World Ecology Report 2010 Summer Fall Vol XXII No 2 3

8/9/2019 World Ecology Report 2010 Summer Fall Vol XXII No 2 3

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Challenges For AChanging Climate19th International Conference on Health and

Environment: Global Partners for Global Solutions

Summer-Fall 2010, vol. XXII No.2,3

Education brings choices.

Choices bring power.

World Ecology Report

is printed on recycled paper.

TABLE OF CONTENTSChallenges for a

Changing Climate

Ms. Tania V. Raguz

Dr. Christine K. Durbak

H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon

H.E. Mr. Yuriy A. Sergeyev

Ms. Irena Zubcevic

Dr. Emily K. Shuman

Mr. Werner Obermeyer

Mr. Kurt Dahlin

Mr. Glenn Wiser

Mr. Ryan M. Powers

NUCLEAR ENERGY UPDATE:

Chornobyl Review

H.E. Mr. Valeriy Kuchinsky

H. E. Mr. Mykhajlo Bolotskyh

Mr. Denis Zdorov

Dr. Hanna Kapustyan

PANEL DISCUSSION:

Nuclear Energy, Media,

and Activism: Shaping

the Opinion of Youth,

Government, and Society

Ms. Jessica Williamson

Prof. Karl Grossman

Mr. Remy Chevalier

Ms. Bahar Shahpar

LUNCHEON SPEAKER:The Climate We Deserve

Mr. Jay Walker, CEO, Walker Digital

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United Nations Headquarters, April 22, 2010

Child Health and Social Development: Combating

Water Contamination in Rural African Villages

H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon

Message to 19th Conference

The Climate We Deserve

Guest Speaker - Mr. Jay Walker

specialIssue

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Dr. Christine K. Durbak

Founder and Chair of WIT

Opening Statement

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Col-leagues, Students and Ladies and Gentlemen, On be-hal o World Inormation Transer, I would like to givethanks to the Government o Ukraine or their contin-ued co-sponsorship o our Conerences since 1992, theGovernment o Azerbaijan and the Mission o Belarusor their support o our 19th Conerence.

Todays theme examines how we conront challenges

a topic each one o us knows rom personal experi-ence. Daily lie, in act, consists o a range o challenges,and our eelings o strength or weakness come, in part,rom our success in handling the obstacles we conront.The impending climate change and the ramications ochemicals and pesticides, particularly on children willtest all o us in dierent ways. The manner in which weace and cope with these challenges will aect the way weand you will live in the orthcoming years.

MORNING SESSION - Mrs. Irena Zubcevic, Ms. Tania Valerie Raguz, H.E. Mr. Yuriy A. Sergeyev,Dr. Christine K. Durbak, Dr. Emily K. Shuman, Mr. Kurt Dahlin, Mr. Glenn Wiser.

Ms. Tania Valerie Raguz

UN-CSD 18 Vice-Chair, EasternEuropean States, Mission of Croatia

to the United Nations

Moderator introduction

This years theme is Challenges or a Changing Cli-mate. I have been given the great pleasure to be yourmoderator or the morning session. I have had the op-portunity to work with the World Inormation Transerthrough my dealings with the Commission on Sustain-able Development here at the United Nations where Ihave been a member on the bureau both last year andthis year representing the group o Eastern Europe-an States. Beore I hand over the foor to the opening

speaker or this morning, I just want to run through thismornings programme so that you are well aware what

we are going to be discussing.It would give me great pleasure to introduce Dr.

Christine Durbak, the Chair and CEO o World Inor-mation Transer. And then Dr. Durbak will be ollowedby his excellency Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev who is thepermanent representative o Ukraine to the United Na-tions and had been an active participant in this series oconerences. Its nice to see you back again Excellency.Then I will turn the microphone over to my dear col-

league, Irena Zubcevic, who is the senior sustainable de-velopment ocer rom the United Nations Departmentor economic and social aairs and rom the secretariator sustainable development.

For the Keynote address we would like to welcome thisyear, Dr. Emily Shuman, who will be dealing with Glob-al Climate Change and Childrens Health and then we

will listen to Werner Obermeyer rom the World HealthOrganization. Ater that presentation, we will watch a

lm screening entitled Silent Snow which has been di-rected by Jan van den Berg. Then Glenn Wiser, senior

Attorney or the Centre o International EnvironmentalLaw and Steering Committee, member o InternationalPOPs Elimination Network. Finally, we will have a pres-entation on Childrens Health and Social Developmentcombating water contamination in Rural Arican Vil-lages who we will hear rom representative rom Water

Wells or Arica, in particular ounder and presidentKurt Dahlin. With this I have the great pleasure to turnthe microphone to Dr. Durbak or her introductory and

welcoming remarks.


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From our work over the last 23 years, we have con-cluded that the ear o change conuses the understand-ing o complex challenges and slows down progress to-

ward solutions. When people are araid o somethingnew, they all back on superstition, old hatreds andunounded belies. Our current global stage can be ob-served rom that perspective: on the one hand are thosearaid o knowing the problems because that would re-

quire them to do things dierently; on the other arethose who embrace the challenges because they want todo things dierently. The rst group embraces the statusquo, the second group embraces change. The most crea-tive minds are to be ound in the second group. They are

willing to ace the inevitable change and thus conquertheir ear o change.

However, there is also another category. Those whoseek a antasy lie without challenges or problems.Those that make assumptions and come to conclusions

without science based evidence. Some in this category

change historical acts by removing names or even actso history rom text books. Those are the ones that dis-regard the acts o reality, or example the act that thetemperature o the earths oceans has increased. Theycannot tell the dierence between evidence derivedrom scientic research and evidence derived rom adream. This group o individuals contributes the leastto nding solutions to the planets toughest challengesand adheres to regression by playing on peoples ear ochange.

Today well be hearing rom scientists and experts

on a ew very important issues. This morning welllearn that children ace hazards today that were neitherknown nor suspected a ew decades ago. They are atrisk o exposure to over 85,000 synthetic chemicals. Inthe USA they are most likely exposed to 15,000 highproduction volume (HPV) chemicals which are widelydispersed in oods, household products and pesticides.Less than hal o them have been tested or their po-tential human toxicity, particularly or children who areparticularly vulnerable to chemicals in the environmentbecause o their disproportionately heavy exposures

and their inherent biological susceptibility. Moreover,because their organs are still undergoing developmentand maturation during exposure to environmental pol-lutants, children are more likely to sustain injuries withlielong impacts.

Among all the organs potentially injured when chil-dren are exposed to environmental toxicants, it is thecentral nervous system that is most vulnerable. Chil-dren develop the brain that will serve them or the

When people are araid o something new, they allback on superstition, old hatreds and unounded

belies - some change historical acts

rest o their lives during the rst 6 years o lie. Con-sequently, exposure to environmental neurotoxicantsduring this period can produce permanent neurode-

velopmental sequelae. Whereas the adult brain has anatural barrier to prevent many dangerous substancesrom entering the brain (so-called blood brain barrier),this barrier is underdeveloped in children resulting ingreater entry o drugs and neurotoxicants. This physi-

ologic dierence between children and adults explains why children who are exposed to lead or mercury develop overt symptoms o permanent brain injury, atlower degrees o exposure than adults. According toestimates, as many as 17% o American children havea neurodevelopmental disorder and or autism and at-tention decit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) there isevidence that the incidence has risen more than 10 oldin the last ew decades. The progressive pollution o ourplanet indicates that the protection o children againstenvironmental toxins is a major challenge to modern

society.

We will also examine the issues o nuclear energy, theater eects o Chornobyl on the Ukrainian and ormerSoviet Union society and the importance o continuoustransparency o scientic ndings in order to resolve ormoderate some o the orthcoming issues o develop-

ment. For the past 19 years we have dedicated a segmento our Conerence to the ramications o this manmadedisaster. As with natural disasters the survivors mourntheir losses as they clean up their environment. Theirminds are preoccupied with images o death and de-struction and some may exhibit what is known in psy-chiatry as survivors guilt, condemning themselves orhaving lived while others perished. Others develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The impact o manmade disasters is much wider. Theanxiety o individuals and societies ollowing Chorno-

byl lasted or many years. Even to this day people con-sider themselves contaminated with radiation and earcontinued birth deects. Humans are programmed tomourn their losses and changes in lie and mourningallows us to accept that loss or a change has occurred.

Without mourning a traumatized society has a tendencyto remain earul, helpless and victimized, which conse-quently complicates the survivors guilt, PTSD and pre-

vents them rom seeking change in their society.


