UN plots Chernobyl zone recovery

[Atomic_Piggy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7105273.stm

A resolution has been adopted by the General Assembly in New York.

It calls for continuing attention to "Chernobyl-related needs" but also urges a move to the "recovery phase".

A UN official said the body should now focus on rebuilding self-reliance of the affected population instead of treating them as victims.

The 1986 explosion spewed radioactive fallout over swathes of the then-USSR - including Ukraine, Russia and Belarus - and many other parts of Europe.

More than 330,000 people were forced to leave their homes after the world's worst nuclear accident.

Estimates of the number of deaths linked to the radiation leak vary widely, with the World Health Organization (WHO) putting the death toll at 9,000.

Experts are still studying the long-term effects on health, especially on children.

Helping communities

Tuesday's UN declaration proclaimed the next 10 years as a decade of "recovery and sustainable development" of the affected areas.


UNDP is trying to change the legacy of Chernobyl from one of despair and hopelessness to one of hope and prosperity and health
Cihan Sultanoglu
UNDP

It said the focus should now be on helping the communities to reverse the domino effect of poverty, poor health and fear that had hampered growth in the region.

The General Assembly also requested the UN secretary general to provide a report on recovery efforts in 2010.

The declaration comes on the back of a report by the WHO which found "the health impact of the accident was much less severe than was initially feared", the BBC's Thomas Lane in New York says.

It also said the majority of the affected areas only suffered "low doses of radiation - doses that are close to naturally existing 'background levels'".

This paves the way for the UN to alter its aid structure to the region, namely parts of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, our correspondent says.

'Overcoming stigma'

Before the UN vote, Cihan Sultanoglu, a UN Development Programme (UNDP) official, said that "20 years of treating the residents of those regions as victims has created a culture of apathy".

Map showing location of the Chernobyl exclusion zone

Ms Sultanoglu said the UN's new role should be "to help rebuild a sense of self-reliance".

UNDP officials argue that "lifestyle issues" - like alcoholism and smoking - now pose a greater cancer threat than radiation for many residents in the affected areas.

The agency is already involved with various assistance projects, including giving advice and loans to small-scale farmers.

Ms Sultanoglu said the radiation resistance of several plants - including a rapeseed used in biofuels - held out hope for an agricultural revival.

Other UNDP officials suggested that eco-tourism might also help the region, our correspondent says.

But they conceded there would have to be plenty of attention to marketing, in order to overcome any "brand stigma" associated with Chernobyl.

Earlier this year, the UNDP made a first shot at this by appointing Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova as a "goodwill ambassador" for the cause.

 

[morgs]

Small quote to go with it?

 

[Darkside55]

First to say, "Stalker!"

 

[Acepilotf14]

I'll get my suit ready.

 

[<RJMC>]

watch out whit the snorks

 

[Gargantou]

Sigh, morons, it's sickening how the western communities have ignored Chernobyl, honestly, an example is when the western nations a few years after the incident met with the Soviet Union(Whom had done research on the amount of lives that would be affected by Chernobyl), the arrogant leaders refused to acknowledge the numbers, and have continued to do so, the sarcophage(spelling?) is RAPIDLY crumbling away, and if it collapses it will mean a shitload of new radiation will leak out, yet the western european nations have hardly made large-scale contributions to the rebuilding of a new stronger sarcophage, and lets face it, Ukraine are far from wealthy enough to afford it.

IIRC they in September this year contracted some French company to try to build a small temporary solution to the problem, but to make a full-scale remedy has been planned for a long time(since the early 90s), but as said, haven't been invested in by other countries so they can't afford it.

 

[morgs]

I say they should just nuke it, then forget it.

 

[Krynn72]

watch out whit the snorks

oh god i laughed so hard it hurt.

 

[Muffin Man]

I say they should just nuke it, then forget it.

I'm... sure that would help..

 

[Irksome]

This thread needs more Stalker references.

 

[Pesmerga]

I say they should just nuke it, then forget it.

Nuke an already radioactive zone.

Great idea. You're Einstein incarnate.

 

[Cavalry]

grab yo giant chrome AK-47's with the 203's,flashlights,and scopes,we may encounter large man-eating hogs:sniper:

 

[Bad^Hat]

Nice.

I wonder if this spells bad things for Stalker 2, though.


"S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Sunrise Over Chernobyl - Coming Q4 2008.

The first truly next-gen eco-friendly first person clean-em-up."

 

[morgs]

Nuke an already radioactive zone.

Great idea. You're Einstein incarnate.

It was a joke Foo!

 

[Adabiviak]

I seem to recall a number of locals in the region that had the hardest immediate fallout having a very high rate of cancer and other mutations. Google some of the orphanages in Minsk, for example. "Less than expected" doesn't necessarily mean very few.

 

[morgs]

Yeah people in that area were born with deformities for years, still are probably.

 

[Druckles]

First to say, "Stalker!"

Damn! What I was thinking! As was everyone...

Edit: There have been "reports" of deformities in England as well. From the radiation travelled in the wind.

 

[Evo]

Gooood!

Finally they are planning to take some action to help it out in there.

 

[Tollbooth Willie]

Highlander and Steven caused Chernobyl.

 

[Smoke]

Nice.

I wonder if this spells bad things for Stalker 2, though.


"S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Sunrise Over Chernobyl - Coming Q4 2008.

The first truly next-gen eco-friendly first person clean-em-up."

You almost killed me.