Difference between revisions of "PR:28 years after Chernobyl: Number of victims continues to grow"

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'''''28 years after Chernobyl: Number of victims continues to grow'''''
 
'''''28 years after Chernobyl: Number of victims continues to grow'''''
 
== <big><big>Nuclear accidents have long term consequences and come at a high cost</big></big> ==
 
== <big><big>Nuclear accidents have long term consequences and come at a high cost</big></big> ==
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'''UKRAINE/EUROPE/BALTIC SEA''' -  
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'''UKRAINE/EUROPE/BALTIC SEA''' - This Saturday, April 26th, remembrance events and protests against nuclear power took place in various European countries on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl [[International Nuclear Event Scale#Examples of INES accidents|nuclear disaster]]. Though it has been nearly three decades since Chernobyl reactor no. 4 exploded and irrevocably changed lives of thousands of people, the number of victims continues to grow. According to information from the intergovernmental [http://www.helcom.fi Helsinki Commission (HELCOM)], the impacts of the Chernobyl disaster are one of the main sources the Baltic Sea is the most radioactive water body in the world.
  
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A network of concerned organizations also called out for the [http://www.ibb-d.de/aktionswochen_2014.html Third European Action weeks "For A Future After Chernobyl And Fukushima"], while rallies and actions took place in several capitals and many towns and villages. Witness talks with victims of the Chernobyl accident took place for instance in Austria, Belarus, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine. An overview of Chernobyl remembrance related events has been compiled on the Nuclear Heritage Network website: http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Chernobyl_Disaster_Remembrance_2014
  
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As a result of the explosion at unit 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine radiation was spread first by the radioactive cloud. Contamination was detected not only in Northern and Southern Europe, but also in Canada, Japan and the United States. Secondly, the radiation was also spread by animals that escaped the contaminated area. Eventually goods taken from the contaminated zones distributed radioactive materials across Europe. Even children born these days growing up in affected areas are experiencing serious diseases due to the polluted food they take.
  
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The third anniversary of the [[Nuclear Disaster in Japan|Fukushima disaster]], which started on March 11 2011, is a reminder of the [[Nuclear Threats|threats]] nuclear power poses to people and the environment in the [[Preliminary Nuclear Baltic Map|Baltic Sea region]]. A similar accident in one of the six operating nuclear power plants (five more are proposed) would cause radioactive pollution of the whole area around the Baltic Sea. The 3/11 catastrophe in Fukushima illustrated the omnipresent risk of an atomic facility, even in a high-technology western country. The Baltic Sea as a connecting water body would distribute the radiation to all nine direct neighbour countries, accumulating the radiation in this area. Simulations of possible catastrophes in one of the existing reactors stress the high probability that the radioactive plume would pollute all countries in the wider Baltic Sea region.
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The independent associations of concerned doctors, [http://www.ippnw.de International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW)], calculates that many millions have been exposed to radiation from the Chernobyl disaster: 830,000 liquidators; about 350,000 evacuees; 8.3 million inhabitants of the most affected areas in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus; as well as 600 million citizens living in less contaminated regions of Europe.
  
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"A serious accident can occure in any nuclear reactor - that was what the Fukushima disaster taught. Even if the emergency systems operate as predicted, as was the case in Fukushima in the beginning of the catastrophe, circumstances can lead to a meltdown or other scenarios with the release of deadly radioactive plumes," says German activist Hanna Poddig. "Should it happen in the Baltic Sea area, water contamination would be higher than in Japan due to the minimal exchange with the Atlantic Ocean. Radiation would be concentrated in the Baltic Sea. Instead of promoting new reactors and lifetime extensions, the ones in operation have to be closed immediately!"
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Proving the health impacts of the disaster is complicated by a range of factors such as the high incidence and multi-causality of many cancers, and the long latency period (sometimes stretching to decades) of some cancers. Nevertheless, examples of statistically-significantly increases in disease incidence and mortality include leukemia, thyroid cancer, breast cancer and several other types of cancer, brain tumors, genetic deformities, still-births, brain dysfunctions, increased ageing, and mental disorders. It has to be noted that due to the latency of 25-30 years of several types of cancer a peak in detected sicknesses must be expected.<ref>http://www.ippnw.de/commonFiles/pdfs/Tschernobyl_Studie_2011_web.pdf as of April 20, 2014</ref>
  