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As we continue to examine problems and seekingsolutions or a better uture, I would like to give youan illustration o a creative solution derived rom real-istically conronting a challenge in the lovely island oBali, Indonesia. I will reer you to a recent story* abouta garbage clean-up on Bali. As the amount o garbagehas grown, individual businesses and residents had toaddress their waste problem which interered with the

tourism industry. A guest in a hotel on Bali, a reporteror the Telegraph (UK) wanted to know what happenedto the contents o his hotel room wastepaper basket.He ound out that Beneath the corrugated iron rooo an open-ended old pig shedworkers were painstak-ingly hand-separating paper, plastics, glass, aluminum,ood scraps, vegetable matter and other material thatcan be used again, leaving only the remnants to go intothe islands rudimentary waste disposal system. Every

week, 140 lorry loads o waste arrive. Only 10 leave car-rying real rubbish. Twelve years ago, Ms. Yuyun Isma-

wati, an environmental engineer started this business.She ound that a pig armer was paying hotels or their

waste and persuaded him that recycling it would bemore protable. Currently 25 hotels are involved. Al-most everything is recycled: ood scraps are bought bypig armers and grass clippings and other vegetation is

composted, and mostly returned to the hotels or fow-erbeds. The operation supports over 400 people. Ms.Ismawati established six more centers on the neighbor-ing island o Java. This year, Ismawati won a Goldman

Award, the worlds biggest prize or grassroots greenactivism.

The challenges posed by climate change oer a cli-mate ripe or innovation. The coming years will be yourmoment in history. As you hear our speakers today, wehope our Conerence inspires you to meet the chal-lenges ahead. Each generations uture lies in their own

hands and they are the ones that will benet i they ndthe courage to live without ear.

I would like to end with a quote rom Nelson Mande-la, We cannot waste our precious children. Not anotherone! It is long past time or us to act on their behal.Thank you or your attention.

*Source: The Telegraph (UK), March 5, 2010, How to make

the most of rubbish, A rubbish revolution is under way in Bali,

Geoffrey Lean

Challenges posed by climate changeoer a climate ripe or innovation

H.E. Mr.Ban Ki-moon

The Secretary-General

of the United Nations

Written Message to 19th

International Conference

on Health and Environment

Today we are here to commemorate the victims othe Chernobyl disaster, to honour the sacrices made bythose who died, and those who survived.

We remember the hundreds o emergency workerswho responded to the accident; the more than 330,000people who were uprooted rom their homes; the thou-sands o children who later contracted thyroid cancer.

We commemorate the heroic eorts o those whotook on the task o clearing up ater the disaster; and thebravery o millions o people in the surrounding area,

who have lived with a legacy o ear or their health andlivelihoods or more than two decades.

The UNs strategy to address the lingering conse-quences o Chernobyl is aimed at ostering the regionslong-term development and providing people with theinormation they need to lead sae and healthy lives. TheUnited Nations remains committed to the Decade oRecovery and Sustainable Development or Chernobyl-aected regions proclaimed by the General Assembly,

which began in 2006, and to the UN Chernobyl ActionPlan.

I also welcome the initiative o Ukraine, co-sponsoredby Belarus and the Russian Federation, to convene an in-ternational conerence on the 25th anniversary o the ac-cident in April 2011, to mark progress towards the goalo a return to normal lie.

One o the global lessons o the Chernobyl disaster isthe importance o strengthening the saety and securityo nuclear material and acilities. I welcome the renewedcommitment o world leaders to this issue, seen at theNuclear Security Summit meeting in Washington DClast week.

Communities aected by Chernobyl are demonstrat-ing resilience in coping with the consequences o thedisaster, but they continue to need our support.

The UN stands ready to do everything in its power tourther the regions revival. I call on the internationalcommunity to support the ull recovery o all those a-ected by the Chernobyl disaster.

I wish World Inormation Transer every success atyour conerence.


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H.E. Mr. Yuriy A. Sergeyev

Permanent Representative of

Ukraine to the United Nations

Madame Chair, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen. Itis not the rst time I have the honor to welcome the partici-pants o the International Conerence on Health and Envi-ronment: Global Partners or Global Solutions. Since early1992 the Government o Ukraine has been co-sponsoringthis event. I would like to express my sincere gratitude tothe President o the World Inormation Transer, Dr. Chris-tine Durbak, her right hand Dr. Claudia Strauss and the en-tire team or their devoted work in organizing such events.

It is my pleasure to welcome other co-sponsors andsupporters o todays orum, as well as moderators,

speakers, guests and all stakeholders or their contribu-tion to todays deliberations.

The Conerence itsel provides us with a great possi-bility to discuss crucial environmental, social and cross-cutting issues, which are on the ocus o Ukraines andinternational agenda.

We have to remember that the nuclear energy is con-sidered to be one o the cleanest sources o energy and

viable solutions or meeting rising energy demands,reducing greenhouse gas emissions, mitigating climatechange, and achieving sustainable development. It is

the right time or the international community to ben-et rom the potential o the peaceul atom by applyingmodern technologies, which are saer, more stable andecologically proven. Lessons learned rom Chornobylmight be helpul in developing sae and environmen-tally clean nuclear energy.

The accident at the Unit 4 o the Chornobyl Nucle-ar Power Plant in April 26, 1986, caused long-lastingdamage or the environment, and as a consequence

we observe downward trends in population health anddevelopment o the aected territories. Numerically, a

population o 5 million and the 145 sq. m. o the ter-ritories o Ukraine, Belarus and the Russian Federation the countries most aected by Chornobyl were di-rectly damaged by nuclear allout.

Nowadays, we observe increasing numbers o disabledpersons in Ukraine rom the Chornobyl-aected popu-lation. I would like to point out that in 1991 there werearound 2 thousand disabled people, by the beginning o2010 over 110 thousand, and 2 600 o those are children.

By mentioning this, I would like to stress that ull re-covery and returning to normal lie, as well the sustain-able development o the aected territories, are highlyimportant, and I believe that with the support o theinternational community this aim is realistic. We havealready achieved great progress in Chornobyl recovery,but many challenges remain. The successul implemen-tation o the Third Decade or Chornobyl Decade o re-

covery and sustainable development o the aected re-gions proclaimed by the General Assembly resolution,gives us more optimism in achieving our goals.

Let me remind you that just last week within theramework o the 43rd session o the Commission onPopulation and Development we discussed health is-sues, with a ocus on the morbidity and mortality o thepopulation. There is no need to underscore that manyhuman diseases, in particular non-communicable dis-eases, involve environmental risk actors, including nu-clear contamination. A healthy environment is key to a

healthy population.Ukraine attaches utmost importance to the role o the

United Nations, particularly, the United Nations Devel-opment Programme in the strengthening o internation-al cooperation in mitigating and minimizing the conse-quences o the Chornobyl disaster. The role o the UNagencies and NGOs is essential to the ulllment o theUN Action Plan to 2016 aimed at the implementation othe Third Decade or Chornobyl, and in realization o theInternational Chernobyl Research Inormation Network(ICRIN project). Ukraine believes that all these activities

will acilitate the implementation in an eective and time-ly manner o the United Nations Strategy on Chornobyl.

As I have previously mentioned, international assis-tance is highly important in addressing the Chornobylconsequences and rebuilding normal and sae living en-

vironment in the eected area. In particular, we rely onour partners in converting the nuclear power plant in anecologically sae place. Further delays in the construc-tion o a new sae connement Shelter around thedamaged Unit 4 o the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plantcan cost much more. The new Shelter designed to con-

tain the radioactive remains o Chornobyl Unit 4 orthe next 100 years is intended to replace the presentcontainment structure, which was constructed under ex-treme conditions, with very high levels o radiation, andunder extreme time constraints.

Ukraine is grateul to the donor countries to the Nu-clear Saety Account and the Chornobyl Shelter Fund,which nanced the construction o spent nuclear uel stor-age and the transormation o the Chornobyl Shelter into


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very well seen in a new challenge o the climate changeimpact.

Overall, the eects o global climate change are pre-dicted to be heavily concentrated in poorer populationsat low latitudes, where the most important climate-sen-sitive health outcomes (malnutrition, diarrhea and ma-laria) are already common, and where vulnerability toclimate eects is greatest.

The IPPC Synthesis Report 4 (2007) underlines that

warm spells will increase risk o heat-related mortality,especially or the elderly, chronically sick, very youngand socially isolated; heavy precipitation events will in-crease risk o deaths, injuries and inectious, respiratoryand skin diseases; areas aected by drought increases

will result in increased risk o ood and water shortage,increased risk o malnutrition and increased risk o

water-and ood-borne diseases; intense tropical cycloneactivity increases will result in increased risk o deaths,injuries, water- and ood- borne diseases and post-trau-matic stress disorders; increased incidence o extremehigh sea level will increase risk o deaths and injuries by

drowning in foods and migration-related health eects.However, there is one benet and that is that warmerand more requent hot days and nights will result in re-duced human mortality rom decreased cold exposure.

A harmonized and evidence-based inormation sys-tem on environment and health to support public healthand environmental policies is crucial in order to miti-gate and adapt to climate change. It needs to be said thatthe prolieration o inormation sources and the ease oinormation access have rendered this task both dicultand urgent. While a signicant body o knowledge hasemerged on health-related issues, much o this inorma-

tion is ragmented and is oten not available in a ormthat is convenient or policy makers and practitioners.

