2002 World Conference against A & H Bombs

International Meeting

Gulsum Kakimzhanova

Union of Nuclear Test Victims “IRIS”

Since its foundation, the Union of Nuclear Test Victims “IRIS” has played a role in spreading information about the effects of the Semipalatinsk nuclear testing site and of nuclear tests on people’s health and on the environment.

Following a resolution adopted at the 52^nd United Nations General Assembly in 1999, an international meeting on the Semipalatinsk nuclear testing site was held in Tokyo, with the backing of the Japanese government. During the meeting, the Japanese government expressed its support for the victims of the nuclear tests, and it has indeed contributed to maintaining the people’s health. In recent years, a civic organization in Hiroshima City has also run the “Hirishima-Semipalatinsk Project”. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to the people of Hiroshima and Japan.

I would like to take this opportunity to share with you our new activities.

In 2001, 25 anti-nuclear NGOs in Kazakhstan jointly organized a working group to address problems of radioactive waste. Several MPs had submitted a bill to the parliament, the intention of which was to allow radioactive waste to be brought into the country. I am a coordinator of this anti-nuclear NGO group.

We oppose the bill which allows radioactive waste to be brought into the country. We are planning to hold public hearings in five cities this coming September to make a report on public opinion on the bringing-in of radioactive waste. We are going to submit the report to the parliament.

I would like to ask for your support.

If you have any ideas, I would also like to ask you to please send them to us. The government of Kazakhstan and the republic parliament are also accepting information.

Thank you.