History of Chernobyl Disaster
Chernobyl accident, that happened on April, 26, 1986 is the only one attributed to the highest 7 level of “safety significance” (in common words we might say “danger”) on the international nuclear events scale (INES). Neither to nor after such heavy accident have taken place in nuclear industry nor power engineering. The erroneous actions of personnel of the station drove reactor to a state, not considered by regulations, in which its technical failures showed up. On experts’ conclusion the severe accident arose through a low probability coincidence of a number of factors. Every factor separately could not result in an accident. But their coincidence was, on one side, casual, on the other - appropriated, in the sense, that first or last it must happen however. Because the attitude toward procedures of safety was too careless at the atomic station, and in all links of the soviet production system related to nuclear power.
In an eerie reminder of the ongoing cost of nuclear disasters in the wake on the 11 March Fukushima debacle in Japan, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has decided to allocate an additional $100 million to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund and the Nuclear Safety Account Fund for implementation of Chernobyl programs.
Prior to Fukushima, the Chernobyl nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 was the worst nuclear power plant accident in history, and is one of only two classified as a level 7 event on the International Nuclear Event Scale (the other being the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster). The USSR’s frantic efforts to contain the sites contamination and avert a greater catastrophe ultimately involved over 500,000 workers and cost an estimated 18 billion rubles, crippling the Soviet economy.
The press service of the Ukrainian Finance Ministry reported, “Taking into account the outcome of the Chernobyl donors conference held in Kiev and taking into account additional obligations of France, the USA, Russia, the European Union and the EBRD, the demand for the funds necessary for the implementation of Chernobyl projects is fully met in the amount of 740 million euros ($1.059 billion),” the Unian informatsiine agengentsvo reported.
A reinforced concrete casing was built around the ruined Chernobyl reactor building over the seven months following the accident, which was intended to contain the remaining fuel and act as a radiation shield. As was only designed for a lifetime of 20-30 years, as well as being hastily constructed, a second shelter, the “New Safe Confinement,” with a 100-year design lifetime is currently under construction, to be placed over the existing structure.
A large, rusted iron gate swings open and we drive into Chernobyl's fire station.
The place is still manned. Firemen patrol the exclusion zone surrounding the nuclear power plant checking for wildfires in this now very overgrown wilderness.
But this small, ramshackle collection of buildings also has another use. It has become a tiny wildlife sanctuary.
"This sanctuary was established for animals that have health problems; animals that were rescued from the exclusion zone," explains Igor Chizhevsky, a biologist from Chernobyl's state-run SSSIE Ecocentre.
Igor's friend, a trained vet named Alexander (Sasha) Borovsky, set up the sanctuary 10 years ago.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
Each animal has a different story”
End Quote Igor Chizhevsky Chernobyl Ecocentre Sacha is an imposing hulk of a man, but with a very softly spoken manner. Igor translates as we take a short tour around this small collection of well-kept enclosures.
"When Sasha came to Chernobyl, he established the sanctuary because he loves wild animals," Igor explains.
Today the sanctuary is home to a wolf, a fox, a racoon dog and a wild boar.
"Each animal has a different story," says Igor.
The wolf arrived just a year ago, when one of Chernobyl's forest patrols found the injured cub.
"It had been bitten by a dog and was hurt," says Igor. "These men brought the wolf to Sasha and the wolf has grown here and now he has good health."
The sanctuary is not open to everyone; but for a small fee, Sasha will agree to a brief guided tour. The money, he says, helps buy food for the animals.
"All of these animals came from the exclusion zone," says Igor.
"It's not a surprise; the exclusion zone has very rich wildlife. Many species live here."
The charity Chernobyl children’s lifeline brings over at least 10 children every summer for four weeks at a time; this boosts their immune system greatly.
On Wednesday 27th July, I went to a disco held by Riversway Elim Church, for a group of children from Belarus near to Chernobyl where the nuclear disaster happened in 1986.
70% of Belarus is contaminated with radiation, because of this everything that is grown there is also contaminated, and due to the cost of importing food being so high they have to eat the contaminated food. This leads to the children who live there having low immune systems thyroid and kidney problems, leukaemia and also cancer; which are all due to the contaminated food. Jane Elliott who runs the Shropshire branch of Chernobyl children’s lifeline said that, when she visited Belarus, the mother of a family was very upset because she was slowly killing her children by feeding them the contaminated food, but there is nothing that could be done to prevent it.
The charity Chernobyl children’s lifeline brings over at least 10 children every summer for four weeks at a time; this boosts their immune system greatly.
The disco was held by Riversway Elim Church, for a group of children from Belarus near to Chernobyl where the nuclear disaster happened in 1986.
The charity is a completely voluntary organisation which relies very heavily on fundraising to pay for the children to come to the UK.
The Charity is always looking for people to help out, whether it be by being a host family next year, or by donating in the form of facilities, or activities, or transport, for example if someone had a minibus they could take the children to the coast for the day, which also boost’s their immune system.
The host families are not only in contact with the child for the time that they are in the UK, but keep in contact after their visit through phone calls, Birthday and Christmas cards and letters.
100% of the fundraising done for the charity goes to the children.
The charity is always in need of donations; each child returns to Belarus with 30 kilo’s of luggage that is given to them in the UK, this includes clothes, multivitamins, toiletries, tea and coffee, hand cream and lip balm because of the very cold winters (-30 in the winter).
The Children are in the UK for 2 more weeks, so if you would like to donate before their return home you can contact Jane Elliott on 07846 172750.
The personal experience that I have had, meeting the children had made me want to be involved in whatever way I can.