Overcoming these barriers would require, in addi-tion to addressing institutional issues, advances in sev-eral directions. Here are some or your consideration:n the web-based inormation needs to be organized and

made available to the policy-making and other com-munities in coherent and user-riendly orms;

n it is necessary to build relations among existing net-works and make their activities more visible to policy-makers;

n success stories, best practices, evaluations o policiesand programmes should be documented and makethem available in web-based, user-riendly orm.This takes us back to the beginning o my remarks

about the linkages o health, environment and socio-economic improvements and this can be done only with-in the ramework o sustainable development, where allthese agendas converge.

Sustainable development promises not only the har-monization between economic, social, and environmen-

Ms. Irena Zubcevic

Senior Sustainable Development

Officer, Global Policy Branch, Division

for Sustainable Development, DESA

Statement from UN Division

for Sustainable Development

on behalf of Mr. Tariq Banuri,

Director of the Division for Sustainable Development

Madame Chair Dr. Durbak, Ambassador Sergeyev,Dr. Shuman, distinguished guests, colleagues, ladiesand gentlemen. Let me say that it is an honor or me tobe here at this traditional World Inormation TranserConerence on health and environment representingthe Director o the Division or Sustainable Develop-ment, Mr. Tariq Banuri, who sends his apologies or notbeing able to be here in person.

According to Agenda 21 (chapter 6) and JPOI (chap-ter 6), health and sustainable development are inter-connected. Both insucient development leading topoverty and inappropriate development resulting inover-consumption, coupled with an expanding worldpopulation, can result in severe health problems in bothdeveloping and developed nations.

The linkage o health, environmental and socio-eco-nomic improvements requires intersectoral eorts andinvolvement o civil society as well as private sector. It is

an environmentally sae system. Construction o a new saeconnement is ready to begin later this summer. We call onall partners to ully implement their commitments.

The Chornobyl catastrophe became a national trag-edy or Ukrainians. We still eel its consequences today.It has created a number o social and economic prob-lems that dont disappear with years. Only through acomprehensive approach and join eorts o the govern-

ment, the international community, science, and non-governmental organizations can we solve the problemso Chornobyl and achieve sustainable development.

The 24th anniversary o the catastrophe is an occasion,once again, to draw attention to the magnitude and com-plexity o the tragedy that aected not only Ukraine. Wemust work together to overcome its serious consequencesand prevent the minor possibility o such disasters in theuture or the sake o lie on the Earth. This is especiallyrelevant today, when the world marks Earth Day.

I believe that opinions, ideas and proposals put orward

during the conerence will consolidate our eorts aimed atovercoming the challenges, which we are acing today.I wish all the success to this Conerence. I thank you.


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Dr. Emily K. Shuman

MD, Dept. of Internal Medicine,

Div. of Infectious Diseases,

U of Michigan

Global Climate Change

and Childrens Health

Global climate change is expected to have enormousimplications or human health. Severe weather eventssuch as heat waves, storms, foods, and droughts will di-rectly impact human health, resulting in death, injury,disability, and displacement o populations. Climatechange will also have many indirect eects on humanhealth. The burden o vectorborne and waterborne in-ectious diseases is expected to increase, as insect vectorsare more active at higher temperatures, and contami-nation o community water supplies occurs commonlyin the setting o fooding or drought. Climate changemay also result in worsening air pollution with ozoneand particulate matter, which will increase the burden

tal dimensions, but also a reasoned basis or internation-al cooperation, a mechanism to engage the private sectorand civil society, a means o placing scientic knowledgein the hands o policy makers and local communities,and a way o expressing our responsibility towards uturegenerations.

Thereore, establishing a more conducive interna-tional environment or a more central role o health inthe sustainable development is essential in order to en-

able better coordination and coherence at national andregional levels in order to integrate health concerns,including those o the most vulnerable populations,into strategies, policies and programmes or povertyeradication and sustainable development. Mechanismsto improve intersectoral action, including institutionalstrengthening or health impact assessment by its inte-gration into mainstream policy-making should be ad-dressed as well as new partnerships and alliances put inplace or health and sustainable development.

Thereore, conerences like this one that bring to-gether scientists, practitioners and policy-makers help

move the agenda orward and raise awareness o theneed or more holistic approach to health within sustain-able development in order to achieve Millennium Devel-opment Goals and make a better living or all.

Our support goes to all o you who are organizingthis valuable conerence year ater year, especially Dr.Durbak, CEO o WIT and Dr. Strauss and her team, thespeakers as well as participants.

Thank you or your attention.

Why is climate change occurring?

o respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in suscepti-ble populations. Due to their unique characteristics,

children will be especially vulnerable to the health im-pacts o climate change. In order to tackle the problemo climate change, there must be a global commitmentto reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deorestation.However, because climate change is already occurring,

we must also increase our understanding o how to pro-tect vulnerable populations, including children, romits eects.

Greenhouse gasesaEmissions

Carbon dioxide (CO2

)- Combustion o ossil uels

Methane (CH4) (10%)- Landlls- Coal mines- Oil/natural gas operations- Agriculture

Nitrous oxide (N2O) (5%)- Fertilizers- Combustion o ossil uels- Industrial/waste management practices

aDeorestation (15-20%)

a Since preindustrial era, mean CO2

concentrations

in atmosphere have increased rom 280 ppm toover 380 ppm

Predictions for the futurea I CO

2emissions remain at current or projected

levels: Average global temperature will increase 1.8-5.8C by

the end o the 21st century Sea levels will rise by 9-88 cm as sea ice melts


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a Floods Sea surface warming will cause rise in sea level with

increased fooding o coastal areas 13/20 of worlds megacities are at sea-level Large-scale population displacement possible with 1

meter rise in sea level (18.6 million in China, 13 mil-lion in Bangladesh)

Salination of fresh-water aquifers, disruption of storm-water drainage and sewage disposal

a Drought 1.7 billion people live in water-stressed areas, expect-

ed to increase to 5 billion by 2025 Reduced food production, increased wildres, infec-

tious diseases associated with poor hygiene

Air pollutiona Ozone concentration may increase as a result o

warmer temperatures Asthma

a Pollen concentrations may also increase

a Warmer air may disperse air pollution over largerareas

Climate and infectious diseases:

vectorborne diseasesaHigher diversity o insect vectors in the tropicsa Insect vectors more active at higher temperaturesaAnopheles mosquitoes require temperatures >16C

to complete their lie cycles And Plasmodium sp develop more rapidly at tem-

peratures >20C One mosquito can infect 200 people with P. falcipa-

rumaMosquitoes tend to thrive in aquatic habitats

Epidemics of malaria and dengue fever occur duringrainy seasons in the tropics, and interannually with

weather events associated with El Nino-Southern Os-cillation

a But epidemics o West Nile virus occur duringdroughts Mosquitoes and birds brought into close proximity

at scarce water sources Fewer natural predators of mosquitoes as wetlands

dry up

Climate and infectious diseases:

waterborne diseasesa Drought

Water scarcity leads to poor sanitation Much of population can be exposed to potentially

contaminated water Example: recent cholera epidemic in Kenya- As o 12/5/09, 4,700 cases and 119 deaths

Climate change,

not just global warminga Hydrologic cycle altered as warmer air able to re-

tain more moisture More rainfall in some areas, drought in others More severe weather events- Between 1951 and 2000, 3.3% o earths surace

changed rom one climate category to anothera Less polar and boreal climates, more arid climates

Climate change and human healtha Thermal stressa Floods, droughts, extreme stormsaWorsening air pollutiona Inectious diseases

Water- and vectorborne diseases

Weather extremesa Thermal stress

Can lead to cardiovascular and respiratory failure Heat waves in US more deadly than hurricanes, oods,

and tornadoes combined 2003 heat wave in Europe caused 22,000 deaths in 2

weeks Increased risk of death in urban areas (urban heat is -

lands) and with poor housinga Severe storms

Death, disability, property loss (e.g., in 1998 Hurri-cane Mitch resulted in >19,000 deaths, 2.7 millionhomeless, and $6 billion damages in Central Amer-ica)

Sea surface warming of slightly over 2C would inten-siy hurricane wind speeds and may increase num-ber o hurricanes

Concentration of populations in coastal areas and en-vironmental degradation increase vulnerability


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Current burden of important

infectious diseases that may

be impacted by climate changea Vectorborne diseases

Malaria- 45% o world population at risk- 300-500 million people inected annually with 1 million

deaths

- 90% o deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Arica, causes 1/5 ochildhood deaths in Arica

Dengue fever - 40% o world population at risk

- 50-100 million people inected annually with 22,000 deaths(mostly children)

aWaterborne diseases Diarrheal disease is the 2nd leading cause of death

among children under age 5 worldwide

Current impact of climate change

on infectious diseasesaDicult to separate impact o climate change rom

other human actors Extensive migration and travel o human populations Drug and pesticide resistance Urbanization/increased population density Availability of health services Population immunity HIV

