COMMUNITY COMMEMORATIONS OF THE CHORNOBYL ANNIVERSARY (05/12/96)

COMMUNITY COMMEMORATIONS OF THE CHORNOBYL ANNIVERSARY

New Jersey

by Walter Bodnar

NEWARK, N.J. - New Jersey State Sens. Ronald L. Rice, Raymond J. Lesniak and James E. McGreevey, Democrats representing state and local governments, remembered the 10th anniversary of the worst nuclear accident in the history of mankind at Chornobyl and admonished their local communities as well as the world community to be wary of the "peaceful atom" going awry.

The Newark City Council on April 17 issued a resolution commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster. The main sponsor and promoter of this resolution was Mr. Rice, also a Newark councilman. Witnessing the ceremony were several community members, including Bozhena Olshaniwsky, president of Americans for Human Rights in Ukraine (AHRU), who accepted a framed resolution on behalf of the Ukrainian community. She reminded the audience in attendance of the importance for each citizen to be aware of Ukraine's 10-year-long ordeal due to Chornobyls aftereffects.

The resolution from the City of Newark, N.J. stated: "The Newark Municipal Council hereby issues this resolution commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster... and duly recommends the closing of the Chornobyl nuclear power station in the [sic] Ukraine due to its continued endangerment to the health and life of people of the Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, and its destruction of the natural resources of the lands through radioactive poisoning."

Another Chornobyl commemoration was held during a busy legislative session in the New Jersey State Senate in Trenton on March 21 at 3 p.m. The sponsor of this commemorative resolution also was Mr. Rice, a state senator from the 28th District of New Jersey, which has the largest Ukrainian American constituency in the state.

The New Jersey Senate Resolution stated, among other things, that "the people of Chornobyl, still heavily burdened with the aftereffects of the nuclear explosion, continue to...suffer from diseases and maladies caused by radiation" and noted that the Senate of the State of New Jersey "joins the citizenry of New Jersey in observing the 10th anniversary of the tragedy at Chornobyl on April 26, 1996."

Prior to the official presentation, the text of the resolution was read by the Senate clerk. Mr. Rice then gave a speech on the floor extolling the qualities of non-governmental organizations such as Americans for Human Rights in Ukraine, who work for the betterment of the community and make up the civil society of our country. He also cited Zelenyi Svit (Green World) and the Greenpeace organization in Ukraine for their efforts to bring to the attention of the world community the dangers of radiation poisoning.

He was followed by his colleague, State Sen. Lesniak (D-20th District, Elizabeth, N.J.), former majority leader of the State Senate, who stated that Ukraine had suffered for many years under Soviet domination and, even after attaining her independence, continues to suffer from the consequences of the Soviet disregard for humanity as epitomized by Chornobyl.

In addition, State Sen. McGreevey (D-19th District, Woodbridge, N.J.) greeted the attending Ukrainians and thanked the delegation for their concerns to make the world a better place to live in. He invited them to attend a commemorative Chornobyl ceremony on April 26 in the town of Woodbridge, where he also serves as mayor.

Boston

by Andrea Kulish

BOSTON - "I have been in Boston for five days now, and my readings indicate that the radiation levels are the same in Boston as they are in Kyiv."

This statement by Ukrainian independent filmmaker Volodymyr Kuznetsov initially shocked some of the attendees of the Harvard University symposium "Chornobyl: Ten Years Later."

Fears were soon dispelled, however, with the explanation that these levels, although twice what they were before the accident, are very small, and nothing to worry about.

The Harvard symposium was one event of the Boston commemoration of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster's 10 year anniversary. The events spanned academic, religious and fund-raising pursuits.

The symposium began on April 24 with personal recollections of the Chornobyl catastrophe by Lt. Gen. Volodymyr Korniichuk of the Ukrainian Militia, who was in charge of internal affairs of the Kyiv Oblast at the time of the accident.

