| The YABLOKO Party has repeatedly drawn attention to the
unacceptable negligence by the Russian authorities to ensuring
of environmental safety of the population. Today we once again
are drawing the attention of the authorities and the citizens
to the danger of possible additional radiation exposure caused
by the pyrogenic spread of radionuclides. Forest fires in
Russia have already reached the Bryansk forests contaminated
by Chernobyl’s fallout, and the forests around the city of
Ozersk in the Chelyabinsk region polluted by the plutonium
productions.
It is well-known that, despite reduction in the total amount
of Chernobyl radionuclides owing to their physical decay,
the number of radionuclides on the surface in forest ecosystems
has been growing. Due to forest fires hazardous radionuclides
can spread by hundreds of kilometers. Any noticeable increase
of the natural radiation (provoked by abnormally high temperatures)
will inevitably lead to genetic disorders and other diseases.
The bitter experience of Chernobyl demonstrates that it is
unforgivably naive to believe into lulling statements made
by officials and not supported by any actual data on the situation
with radiation safety in each of the areas affected by fires.
The interests of the present and future generations of Russians
make the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO to demand
from the government more responsibility in the present dangerous
situation, proposing the following:
- organisation of daily monitoring of radionuclides in the
air, rain water and locally produced food-stuffs in all the
regions affected by the smog from the fires in radiation-contaminated
forests;
- inclusion of data on background radiation into daily reports
and weather forecasts;
- urgent provision of maps of the spread of the Chernobyl
radioactive fallout in forest areas to the corresponding federal
agencies, governments and local self-government of the Bryansk,
Kaluga, Tula, Ryazan, Belgorod, Voronezh, Penza, and Leningrad
regions;
- radiation safety measures for the persons employed in extinguishing
forest fires in the radiation-hazardous areas, and granting
of the status of liquidators of the Chernobyl disaster [with
all corresponding benefits] to the firemen affected by radiation;
- organisation of public awareness campaigns informing the
population how to avoid and minimise the consequences of possible
contamination of body, clothing and food.
The YABLOKO party proposes foundation of a public commission
for investigation of the circumstances and consequences of
the widespread of forest and peat fires in 2010 and invites
experts and representatives of other social forces to participate
in such work.
Sergei Mitrokhin,
Chair of the YABLOKO party
See also:
Human
Rights
Nuclear
Safety
Environmental
Safety
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