Future impact of climate change

on infectious diseases

a Shit in suitability or malaria and increase in suit-ability or dengue ever (50% o world populationat risk by 2050)

aWHO estimates 10% more diarrheal disease by 2030 than if climate

change did not occur If average global temperature increases by 2-3C, pop -

ulation at risk or malaria will increase by 3-5%

Climate change

and childrens healtha Children are especially vulnerable to the potential

adverse health eects o climate change More likely to live in poverty (20% of children in US,

50% worldwide) Kilogram for kilogram drink more water, eat more

ood, and breathe more air Rapidly developing with immature immune systems

a Vectorborne diseases

An African child has on average 1.6-5.4 episodes ofmalaria each year, and one child dies o malaria eve-ry 30 seconds

Malaria during pregnancy results in up to 200,000newborn deaths each year

Dengue fever is a leading cause of hospitalization anddeath among children in Asia

aWaterborne diseases: diarrheal diseases 2 billion episodes each year with an average of 3 epi -

sodes annually or each child living in the develop-ing world

1.5 million deaths among children under 5 annually(80% occur in Arica, 80% occur in children under 2)

A leading cause of malnutrition and impaired growth

Conclusionsa Climate change is occurring because o emissions

o greenhouse gases and deorestation.a Climate change will impact human health directly

through adverse weather events and indirectly in

many ways including increased air pollution andincreased burden o inectious diseases.a Children are especially vulnerable to the potential

adverse health eects related to climate change.

References:

Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov/climatechange;

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, www.ipcc.ch/pdf/

assessment-report/ar4/syr/ar4_syr.pdf;

World Health Organization, www.who.int/globalchange/en


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Mr. Werner Obermeyer

Deputy to the Executive Director,WHO

Why We Should Take More

Concrete Action to Protect

Children from Environmental

Disease Burdens

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies andGentlemen. Let me rom the outset thank WIT, andDr. Christine Durbak in person, or their tireless workto ensure that environmental risks remain in the ore-ront o public discourse, here at the United Nationsand elsewhere. The magnitude o this challenge is veryclear more than 13 million deaths a year are causedby preventable environmental actors and one third othese deaths in the worlds poorest regions.

In act one quarter o the global disease burden inadults is related to environmental risk actors. In thecase o children, environmental actors are involved

in more than one third o the disease burden and indeveloping countries there are 12 times more deaths ochildren caused by environmental exposures, oten in

workplaces, than there are in rich countries. This is allthe more shocking i one bears in mind that the poorestcountries spend $10 per person per public health year,

while in rich countries this gure averages $3000.

These environmental disease burdens can be ad-dressed through many interventions, most o which arenot costly and are readily available. They include reduc-ing air pollution, indoors and outdoors, improving ac-cess to clean water, preventing chronic acute respiratoryinections though better use o uels, and preventingsome non-communicable diseases such as cancer by lim-iting exposure to certain chemicals.

Chemicals, persistent organic pollutants and toxinsoten have a liespan that can aect several generationso humans, through altering hormonal balance anddamaging reproductive and immune systems. It alsohas negative developmental impacts and carcinogenic

eects. Among sensitive populations, in particular theelderly and children, immune systems are typically moresusceptible to many o these pollutants.

Some recent data released by the Stockholm and Ba-sel Convention Secretariats suggest that higher temper-atures not only expose wildlie more to certain pollut-ants, but also increases the long range atmospheric andoceanographic transport o these pollutants throughnew migratory patterns o mammals such as seals or po-lar bears, and o course melting o ice caps.

I we note that the 5 warmest years on record occurredsince 2000, it is no wonder that the levels o pollutants andtoxins released in air and water, through melting ice andsnow, have increased alarmingly. Not only has this climaticchange caused greater exposure to a wider range o dis-ease vectors, but it has also exposed humans directly orindirectly through the ood chain - to more toxicity. Manypesticides that have been banned or severely restricted oruse in industrialized countries are still traded and used in

developing countries. They are sold to armers who lackboth equipment and knowledge and result in injuries andeven death particularly o children who till the land..

Similarly, industrial chemicals, such as lead additivesto boost octane levels in gasoline, are still used in someareas o he world, resulting in a build up o lead in theenvironment, causing adverse health impacts, especiallythe intellectual development o children. Unortunatelyasbestos, used in building materials and packaging, isalso prevalent in these regions.

Melting ice caps are contributing to the spread otoxins through ocean fows, and as temperatures o sea

water increase, the exposure to humans o sh stockscontaminated with mercury also rises.Children are o course at increased risk as they are

constantly growing and thereore need to consume moreood, breathe more air and drink more water. Young chil-dren may crawl and play in areas where they are exposedto dust or dirt that are contaminated by chemicals and astheir central nervous, immune, reproductive and diges-tive systems are still developing, exposure to toxins, pol-lutants and chemicals can lead to irreversible damage.

When we look at climate modeling predictions, itappears clear that sea level rise will displace millionso people in low lying coastal areas, will food agricul-

tural lands, resulting in ertilizer run-o and chemicalcontamination o groundwater supplies. Drought andfooding will severely impact our ood production andprotein intake, and increases the risk o contaminantsspreading to humans through the ood chain.

At WHO we have been working closely with UNEPand particularly UNICEF on childrens environmentalhealth issues, and have also increased our partnership

with the three chemicals conventions, the Stockholmand Basel that I have mentioned, as well as the Rotter-dam Convention. Although we have made good pro-gress in developed countries, the implementation o

legal instruments in developing countries always suersrom capacity challenges and nancial restraints.I we add the projections o climate change to this

scenario the challenge becomes all the more daunting.So, let me again emphasize the benet o having orumssuch as this one, where advocacy and inormation ex-change is o tremendous value in inorming decisionmakers and the leaders o tomorrow o the dangers otoday.

Thank you.

Chemicals, persistent organic pollutans and toxins otenhave a liespan that can aect several generations


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Summer-Fall 2010

or the well being o humankind and or any sustainablecommunity development.

All surace water is unsae in Malawi.Mainly, due tolack o fow and shared sources with animals.

Improvement o drinking water supply is a core el-ement o poverty reduction and community develop-ment.No water. No development.

ContaminationBiological contamination that comes rom ecal wasteendangers children and stands in the way o all socialand economic development.

The issue in Malawi andin like-communities world-wide can be reduced to 2 problem categories:- The biological contamination o surace water- The biological contamination o water rom pure ground sourc-

es (boreholes) ater it is taken rom that source.Contamination ater collection, during transporta-

tion and storage is increasingly being recognized as aworldwide issue o public healthIn most villages, women

and young girls are the primary collectors o drinkingwater.

Hygiene and Hands- The hygienic standards o womens hands were examined in 2

villages in Chickwawa, Southern Malawi.- In both locations over 55% o the primary collectors tested posi-

tive or E. Coli on their hands.- These percentages proved even higher on the hands o primary

school children.

E. Coli ContaminationThe presence o E. coli in their drinking water indi-

cates that the water has been contaminated by ecal mat-ter and thereore presented a risk o all diseases relatedto waste discharge, especially rom eces and urine.

Hand-to-Water Contact- We have realized that hand-to-water contact or nger dipping

is the primary cause o the deterioration o their water quality.- It is important to note that these villages have open latrines, no

toilet paper, little or no use o soap, and shared living areaswith livestock among other unsanitary practices.

- The majority o diseases in developing countries are inectiousdiseases in nature caused by bacteria, viruses and other mi-crobes, which are shed in eces.

Mr. Kurt Dahlin

Founder and President

of Water Wells for Africa

Child Health and Social

Development: Combating

Water Contamination in

Rural African Villages

Our eorts have grown to bring water to more than200,000 people each day.

Sick Water KillsMore Than 9-11, More Than Viet Nam, More Than

Hitler, More Than War.

War for Clean Water- In the past 10 years, diarrhea rom bad water has killed more

children than all the people lost to armed confict since WorldWar II.

- Diarrhea kills more than malaria each year.

Sick Water Kills A Child Every 15 Seconds- Beore the sun sets today 5,000 children will die rom diarrhea

caused by bad water, inadequate sanitation and poor hy-giene.

- That is the equivalent to ten 747 jets ull o kids crashing everyday.The ree access to sae drinking water should be con-

sidered the most basic human right.Water is essential

MadziNdiMoyo - Water is LIFEWater gives lie to everything, including human

development and human reedom.- UNDP 2006 REPORT: Beyond Scarcity

Across much o the developing world, unclean wateris an immeasurably greater threat to humansecurity than violent confict.

- UNDP 2006 REPORT: Beyond Scarcity


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Summer-Fall 2010

12

Top 3 Health Concerns- Diarrhea, ever, and dehydration rank as the greatest threats

concerning their children even in areas where boreholes exist.- All 3 o these top concerns directly relate to biologically contami-

nated water, and could be treated without medication i saewater were available.

Disease ReductionThe WHO (2004) estimates that i improvements

were made with sanitation in sub-Saharan Arica alone,434,000 child deaths due to diarrhea would be avertedannually.