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In Fukushima a series of explosions lead to the meltdown of three reactor cores and high radiation releases to air, groundwater and Pacific Ocean forming a major atomic disaster in a nuclear power plant ever. On March 11 2.47 PM local Japanese time with the "Great East Japan Earthquake" the so far biggest atomic catastrophe in history started. All reactors of the Fukushima Daiichi NPP had been turned off in reaction to the natural disaster. A few hours later, when high tsunami waves hit and flashed over the protection walls of the NPP damaging a part of the emergency systems, the reactors had been offline already. Although up to this point the safety systems had worked almost correctly, during the next days a dramatic series of explosions took place. Enormous amounts of radioactivity had been released, almost all radiation measuring stations in the northern hemisphere raised alarm during the following weeks. Up to now neither authorities nor operator have concrete knowledge of all details of the circumstances of the accident. Also the whereabouts of the melted reactor cores remain open.
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"Chernobyl taught us that even decades after a [[Nuclear Threats|nuclear catastrophe]], new cases of illness continue to appear and large areas remain too contaminated for living," says German anti-nuclear organizer Hanna Poddig. "Millions of people are affected by the nuclear accident, hundreds of thousands have experienced serious diseases. The Baltic Sea - just one specific region impacted by the Chernobyl radiation - is more radioactive than all other water bodies in the world, as HELCOM scientists found. We cannot wait for the next nuclear disaster to happen - all atomic installations have to be shut down immediately, worldwide!"
  
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The Austrian "FlexRisk" tool for estimation of the impact of serious accidents in European atomic reactors demonstrates the threats posed by reactors in Finland, Sweden and Russia to all neighbouring countries of the Baltic Sea. It simulates a large number of different weather conditions and several scenarios of radioactive isotope releases after a major accident. FlexRisk maps illustrate radiation doses and risks imposed on European countries after a catastrophe in one of the reactors. A simple webform allows different simulations: http://flexrisk.boku.ac.at/en/evaluation.phtml#form
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The Chernobyl disaster is also one of the major reasons for the Baltic Sea to be the most radioactive water body in the world. The radioactive cloud from the Chernobyl accident in 1986 travelled along airstreams straight towards the Baltic Sea, depositing fallout unevenly in the drainage area of the Baltic Sea. More fallout was deposited in the Baltic Sea than in other sea areas such as the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea, or the North-East Atlantic Ocean.<ref>http://www.stuk.fi/sateily-ymparistossa/itameri/en_GB/itameri/ as of April 20, 2014</ref>
  
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An additional threat is caused by the ageing of the reactors in operation. A report published by Greenpeace last week, "Lifetime extension of ageing nuclear power plants: Entering a new era of risk", shows how the ageing of nuclear power plants leads to a growing risk of failures and accidents. Three reactors in the Baltic Sea watershed had exceeded their original technical design life-time. Two more reactors were less than three years from their original technical design life-time. One Baltic Sea reactor (Oskarshamn 1) is older than 40 years, five others are in the age between 35 and 40 years. Several reactors around the Baltic Sea have been granted a licence extension of 50 or 60 years of operation while an aggressive uprating of capacity (e.g. Olkiluoto by 33%) also increases the risk of accidents. More details are reported in the Greenpeace study: http://out-of-age.eu
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The anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster is also cause for anti-nuclear organizers from the [[Preliminary Nuclear Baltic Map|Baltic Sea region]] and other regions to gather. Tomorrow the [[European Anti Nuclear Forum 2014|2014 European Anti-nuclear Forum]] with the title "Economic Limits of the Nuclear Power Industry" will take place in Prague, Czech Republic. International experts will discuss such topics as energy industry in 2030, Quo vadis nuclear power?, Risk comparison of investment in coal, nuclear and gas power plants and economic risks of construction of nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic. More detailed information on the conference is posted at: http://www.nec2014.eu
  
