Kaisha Atakhanova

Overview

Kaisha Atakhanova born Karaganda, Kazakhstan July 18, 1957. Biologist; led successful campaign to prevent the commercial import of nuclear waste into Kazakhstan. Awarded Goldman Environmental Prize, 2005; Nobel Peace Prize nominee, 2005.

Quotations

"Over 100 tests were done openly in Kazakhstan, and many more were done underground. Together, the radiation was more than 100 times that of the Hiroshima bomb. Many millions of people were affected by it. The nuclear testing site was closed by the president of Kazakhstan in 1990, but he was not able to stop the radiation. That will continue for years to come. . . And the worst effects were not with the first and second generations of people—the worst will come with the third, fourth, and fifth generations." (Grist, April 19, 2005; photo goldmanprize.org)