Alyona Kuidina
Anti-nuclear Ecological Public Fund "Phoenix"
Kazakhstan
My name is Alyona Kuidina. I represent here Antinuclear Ecological Public fund "Phoenix".
I heard for the 1st time about the Japanese tragedy when I was 10 years old, but I couldn't realize that in my land we have one of the most terrible things of humanity, the Semipalatinsk test-site. I was 11 years old when I saw pictures of victims which were taken by my father. I think you have seen my father's photo exhibition in the Hall of the Conference: it's called "Kazakhstan Nuclear Tragedy."
My father, Yuri Kuidin is no longer with us, but we still have his pictures as a silent witness of this sorrow. It's a weird thing, but in the territory of Kazakhstan, we have not only the Semipalatinsk test-site, but also several small ones, secret ones. For many years people didn't know the truth.
The truth is proved with the photo history and with the organization of Nevada-Semipalatinsk history. When we found out about other test-sites in Kazakhstan we decided to invite such organizations which would tell the world and show the true picture of victims' lives and which would do its best to help these people. After this the fund "Phoenix" was initiated and the 1st work was published, that is the photo album "Kazakhstan Nuclear Tragedy". Our Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev brought 300 copies of this photoalbum to the U.N. Assembly, where the resolution about rehabilitation of this region was adopted, and as a result of this, about 1 million 6 hundred people were helped.
Seeing the horrors of victims' lives when they don't have money to buy medicine, food, clothes, when they donft have friends we decided to publish on the Internet addresses of children who suffered from this or that test-sites and whom people can help (www. phoenix.org.kz). I think if everyone helps at least one child we'll make this world better.
I'd like to emphasize once more the importance of the elimination of all nuclear weapons. Look at the pictures of the children: they are vivid examples of what would happen to our next generation if we don't stop the government. And the elimination of nuclear weapon and their remains is our priority. You cannot see the radiation, you can't feel it and you can't touch it, but the consequences of it are terrible.
The Fund "Phoenix" is planning to publish a photo album about Chinese test-site Lop-Nor and Azgir and about consequences of explosions on these test-sites, and also to publish more addresses from Azgir test-site territory, and continue educational programmes.
I'd like to thank all of you who share your thoughts and ideas about
peace with me. Let's continue to struggle for a nuclear free future.