Home Page About ECEN Orientation Page Contents & Site Map What's New? Notice Board Join the Network Add Material to Site

ECEN Assemblies ECEN Working Groups Countries & Regions Organisation Links ECEN Secretariat ECEN Webmaster ECEN Enabling Team ECEN Resources

Fifteen years after Chernobyl:

European Christian Environmental Network to meet in Belarus

In the fifteenth year following the nuclear catastrophe in Chernobyl (Ukraine), the European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN) plans to hold its Assembly in the country most seriously-affected by the nuclear fall out: Belarus. The Network's Enabling Team (co-ordinating group) met from 27-31 October 2000 in the capital, Minsk, primarily in order to plan the sessions and also to meet with Church representatives and other NGOs in the country. Following these encounters, the Enabling Team decided ultimately to invite the members of the Network and the European Churches to its 2001 Assembly (26 - 31 May) at the winter sports resort of Raubitschi, just outside Belarussian Minsk.

In choosing Belarus as the Assembly venue, the Network has responded to an earlier invitation extended by His Eminence Metropolitan Filaret of the Russian Orthodox Church (Belarussian Exarchate). At a reception which His Eminence offered to the Enabling Team, Metropolitan Filaret underlined how important for the people of his country it was that the ECEN Assembly will take place in Belarus.

"We need to undertake any effort to support the people of this country, who are not only the most seriously-affected by the Chernobyl catastrophe, but who also endure many other hardships. Your conference will help to raise some important issues and to inform the international community about the real situation," he added. The Metropolitan also committed himself to encourage the other Orthodox Churches to send delegations to the ECEN Assembly.

In October 2000, the Enabling Team also heard similar reports from other NGOs. Gennadij Gruschevoj, from the Children of Chernobyl Foundation, said: "The situation is becoming worse . Many post-Chernobyl diseases have broken out only recently and to a large extent people are left entirely alone. In one hospital in Minsk, where victims of Chernobyl are treated, only 2.5% of all newborn children are healthy. At the same time, scientific assessment stations are being closed down and the annual report, issued to date by the government, has been cancelled. We need the support of the international community more than ever and we need to link Chernobyl to other environmental issues."

Prof Nestorenko, representing another scientific NGO, explained the extent of the damage caused by Chernobyl. In a very recent presentation to the Council of Europe, he offered the available data. Meeting with the Enabling Team, he added: "People who say that the impact of Chernobyl is somewhat small and ever-diminishing are lying. There is a need to raise awareness because even a few simple measures can make a huge difference. The public needs to face the issue."

Following these and similar appeals from Belarussian organisations, the Enabling Team desired even more to respond positively to the invitation of His Eminence Metropolitan Filaret: " About 80 came and see for yourselves the continuing devastating effects of the greatest environmental catastrophe of our century." It is expected that about 80 representatives from European Churches mandated to work on environmental issues will attend the Assembly next May. For many coming to Belarus this constituted a new and valuable experience.

Our Hosts