Our OutlookAs long as the issue persists, our challenge persists.

The primary avenue or water contaminated in a villageis dirty hands. Research rom a water quality test con-ducted in Balaka, Southern Malawi, demonstrated that31% o diarrheal disease was reduced in children under5 when water collectors were given buckets that did notallow them to touch the water

Impact o SanitationIn the area o sanitation we seek to teach simple hy-

giene practices that reach the core o each problem withthe littlest upset to the villagers daily routine. Our goalis not only to promote health, but rather, in reducingdisease we seek to:- to increase opportunity or education- small-scale agriculture- social independence/personal choice- internal community development.

Our StrategiesThe strategies that we have implemented alleviate

the burden o disease in such a way that we have seen

advancement in these Millennium Development Goals:- More time or primary education- Reduction in child mortality- Improved maternal health, combating disease- Partnerships or global development.

Strategy: PartnershipWWFA has always partnered with indigenous leaders

(o any kind: religious, tribal, political, school teachers,etc.) and local networks, groups, businesses, and so on.

We seek to align our health hopes with local people whoare able to combat and replace unsanitary practices intheir own ways or their own communities.

Strategy: MothersWe know that they infuence the cleanliness o each

home as water collectors and homemakers. Rallying andeducating them has been a direct way to impact childhealth.

Basic Soultions- Personal Hygiene: The proper mixture o wood ash,

oil o any kind and water makes soap- Environmental Hygiene: Lye, which is an active in-

gredient in soap. Can be leached rom wood ash and

used to kill fy larva i poured in latrines.

More Benets o Ash- Washing hands with wood ash has proved to be as

eective to remove bacteria and virus as washing withsoap.

- Beyond hand washing, a mixture o ash, grease andwater washes dishes well.

- Carry ash in the bucket to the borehole and washinghands prior to lling the bucket

We have seen and can attest to the power o clean wa-ter, hygiene, and the power o partnership.

Solutions to ScaleWe do not eel that there will ever be a macro strategy

that can solve the rural crisis, but what we do know isthat micro solutions can be done and should be doneon a tremendous scale in order to combat the enormouschallenge beore us, the challenge known as the world

water crisis.

Ground water sources are being consideredas sae sources o water supply in rural

areas o Malawi ... Boreholes properly sitedare sae water sources.

Mr. Owen Lin-Phiri. The Regional WaterDevelopment Ocer in Blantyre, Malawi


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Summer-Fall 2010

As a result o these kinds o processes, all o useveryonein this room have dozens o synthetic chemicals in our bod-ies. Yet our knowledge o many chemicals is incomplete.What we do know is that they can aect children and un-born children to a much greater extent than they do adults.

Dangers also arise rom non-synthetic elements, suchas mercury. Mercury is not something we make, butsomething that we may mine or use in various products.Mercury is used in compact fuorescent bulbs, or exam-ple, which are less energy intensive than incandescentbulbs and can thereore help reduce greenhouse gasemissions related to electricity production.

Unortunately, mercury is also very harmul to humanhealth. Mercury is not just persistent; it is an elemento the earth. Once we bring mercury out o the earthscrust and introduce it into the biosphere, it stays aroundorever. Small amounts o mercury in the atmospheremay not introduce substantial harms. But when mercuryenters the atmosphere rom broken light bulbs or, moreimportantly, rom emissions o coal-red power plants,

it moves around and eventually settles on the ground or water. Coal inevitably contains some level o mercury,and even small percentages produce large eects in theaggregate when thousands or millions o tons o coal areburned over time. Some mercury settles in places like

wetlands, where it turns into methylmercury. Methyl-mercury is more pernicious than other orms becauseit can be readily absorbed by living things. When a littlesh eats some plankton that contains methylmercury, itretains the methylmercury in its own body. When thatsmall sh is eaten by a larger sh, the methylmercuryaccumulates again, thus biomagniying as it moves ur-ther up the ood chain. Organisms at the top o the oodchain, such as swordsh, seals, or humans, oten havelevels o methylmercury that are ar, ar higher than thebackground levels in water.

Why does this matter? Mercury is a potent neurologi-cal toxin. There is no sae threshold or mercury: it isalways bad or you. I someone like me gets exposed toa little methylmercury in sh, I will not worry about itmuch. I am not going to eat tuna sh every day, becausethat could actually lead to acute symptoms like tremors.But or a small child whose brain and organs are grow-

ing, or or an unborn child, exposure to mercury canchange orever how that person develops.

Like many toxic chemicals, mercury exposure is aglobal problem. In the United States exposure is typi-cally through sh consumption. In parts o China, sci-entists are now nding high exposure to methylmercuryeven where people do not eat sh, because mercury is inthe rice. Rice is grown in wet patties where mercury canmethylize. Mercury and other toxic chemicals are also a

Mr. Glenn Wiser

Senior Attorney

Center for International

Environmental Law

International Law and Chemicals

I would like to speak today about international lawand chemicals management. First, I will describe a ewo the risks that chemicals pollution pose to humanhealth, including why chemicals such as mercury pre-sent an issue o global concern. Second, I will providea very brie overview o some o the ways the United Na-tions system is responding to this concern.

1. The ChallengeThe global chemicals industry is a huge economic

orce that impacts all o us in many positive ways. Chemi-cals are used in nearly every aspect o our lives, and werely on them or many essential and benecial goods.

Unortunately, some chemicals have properties thatwe wish they did not. The properties that make chemi-cals so attractive in products are sometimes detrimental

when chemicals are released into the environment. Forinstance, DDT can be an eective treatment or killingmosquitoes that carry malaria because its toxicity lasts orsuch a long time. Yet because o its persistence, DDT re-leased in the environment has an unortunate tendencyto move northwards over time through air and water cur-rents, and even in migrating animals like sh and marinemammals. This can be a serious problem i you are anInuit living in Alaska and surviving o o seal, walrus, orsh country oods which have become contaminat-ed with industrial chemicals rom ar away. Other chemi-cals can ollow a similar trajectory, such as dioxins thatare unintentionally released into the atmosphere duringindustrial combustion processes and ultimately end upin ood. These also persist in the environment, movenorth through long-distance environmental transport,and bioaccumulate and biomagniy in the ood chain.

Another pervasive but lesser known class o persis-tent chemicals is brominated fame retardants. Flameretardants play an important role in preventing res andre-related deaths. Unortunately, brominated fame re-tardants can outlast their useulness and eventually ailto adhere to products such as electronics, carpets, andcurtains. Dust rom these products can migrate into ourood or we inhale it into our lungs, allowing these chem-icals to accumulate in our bodies.


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Summer-Fall 2010

14

transboundary problem. Inuit who have nothing to dowith the production or use o mercury are still exposedto it because, like DDT and dioxins, mercury can travelgreat distances through air and water currents.

2. International SolutionsIn the search or solutions to chemical contamina-

tion, international cooperation is essential. Why? As Inoted earlier, many old chemicals such as DDT, newer

ones like brominated fame retardants, and even ele-mental chemicals like mercury all share the unortunatequality o long range environmental transport. Indi-

vidual countries cannot always reduce chemical expo-sure by reducing their chemical production and use,because many chemicals are dispersed so widely romtheir sources. For example, the Inuit cannot protectthemselves rom industrial chemicals, because they donot have a hand in chemicals production. The UnitedStates could eliminate mercury releases by shuttingdown all o its coal-red power plants or by developingand implementing technologies to lter out the mercu-

ry emissions. Yet this would not solve the exposure prob-lem because o the long-range environmental transporto mercury rom other countries. China and India, orexample, burn a lot o coal and their strategy or devel-opment relies on burning a lot more.

A number o global treaties have been negotiated inresponse to the transboundary problems that chemicalscause. The Inuit people became an important spiritualorce in United Nations negotiations that resulted in theStockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollut-ants. A related agreement is the Rotterdam Conventionon Prior Inormed Consent, which requires countriesto obtain permission beore exporting extremely toxicchemicals to other countries. The Basel Convention onTransboundary Movement o Hazardous Wastes seeks toprevent the export o waste that can expose children andadults to many toxic chemicals. The Strategic Approachto International Chemicals Management is a voluntaryprocess to help countries use chemicals sensibly anddeal with chemical pollution.

These agreements go a long a way toward addressinginternational chemicals management problems. Theyalso present challenges in their own right, however.

An overabundance o treaties and voluntary processesmakes it hard or developing countries to administer allo them. In many developing countries, only one or twopeople may be in charge o dealing with chemicals regu-lation in their government, as well as with negotiatingand administering these treaties. It is also dicult to

deal with numerous interrelated treaties in a coherentashion. One reason is because the same countries arenot always parties to the same agreements. The UnitedStates is notorious or ailing to join environmental trea-ties. Even i combining two chemicals treaties would bemore ecient, some countries might not support doingso, to avoid complications that could arise rom tryingto deal with dierent membership in each treaty.

