Dates and venue of the Conference: 19-21 April 2006, Republic of Belarus

       Preparation continues in Belarus to mark the 20-th anniversary of the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The International Conference "20 years After Chernobyl: Strategy for Recovery and Sustainable Development of the Affected Regions" is scheduled to open in Minsk on 19 April 2006.

       A series of events will take place within the framework of the Conference Programme including meetings of scientific sections, "a round table" with representatives of non-governmental organizations, a project fair, addresses by prominent national and international speakers and others. A strategic plan of actions for the future will be discussed too. The outcomes of the Conference will be announced at a press-conference on 21 April 2006.

       A number of side events to the Conference will be organized in Minsk and in Gomel, including a «20 Years After Chernobyl» exposition, a screening of movies and documentaries on Chernobyl issues and others. A charitable concert with the participation of Belarusian and foreign music stars will mark the end of the Conference.

       Within the framework of the preparation of the 20th Anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, the Belarusian Chernobyl Committee has initiated a campaign by the name of «To the future - with kindness in heart». The campaign will start during the course of 2005 and its results will be announced during the Conference. Its idea is to gather children together and ‘use their hands’ to support lonely elderly people who took part in the mitigation of the consequences of Chernobyl catastrophe and who live in contaminated areas.

       The aims of the campaign are to provide:

• (a) efficient assistance tailored to the needs of lonely elderly people who suffered as a result of the Chernobyl disaster and to identify ways of sustaining such assistance in the long run;
• (b) to strengthen links and succession between generations;
• (c) to nurture children’s kind-heartedness, initiative and positive attitude, and encourage their understanding of the need to treat the elderly with benevolence, respect and care;
• (d) to expand the knowledge of the region’s history and people.

       We would like to invite everyone to take part in the International Conference and in the campaign “To the future – with kindness in heart” and to contribute to the preparation of these events!

       Financial contributions for preparation of the two events can be transferred to the following charitable accounts with a respective mark “International Conference” or “Campaign”:

       Bank details: Branch 510, Savings Bank “Belarusbank”, code 603

• in US Dollars: Acct. No 3625000000010
• in Belarusian Rubles: Acct. No 3625000000023
• in Euros: Acct. No 3625000000036 - in Russian Rubles: Acct. No 3625000000212

       Click here to find the Conference Preliminary Registration Form/Call for Papers, and here to find the first Information Bulletin of the Conference.