ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Global Fund Advisor Oral Ataniyazova Interviews
2005 Goldman Environmental Prize Winner, Kaisha Atakhanova
When the Kazakh government made plans to weaken environmental laws to allow the commercial import and storage of radioactive waste, Kaisha Atakhanova mobilized citizens, with women at the helm, and successfully led the campaign to stop it. For her efforts, she received the Goldman Environmental Prize in April 2005.
In 2000, Oral Ataniyazova of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan won the same prize. Below is an adapted version of her interview with Kaisha.
 Kaisha Atakhanova delivers her
Goldman Environmental Prize acceptance speech in San Francisco, April 18, 2005. |
Kaisha Atakhanova: Between 1949 and 1991, Kazakhstan conducted nuclear testing for the Soviet Union, which exposed 1.5 million Kazakhs to radiation directly and spread out to over six million more. Until 1980, the total energy of the nuclear devices exploded was more than 40,000 times the energy of the Hiroshima bomb.
Every fourth woman has problems with her reproductive system. Grandmothers and great grandmothers were pregnant at the time of the testing. That was the beginning of the weakening of genetic material. Each successive generation is further weakened physically, mentally and emotionally.
OA: Who were EcoCenter's partners in this hard-won campaign?
KA: I shared responsibility for the coordination of the anti-nuclear campaign of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Kazakhstan with Gulsum Kakimzhanova, the leader of the NGO, Iris. It would be hard to overestimate the value of Gulsum's previous experience in the Nevada-Semipalatinsk anti-nuclear movement and her esteemed reputation.
We created an informal network a few years ago during a joint project of our EcoCenter and the Center for Safe Energy, based in San Francisco, California. They were the ones who first took up my call, actively supporting our environmental campaign in all the cities and towns of Kazakhstan. The women with whom we did leadership training became the leaders and regional coordinators of the campaign. We worked together with the leaders of Kazakhstan's major environmental organizations. It is interesting that women who once knew little about the environment became very passionate about the issues.
 Kaisha Atakhanova, 2005 Environmental Prize Winner, with an anti-nuclear activist in the village of Sarzhal, Semipalatinsk region. He is now suffering from cancer.
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KA: We finally broke the "spiral of silence." Citizen activists and NGOs in every region had the chance to take part in our actions and discussions of radioactive wastes, and to voice their positions at local public hearings. The consolidation of our efforts, our confidence, good strategy and tactics, the mobilization of resources and international support all paved the way for our success.
OA: Has there been a backlash?
KA: Currently the official policy of the Kazakh government is to severely limit and control NGO activities. For over three months the more active and independent NGOs, including EcoCenter, have been subjected to a thorough investigation by the office of the procurator as well as the tax authorities. Our work has been essentially paralyzed; many NGOs have been punished with completely baseless fines. We are still fighting the proposed legislation that restricts the activities of NGOs and international organizations in Kazakhstan, and violates our constitutional rights and freedoms. We have managed to have some of the restrictive amendments to these bills removed. At present, however, despite public protests, the legislation has been approved by Parliament and awaits the president's signature.
OA: What's next in your work?
KA: I have a dream that I am sure will come true soon. With the help of the Goldman Prize (a cash award of $125,000), I will be able to establish the Socio-Ecological Investment Fund in Kazakhstan together with my anti-nuclear colleagues. The Fund will provide support to women's initiatives and activists from public organizations. Due to the impending government restrictions I mentioned, we are expecting a dramatic decline in donor support of Kazakh NGOs. That is why creation of our own fund is becoming more essential.
Click here or more information on how both leaders view issues of pollution and the environment.