Event Details
Macalester Russian Studies, in partnership with the Belarusian Student Support Association and American Councils for International Education, will host a webinar dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the Chernobyl tragedy. Email [email protected] to receive the zoom link.
The discussion, in English, moderated by Kevin Reiling ’98, will focus on personal stories of families affected directly by the Chernobyl disaster that occurred on April 26, 1986. Participants will discuss how Chernobyl affected individuals and how to avoid past mistakes in Belarus when authoritarianism and decisions made by the state directly impact people’s safety. Using a photo project by art critic Olga Bubich as a touchstone, we will consider family situations made heartbreakingly difficult by the literal and figurative fallout and the steps the wider European community has been taking to support those affected. Speakers will also address the technical and environmental aspects of nuclear energy use. We invite you to participate in this wide-ranging discussion that, in essence, concerns the relationship between politics and the environment and how political decisions impact the lives of ordinary citizens.
