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ARE BELARUSIANS CONTENTED WITH HOW CHERNOBYL PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED?

Aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster still remains a burning and topical issue for the Belarusian society. Unfortunately, it will stay for a long time yet. For the 20 years since the catastrophe, they have eliminated only its major and the most outrageous, or the most noticeable, aftermaths. There are some latent problems still outstanding. Nevertheless, attitude of people to the Chernobyl problem is gradually changing. This issue is getting less acute and topical in the public opinion as it is giving way to other social concerns. This is of course the work of the authorities that are persuading the population in that the danger of Chernobyl catastrophe is exaggerated in order to reduce their expenses for this issue.

However, as the opinion polls show, despite generally weakening topicality of the Chernobyl issue, its priority jumps up considerably when people’s direct interests become involved. This is especially true in what regards financial issues. In particular, many citizens are discontented with the revision of area statuses that caused abatement of the appropriate benefits. In addition, people are concerned about expanded use of contaminated lands in agriculture and further distribution of these agricultural products around the whole country. There are as well problems with unauthorized return of people into the areas subject to unsettlement. Diseases with the roots in Chernobyl catastrophe are another source of concern…

As Table 1 demonstrates, concern and uneasiness about the consequences of the catastrophe is shared by both population and opinion leaders and experts irrespective the sectors they represent. In both opinion polls, very few respondents give indefinite answers.

Table 1. Distribution of answers to the question “It has been recently twenty years since the Chernobyl Catastrophe, while it will influence the lives of Belarusians for much longer time yet. What do you feel in this regards?”, %

Variant of answer

Opinion poll among leaders and experts

Nation opinion poll (04’06)

All respondents

Public sector employees

Private sector employees

Uneasiness and concern

95

100

90

81.9

I’m not much concerned about this

5

10

16.2

DA/NA

1.9

Table 2. Distribution of answers to the question “About a million of Belarusian children went abroad for health-improving trips during the years after the Chernobyl catastrophe. Who do you think made the greatest contribution into organization of such trips?”, %

Variant of answer

Opinion poll among leaders and experts

Nation opinion poll (04’06)

All respondents

Public sector employees

Private sector employees

Foreign countries

52

49

54

30.5

Belarusian NGO’s (like For Children of Chernobyl and other)

32

21

43

35.0

Belarusian authorities

16

30

3

24.5

DA/NA

10.0

As it is known, several public organizations were formed after the Chernobyl catastrophe. They took up organization of health-improvement trips abroad for children. They found like-minded persons abroad who in their turn initiated collection of donations and even allocation of budgetary funds to finance such trips. Many of our fellow citizens used this opportunity. According to Table 2, the population considers that Belarusian NGO’s (35% of answers) and foreign countries (30.5%) made the greatest contribution into this affair. As for the Belarusian authorities, they stand in the third place (24.5%) which means the population gives low estimate to their real contribution into health-improvement of children.

What is surprising though is not the rank of the authorities. It is worth mentioning that the population gave the first place to public organizations which wouldn’t be able to do all this without the funds allocated by foreign countries. In this regards, representatives of the elite who better understand this are closer to truth – the countries-donors take the first place (52% of answers) and public organizations (32%), of course without which these trips would never happen, follow the next. The authorities stand as well in the end of the whole list. What’s more, the population rated them even higher than the elite – 24.5% vs. 16%. These are public sector employees only who put the authorities before public organizations.

Is the population satisfied with how the authorities carry out post-Chernobyl cleanup? You may find the answer in Table 3.

Table 3. Distribution of answers to the question “Are you satisfied with how the Belarusian authorities carry out the post-disaster cleanup?”, %

Variant of answer

Opinion poll among leaders and experts

Nation opinion poll (04’06)

All respondents

Public sector employees

Private sector employees

Partially / fully satisfied

50

77

23

58.6

Not satisfied

50

23

77

33.3

DA/NA

8.1

Thus, every third representative of the population and every second representative of the elite are discontented with their activity.

In average, every second representative of the elite is dissatisfied with this process. Remarkably, distribution of answers between the two sectors is mirror-like: three thirds of respondents in the public sector are to a different extent contented with the activity of the authorities and one third – discontented, while in the private sector – vice versa. This is actually very clear.