The Ecological Movement and Plans for Large-Scale Energy Construction in the Amur Region (Late 1980s — Early 2000s)

Abstract

The article analyzes the formation and development of the environmental movement in the Khabarovsk Krai within the context of opposing large-scale energy development plans in the Amur region from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. Based on archival materials and periodical publications, it examines the key stages of activities by public organizations, primarily the «Environmental Group» and the «Committee for Assistance to Perestroika» in Komsomolsk-onAmur, aimed at preventing the construction of the Far Eastern Nuclear Power Plant and a cascade of hydroelectric power stations on the Amur River. The main forms of protest activity from collecting signatures and organizing rallies to conducting independent scientific reviews and participating in election campaigns are identified. Particular attention is paid to the role of the scientific community, the interaction between urban activists and Indigenous small-numbered peoples, as well as the arguments put forth by opponents of the energy megaprojects, including environmental, economic, social, and ethno-cultural aspects. The transformation of the movement from mass protests during the Perestroika period to systematic expert and educational work in the 1990s is demonstrated. The conclusion emphasizes the necessity of considering historical experience and the demands of the environmental community when implementing modern plans for the development of the region’s fuel and energy sector.