Mr. Korniichuk stressed the confusion and lack of communication, which added to the problems after the explosion at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. For example, he mentioned that because of red tape it took 24 hours for the news of the accident just to get to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Another eyewitness account was given that evening by Mr. Kuznetsov, who has won 10 international awards for his films. "While We Still Live," which won the Europe prize for European Community Documentation, was shown, as was "The Chornobyl Accident: A Chronicle of the Sarcophagus Construction." These very sobering films included rare and previously classified footage.

The next day of the symposium featured a wide range of expertise from various fields.

John Dillon, a member of the Ukrainian Environmental Journalism Association, spoke about the environmental problems of Chornobyl. He stated, "Truth was the first casualty of Chornobyl."

Sergei Skokov followed with a talk about nuclear power and energy problems. Mr. Skokov is managing director of "Logos 92 Ltd.," a Ukrainian company that focuses on environmental conservation. He reminded his audience that there still is no international agency with appropriate responsibilities for nuclear safety.

Jane Dawson, assistant professor of political science at Wellesley College, reported what she learned during her extensive research in Eastern Europe, during which she interviewed hundreds of anti-nuclear and nationalist activists.

She explained the evolution of popular attitudes in regard to the Chornobyl crisis, and their complete turnaround from anti-nuclear movements until 1991, to nuclear power's emergence as a symbol of the new nations' autonomy after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Ms. Dawson concluded that foreign aid is now the key to the anti-nuclear movement, with money coming predominantly from groups such as the foreign-funded Greenpeace International branch located in Ukraine.

The economic consequences of Chornobyl were described by Anna Klimina, research associate at the Institute of Economics at the Academy of Sciences in Ukraine. Ms. Klimina underscored the complex dilemma of whether or not to shut down Chornobyl, the pros and cons of each decision, and the dire need for foreign aid to Ukraine.

Natalia Lakiza-Sachuk, project director at the Department of Economic Strategy at the National Security Council in Ukraine, outlined the socio-demographic results of Chornobyl.

Ms. Lakiza-Sachuk focused on the changes in Ukraine's population over the past 10 years, including the current negative population growth rate, fertility problems in half of a men age 13-29 and in one of every five to six women, increases of thyroid tumors, especially in children, greater incidences of leukemia, augmented mortality of young children. All of the foregoing has resulted in making physical health take procedence over the previous priority of intellectualism.

Later that evening, at the symposium's third session, Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics at Harvard University Richard Wilson gave information about his studies at Chornobyl shortly after the accident.

On Friday, April 26, a candlelight vigil was held on the Boston Common near the Chornobyl commemoration tree. A welcome was given by Alexander Paduchak, chairman of the commemoration committee, followed with prayer offered by the Rt. Rev. Andrij Partykevich of St. Andrew's Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Boston. An address was then given by Andrew Sorokowski, associate of the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute. Orest Szczudluk read proclamations of Chornobyl remembrance days by Massachusetts Gov. William Weld and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.

As candles were lit despite the somewhat harsh winds that evening, a moment of silence was observed. Poignant poems were read in Ukrainian and English, and a closing prayer was given by the Rev. Yaroslav Nalysnyk of Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church of Boston.

The final event of the week's remembrances was a joint moleben of Boston's Ukrainian Orthodox and Catholic parishes. St. Andrew's Ukrainian Orthodox Church was packed to capacity with approximately 400 people praying together for all who have suffered as a result of the Chornobyl disaster. The service was followed by a traditional "spilne sviachene," the sharing of a blessed meal, with proceeds benefiting the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund.

Mr. Sorokowski said in his remarks at the vigil, "the poems we will hear express the anxiety and desolation experienced by the people of Ukraine. ... The commemorative tree we see before us reminds us to tend nature, not exploit it. The candles we will light commemorate the victims of Chornobyl; they also symbolize hope, and the sanctity of life - spiritual as well as biological. And the children we see among us represent the future generations, to whom we owe a new way of life."

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