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"An [[International Nuclear Event Scale#Examples of INES accidents|accident in an atomic facility]] can happen at any time. The nuclear technology is not safe as indicated by hundreds of incidents and accidents reported by the operators every year. In spite of special trainings the personnel of these dangerous plants is nevertheless making mistakes that sometimes lead to serious situations. Besides the highly hazardous technology and the menace posed by malpractice of nuclear employers, unforeseeable situations happen as shown in the Fukushima catastrophe. The reactors in the Baltic Sea region are based on outdated designs from decades ago, the ageing poses additional threats to people and environment."
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From May 5th-11th, the fourth [[Atomic Threats In The Baltic Sea Region/Working meetings|working meeting]] of the project "[[Atomic Threats In The Baltic Sea Region|Atomic Threats In The Baltic Sea Region]]" will take place in Döbeln, Germany. It will be an opportunity to get involved to the network/project, to continue [[Atomic Threats In The Baltic Sea Region/Activities#Projects|project activities]], to volunteer for tasks and also to network with other activists. More information on the project is posted at: http://atomicbaltic.nuclear-heritage.net
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"[[Atomic Threats In The Baltic Sea Region|ATOMIC BALTIC]]" is a network/project of anti-nuclear groups and activists in the Baltic Sea watershed, also including networks from Austria and the Netherlands. Its main goal is to strengthen local [[:Category:Anti-Nuclear Movement|anti-nuclear struggles]] around the Baltic Sea by connecting activists, starting up new [[Atomic Threats In The Baltic Sea Region/Activities#Projects|initiatives]] and supporting [[Atomic Threats In The Baltic Sea Region/Activities#Campaigns|campaigns against the nuclear business]]. The ATOMIC BALTIC network/project provides a platform for exchange including internet tools, [[Atomic Threats In The Baltic Sea Region/VOIP meetings|continuous Skype conferences]] and [[Atomic Threats In The Baltic Sea Region/Working meetings|bimonthly working meetings]]. Information on ATOMIC BALTIC as well as updates are available online: http://AtomicBaltic.nuclear-heritage.net
 
  
  
 
Notes to Journalists and Editors:<br/>
 
Notes to Journalists and Editors:<br/>
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For interviews, background information and to request photo material on anti-nuclear actions in the Baltic Sea region, phone +49 3431 5894177 or e-mail [mailto:mediaATnuclear-heritageDOTnet media AT nuclear-heritage DOT net]{{Nospam}}.<br/>
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You are welcome to contact us, if you have questions, for interviews, background information and to request photo material on anti-nuclear actions in the Baltic Sea region via landline phone +49 3431 5894177 or e-mail to [mailto:mediaATnuclear-heritageDOTnet media AT nuclear-heritage DOT net]{{Nospam}}.
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Web: http://atomicbaltic.nuclear-heritage.net
 
  
 
Media contacts:
 
Media contacts:
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<small><small>{{Footnotes}}</small></small>
 
<small><small>{{Footnotes}}</small></small>
  
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[[Category: Atomic Threats In The Baltic Sea Region]]
 
[[Category: Atomic Threats In The Baltic Sea Region]]
 
[[Category: Press Releases]]
 
[[Category: Press Releases]]
 
[[Category: Baltic Sea]]
 
[[Category: Baltic Sea]]
 
[[Category: Accidents]]
 
[[Category: Accidents]]
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[[Category: English]]
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</noinclude>

Latest revision as of 08:40, 12 January 2016


Media Release
Monday, April 28, 2014
For immediate release


28 years after Chernobyl: Number of victims continues to grow

Nuclear accidents have long term consequences and come at a high cost

UKRAINE/EUROPE/BALTIC SEA - This Saturday, April 26th, remembrance events and protests against nuclear power took place in various European countries on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Though it has been nearly three decades since Chernobyl reactor no. 4 exploded and irrevocably changed lives of thousands of people, the number of victims continues to grow. According to information from the intergovernmental Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), the impacts of the Chernobyl disaster are one of the main sources the Baltic Sea is the most radioactive water body in the world.

A network of concerned organizations also called out for the Third European Action weeks "For A Future After Chernobyl And Fukushima", while rallies and actions took place in several capitals and many towns and villages. Witness talks with victims of the Chernobyl accident took place for instance in Austria, Belarus, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine. An overview of Chernobyl remembrance related events has been compiled on the Nuclear Heritage Network website: http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Chernobyl_Disaster_Remembrance_2014

As a result of the explosion at unit 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine radiation was spread first by the radioactive cloud. Contamination was detected not only in Northern and Southern Europe, but also in Canada, Japan and the United States. Secondly, the radiation was also spread by animals that escaped the contaminated area. Eventually goods taken from the contaminated zones distributed radioactive materials across Europe. Even children born these days growing up in affected areas are experiencing serious diseases due to the polluted food they take.

