The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, together with the global doctors’ charity Medact, will today (Tuesday) mark the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. Renowned experts on nuclear safety and the medical impact of radiation releases will join with former environment minister Michael Meacher and Caroline Lucas MP to discuss Chernobyl, Fukushima and the plans for new nuclear power stations in the UK.
CND campaigners will also hold a vigil outside parliament directly before the meeting (from 4.30pm-6.00pm, opposite Portcullis House), remembering those affected by the disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima and calling for no more nuclear power.
The meeting will be hosted by Caroline Lucas MP and will feature:
Michael Meacher MP, former Environment Minister
Professor Sir Dillwyn Williams, University of Cambridge, past President of both the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Pathologists
Dr Paul Dorfman, University of Warwick, Nuclear Consultation Group and former co-secretary to the UK governmental committee examining the risks of sources of radiation internal to the body
Time: 6pm, Today, Tuesday 26th April
Location: Grimond Room, Portcullis House, Parliament
Kate Hudson, General Secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said “It is unbelievable that on the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, with the world facing a new nuclear catastrophe at Fukushima, the UK remains committed to building new nuclear power stations. We will be remembering all those affected by the spread of radiation from these disasters and reflecting on why this government remains committed to going ahead with new nuclear power stations in the UK.
“The impact of radiation from Chernobyl is still being felt to this day – more than a generation on from the catastrophe. No one knows how severe and how long-lasting the ongoing releases from Fukushima will prove to be. What is clear is that however much technology improves, catastrophic failures at nuclear power stations can have effects massively greater both in their geographical spread and duration, than almost any other human activity. For these reasons, together with the ongoing risk of nuclear weapons proliferation from the global spread of these technologies, it should be increasingly clear that dirty, dangerous and expensive nuclear power is not the answer to our energy needs.”
– ends –