While reading the paper today, I came across a story saying that it's now been 20 years since the meltdown.
Seems to be a good time for someone to drag up the link that showed what it was like in the surrounding area. If I recall, it was done by a woman who rode around on a motorcycle.
There was some GOOD pictures & reading in there. Who's got the link?
Thanks
I just read an interesting link on the state of wildlife. Apparently, deer, wolves, and bears and such have all returned to the area. They are radioactive, and there have been mutations, but apparently they have developed resistance and are capable of breeding. Scientists didn't think it was possible, but there they are. It was pretty interesting.
I just read an interesting link on the state of wildlife. Apparently, deer, wolves, and bears and such have all returned to the area. They are radioactive, and there have been mutations, but apparently they have developed resistance and are capable of breeding. Scientists didn't think it was possible, but there they are. It was pretty interesting.
Actually, most reports from that area are grossly exaggerated. Fact is, twenty-some people directly lost their lives as a result of the deterministic effects of the Chornobyl disaster. The stochastic effects are a matter of some debate, even today, although there is no doubt that some people have died and will die as a result of the exposures. Having worked directly in the Slavutych area over several years with the Center there, I'd just say pass on the mushrooms if you're eating in one of the local restaurants (they concentrate cesium).
Here's a photo from the 15th memorial anniversary (I attended) in Slavutych.
It was a very moving ceremony: they played Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven at around 1AM when the accident happened, and everyone lit candles for the workers who perished trying to mitigate the disaster. You can just make out some of their pictures above the candles to the left.
Chornobyl (Ukr. spelling, btw) was a huge disaster but the greenies try to make it into much more of an ecological nightmare than it was. Wildlife is actually flourishing in the area, with few health effects, primarily due to the lack of human contact within the exclusion zone!
Edit: oh and for the record, Pripyat is for real. I can't verify the motorcyle video story, but the place is very much as described - people left food on the table and got the hell out of there. That's why Slavutych was built - to house the people displaced from Pripyat.
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Stupidity should be painful!
Last edited by gnosys : April 22nd, 2006 at 11:00 PM.
I was watching discovery channel which had a show about the accident and the after effects. Apparently, you can take a tour of the town and plant.....people pay big bucks to do it too!
