“Echoes of Chornobyl”, an evening of song and storytelling, happened in Toronto. The Chornobyl (Ukrainian spelling) accident on April 26, 1986, was one of the worst nuclear power plant accidents in history, in the number of casualties, and devastating contamination. An explosion and fire released large quantities of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, which spread over much of the western USSR and Europe. Scientists confirm that the consequences of the Chornobyl accident clearly exceeded those of the Fukushima accident.
Our Event on April 22, 2016
The echo from the disaster in Chornobyl continues to reverberate 30 years later, and send a warning signal around the world, even here in Toronto. Though it may seem faint, this echo lingers. Let’s use the anniversary as an opportunity to confront the question of nuclear energy in our midst, to inform ourselves about what is at stake, and to reflect upon the vitality of the land that sustains us, through song and storytelling.
April 22, 2016
On Earth Day, join us in remembering Chornobyl, not only as a place of disaster but as a place of life, where the land and its people lived, sang, and loved.
Friday, April 22, 2016
7:30-9:30pm
620 Spadina Ave.
Toronto, ON
This event features the special guests Ukrainian Villages Voices from New York City, performing ancient Polissyan songs from the Chornobyl Songs Project.
Marichka Marczyk (Lemon Bucket Orkestra) and Alena Liavonchanka recounting a childhood altered by history through photo & song.
Alexander Belyakov, Ph.D. (https://fromchernobyltofukushima.com) answering questions about Chornobyl.
Angela Bischoff (Ontario Clean Air Alliance) and Jose Etcheverry, Ph.D. (York University) speaking about nuclear energy in Ontario.
Also: special Polissyan songs by Belarussian folk group Javarovy Ludzi and KalynDar, and special refreshments prepared by Kosa Kolektiv, the organisers of this event.
‘Pay What You Can’ entrance ($10-20 donations welcome). Refreshments and casual discussion to follow.
Accessibility: wheelchair accessible
TTC accessible: 2 streetcar stops south of Spadina station
Free parking at rear (entrance off Harbord street).
Learn more about Chornobyl from our interviews on radio Kontakt (in English and Ukrainian) here and in the Ukrainian Canadian newspaper “New Pathway” here (in Ukrainian).