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- 3 Important Things I Learned Working at Chernobyl -
(a radioactive thread)
(a radioactive thread)
Several years ago, I was producing documentaries for American TV.
I got to go to lots of..."interesting" places.
One of them was Chernobyl...site of the big nuclear accident.
I'd seen sketchy stuff before, but this was a new level.
I got to go to lots of..."interesting" places.
One of them was Chernobyl...site of the big nuclear accident.
I'd seen sketchy stuff before, but this was a new level.
The Ukraine cities of Lviv and Lutsk are the nearest big population centers.
Pripyat is technically town Chernobyl was in, but almost no one lives there now.
We were there to document what was happening to the NEXT generation of people...the kids born AFTER Chernobyl.
Pripyat is technically town Chernobyl was in, but almost no one lives there now.
We were there to document what was happening to the NEXT generation of people...the kids born AFTER Chernobyl.
Cessium is a long-lived radioactive isotope.
After the meltdown, it spread in the air, and settled into the water and the soil. And therefore got into the food supply.
Luckily, a lot of young people were evacuated at the time. But they continued to be exposed thru food.
After the meltdown, it spread in the air, and settled into the water and the soil. And therefore got into the food supply.
Luckily, a lot of young people were evacuated at the time. But they continued to be exposed thru food.
The children who were exposed...were now having children of their own.
As a result, we saw lots of birth defects.
Numerous children born missing, say, a hand.
I honestly won't even get into the worst stuff we saw.
But we saw some great things as well.
As a result, we saw lots of birth defects.
Numerous children born missing, say, a hand.
I honestly won't even get into the worst stuff we saw.
But we saw some great things as well.
We worked with lots of doctors at children's hospitals.
And they were some of the most kind, selfless and hard working people I've ever met.
If you're around sick children all the time, and still have a positive attitude...you're practically an angel.
But even deeper was...
And they were some of the most kind, selfless and hard working people I've ever met.
If you're around sick children all the time, and still have a positive attitude...you're practically an angel.
But even deeper was...
I had grown up fearing the Soviets.
And Ukraine was part of the USSR til pretty recently.
But everyone was so kind to us. And so interested in hearing about the US.
Every night we went to dinner with hospital staff...
And Ukraine was part of the USSR til pretty recently.
But everyone was so kind to us. And so interested in hearing about the US.
Every night we went to dinner with hospital staff...
Every night they taught us to sing old Russian folk songs...
...and every night they showed us that the concept of Russians drinking vodka in huge quantities...
...was TOTALLY true. We could barely keep up!
But we had a great time...and I realized...
...and every night they showed us that the concept of Russians drinking vodka in huge quantities...
...was TOTALLY true. We could barely keep up!
But we had a great time...and I realized...
These people who I had been taught to fear...
...they could hardly have been MORE like us Americans.
There were differences, sure, but none of them were important...
...they could hardly have been MORE like us Americans.
There were differences, sure, but none of them were important...
That was when I realized that a lot of what I had been taught in the US...about our supposed "enemies"...
...was just flat-out 100% wrong.
- Lesson:-
We aren't as different as some people thing. Ignore the media, and find out for ourself.
...was just flat-out 100% wrong.
- Lesson:-
We aren't as different as some people thing. Ignore the media, and find out for ourself.
