Chicago conference to commemorate 20th anniversary of Chornobyl (04/09/06)

Chicago conference to commemorate 20th anniversary of Chornobyl

by Maria Kulczycky

CHICAGO - A coalition of professional, educational and community organizations in Chicago is hosting a conference, "Chornobyl: The Next Generation," at the University of Illinois in Chicago, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the world's worst nuclear plant disaster, which occurred on April 26, 1986, in Ukraine.

Heading the distinguished panel of experts addressing the health, political, economic and social consequences is Dr. David Marples, professor of history, University of Alberta, Edmonton, and the author of "The Social Impact of the Chornobyl Disaster."

The conference was organized through the joint efforts of the Ukrainian Business and Professional Group of Chicago, the Ukrainian Medial Association of North America - Illinois Chapter, the Ukrainian Engineers' Society - Chicago Chapter and the University of Illinois at Chicago Occupational Health and Safety Center.

"Twenty years - the life span of a generation - is the right moment to review our knowledge of the serious aspects of the accident's impact, to take stock of the information accumulated, and to assess the degree to which national authorities and experts have learned the numerous lessons that the Chornobyl accident has taught us," said Anna Mostovych, president of the Ukrainian Business and Professional Group of Chicago.

The conference will examine the ongoing health and social effects of the disaster on Ukraine and Belarus. Participants will discuss the effects on both countries and provide new information on consequences that continue to have an impact on the population. Among the participants are Dr. Ihor Masnyk, Chornobyl Research Project, U.S. National Cancer Institute; Dr. A.E. Okeanov, International Sakharov Environmental University, Belarus; and Dr. Pavlo V. Zamostyan, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Kyiv, manager of the United Nations Chornobyl Recovery and Development Program.

Also on the agenda is a discussion of the sarcophagus and international relief efforts, as well as nuclear energy safety, with presentations by Dr. Andrew Sowder, U.S. Department of State, and Daria Hirniak-Khan of the Shelter Implementation Plan. The efforts and perspective of non-government organizations will be presented by Dr. Alex Kuzma of the Children of Chornobyl Relief and Development Fund, Kyiv, and Roberta Harper of Friends of Chernobyl Centers U.S. (FOCCUS), Madison, Wis.

The conference will be held on Saturday, April 29, at the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois in Chicago. It will be preceded by an evening reception on Friday, April 28, at the Ukrainian National Museum, which will be showing a special Chornobyl exhibit. A hierarchical liturgy is scheduled for Sunday, April 30, at St. Nicholas Cathedral.

Pre-registration by April 26 is required. The registration fee is $35. Readers may register and pay by credit card at (312) 996-6904 or online at http://128.248.232.70/glakes/ce/register.asp?gid=369. Registration may also be mailed to Chornobyl Conference Committee, P.O. Box 46333, Chicago, IL 60646.

The Chicago Chornobyl Conference is made possible through the support of the Heritage Foundation and Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union, both based in Chicago.

For more information visit at http://uic.edu.sph/glakes/chornobyl.

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