The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station dates from the height of the first Cold War between the U.S. and Russia. Industry policy is to return power station sites to green fields after their job is complete. This theory has never stood the test with nuclear, because it takes a long time for contamination to go cold. This will probably never happen at Chernobyl because of the nuclear disaster of 1986.
How Men’s’ Love for Machines Lead to Nuclear Disaster
I have stood in a nuclear power station control room, and gazed in awe at the complexity of the control panels. The operators – all men, of course in those days – were in love with their equipment. Nothing could ever go wrong with their machines.
I was in the works canteen on the day the operating manager arrived with the morning newspaper. We gazed horror-struck at a satellite photo showing Chernobyl burning. The Chernobyl operators died because they believed they, and their equipment were infallible. I never heard the nuclear disaster discussed in public again at the power station where I worked. It was as if it never happened.
The same infatuation with machines leads men to push their motorcycles and cars beyond the limit, and end in fiery deaths too. Much the same happens with stunt planes, I believe.
Green Energy Fields Sprouting at Chernobyl Again
I am, however delighted to learn that Ukraine and Germany are cooperating to build a solar farm at the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site. It is near the steel containment sarcophagus they erected over the contaminated ruins of the nuclear disaster. Looking at the picture at the top of the page again, I can’t help ending with these words:
“And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people. And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” Please, no more nuclear disasters, oh man.
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