Last year the Governing Council o the United Na-tions Environment Programme decided to launch ne-gotiations on a mercury treaty, ater ten years o discus-sion on the issue. The negotiations will begin in Junein Stockholm. This is a welcome development, becausemercury contamination is a crucial issue that individualcountries cannot deal with on their own. On the otherhand, an additional treaty will compound the challeng-es o administration and coherence.

To be successul, the mercury treaty must accomplisha number o goals. Most important, it needs to addressthe supply issue. As I mentioned earlier, mercury never

goes away. Thus, what we need to do rst and oremostis prevent new mercury rom being mined and releasedinto the environment. Manuacturers can use recycledmercury or all essential mercury uses.

The treaty must also regulate international trade inmercury. Many mercury uses, or instance in dentalamalgam or lling cavities, are still prevalent through-out the world. Vast amounts o mercury are sold ostensi-bly as dental mercury in India, enough to ll the cavitieso billions o people. But this is not or what the mercuryis actually used. Instead, the mercury is illegally shipped

or use in artisanal small scale gold mining. This is aneconomically important activity throughout much othe world, but a terribly polluting one.

Finally, the treaty must address what to do with allthe mercury that has been released. Mercury does notgo away and in this respect it is even worse than nuclear

waste. At least nuclear waste might have a hal-lie othousands o years, but mercury must be stored oreveronce it is released. Sound, permanent storage is there-ore one o the challenges the treaty must resolve. Themercury treaty will also have to answer questions thatany treaty must deal with, including how to pay or these

improvements, who should pay, what technologies canbe used, and how to assist developing countries so thatthey can join in the common eort.

For those o you who are interested in environmentalprotection, sustainable development, and United Nationstreaty negotiations, international chemicals managementprovides a great case study and opportunity to learn andmake an important contribution. I hope that my talk haspiqued your interest to consider what you can do.

Mercury does not go away and in thisrespect it is even worse than nuclear waste


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Summer-Fall 2010

Mr. Ryan M. Powers

AidData Tracking

Development Finance

A New Way to Explore

Development Finance

Goals to be achieved by locating a New Avenue to Ex-plore Development Finance are as ollows:1. To Increase the Breadth o Development Finance

Data by augmenting traditional sources o ForeignAid Data

a. By Adding multilateral and bilateral donors not reporting atproject-level to OECD Creditor Reporting System

b. By Adding additional years data or donors that do report toCRS (e.g. IDA)

c. By Adding more types o development nance that have nothistorically been tracked by oreign aid databases

d. Several Examples:i. Non-DAC (Development Assistance Committee) Bi-lateral Donors in AidData1

ii. Average Yearly Commitments in AidData rom Non-DAC Donors: Kuwait with 535.52 millions USD in 2000,being the top donor

iii. Non-DAC (Development Assistance Committee) inAidData.2

iv. Total Flows in AidData by Source: rom less than$5000 millions o USD in 1947 to approximately $180000millions o USD in 20072.Improve the Quality o Development Finance Data

a.By Finding More Detailed Sources o Datai. CRS Reporting Donors with Alternative and Higher

Quality Data Sources.3

b. More Specic Categorization o Aid fowsi. According to the Aid Flows Overall Purpose, similar

to OECD CRSii. According to the specic activities unded by using a

new and more detailed coding scheme and a given aid fowcan be assigned multiple activity codes, based on OECDsector codes

c. All records are independently double coded by trained research-ers. Disagreements are arbitrated by a senior researcher

3. Improve Access to Development Finance Dataa.Introduction on how to use the search engine in AidData Website

i. Go to AidData Websiteii. Press Search AidDataiii. Three Selections.4

iv. Press the Search Button at the bottom and beginthe search

v. Details o a donation, including the Year, Donor, Re-cipient, Title, Commitment, Purposes can be then be ound

vi. Currency Units can be modied on the top righthand corner o the page

vii. Aggregate Financial Flows can also be ound on thetop o the page

viii. The data can be exported by pressing the to a CSVFile

ix. For details, press the View Details buttonx. Details can then be viewed. Should there be an er-

ror, press Report an Error in this Recordxi. Glossary can be located by pressing the Field Glos-

sary buttonxii. The page can be printed by pressing Print Recordxiii. The page can be shared via e-mail, acebook or

twitter

ConclusionA glance on the AidData Website

a. About: Explanation o AidData, its origins and its uturegoals

b. Blog: Use o the data to inorm the public discourse on develop-ment nance in real time

c. Research: Assembling public research that makes use o ourdataset

d. Help: A comprehensive Users Guide to AidData.org.

1. All include: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, India,Israel, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Monaco, Poland, Qatar,

Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emir-

ates

2. All include: African Capacity Building Foundation, BADEA, AFESD,

CAF, CDB, CERF, EBRD, UNDEF, IFC, ISDB, IMF, NDF, NADB, Montreal

Protocol Fund, OPEC

3. All include: African Development Bank Group (AFDB, AFDF, NTF),

Asian Development Bank (ASDF, ASDB), Global Environment Facility,

Global Fund, Inter-American Development Bank, International Fund for

Agricultural Development World Bank Group (IBRD, IDA), South Korea

4. The three selections are: 1. In the Select donor by name, type the

donor name, e.g. United States; 2.In the Select a group of donors,

select a box, e.g. Non-DAC Bilateral; 3.In the Select donor(s) by region,

Select a region, e.g. Africa


16/28


Summer-Fall 2010

16

H.E. Mr. Valeriy

Kuchinsky

Former Permanent Representative

of Ukraine to the United Nations

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, stu-dents, Ladies and Gentlemen, I think that by holdingtodays conerence, we are marking the 24th anniver-sary o the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, the

worst nuclear accident in the history o mankind. Weare remembering numerous victims o this terrible ca-tastrophe and are paying tribute to the governmentso Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, the most severely a-ected countries, and in act to the whole internationalcommunity or their strenuous eorts in minimizingthe ater eects o this terrible tragedy. There is yet an-

other opportunity or me to express our sincere grati-tude to the World Inormation Transer, its chair andCEO Dr. Christine Durbak, and her sta, or keepingthe Chernobyl issue alive and or disseminating ormany years expertise and proound knowledge o thesubject worldwide and or educating the younger gen-eration.

Nuclear Energy Update Chornobyl Review

H. E. Mr. Mykhajlo

Bolotskyh

Acting Minister of Emergency

of the Government of Ukraine

Distinguished Participants, on behal o the Gov-ernment o Ukraine, let me orward the most sinceregreetings to you. I would like to remind you that on the

26th o April we will mark the twenty-ourth anniver-sary o the Chernobyl disaster. The destroyed reactor othe Chernobyl power plant cast a bleak shadow on theentire civilization. This technological disaster joineda list o huge devastating tragedies; consequently the

words Chernobyl NPP illustrate an unprecedentedphenomenon: nuclear energy that got out o manscontrol.

What does Chernobyl mean or Ukraine? It is aboutmore than 2 million people aected by the catastropheand its consequences; almost 10 percent o the terri-tory is directly contaminated by the radiation; 160,000people were orced to move rom their homes and toother cities. The Chernobyl disaster became a nationaltragedy, the consequences o which are still visible. Ithas created social and economic problems that havenot diminished; they could be solved only by a complexapproach and through the joint eort o the state, sci-ence, NGOs, and o the people aected by Chernobyl,and the whole society, with the involvement o interna-tional assistance.

Ukraine is grateul to all donor states o the NuclearSaety Account and the Chernobyl Shelter Fund thatare providing nancial assistance or the constructiono storage acilities or spent nuclear uel and the trans-ormation o the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Shel-ter to an environmentally sae system. The construc-tion o the new sae connement structure is ready tobe started this summer. It is also important to nalizethe project on the construction o the storage or spentnuclear uel as well.

The President o Ukraine, during his visit to theUnited States, appealed to the leaders o the G8 andthe European Union, with a proposal to renew the sup-port in dealing with Chernobyl related issues in such adicult time or Ukraine, and to put orward eorts toensure continuous progress in the completion o nec-essary projects. We believe that the solidarity o nationsand states and the humanism o modern civilization

will not leave Ukraine alone without international aid.By common eort, we have to overcome horrible con-sequences o the disaster and to make sure that this willnever happen again.

AFTERNOON SESSION - Dr. Hanna Kapustyan, Mr. Denis Zdorov, H.E. Mr. Valeriy Kuchinsky, Dr. Christine K. Dur-

bak, Prof. Karl Grossman, Ms. Jessica Williamson, Ms. Bahar Shahpar, Mr. Remy Chevalier


17/28


Summer-Fall 2010

Mr. Denis Zdorov

Belarus Counsellor, Economic and

environmental issues, ECOSOC,UNDP, Second Committee

Statement of the Mission

of the Republic of Belarus

Madame, Chairman, Excellencies, Delegates, Col-leagues, Students, Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me tobegin by thanking Dr. Christine Durbak and her teamor her eorts to keep international attention ocusedon the Chernobyl issues. Almost 24 years have passedsince the worst manmade disaster o last century, thecatastrophe at the Chernobyl power plant. But to thisday, thousands o citizens o Belarus, the Russian ed-eration, and Ukraine, still suer rom its consequences.The 26 April 1986 became a tragic day or the wholeinternational community. From that very day, a new erahas begun: the post-Chernobyl Period.

