It's not a good celebration is it? Its one of fear and sadness. It's horror still affecting the millions of Russian's still being exposed to radiation. It will affect them and their families for generations according to doctors. Pixel Press has a haunting set of black and white images that tell the story of today in Chernobyl and the surrounding towns. Of course no one lives in Chernobyl, no one can for another 10,000 years or so. What bothers me is that people still live so close and are still receiving unhealthy doses of radiation in the food they grow and the milk from their cows. Its a very rural area. The link to Robert Knoth's photos and Antonette DeJongs essay is here.
The people over at the Nuclear Energy Institute have hired the former founder of Greenpeace, Patrick Moore, to talk up the wonders of nuclear power. He, along with Christie Whitman who ran the EPA for a few years and the state of New Jersey as their governor, are having a great time telling any of us that will listen how wonderful,cheap and safe nuclear energy is. Can you say sell-out? I can...
Speaking of Greenpeace, they released a list of 200 nuclear "near-misses" that have happened since that fateful day in 1986. Thats near misses at AMERICAN nuclear plants. Thats 200 too many in my humble opinion. How can anyone tout nuclear power when we still don't know how to deal with the leftovers..you know..the stuff that stays radioactive for over 10,000 years.
