Environmental Relationalities 99
place can affect their health.” 47 Rahimov used to sustain himself from the
income of selling this metal before becoming aware of the health consequences. According to Hotam Murazoev, who is professor of physics at the
University of Khujand, people who live near the waste receive 200 µR/h:
If a person stays from morning until evening in their neighborhood,
he/she will receive radiation comparable to 200 micro-roentgens. They
work or use stones or iron to build their houses, it is very likely that their
lives are threatened. 48
The environment is said to hold precious items that can be accessed by ordinary people. This relationship to a valuable environment cannot be explained
through pollution narratives, but only through the cultural notion that whatever Chkalovsk produced, must have been of high value, since people were
directly provided by Moscow and part of a military secret. This hierarchical
relationship between the city and the rural environment affects the rural
marginalized poor who hope to find wealth in the uranium waste.
The earth mountains of Khujand and Chkalovsk were part of the rural
landscape and were internalized to the degree that some people did not
even remember whether some of them were still there – they had cut them
from their memory. One of the larger earth mountains along the main road
between Khujand and Chkalovsk was eliminated in order to establish large
bazars at this place. No one ever thinks of pollution when going to the Somon
Bazar built on the location where uranium waste had been gathered.
We need to understand the ignorance of danger by looking at the relationality that the local population has to its environment and the hierarchies established through the nuclear infrastructure. Upon my question why
Tajikistan – unlike Kazakhstan and Russia – has never protested or discussed
the uranium issue, the answer of my interlocutors was pragmatic and clear:
“we were busy with the civil war, we simply didn’t have time.” This answer
uncovers much of the tragedy of pollution in this region. When the civil
war erupted in the early 1990s, most foreigners left the country, abandoned
their homes, and left things as they were. 49 This abandoning of places and
workplaces not only led to unemployment, but more importantly, those who
could have provided information and raise discussions left or withdrew in
order not to be targeted. Khujandi has bought the flats in Chkalovsk, still
convinced that they are better than in Khujand. Even the university has made
it to some prominence and the hospitals continue to work. Chkalovsk was
hence not deserted but taken over by the Khujand population.
I have been to Chkalovsk many times. For those who have accompanied
me, it was the city of development and progress. I was told how it looked
some 20 years ago, the cultural life it had, including a theatre group “just for
Chkalovsk” with plays “just as in Moscow,” cinemas, a hospital, “excellent
schools,” and all facilities needed for a city. Khujand tried to achieve the level
that Chkalovsk represented, but never succeeded. It was difficult for me to
place can affect their health.” 47 Rahimov used to sustain himself from the
income of selling this metal before becoming aware of the health consequences. According to Hotam Murazoev, who is professor of physics at the
University of Khujand, people who live near the waste receive 200 µR/h:
If a person stays from morning until evening in their neighborhood,
he/she will receive radiation comparable to 200 micro-roentgens. They
work or use stones or iron to build their houses, it is very likely that their
lives are threatened. 48
The environment is said to hold precious items that can be accessed by ordinary people. This relationship to a valuable environment cannot be explained
through pollution narratives, but only through the cultural notion that whatever Chkalovsk produced, must have been of high value, since people were
directly provided by Moscow and part of a military secret. This hierarchical
relationship between the city and the rural environment affects the rural
marginalized poor who hope to find wealth in the uranium waste.
The earth mountains of Khujand and Chkalovsk were part of the rural
landscape and were internalized to the degree that some people did not
even remember whether some of them were still there – they had cut them
from their memory. One of the larger earth mountains along the main road
between Khujand and Chkalovsk was eliminated in order to establish large
bazars at this place. No one ever thinks of pollution when going to the Somon
Bazar built on the location where uranium waste had been gathered.
We need to understand the ignorance of danger by looking at the relationality that the local population has to its environment and the hierarchies established through the nuclear infrastructure. Upon my question why
Tajikistan – unlike Kazakhstan and Russia – has never protested or discussed
the uranium issue, the answer of my interlocutors was pragmatic and clear:
“we were busy with the civil war, we simply didn’t have time.” This answer
uncovers much of the tragedy of pollution in this region. When the civil
war erupted in the early 1990s, most foreigners left the country, abandoned
their homes, and left things as they were. 49 This abandoning of places and
workplaces not only led to unemployment, but more importantly, those who
could have provided information and raise discussions left or withdrew in
order not to be targeted. Khujandi has bought the flats in Chkalovsk, still
convinced that they are better than in Khujand. Even the university has made
it to some prominence and the hospitals continue to work. Chkalovsk was
hence not deserted but taken over by the Khujand population.
I have been to Chkalovsk many times. For those who have accompanied
me, it was the city of development and progress. I was told how it looked
some 20 years ago, the cultural life it had, including a theatre group “just for
Chkalovsk” with plays “just as in Moscow,” cinemas, a hospital, “excellent
schools,” and all facilities needed for a city. Khujand tried to achieve the level
that Chkalovsk represented, but never succeeded. It was difficult for me to