Apr 25, 2006- 20th Anniversary of Chernobyl Disaster
HON. MARCY KAPTUR
OF OHIO
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2006
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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, April 26, the worldwill commemorate the 20th anniversary of the world's worst nuclear disaster atthe Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine when itwas under Soviet control.
The explosion released into the air radiation equivalentto 90 Hiroshima-size bombs in the heavily populated areas of northern Ukraine, southern Belarusand southwestern Russia.
Millions of people throughout the world wereaffected by this disaster, and millions more continue to live with itsconsequences on a daily basis. Some have written about the North Europeancountries being affected by what has been termed ``white winds,'' the whitewinds that came from Chernobyl.Radioactive contamination continues to harm the health of men, women andchildren throughout our world. It is critical that we do not allow ourselves toforget the looming consequences of Chernobyl,which are with us still today, lest the tragedy repeat itself. We must remindour fellow Americans and the world that those problems continue to exist, andthe countries that were affected by Chernobylrequire assistance in resolving them. In order to achieve this goal, theCongressional Ukrainian Caucus, in cooperation with the Chernobyl Challenge `06Coalition, is organizing a series of events at the end of this month tocommemorate this solemn anniversary. I am very pleased to cooperate with ourco-chairs of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania, Congressman Sander Levin of Michigan, Congressman Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland, along withmyself. Tomorrow, April 26, at 10 a.m. here in the RayburnHouse OfficeBuilding foyer will be a 1-day photoexhibit entitled ``Chernobyl20.'' The exhibit will include photographs by some prominent artistsilluminating the human stories behind the Chernobylcatastrophe and highlighting the dignity and hope of its survivors. We welcomethe public to come tomorrow and view this photo exhibit in the Rayburn House OfficeBuilding foyer. It beginsat 10 a.m. and will remain there the entire day.
On April 27, the following day, Thursday, from 2 in theafternoon until 6, in HC-6 here in the Capitol, a congressional briefing willfeature expert testimony on Chernobyl issuesincluding radiation and health, agriculture and food, environment, economicsand U.S.assistance and the containment of the fourth unit reactor. The ambassadors of Ukraine, Belarus,and Russia will providebrief remarks to inform about the current situation with respect to Chernobyl and theircountries. If citizens are interested, they can contact our office at our Website, rep.kaptur@mail.house.gov for information.
On Thursday, April 27 as well, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. inthe evening, in B369 Rayburn House Office Building, the Chernobyl Challenge `06Coalition, in cooperation with our Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, will hold acongressional reception and Members of Congress will have an opportunity tospeak. Again, if citizens are interested they can contact our Web site atrep.kaptur@ mail.house.gov.
The Congressional Ukrainian Caucus is very grateful thatfor the briefing that will be held on Thursday, from 2 to 6 in Room HC-6, the CapitolBuilding, that some of the following speakers will appear, from the ChernobylChildren's Project International and the Children of Chernobyl Relief andDevelopment Fund, their executive directors, several pre-eminent scientistsfrom major organizations, public and private sector universities, talking aboutthe illnesses that plague people today as a result of this huge catastrophe.And then, finally, those who have served as ambassadors to our country andambassadors from the affected nations will address what we can do in the way ofadditional international response to meet today's challenges still arising fromthe Chernobylcatastrophe.
I have never seen birth defects as I have witnessed among thechildren affected by this continuing tragedy in Chernobyl. The thyroid cancers, theconditions to the heart, the distortions of the human form related to radiationresulting from Chernobylare horrendous.
The southern part of Belarusis largely depopulated, though some people who are refugees from Afghanistan aremoving into the area, incredibly, and eating and planting seeds in the groundand eating contaminated food and infecting themselves even until this day.There is so much for the American people to understand. Though it was 20 yearsago, Chernobyllives as it will for thousands of years to come.