What links these photos together

1
This photo shows doctors at a hospital in Kiev
operating on a patient with Thyroid cancer
This photo shows a nursery in an abandoned town
in the Ukraine. No one has been to the town
since 1986.
What links these photos together?
This photo shows Six-year-old Vedernikova Marija,
the only child known living in her area.
This photo shows a deserted house.
This photo shows the remains of the Chernobyl
nuclear power plant.
This photo shows a Ukrainian girl diagnosed with
cancer, holding an earlier picture of her and her
sister
2
The photos show a place called Chernobyl
On the 26th April 1986 a plant reactor exploded
during a failed cooling system test, igniting a
massive fire that burned for ten days. At 123am
the reactor became out of control creating
explosions and a fireball which blew off the
reactor's heavy steel and concrete lid.
The accident released radioactivity equivalent to
400 times that of the Hiroshima bomb. More than
350,000 people were displaced and scientists
estimate up to 90,000 square miles of land in
Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia (all part of the
Soviet Union at the time) were contaminated with
unhealthy levels of radioactive elements.
3
So what?
Radioactivity damages our DNA and changes our
bodys cells. This causes cancer and
mutations. Serious exposure to radiation is
likely to cause death within 2 to 4 weeks. 176
people were working at the reactor that night.
Most were killed instantly, others died agonising
deaths soon afterwards. Many of those who
didnt die from the exposure have gone on to give
birth to a mutated generation.
'I remember joking to the others, "There must be
an incredible amount of radiation here. We'll be
lucky if we're all alive in the morning." -
fireman Anatoli Zakharov (Shortly afterwards, he
was hospitalised in Kiev, where he remained for
two months)
4
How was the radioactivity contained? When the
Chernobyl accident occurred, the power plant was
covered in a massive concrete and steel shell.
That shell was meant to last for 20 to 30
years. Work is set to begin soon on a new
stadium-size shelter that will confine the entire
building and the radioactive material within for
at least a hundred years. The project is
estimated to be completed by 2008.
5
Does the UK have any Nuclear Power
Stations? Yes. Some are due to be shut down,
such as Oldbury and Sizewell A.
6
How is nuclear power made? Uranium is usually
the fuel (Plutonium could also be used). A
uranium atom can be split. This releases huge
amounts of energy.
1. Neutron strikes unstable nucleus of Uranium
2. Nucleus splits releasing large amount of
energy 3. Further neutrons are also released 4.
New neutrons strike other nuclei, initiating
chain reaction
7
AGAINST Spent fuel rods need to be disposed of.
These are highly radioactive and would instantly
kill anyone directly exposed to them. It takes
tens of thousands of years before the fuel rods
are safe! They have to be encased in concrete
vaults (such as Brigg in Cumbria) or glass
(vitrification). Radioactive pollution is
released. Decommissioning is incredibly
expensive (again because of the radioactive
material) Some believe that the risks involved
outweigh potential benefits. If a reaction was
to go out of control, we would have another
Chernobyl.
FOR Renewable. Releases few GH gases and is
therefore a potential solution to global
warming. Its reasonably cheap. Oil and gas
prices are soaring. Its reliable. It reduces
our need to rely on other countries.
8
Has this assembly got anything to do with me?
Of course it has!!! Firstly you have a nuclear
power station down the road. Secondly, your
generation is going to have to decide the energy
source of the future you need to be sure that
you make the right choice! Thirdly, we live in a
democratic state and youre the electorate of
tomorrow.