Thanks to the eorts o the Government o theRepublic o Belarus and the assistance o our inter-national partners, we have made considerable pro-gress in solving the most urgent issues o emergencyassistance to the aected population o Belarus dur-ing the past two decades. Nevertheless, there are stilla number o actors that impede quick and ull-scaletransition to normal lie and determine the necessityor urther international cooperation. During the pastew years, Belarus has implemented a number o stateand private programs designed to eliminate the con-sequences o the Chernobyl catastrophe. Their imple-mentation has allowed Belarus to move orward romthe stage o minimization o the eects o Chernobylcatastrophe to the stage o sustainable developmento the aected territories. In this regard, coopera-tion with oreign partners, especially in felds such ashealth care, socioeconomic development, and scien-tifc study o the eects o the atomic radiation, ac-quires additional importance.

Belarus has made considerable progress in protect-ing the health o 1.3 million o its citizens, who contin-ue to live in the contaminated areas amongst 115,000liquidators. To achieve this goal, Belarus is persistentlyimplementing a wide range o measures aimed at im-proving the quality o health services. The governmento Belarus allocated considerable unds to constructhospitals and medical centers equipped with modernmedical equipment. The improvement o the nationalhealth care system was accompanied by regular prolicexamination o the aected population. One o the vis-ible results o these measures is the stabilization o themobility rate o the aected populations, and, starting

rom 1999, the decrease o primary mobility rate be-tween both adult and children populations.

To improve the health o people rom the aected ter-ritories, Belarusian authorities took vigorous measuresto arrange adequate nutrition and health rehabilitationor more than 200,000 school students. The renaissanceo the Belarusian economy and its provisions in sustain-able development o the aected territories is one o thepriorities o Belarusian state policy. Presently, the govern-ment o Belarus has ocused its main eorts on provid-ing normal conditions or lie and work or the aectedpopulation. Thereore, in recent years, particular atten-tion in the Chernobyl-aected territories was paid whensupplying gasoline, quality drinking water, constructedpreschool institutions, schools, hospitals, and other so-cio-cultural acilities. A generation o clean products thatmeet generally accepted standards is a necessary require-ment or sustainable development in the aected territo-ries. To this end, a number o comprehensive programsor the recapitalization o agricultural and orest enter-prises in the aected Gomil and Mogulov regions werecarried out. Procurement o dosimeters o livestock andertilizers or crops has been arranged. Several steps havebeen taken to provide treatment and establishment ocultivated lands or raising livestock at an area o almost40,000 hectares.

Sustainable development is a long-term process, which requires considerable investments. It is con-nected not only to the economic development, butalso to the social and psychological adaptation o peo-ple to new conditions o lie. At the same time, thesustainable development o aected territories, withtheir unique specifcities, is impossible without seri-ous international assistance. Such assistance shouldbe comprehensive, and the fnancially and scientif-cally grounded methodological assistance becomes ogreat importance. In this context, we highly appreci-ate the work on atomic radiation eects by the UnitedNations Scientifc Committee, a project aimed at thescientifc systematization o experienced gained ando recommendations given to rehabilitate and pro-

vide sustainable development in the aected territo-ries surrounding Chernobyl.

We are convinced that participation in this commit-tee o ull-fedged members and representatives romBelarus and Ukraine will increase its eciency, espe-cially in the Chernobyl Direction. Belarus, together

with the Ukraine, the Russian Federation, and otherUN member-states and agencies involved, stands orkeeping Chernobyl towards the top o the UN agenda.The Republic o Belarus intends to continue close co-operation with oreign partners on the whole spectrumo prevalent Chernobyl issues.

Thank you or your attention.


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Summer-Fall 2010

18

Dr. Hanna Kapustyan

Professor Kremenchuk State

Polytechnic University, Ukraine

Chornobyl: Power and Society

Your Excellencies, dear colleagues and welcomedguests, I would like to thank World International Transerand its President Dr. Christine Durbak or inviting me topresent our Project at this respected international orum!

The Ukrainians paid an incredibly high price or thatmindless experiment and incident at the Chornobyl Nu-clear Power Station. This disaster revealed the continueddisregard or human lives by the Soviet government andthe Communist leadership. They tried, similar to the1941-1945 Soviet-German battles to eliminate the radioac-tive problem by manipulating human lives. The Chorno-

byl disaster is a very complicated and prolonged phenom-enon. The National Report 20 years o the Chornobyldisaster: view into the uture stated that 2,307,000 peoplein Ukraine have victim status, among them there are near-ly 267,000 o direct participants o the disaster ater-eectsliquidation, among the victims more than hal a millionare children. The Chornobyl problem demands constantprolonged attention rom the government, cooperationwith other states and the international community.

In 2009 during the Parliamentary hearings the govern-ment declared that 23 years ater the Chornobyl disasterthe state hadnt provided the ulllment o social guaran-tees, the complex solution o ecological and technical prob-

lems, and the transormation o the Shelter object into anecologically saety system. The reason or this is the absenceo concrete responsibility in the system o organization andulllment o the adopted decisions at the state level. Thepresent condition demands a new, more ecient policy tocope with the ater-eects o the Chornobyl disaster con-cerning health care, environment, employment, and eco-nomic reorms. While trying to solve these complex prob-lems, the individuals health and uture lie were ignored.

Chornobyl emphasized another signicant problem which is prevalent in Ukraine, a total distrust o citizenso its political system. The unprecedented blockade o in-

ormation by the Communist regime regarding the situa-tion on the Chornobyl station, the nearby districts and themisinormation o society resulted in loss o trust rom thecitizens side towards the Soviet Communist social and po-litical system. It had become one o the undamental rea-sons o the Soviet Union disintegration.

A small untruth makes a big lie. A big lie turns into abig tragedy. The lie o the period o the Soviet Communistconstruction hid the truth about the 1932-1933 Genocide-Famine o the Ukrainian people, about political repres-

sions, about ungrounded numerous war losses during the1941-1945 Soviet - German battles, and about the danger-ous Chornobyl explosion. Disregard o human values in-evitably results in social tragedy. To eliminate global socialdeects is an arduous task which requires discipline anddedication.

The Chornobyl disaster stimulated the ormation o civ-il society in Ukraine, which demanded the truth rom thestate. The substantial role o the civil society in the 21st cen-

tury raised the questions about trust and cooperation be-tween the state institutions and public organizations. Themany-sided international activity o WIT in spreading theinormation about the real state o environment and ques-tions connected with the Chernobyl disaster and its ater-eects deserves much worth attention and commendation.

Ukraines breaking rom the Soviet society and the at-mosphere o horror and anxiety it created is a complicated

process. On one hand it was an objective demand o theprogressive part o society to live in a European community,where the roots and traditions o legal and democratic stateo Ukraine began. I remind you that in the Middle Agesmany Ukrainian cities were ruled under the MagdeburgLaw. (Magdeburg Law is a culture o social governmentwith eudal power restriction, the participation o dierentsocial categories o population in social, economical andpolitical lie o a city.) Then in 1710 Hetman o Ukraine Py-lyp Orlyk wrote the rst, in the existing world, Constitutionand it was written or Ukraine. The Pylyp Orlyks Constitu-tion dened the principles o various power branches: leg-islative, executive and judicial. By the way, the Orly airport

in Paris was named ater our compatriot Pylyp Orlyk.Historical traditions o democracy and public participa-

tion avor the European political system or Ukraine. How-ever the great obstacle is the Ukrainian politicians. Theyconsideration only the material aspects o the West, such ascars, lie styles, villas, and clothes. They absolutely ignorethe intellectual and moral heritage o Europe rom ancienttimes to the present. That was the actor that ormed Eu-rope as a unique civilization ocusing on human values.That is another reason Why has Chornobyl happened? The Chornobyl disaster summed up the proletarian policyo the Soviet political regime ormed by Stalin; a civiliza-

tion, unique in its cruelty to destroy all human values andmorals and ocus only on its own elite.Ater the Soviet Union disintegrated, Ukraine revived

its independent state; but it didnt cope with the nationalbureaucracy, which impedes any progressive projects romrealization. For example, the international public organ-ization WIT, its ounder and head, Dr. Christine K. Dur-bak authorized me to appeal to the representatives o theUkrainian authority with the proposal o carrying out theChildrens Recovery Project in Ukraine. The group o

The Chornobyl disaster summed up the proletarianpolicy of the Soviet political regime formed by Stalin


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highly qualied American doctors were to give ree medi-cal aid to sick Ukrainian children with modern medicalequipment that was to be let in Ukraine. The Governor oPoltava region, Mr Valeriy Asadchev, was interested in thisProject, which was to be held in the Poltava regional chil-drens hospital. He applied with a petition to the appropri-ate state authorities to get permission or American doctorsto give medical services to Ukrainian children. However,the Ministry o Health Care o Ukraine demanded that the

American doctors to validate their educational certicatesin Ukraine. Finally the Ministry ocials reused to carryout the procedures saying that they are too busy! This typeo bureaucracy, which was originated by the Soviet systemimpedes the realization o progressive ideas in any society.Sick children can not wait. They need medical aid. Thisis veried by statistics. However, currently the Ukrain-ian bureaucracy is not interested in the health o utureUkrainian nation.