The independent associations of concerned doctors, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), calculates that many millions have been exposed to radiation from the Chernobyl disaster: 830,000 liquidators; about 350,000 evacuees; 8.3 million inhabitants of the most affected areas in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus; as well as 600 million citizens living in less contaminated regions of Europe.

Proving the health impacts of the disaster is complicated by a range of factors such as the high incidence and multi-causality of many cancers, and the long latency period (sometimes stretching to decades) of some cancers. Nevertheless, examples of statistically-significantly increases in disease incidence and mortality include leukemia, thyroid cancer, breast cancer and several other types of cancer, brain tumors, genetic deformities, still-births, brain dysfunctions, increased ageing, and mental disorders. It has to be noted that due to the latency of 25-30 years of several types of cancer a peak in detected sicknesses must be expected.[1]

"Chernobyl taught us that even decades after a nuclear catastrophe, new cases of illness continue to appear and large areas remain too contaminated for living," says German anti-nuclear organizer Hanna Poddig. "Millions of people are affected by the nuclear accident, hundreds of thousands have experienced serious diseases. The Baltic Sea - just one specific region impacted by the Chernobyl radiation - is more radioactive than all other water bodies in the world, as HELCOM scientists found. We cannot wait for the next nuclear disaster to happen - all atomic installations have to be shut down immediately, worldwide!"

The Chernobyl disaster is also one of the major reasons for the Baltic Sea to be the most radioactive water body in the world. The radioactive cloud from the Chernobyl accident in 1986 travelled along airstreams straight towards the Baltic Sea, depositing fallout unevenly in the drainage area of the Baltic Sea. More fallout was deposited in the Baltic Sea than in other sea areas such as the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea, or the North-East Atlantic Ocean.[2]

The anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster is also cause for anti-nuclear organizers from the Baltic Sea region and other regions to gather. Tomorrow the 2014 European Anti-nuclear Forum with the title "Economic Limits of the Nuclear Power Industry" will take place in Prague, Czech Republic. International experts will discuss such topics as energy industry in 2030, Quo vadis nuclear power?, Risk comparison of investment in coal, nuclear and gas power plants and economic risks of construction of nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic. More detailed information on the conference is posted at: http://www.nec2014.eu

From May 5th-11th, the fourth working meeting of the project "Atomic Threats In The Baltic Sea Region" will take place in Döbeln, Germany. It will be an opportunity to get involved to the network/project, to continue project activities, to volunteer for tasks and also to network with other activists. More information on the project is posted at: http://atomicbaltic.nuclear-heritage.net


Notes to Journalists and Editors:
You are welcome to contact us, if you have questions, for interviews, background information and to request photo material on anti-nuclear actions in the Baltic Sea region via landline phone +49 3431 5894177 or e-mail to media AT nuclear-heritage DOT net[3].

Media contacts:


--

Nuclear Heritage Network
Am Bärental 6
D-04720 Döbeln
GERMANY

website: http://nuclear-heritage.net
email: contact AT nuclear-heritage DOT net[3]

phone: +49 3431 5894177

Skype: projekthaus.mannsdorf
(available only during office hours)

Jabber/XMPP: network.office - domain: jabber.ccc.de
(available only during office hours)

opening hours: Wednesdays at 2-4 PM CET


This media release has been provided by the "Nuclear Heritage Network". It is an international network of anti-nuclear activists. This informal alliance supports the worldwide anti-nuclear work. The Nuclear Heritage Network is no label, has no standard opinion and no representatives. All activists of the network speak for themselves or for the groups they represent.


  1. ↑ http://www.ippnw.de/commonFiles/pdfs/Tschernobyl_Studie_2011_web.pdf as of April 20, 2014
  2. ↑ http://www.stuk.fi/sateily-ymparistossa/itameri/en_GB/itameri/ as of April 20, 2014
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 For protection against automatic email address robots searching for addresses to send spam to them this email address has been made unreadable for them. To get a correct mail address you have to displace "AT" by the @-symbol and "DOT" by the dot-character (".").

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