On Tuesday April 26, 2011, Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) held a joint press conference with Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Massachusetts) and the Institute for Policy Studies’ Robert Alvarez on the ongoing impact of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster to public health 25 years after the accident, the continuing nuclear catastrophe in Fukushima, Japan, and the lessons from both for U.S. public health and safety.

The video shown here shows the commentary of the Institute’s Robert Alvarez, director of our Nuclear Policy Project, talking about how the Chernobyl accident accelerated the shutdown of the U.S. nuclear weapon production complex, and about the dangers presented by current practices related to storage of spent fuel in nuclear reactors across the country. Other speakers included:

• Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass), Ranking Member, Natural Resources Committe
• PSR Immediate Past President Jeff Patterson, DO
• PSR President-Elect Andrew S. Kanter, MD, MPH
• PSR Member of the Board Ira Helfand, MD

Click here for the video of the entire press conference.