Campaign Statement | FoE India | April 26, 2026
On April 26, we mark the anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster (1986), one of the worst nuclear catastrophes in human history. Four decades later, its impacts continue to haunt communities across Ukraine, Belarus, and beyond—through radioactive contamination, long-term health crises, ecological destruction, and the permanent displacement of people. Chernobyl is not a tragedy of the past; it is an ongoing reality that exposes the irreversible and intergenerational consequences of nuclear power.
Together with the Fukushima disaster, Chernobyl stands as a stark warning to the world: nuclear energy is inherently dangerous, unpredictable, and incapable of guaranteeing safety. These disasters reveal a truth that governments and corporations continue to ignore—when nuclear systems fail, the damage is vast, long-lasting, and beyond control.
Yet today, instead of learning from these catastrophic failures, we are witnessing an aggressive global push to expand nuclear energy. Under the misleading banner of “clean energy” and “climate solutions,” powerful governments, corporations, and financial institutions are reviving and promoting nuclear power. From Europe to Asia, new nuclear projects are being planned, old reactors are being extended beyond safe lifetimes, and unproven technologies like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are being fast-tracked without adequate scrutiny or public debate.
In India, this dangerous trend is unfolding with renewed intensity. The government’s ambitious nuclear expansion plans—including large-scale investments, promotion of private sector participation, and attempts to dilute liability norms—raise serious concerns. Critical questions about reactor safety, radioactive waste management, disaster preparedness, and environmental impacts remain unresolved. At the same time, communities affected due to forceful land acquisition and displacement- like coastal populations, farmers, fishworkers, Adivasis, and rural communities—are being sidelined, with little or no consultation or consent.
Across proposed nuclear sites in India, people are resisting land acquisition, ecological destruction, and the threat to their lives and livelihoods. Nuclear projects often displace communities, destroy local economies such as fishing and agriculture, and expose people to long-term health risks. In the event of accidents, it is always the most marginalized who bear the heaviest burden—losing homes, livelihoods, and futures, while corporations evade accountability.
The nuclear fuel chain itself—from uranium mining to waste disposal—is deeply unjust and hazardous. Indigenous communities living near uranium mines face severe health impacts and environmental issues are severe too. Meanwhile, the problem of radioactive waste remains unresolved globally, with no safe, long-term solution despite decades of nuclear power generation.
The lessons of Chernobyl and Fukushima are clear:
Nuclear power is not safe.
It is not sustainable.
It is not just.
On this Chernobyl Day, we reaffirm that nuclear energy is a false solution to the climate crisis. It diverts resources away from truly sustainable alternatives such as decentralized renewable energy systems, energy efficiency, and community-led solutions. It concentrates power in the hands of corporations and technocratic institutions, undermining democratic decision-making and people’s rights.
This day also marks the culmination of our campaign from March 11 to April 26—linking the memories of Fukushima and Chernobyl to expose the ongoing dangers of nuclear expansion worldwide. Through this campaign, we have sought to amplify the voices of affected communities, highlight critical research, and challenge the dominant narratives that seek to normalize nuclear power.
Friends of the Earth India calls upon people’s movements, civil society organizations, researchers, students, and concerned citizens to:
1) Stand in solidarity with communities affected by nuclear projects and disasters
2) Oppose the expansion of nuclear energy in India and globally
3) Demand transparency, accountability, and democratic decision-making in energy policies
4) Advocate for a just transition toward safe, decentralized, and renewable energy systems
Remembering Chernobyl is not only about honoring those who suffered—it is about ensuring that such disasters are never repeated. A truly just and sustainable future cannot be built on the foundations of risk, displacement, and radioactive contamination. It must be built on justice, democracy, and respect for people and the planet.
No More Chernobyls.
No More Fukushimas.
Stop Nuclear Expansion Now.
For more details please write to: foeindia21@gmail.com