Comments on: Nuclear Nightmares: Twenty Years Since Chernobyl by Knoth and de Jong

By: ted

ted — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:50:00 +0000

Nobody ever smiles in these pictures.

By: Hudson D.

Hudson D. — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 12:22:59 +0000

As horrible as this shot and others are, the book nonetheless is an ill informed propaganda piece. The World Health Organization (WHO), attributed 56 direct deaths (47 accident workers, and nine children with thyroid cancer), and estimated that there may be 4,000 extra cancer cases among the approximately 600,000 most highly exposed and 5,000 among the 6 million living nearby. One death is too many, but compared to deaths caused by coal, oil and gas, even hydroelectric --this is statistically minor.

When Chernobyl happened we all heard initial estimates that hundreds of thousands would die instantly and millions more in the years to come. It is odd that after being so utterly wrong someone would still try to mine this horrible --but limited -- disaster to twist the story on nuclear power.

And in response to what I am sure will be the flames to come, I have no relation to the nuclear power industry. Yes I would prefer prefer if we found better, safer alternative energies, but for now nuclear is the best we got.

By: Blake

Blake — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 09:09:33 +0000

Right because cases of hydrocephalus, congenital mental retardation and brain cancer never ever ever happen anywhere else in the world except near the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Scientifically illiterate photographers desperate to make a name for themselves seem to love flocking to this place to shamelessly parade around the most ghoulishly exploitative photos of what is vastly more indicative of a grossly incompetent health care system rather than the effects of the Chernobyl disaster. NO ONE in the developed world suffers from the effects of hydrocephalus to the degree that child in the picture is because there are highly effective treatments for it. Not to mention the fact that there has never been any study proving that that disease has anything whatsoever to do with radiation exposure or has a higher incidence around the Chernobyl area. But you know, whatever, as long as gritty B&W photos of people suffering from random horrible diseases can be spun into supporting your personal anti-nuclear ideology and it gets the magazines to fly off the shelves who really gives a shit right?

By: "A.J."

"A.J." — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 08:51:52 +0000

penn & teller are credible sources for facts, obviously.

By: Frank

Frank — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 07:00:09 +0000

I heard that the emissions from all the coal driven power plants cause far more health problems than that of all nuclear reactors combined. You would need accidents like that in Chernobyl several times a month to cause a simmilar effect with nuclear power.

I am not too sure, but I think it was Penn & Teller who said this in BS! Season 5 Episode 9. I don't know if this is actually true, but i wouldn't be surprised if it is actually true...

By: Neatoramawontsendmeapassword

Neatoramawontsendmeapassword — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:48:44 +0000

But we need more "nookyuler" power!

By: Lasse

Lasse — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:15:02 +0000

Don´t worry. This can't possibly happen today. Technology is so much safer now. :-[

By: Shane

Shane — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:10:09 +0000

Having twice been to Belraus in the past this brought back some memories for me. i was further south then Minsk and these problems are so widespread. Despite how poor Belorussians are there is actually a lot of money available for the Internats (local for orphanage)through charity but beurocratic red tape prevents it from being spent. in bulit into the psyche of the people is that any disability makes a person subhuman and we had to writr "internat" on the clothes that we brought for the children so the locals would not steal them. Sad place.

By: Larfin Jackarse

Larfin Jackarse — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:10:44 +0000

Ummm 3 Mile Island, Sellafield, Maralinga.

Pick the communist country.

By: Christophe

Christophe — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:13:08 +0000

Hard to watch. Very interesting.

By: prophet

prophet — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:05:43 +0000

All those stories... so sad.

By: secret asian man

secret asian man — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:17:42 +0000

Don't worry, there are plenty of Americans who think that Communism wasn't so bad an idea.

By: Woogie

Woogie — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:12:34 +0000

I became a bit obsessed earlier this year with Chernobyl and became fascinated with the abandoned town of Pripyat. It's so horrifying to read about all this. I remember laying in bed when this happened and the radiation was spreading over Europe, just utterly terrified.

By: Ali S.

Ali S. — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:02:22 +0000

Wow. This brings back memories of watching a documentary about the after effects of Agent Orange and the bomb drops on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. ;_;