Greenpeace Commemorates the Tenth Anniversary of the Chernobyl Disaster : Anti-Nuclear Protests WorldwideKIEV, April 26th 1996 - Greenpeace today renewed its call for the immediate closure of all Chernobyl-type nuclear reactors, as activists commemorated the tenth anniversary of the explosion at Chernobyl by carrying out protests in cities and at nuclear power stations all over the world.[1]The Chernobyl nuclear disaster contaminated 160 000 sq km of land in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Its consequences for the health, environment and economy of the countries most effected are unbearable and will remain for generations. In Kiev, Ukraine, Greenpeace remembered the effects of the accident by showing collections of both the "Book of Remembrance" and children’s paintings, collected during a tour of Ukraine over the last month. The "Book of Remembrance" contains public comments on the effect of Chernobyl and graphically shows the pain and suffering caused by the accident. In Chicago, USA, at the site of the world first “controlled” nuclear chain reaction, Greenpeace joined other groups in a vigil for victims of the atomic age. In Latin America, Greenpeace activists in Chile, Brazil and Argentina carried out protests over the continued use of nuclear power. In Tokyo, Greenpeace joined other environmental groups in a candle light vigil. In Western Europe, activists in Sweden, the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands carried out protests at reactor sites, while in Austria, Spain, Finland and Ireland, Greenpeace joined with other groups in vigils and demonstrations in a number of towns and cities. "Today people all over the world are remembering those who are suffering because of the Chernobyl disaster" said Greenpeace’s Antony Froggatt. "The consequences of Chernobyl graphically show why nuclear power is unacceptable. It is too important a message to have to learn twice." Greenpeace welcomed the recent announcement for the closure of unit 1 at Chernobyl by the end of 1996, but continued to demand all operating reactors at the site are immediately shutdown. Greenpeace is calling for the closure of all Chernobyl-type reactors, as a first step to the global phase-out of nuclear power.[2] However, the G-7 Summit in Moscow last week, took a step backward on nuclear safety issues. Unlike previous G-7 Summit statements, the final declaration from Moscow, stated that the attempts should be made to improve existing Soviet-designed reactors which could not meet modern safety standards rather than calling for their shutdown. "The people of the Ukraine, and the global population, deserve a bright future and this future can only be non-nuclear. Technologies already exist to implement a sustainable energy future based on renewable energies, this is the only way forward" stated Olexi Kabyka of Greenpeace.
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