road protests 1997
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Date: Tue, 06 May 1997 23:48:30 +0100
From: Road Alert!
To: roadalert@gn.apc.org
Subject: Anti-nuclear protests in Ukraine and Russia
A report from our eastern comrades / star brothers and sisters...
ACTIVISTS BLOCKADED PRESIDENT'S RESIDENCE IN KIEV/UKRAINE
On April, 23th, the eve of 11th Anniversary of Chernobyl, group of
activists from enviromental movement "Rainbow Keepers",
"Ecodefence"(Ecozahust) and NECO groups blockaded Ukrainian Presiden's
residance in Kiev/Ukraine to protest Ukrainian nuclear policy.
Activists demanded that President and Government
- shut downthe Chernobyl' NPP,
- to refuse their plans of creating a "closednuclear fuel cycle" in
Ukraine and starting-up new reactors at Rivno and Khmelnitsky NPPs. -
to stop uranium mining in Ukraine and to stop Nuklear Energy
Development Program and to redistribute the finances from this program
in developing of energy effitiency technologys.
Ukrainian Energy Production has decreased by30%,
due to a lack of demand, which is related to economical crysis.
Furthermore Ukrainian Parlament has refused financial help to stop
Chernobyl NPP. Instead of that, 9.04.1997, the Parlament desided to
finance a starting-up a 2-nd Chernobyl reactor, which is in need of
repaer.
The Government is also planing to complete the new reactors in Rivno
and Khmelnitsky NPPs, and has issued the resolution which will create
a closed nuclear cycle in the Ukraine including mining, production,
usege, processing and storing of nuclear fuel. That will make
possible for Ukraine to produce nuclear fuel by itself. As a result
the ukranian nuclear industry will develop and will allow to start
and use new reactors. The accompanying uranium mining will grow by a
factor of 3.
On April, 23, early in the morning, the center of Kiev was crowded
with militia carring mashine-guns. The streets where the Presidental
and other governmental buildings are located were blocked and all
central streets were patroled. It was already 3rd Chernobyl
anniversary, when the Government forbided all kind of public actions.
Using secondary streets, there were only 11 activists, who
succeeded in coming close to the residence. There was much press
coverege including 15 video-cameras from main national TV- chanals,
BBS, Reuter etc. The activists unrolled a banner and chained themselves to
the gates. Then an improvised press-conference took plase for 45
minutes, untill activists were arrested without any previous warnings.
After 6 houres they were released with obligation to come to the court
23.05.97.
The next day there was a press-conference organized with activists and
Vladimir Usatenko, expert of Parlament's Chernobyl comission. Unlike
last years, media coverage was active and quite positive.
All national TV- channels were running
reports about the action for 2-3 days, and majority of
national newspars had articles about the protest on the first page.
For 3 years now groups have worked together organizing those
kinds of direct actions in Kiev. Last year after the blockade of
Kabinet of Ministers 25 activists were arrested and 5 of them jailed
for 3-5 days.
From July15th to August15th 1997 the "Rainbow Keepers" movement,
wich is active on the xUSSR teritory, will also organize an international
direct action camp against the completition of Rostov NPP.
For more information or a copy of the video contakt:
"Rainbow Keepers", "Ecodefence", NECO
tel: (38044) 263-4954, 265-7628, 417-8956
PO Box:322, Kiev 252187, Ukraine
E-mail: rk@cci.glasnet.ru
/ nadia@gluk.apc.org
INTERNATIONAL PROTEST CAMP IN SUMMER 1997 IN RUSSIA
In 1996, year of Chernobyl unniversary, the radical environmental
movement the "Rainbow Keepers" had renewed his antinuclear activity.
In April, on the day of Chernobyl unniversary, in Kiev, activists from
the "Rainbow Keepers" and from other environmental groups blocaded
Ukrainian Kabinet of ministry with the slogan "Stop Nuclear Expantion
in Ukraine". The militia attaked protesters, and 5 of them was
sentenced to 3 and 5 days of arrest. The same action has repeated on
April 23rd, 1997.
In August the "Rainbow Keepers" will organize a strong campaign
against completion of the Rostov NPP building in Russia. After 5 weeks
of vicious strugle with actions in many points of Rostov region, the
"Rainbow Keepers" sucseeded to make local power refuse from their
plans of RoNPP immediate completion.
But the problem has to be decided finaly. So, we are going to make a
big international campaign to reach that.
We need a wide support for that so as your personal participation and
as financial and info ones.
We are planing to make an activ campaign from 15 July to 15 August
1997 and we are asking european environmental and anarchy - groups to
try do not plan your oun international actions for the same time, and
to include our action to your calendars. ******************
"Rainbow Keepers" - it's radical enviromental movement, wich is
mostly active on the x-USSR territory, and known for it's
non-compromise strugle for defending enviroment so as methods of
subotage and as methods of popular summer camps of protest. The
movement knowm not the less than Greenpeace, but hasn't permanent
buget and payment staff.
You have an unique possibility to participate in our summer camp of
protest, in workshops and discutions near a bonfire, in blocades and
demonstration, and, maybe, if you'll be luky, you'll have an excurtion
to the russian jail. You can be sure, you'll have a chance to
acquaint with militia and NPP security forces at least.
If you want to participate this action, please inform the working
group beforehand, so that we can make an official invitation for your
in time.
Also, we are asking to analise the possibility of info-, financial
and other support and to spread this infirmation as wide as possible.
***************************************************
For additional info and for any other questions, please, contact
with members of working group personly, to avoid missunderstandings.
Working group contacts:
Nadia Shevchenko, Irina Korol
<nadia@gluk.apc.org,
rk@cci.glasnet.ru>,
Sergey Fomichov <
tw@cci.glasnet.ru>,
Vlad Tupikin and Artem Shlenov
<rk@glas.apc.org>
P.O.Box 14, Nizhni Novgorod, 603082, Russia.
For urgent contacts, plase call:
(38044) 263-49-54 Nadia or Irina (Rus., Ukr., English)
7 (831) 354-38-96 Sergey (Rus., English)
7 (095) 311-11-80 Vlad (Rus.)
7 (095) 278-51-77 Artem (Rus., English)
7 (095) 954-91-93 Maxim (Rus., Spanish)
Fax: (38044) 550-60-68 (for Nadia or Irina)
or 7 (095) 298 30 87 (for Rainbow Keepers)
**************************************************************
Prague International Anti-Nuclear Office
Chvalova 3
Praha 3
13000 Czech Rep.
tel:+420-2-9003-1895
http://www.ecn.cz/private/piano
***************************************************************
road protests 1997
| road protests (current)
| movement links