How can we progress? First, we should stop thinkingthat all obligations depend on politicians. In reality, every-thing begins and nishes with a particular person or groupas is mentioned in the issues o the World Ecology Reportjournal with the words o Margaret Mead Never doubt thata small group o thoughtul committed citizens can changethe world; indeed, its the only thing that ever has.

It is vitally important or the current Ukrainians and orthe uture Ukrainian youth to realize the importance o re-spect or human values and morals which were the charac-teristics o the Ukrainian people since its ounding in the9th century. One part o the national educational system isto learn the historical experience o previous generations,and the ormation and upholding o Ukrainian state sys-tem or the uture.

The educational project The stages o Ukrainian statesystem which is a project o the Mykhailo OstrogradskyKremenchuk State University includes the the areas oKremenchuk Chyhyryn - the village o Subbotov Hol-odnyi Yar. It reviews the stereotypes born during the so-viet regime and ocuses o the value o democracy in theUkrainian society. The details o this project are in the or-

mer issue o the World Ecology Report. As the head o thisProject, I would like to give thanks to the Board o Direc-tors o the journal and to Dr. Christine K. Durbak or theopportunity to inorm the public about this Project.

Dear colleagues, I wish you good health and happiness.I wish your impression o Ukraine will extend past the dis-aster in Chornobyl and include with the uture HolodnyiYar, which is one o the most beautiul places in Ukraine.I am sure this project will help us become better Ukrain-ians. Thank you or your attention.

PANEL DISCUSSION

Nuclear Energy, Media, and Activism:

Shaping the Opinion of Youth,

Government, and Society.

Ms. Jessica Williamson

Moderator

Leader in Green Media Movement,

host of ZapRoot, and New

Filmmakers Series in Hollywood

Im going to start with a story o the Rainbow Warrior.In 1985, the Rainbow Warrior, the fagship boat or theGreenpeace feet sailed into Auckland Harbor. The ship

was in Auckland, New Zealand, preparing to visit MuroroaAtoll or a major campaign against French nuclear testing

in the South Pacic. But the voyage was not to be. SinceApril 29th, 1978, the Rainbow Warrior sailed all aroundthe world drawing attention to the destructive horrors o

waling, seal clubbing, nuclear testing and other environ-mentally unriendly issues. While igniting enthusiastic ac-tivism against these atrocities, the Rainbow Warrior hadnot previously visited New Zealand but decided to launchits journey to French Polynesia rom there.

At the time, New Zealand was massively anti-nuclear.America threatened to suspend their obligations to theANZUS Treaty, which basically provided the tiny coun-try o New Zealand with American military support andmilitary intelligence, in order to allow nuclear ships into

New Zealand waters. The code name or this was Opera-tion Satanic. In April o 1985, a French, woman knownas Frederique Bonlieu was helping out in the Green-peace oce in Auckland. Her real name was ChristineCabon and she was, in act, a secret service agent. Hermission was to inltrate Greenpeace and lay the ground-

work or the French saboteurs who were planning tobomb the Rainbow Warrior. The rst bomb exploded at11:38 PM. Everyone was ordered o the ship but somedashed back to save their possessions and drowned.

The story swept the headlines. New Zealanders mournedthe deaths o their ellow countrymen and the New Zea-

land government declared the bombing an act o terrorism.The French government denied all knowledge but, as theevidence mounted, acknowledged their role. The Frenchgovernment ceased all nuclear testing in the South Pacic.

The sinking o the Rainbow Warrior became the cru-cial tipping point in New Zealands nuclear-ree policy.The onslaught o media attention rom the story that

would not go away combined with ensuing public out-rage helped to transorm New Zealands nuclear-reepolicy rom a minority position to a national policy. Be-

The Chornobyl disaster stimulated the ormationo civil society in Ukraine, which demanded

the truth rom the state.


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cause the stories maintained staying power, New Zea-lands three-decade anti-nuclear campaign is the onlysuccessul movement o its kind in the world.

The Rainbow Warrior is not the only story o this kind.Three Mile Island, Chornobyl and the Cuban Missile Cri-sis are all stories that wouldnt go away and linger as cau-tionary collective tales. They caused so much panic andoutrage amongst the people, particularly young people,that they protested, marched, made music, ormed alli-

ances and created organizations that ultimately succeed-ed in taking down the nuclear industry towards the endo the 20th century. That is, until now. These stories thateverybody expected to last are practically gone.

Lets go back to mid 20thcentury or a bit o history.On August 6, 1945, the US dropped an atomic bombon Hiroshima and three days later on Nagasaki. Thenon August 1, 1946, Harry S. Truman signed the Atom-ic Energy Act. On October 6, 1947, the atomic energycommission investigated the possibility o peaceul useo atomic energy. Ironically, the same year that nuclearenergy was being birthed, Einstein reerred to what he

called the chain reaction to awarenesswe must carrythe acts o atomic energy. From there must come Amer-icas voice. At this point, Americas voice was cloakedin secrecy, concealed by war, and hidden very deeply

within the darkest wells o the Pentagon so that the ordi-nary citizen had no idea what was going on.

Americas voice was only coming rom the media. Wil-liam Laurence was a New York Times reporter and oneo the rst people to present the acts on atomic energy.Leslie Groves, head o the Manhattan Project, invitedLawrence to join. So while Laurence was one o the rst

journalists to present the acts on saety and reliability oatomic energy, he was also a member o the Manhattan

Project at the time. During the Manhattan Project, West-inghouse and GE became contractors. Later on, West-inghouse became owners o the two largest televisionnetworks, CBS and NBC. June 14, 1952, the Nautilus,

which was the worlds rst nuclear powered sub, was putto sea and signaled the next nuclear era.

During this period o time, the public had started todevelop a negative opinion towards atomic bombs. We

were in the middle o an already out o control arms raceand tensions between the United States and the SovietUnion were only escalating. At the same time, certainpeople were becoming concerned about the health and

environmental impacts o radioactive allout rom at-mospheric testing in the Marshall Islands. On Novem-ber 2,1957, New Statesman magazine published an ar-ticle by JB Priestley on Britain and nuclear bombs. Thisarticle led to the ormation o the CND, the Campaignor Nuclear Disarmament. Since its ormation, the CNDhas sporadically headed the oreront o the anti-nuclearand peace movements.

In 1958, the CND created an iconic image aimed atcapturing young peoples attention the peace sign. The

peace sign was initially an anti-nuclear logo designed byGerlad Holtom. A decade later, the logo became an in-ternational symbol or peace. Then on Easter Sunday,in 1958, the CND supported the rst protest on nucle-ar energy, the Aldermaston Marches. Over 200 peoplemarched rom Aldermaston into London. Aldermastonsongs also came rom the movement. This rst spoke tothe dierence in attitude between the CND leaders who

wanted to march in silence and the youth in the march

who wanted to sing and play guitar. John Brunners song,The H-bomb Thunder became the unocial anthem.

In 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis took place and theCND immediately organized protests to demonstrate onthe issue. The heightened tension rom the Cuban Mis-sile Crisis combined with the public outcry ultimatelyconvinced US President John Kennedy to sign the Par-tial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963, which prohibitedall tests in nations except or those underground. Thisera marked the beginning o the war against the nuclearindustry, and the Cuban Missile Crisis was the catalystthat won the battle against atmospheric testing. At this

point, CND numbers began to dissipate and people o-cused on what was happening in Vietnam.This next chapter marked the most powerul activ-

ist movement. This movement was largely driven by theyouth and occurred as the environmental movement wasbeing ormed. Today marks the anniversary o the rstEarth Day. Earth Day was designed to inspire awarenessand appreciation or the Earths environment, oundedand created by peace activist John McConnell. At thistime, the nuclear power industry combined with protec-tion and support rom the government established dur-ing the previous era had very high ambitions. The nucle-ar power industry had plans to build reactors and power

plants all over the United States and around the globe. In1973, the US utilities ordered 41 power plants, which wasa one year record. By the end o this period, installed nu-clear power rose rom less than one gigawatt to over 100gigawatts in the late 70s and over 300 in the late 1980s.

During the same time, Hollywood lmmakers oeredlms with a distinctive anti-nuclear persuasion, ,begin-ning with two lms about the atomic crisis: Fail Sae andDr. Strangelove. Then The China Syndrome came out,

which was arguably one o the most infuential lms evermade. Twelve days beore the Three Mile accident, onMarch 16, 1969, The China Syndrome was released. Di-

rected by James

Documents

World Ecology Report 2010 Summer Fall Vol XXII No 2 3