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Chemtrust
Chemtrust facilitates chemical weapons destruction through information
of and mediation between citizens and the army, independent scientific investigations
on debated issues, and social-medical projects in favor of stockpile communities.
- Chemtrust-1 (1995): Risk assessment of the chemical weapons
stockpile in Kambarka (Ural region, Russia). Evaluation of different accident
scenarios and the impact on the nearby city. Publication of a monograph,
information on the WWW. The results were integrated in an information booklet
describing the correct behavior in case of an emergency. The booklet was
distributed to the population of Kambarka.
- Chemtrust-2 (1995-1996): Investigation of an often-claimed impact
of the Gorny chemical weapons stockpile and the Shichany R&D facility
(both Saratov region, Russia) on public and especially children's health.
Development of new concepts of treatment of the observed atypical chronic
diseases.
- Chemtrust-3 (1996): Risk assessment of the chemical weapons
stockpile in Kizner (Ural region, Russia). Evaluation of different accident
scenarios and the impact on the nearby city. Publication of a monograph,
information on the WWW. The results were included in an information booklet
for the population of Kizner.
- Chemtrust-4 (1997-1998): The treatment of poisoning inflicted
by chemical weapons as well as the emergency preparedness of stockpile
communities requests specific and not widely available expertise. Green
Cross experts trained personnel in 5 of 7 Russian stockpile communities
in the frame of 10-days courses on medical and emergency issues (Shchuch‘ye,
Kizner, Kambarka, Pochep, Penza). A centralized course in Moscow gathered
the heads of medical departments of different regions. The relevant experience
gathered in the courses currently helps the Russian Ministry of Public
Health to draft necessary new legislation and training curricula for people
working at the future chemical weapons destruction facilities. In addition,
the training material used in the frame of the courses is requested by
hospitals from all over Russia.
- Chemtrust-5 (1997-1998): Investigation of a former chemical
weapons destruction site in Penza (middle Volga basin, Russia). Analysis
of soil samples from the open pit burning site showed arsenic concentrations
exceeding permissible levels by 3'000-65'000 times, traces of mustard gas
and its products of transformation, as well as dioxins and furanes (200'000-500'000
permissible levels). The analyses of water samples showed a migration of
the substances to the only drinking water reserve of Penza. 2-3 other similar
destruction sites are suspected. Publication of a 100-page final report
(see www.gci.ch).
- CTR-1/7 (1997): Epidemiological investigation of the general
health state, the children health state and the condition of the medical
services in the Shchuch'ye district (Western Siberia, Russia).
- CTR-1/9 (1997): Risk comparison of continued storage vs. destruction
of the Shchuch'ye chemical weapons stockpile (Western Siberia, Russia).
Evaluation of the consequences of different accident scenarios. Publication
of the results in an information booklet for the population of Shchuch'ye.
- CTR-2/7 (1998): A main concern of citizens living around chemical
weapons stockpile is a possible impact of the stored weapons on their health.
An investigation, in collaboration with the Institute for Social and Preventive
Medicine (University of Basel, Switzerland), explored whether any conclusion
about such a link is possible in view of the quality of the existing epidemiological
data and the present state of the Russian health system.
- Organisation of six public hearings:
- Saratov (October 1995): The first Green Cross Russia public
hearing addressed the decreed destruction of the Gorny chemical weapons
stockpile, but also the regional problems related to the Shichany chemical
weapons R&D facility and test ground. A final document was approved,
and Russian proceedings with English summaries were published.
- Izhevsk, Kambarka (14-16 May 1996): The second Russian public
hearing, co-organized with the authorities of the Udmurt Republic, discussed
issues related to the planned chemical weapons destruction facility in
Kambarka. A one-day visit to Kambarka allowed local citizens to directly
express their concerns and views to the decision-makers. A final document
was approved, Russian and English proceedings were published.
- Washington (July 1996): GGUSA hosted a hearing on Capitol Hill
that brought together, for the first time, U.S. and Russian military officials,
chemical weapons experts, and citizen activist groups to address the need
for safe, environmentally sound, and cost-effective chemical weapons destruction.
