Back on April 26, 1986, there was a massive nuclear accident at the Chernobyl plant in the Ukraine, which caused it to be closed down. Hundreds of people got sick, and I have no idea how many people suffered from this accident. Today, it is considered a wildlife refugee, because nature has taken over. There are more plants and more animals there now, compared to when there were people living there. However, there is disagreement around the number of species of animals who can safely survive and reproduce in the radiation levels at Chernobyl. There are no birds in the area, but wolves, boars and deer seem to be doing okay. There is plenty of children who were born long after 1986 in the area around Chernobyl who suffer from horrific birth defects. Lots of people have gotten cancer.
It was a clear sign to many people (including me) that nuclear power was not safe or clean, but the real problems with nuclear power is the horrid waste that never goes away, and the fact that the technology can lead to nuclear weapons development. Nuclear power is not the way to go. Neither is coal, gas or oil. They are all dirty. //We need safe and clean power sources.
Of course, this lesson has been reinforced by the disaster at Fukushima Power Plant.
This is a link to a fascinating voyage into the lands most impacted by Chernobl.
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