The Kyshtym-57 Organization
The non-profit association 'Kyshtym-57' was established in 1990 by the inhabitants of the Chelyabinsk region. At their first conference, 97 people from the 17 populated areas met to discuss the problems.These people are victims of the three nuclear accidents which took place from 1949-1956, 1957, and 1967.Their aim is to realize and support their civil, economic, social, and cultural rights and freedoms.
The executive body of the association is a committee of 21 members who were elected at the conference.The main body of committee members are volunteers, and the association promotes programs which are created by this body.With only 2 employees on staff , this association also has its own bank account.Louiza Korzhova, a retired nuclear physicist, is a founding member of Kyshtym-57 and the chairman of this association.
The rights of the children born to exposed parents, the inhabitants who have not yet been evacuated from the Techa River, and those from the area of the Eastern-Urals radioactive trace have been lawlessly violated.As such, the main task of this association is the official acknowledgment of the victims of these accidents by the Russian Parliament (Duma) and by the president of the Russia Federation.For these reasons, the association has undertaken great efforts to adopt the complete and valid law of the Russian Federation, on the accidents at the nuclear plants in the Chelyabinsk region.
Kyshtym-57 began their activities by helping families, sick children, and people who have been diagnosed with radiation sickness.Since 1990, the association has helped 15,000 people with financial support and material goods. Due to a lack of funds it is at this time impossible to help the remaining 200,000 victims whose life quality is rapidly decreasing,.These people need social protection and medical aid.There is an obvious shortage of financing being given within the Federal Program for the support of victims and the rehabilitation of contaminated areas. For these reasons, Kyshtym-57 is looking to attract foreign and local investors to help the suffering populace.
Right now, the people are in dire need of medical supplies and equipment.At this moment, the first people in the list of recipients are: Children and teenagers, including those born to exposed parents (special attention must be paid to the generation of children born to parents who have suffered chronic radiation sickness); Inhabitants of the villages along the Techa River who have not yet been evacuated and who are not protected by the Russian Federation law; Inhabitants of the populated areas situated within the 'MAYAK' Plant zone of influence.
Along with the direct support to the families, children, and seriously ill people with the diagnosis of 'chronic radiation sickness', the association created a number of projects different from the State and Federal programs.
Some projects have already been realized.
