online – Zaporizhzhia: Facing the Dangers of Nuclear Plants in War and Peace

As we learned from Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima, dangers are inherent to the generation of nuclear power.  These dangers expand exponentially in wartime. With six reactors, Zaporizhzhia is the largest nuclear plant in Ukraine and all of  Europe. It has been occupied by Russian military forces since early March but has continued to be operated by its Ukrainian staff.  Near the frontline of the war, the plant has been damaged by shelling of disputed origins, and all six reactors have been shut down. Faced with the dangers of a possible incident that could transform the plant into a massive dirty bomb and fallout impacting much of Europe and possibly Russia, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been leading efforts to establish a safety and security zone at, and around, the plant.

In this webinar, Russian and U.S. experts will explain the present situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant, the dangers by the plant and others across Ukraine, and what the international community do to prevent a nuclear catastrophe.

Oleg V. Bodrov is an engineer-physicist, environmentalist, former member of the Council of IPB, chairman of the Public Council of the South Coast of the Gulf of Finland, St. Petersburg, Russia. He was elected a board member of the International Peace Bureau in October 2022.

A leader of the Russian peace, environmental protection and nuclear safety movements, Bodrov works in coalition with partners from the Baltic Sea countries is working to reduce the level of confrontation between NATO and Russia in the Baltic.   He is one of the organizers of the campaign “The Baltic Sea – the sea of peace, peace among people and environmental protection!”

He has authored reports at international anti-war conferences in Helsinki, Paris, New York, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, produced documentaries on the consequences of nuclear weapons production and “peaceful nuclear energy, which are translated into English, German and Japanese, and promotes safe decommissioning of nuclear power plants based on world best practices and democratic participation of authorities, the nuclear industry and the public.

Linda Pentz Gunter founded Beyond Nuclear in 2007 and serves as its international specialist as well as its media and development director. She also writes for and curates Beyond Nuclear International. Prior to her work in anti-nuclear advocacy, she was a journalist for 20 years in print and broadcast, working for USA Network, Reuters, The Times (UK) and other US and international outlets.

This program is sponsored by MAPA Nuclear Disarmament Working Group and the MAPA Peace & Climate Working Group.   Register to attend.

Photo: The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is seen outside the Russian-controlled city of Enerhodar, Ukraine, August 22, 2022. Reuters/Alexander Ermochenko