Adi Roche (right) greeting a child affected by the Chernobyl disaster. RollingNews.ie photo.
By Ray O’Hanlon
rohanlon@irishecho.com
Thirty years is a good portion of an average lifespan.
It is nothing in terms of nuclear half-life.
Three decades after the world heard of Chernobyl for the first time and for the most frightening of reasons, Tipperary native Adi Roche, CEO and Founder of Chernobyl Children International, is today speaking to the UN General Assembly during what is a special session coinciding with the anniversary.
Chernobyl is in the Ukraine, but it the Belarusian government that is donating its speaking time to Roche in recognition of the international role Ireland and the Chernobyl Children International charity have played in helping the victims of the Chernobyl catastrophe.
Chernobyl Children International is the only UN-recognized NGO working in the Chernobyl area.
Roche, a former Irish presidential candidate, described the invitation as “the greatest possible honor to speak on the highest world stage about an issue that has been my life’s work.”
Roche has been in New York for the past few days and on Sunday attended the 1916 commemorative ceremonies in Lower Manhattan.
In her address, Roche will draw particular attention to the heroism, the plight, and the continuing needs of the 700,000 Chernobyl “liquidators.”
These were the soldiers and civilians, helicopter pilots, firemen, miners and engineers who were sent to Chernobyl to undertake the deadly task of trying to contain the leaking radiation from the crippled nuclear reactor.
Many of them died.
Others have had to live with radiation induced lifelong illnesses and almost all struggle with medical, psychological and financial difficulties, said a release from CCI.
Roche will, in her UN address, urge the speedy completion of the $1.5 billion sarcophagus that is being built to make Chernobyl safe for the next hundred years.
Ireland has contributed €8 million to this fund.
Forty countries and international agencies are funding the massive project, which, according to the CCI statement, has been delayed many times.
“On this the thirtieth anniversary of the worst nuclear disaster in history, it is a chilling reminder that the effects of this catastrophic nuclear accident are far from over.
“The radioactive contamination is still having an adverse effect on the lives and health of the people of the Chernobyl regions.
“For many people, thirty years ago is like reading ancient history; however for the victims it remains an unfolding tragedy,” Roche said.
New research shows that far from the Chernobyl crisis being over, the rate of thyroid cancer has almost doubled since 2000 among exposed children.
“Chernobyl is not something from the past. Chernobyl was forever, Chernobyl is forever.
“The impact of that single shocking nuclear accident can never be undone.
“Its radioactive footprint is embedded in our world forever and countless millions of people are still being affected by its deadly legacy,” said Roche.
