Tchernobyl, some 20 years ago...

from JoeUser Forums
It happened the 26 april 1986 and it still haunts families, neighbours, countries, a whole continent.

We still dont know the exact number of victims. People died others are invalid but it is evident the catastrophe hasnt stopped as others will die from the cancer caused by the nuclear accident... What a waste, what a friggin waste.

To the lifes of those who were sacrificed by the ambition of a nation. To those who didnt have a childhood. To those who will never be allowed to dream.
**WARNING: THIS PICTURES MIGHT HURT THE SENSIBILITY OF VIEWERS**




1. Minsk, 1997, daily scene. This boy screams while his friends play outside. 2. Hospital for children with cancer. Minsk, 2000. Vova knows he is sick. In spite of the amputation his state doesnt get better. 3. Children's shelter, Minsk 2000. All holds in her arms a 2 year old toddler. His brain is in the excrescence. 4. Novinski Refuge. Minsk 1997.This children cant get up. They have to be fed on the floor. 5.Novinski Refuge. Minsk 1997. 6.Children's shelter, Minsk 2000. This 3 year old child has been there since he was born. The excresecence on his back contains his kidneys. He cant be operated. 7. Orphanate, Gomel 1999. Sacha 5 years old suffers from a quasi abscence of lymphatic system. Her body produces toxins that she cant eliminate. 8.Novinski refuge Minsk 1997. This child is in a state of constant terror.
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16,127 views 16 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yikes these are scary photos. What a terrible thing that happened, it's hard to even look at these, and I have a strong stomach. Maybe a warning would be a good idea, so those faint of heart are aware.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Sorry Amanda, I know they are shocking, but i didnt think of a warning, thanks for the advise!
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Hey thanks! No biggie, just wanted to make you aware. I'm glad you did post this though, lest we forget.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
No biggie, just wanted to make you aware.

You know I often forget to put the adults content thingy, on this one I thought I'd only put something before the pictures.

I'm glad you did post this though, lest we forget.

Thanks Amanda, I know some things are better best forgotten, but others have to be remembered in order not to be repeated. Of course in this case it was an accident, but I'm sure it could have been avoided had the URSS had been more strict on security policy.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
Just added "titles" to the pictures so that they can make more sense.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Just added "titles" to the pictures so that they can make more sense.


Wow scary. These captions, while help understand what I'm seeing, scare the crap out of me! I feel so bad for these children, it is so sad.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top

This is horrible and so so sad.  These poor kids.  My God with the technology we have today we can't help them?

I look at that and think of the nuclear facilities we have in the US.  And what a terrorist attack would mean, not just that day, but obviously for years afterward.

Why would people have children?  I am wondering if they knew they were exposed before having the kids, etc.

Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Amanda
These captions, while help understand what I'm seeing, scare the crap out of me! I feel so bad for these children, it is so sad.

I know what you mean, you know I had a selfish thought, I was so thankful it didnt happen to me or anyone in my family...

Tova,
This is horrible and so so sad. These poor kids. My God with the technology we have today we can't help them?

It really is sad. They say there's nothing they can do about it, but I'm sure if they were willing to invest in research they could find something to at least make their life a little more comfortable. I am just so angry at the ex URSS for letting their people down that way.

I look at that and think of the nuclear facilities we have in the US. And what a terrorist attack would mean, not just that day, but obviously for years afterward.

It is a scary thought. However I think the US facilities are built in a different way (at least the french ones are), in order to prevent the risks of an accident or an attack, so that the contamination is more easily contained within the nuclear center. But you know they tell us whatever, we will never know if it's the truth or not until it actually happes...

Why would people have children? I am wondering if they knew they were exposed before having the kids, etc

I think there has been a lot of misinformation on purpose. They told the 'cleaners' who were sent to the site of the explosion to run there, shovel as much sand on the site as they could while counting to 30 then run back to avoid the radiation. They had no protecting equipment, so the count to 30 thing was useless. And when "monsters" were born from animals or humans they kept telling the population it didnt have anything to do with the explosion. I think those leaders should be punished for crime on humanity.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Interesting article indeed Dr Guy, thanks for posting the link. This is why I was careful to not put any figures as the ones I see are always different.

But I still think we should keep in mind things like the pictures of these children who are not so rare around the Tchernobyl area and the fact that the compensation that the rescue workers who have survived (but are now invalid as a result of their presence in the contaminated site) got was ridiculous compared to their losses...

This is MHO.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Not to rain on any parades, but you might want to check out this article.


Does it really matter who many people died when you have pictures of the children above? I mean, even if only one child had to live horribly disfigured, isn't that enough to draw people to hold the politicians and leaders in charge responsible? I bet if would be if it were your child.

Thanks IG for the reminder.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
I mean, even if only one child had to live horribly disfigured, isn't that enough to draw people to hold the politicians and leaders in charge responsible?

Ditto! What makes it worse is that the population accept their fate so easily. It just makes me want to cry.

Thanks IG for the reminder.

You're welcome shades.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top

Does it really matter who many people died when you have pictures of the children above? I mean, even if only one child had to live horribly disfigured, isn't that enough to draw people to hold the politicians and leaders in charge responsible? I bet if would be if it were your child.


Except those children are not victims of Chernobyl.  HOrrible the pictures are.  But blame the real source, dont make one up.


Link

Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
What is the real source? I've read the article in the link and this line stands out to me:

A spokesman for the Ukraine government’s Scientific Center for Radiation Medicine told The Guardian, “We’re overwhelmed by thyroid cancers, leukemias and genetic mutations that are not recorded in the [UN] data and which were practically unknown 20 years ago.”


I think countries that use the nuclear energy have learnt a lot from the accident in Tchernobyl. That is why the centrals are not built the same way and security is very strict.

But I still think, the ex URSS should be held responsible for what happened. I dont think it's a coincidence that the number of children born with genetic mutations increased dramatically after the accident.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top

It's hard to say how many of the pictures you see are really the result of Chernobyl, or would have happened anyway.  However, there is no doubt that the accident ruined many lives and destroyed the area.  A good look at the land is through a tour by a woman who has clearance (and equipment) through her father who is a scientist:  http://www.elenafilatova.com/

One thing that they have been able to prove over and over is the increased rate of Thyroid disease (as high as 12 times as much since before the accident in some areas).  Of course, Thyroid disease is on the rise across the world, and some have speculated that it is due to more radiation, from sources both man made and natural, in the earth.

Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
It's hard to say how many of the pictures you see are really the result of Chernobyl, or would have happened anyway.

Good point Karma. I guess we will never really know...
A good look at the land is through a tour by a woman who has clearance (and equipment) through her father who is a scientist: Link

Yup, I'll have to have a closer look, the site seems interesting.
One thing that they have been able to prove over and over is the increased rate of Thyroid disease (as high as 12 times as much since before the accident in some areas). Of course, Thyroid disease is on the rise across the world, and some have speculated that it is due to more radiation, from sources both man made and natural, in the earth.

Again I suppose we can only GUESS without really knowing.

When I saw the pictures it really broke my heart, I think I wanted to point my finger at the accident and at this country for not looking after its people. I think I just wanted to blame someone.

Thank you for your insightful remarks karma