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GUEST: Jonathan Parfrey, Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility

Nearly 20 years ago, a reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine exploded on April 26, 1986. It has become known as the world’s worst nuclear accident. The explosion spewed out heavy levels of radioactive fallout over most of Europe. The fallout was particularly severe in northern reaches of Ukraine, western Russia and Belarus. A recent IAEA report says the consequences of the disaster were overblown and that scientists now believe the radioactive nuclear fallout was not as harmful to human health as previously reported. But the environmental group, Greenpeace is challenging the UN report, saying that more than 90,000 people are likely to die of cancers caused by radiation from Chernobyl.

EVENT INFORMATION:
Sunday, April 23
Chernobyl — Twenty Years Later: A Public Health and Environmental Assessment

On April 26, 1986 a fire at Ukraine’s Chernobyl Nuclear Station resulted in the abandonment of seventeen villages, relocation of hundreds of thousands of people and a ban on export of the region’s agriculture. As California moves away from coal and petroleum-based electricity, the time is ripe to reflect on nuclear power, its promise—and its problems. The twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl accident offers this opportunity.

Speakers include:

• Yelena Zmushko will show her autobiographical film “Chernobyl 20.”
• David R. Marples, University of Alberta, on “Twenty Years after Chernobyl: Dealing with a health and demographic crisis in Belarus.”
• Daniel Hirsch, president, Committee to Bridge the Gap, on “Chernobyl’s Victims:The extent of radiation poisoning, cancer and other disease.”
• Angelina M. Galiteva, chairperson, World Council for Renewable Energy, on “Strategic Opportunities in Renewable Energy.”
• Rochelle Becker, president, The Utility Reform Network, on “Nuclear Accidents: Can they happen here?”

Where: La Kretz Hall Auditorium (Room 110), UCLA
When: Sunday, April 23, 2006; 2:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Contact: For more information and reservations call 213-689-9170 x107
Price: Free of Charge
Parking: $8. Enter on Westholme off Hilgard. Ask for a pass for parking structure #2.