VIOLA staff, directly aided by donations from Living
Earth supporters, continues to distribute radiation monitors and
provided training in their use to families living in the radiation
zone.
After surveying local citizens, VIOLA discovered that
many people were unaware of how to protect themselves from or
minimize the effects of irradiation. The group responded by analyzing
1000 scientific articles and then used the information to develop
a list of recommendations for actions and safety precautions that
inhabitants could take to protect their health from the effects
of radiation. VIOLA then published a brochure containing
guidance for preparing meals and other basic safety suggestions
and distributed them free of charge.
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| Using a radiation monitor to
measure toxicity of a vegetable garden. Photo: VIOLA |
Another arena into which VIOLA puts its energy and resources
is community training. VIOLA conducts seminars for teachers,
farmers, doctors and community leaders in the Bryansk region,
Novozybkov and in Krasnaya Gora. In these seminars, the key people
in their communities are trained in the rules for “living
safely” in the radiation zone. They, in turn, are able to
train the students, patients and other citizens with whom they
come in contact through their work.
VIOLA will continue to provide radiation monitors, train
people on the way to use them and hold additional seminars throughout
this year. In addition to the work of providing tools and training
to the citizens of the Bryansk Region, VIOLA continues
to survey the land around Novozybkov and its environs to identify
and monitor areas of high radioactivity.
