Friday, 25th September 2009
10 Years - Euro MP brings hope to Polygon
Scottish Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson has returned to Kazakhstan for his tenth visit, to bring aid to the victims of Soviet nuclear tests in the Polygon around Semey.
Over many years, he has campaigned vigorously to expose the legacy of the Soviet nuclear tests and to raise cash for the men, women and children affected.
During the visit, Mr Stevenson addressed the international conference “Echo of the Polygon and a world without nuclear war” in the Shakarim State University, Semey, stressing the importance of President Nazarbayev’s victory in stopping the nuclear tests, providing a unique role model for the rest of the world to follow.
It is also 60 years since the first explosion has been made in the area, inflicting a national tragedy on the Kazakh nation.
Mr Stevenson also for the 8th time visited the village of Znamenka, one of the villages worst affected by radiation from the 607 nuclear devices exploded during the Soviet era, near 'Ground Zero'. It was his first visit to Znamenka ten years ago that started this odyssey to assist the victims of the Cold War. This time Mr Stevenson unveiled a plague re-naming the village main street as Struan Stevenson Street. It was formerly called Lenin Street.
The MEP also handed over a further USD 5000 cheque to the Akim of the village on behalf of the Mercy Corps Semipalatinsk Fund to help with social projects in the village. This latest donation will take the total Mr Stevenson has raised from the sale of his book ‘CRYING FOREVER’ to $115,000, which has all been donated to local children's hospitals, oncology hospitals, village clinics and micro-credit funds in the area of the Polygon.
Speaking at a press conference in Almaty Struan Stevenson said:
“I first visited Semipalatinsk in August 2000 and it was an experience that profoundly affected me. The memories I have of children in the orphanages, of patients in the cancer wards, and of the impoverishment of the villages in the Polygon, will remain with me forever. That is why I come back every year and that is why I try to do everything I can to help. It seems to me wrong for the West to sit back and ignore the plight of the people of Semey. These are the real victims of the Cold War and the Cold War involved the West. The Soviet Union waged nuclear war on its own people and now the victims need our help and support.”