A concise report with consensus action items and edited transcripts was
produced.
- Indianapolis (December 1996): The GGUSA Legacy Program hosted
the first public hearing on new U.S. Army recommendations on how to proceed
with the destruction of chemical weapons at the Newport Chemical Depot
in Indiana. The hearing brought together concerned citizens, military personnel,
and government officials at the Indiana State Capitol.
- Shchuch'ye, Kurgan (8-10 July 1997): Green Cross Russia's third
public hearing was mandated by the Russian Chemical Forces. Several hundred
participants, representing local citizens, Russian and American authorities,
the army and academic institutions, discussed a comprehensive list of subjects
related to the construction of a chemical weapons destruction facility
in Shchuch'ye. A final document was approved, Russian and English proceedings
were published.
- Kizner, Izhevsk (26-27 May 1998): In the frame of the fourth
Russian public hearing, authorities presented to several hundred citizens
their plans for the future Kizner chemical weapons destruction facility.
Main groups of questions raised centered on the general state of health
and the emergency preparedness of the community, but also on job opportunities
at the future facility and infrastructure investments. A final document
was approved, Russian and English proceedings were published (available
at www.gci.ch).
- Public outreach offices (since 1997): Green Cross Russia's public
outreach offices in Shchuch’ye, Kurgan, Penza, Pochep, and Kizner,
are visited each month by hundreds of citizens looking for information
on their nearby chemical weapons stockpile and the Federal Destruction
Program. A series of more than twenty brochures and fact sheets, as well
as audio-visual material, has been produced in answer to citizen's main
concerns and questions. The office staff actively attends community meetings,
visits remote settlements, briefs the mass media, and organizes quarterly
lecture tours bringing key decision-makers directly to the stockpile communities.
- A key issue today in chemical weapons disarmament is the involvement
of citizens in the decision making process. The USA and Europe know different
successful models, from which the Russian process could profit. In preparation
of a workshop on Citizen Advisory Commissions in Moscow, GGUSA has
researched the experience of more than 25 citizens' groups, and prepared
a workshop document summarizing basic ground rules, structures and main
lessons learned.
- Over the years, several roundtables were organized in the U.S.
on chemical weapons destruction, defense environmental clean-up and base
conversion. Participants included representatives from the Department of
Defense, Army, Air Force, Navy, Environmental Protection Agency and community
groups.
- GGUSA has participated since 1998 as one of the three national environmental
and arms control organizations in the national ‘Dialogue on Assembled
Chemical Weapons Assessment’ (DACWA) for the AltTech II program
of the U.S. Army. It was selected as one of four members of the Citizens'
Advisory Technical Team to be actively engaged in the proprietary procurement
process for chemical weapons destruction technologies.
- Green Cross Russia acted as an official advisor to the Duma commission
preparing the Russian chemical weapons destruction law (1996).
- February 1997, GGUSA co-ordinated a coalition of major environmental
groups in support to the Chemical Weapons Convention. A National
Security Council meeting with environmental groups was facilitated in order
to finalize specific conditions to the Resolution of Ratification for the
Chemical Weapons Convention. A roundtable of environmental groups and arms
control organizations was mediated. A mutual statement of support for the
Chemical Weapons Convention and for continued research and development
of alternative chemical weapons destruction technologies was delivered.
Similar events were organized both by Green Cross Russia and Green Cross
Switzerland ahead of the Russian ratification in November 1997.
- On the 4th November 1998, Green Cross Russia organized a
one-day Forum in Moscow to mark the first anniversary of the Russian
ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention. All stakeholder groups
(central ministries, regional authorities, army, scientific institutions,
and NGOs) attended it. The Forum made a layout of all unresolved questions
in the Russian chemical weapons destruction process. Several regions decided
to draw, with the help of Green Cross Russia, investment plans in order
to facilitate foreign investments in local infrastructure development.
The missing investments in local infrastructure are a main obstacle today
in the chemical weapons destruction process.
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