when hundreds of thousands of signatures come together, the voice of the silent majority ceases to be unheard and becomes change itself. So, what do you want to change?