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It's not politics. It is a practical reality that it is dangerous. As dangerous as coal plants. But for some reason HN likes to turn a blind eye to un-disposabl

It's not politics. It is a practical reality that it is dangerous. As dangerous as coal plants. But for some reason HN likes to turn a blind eye to un-disposable toxic waste and the potential for citywide devastation (Chernobyl).

pphysch 5y ago
Devastation is a strong word. The restricted area around Chernobyl is incredibly wild and lush right now. It's just humans that don't want to live there for credible health concerns. Excessive resource extraction causes devastation.
- yakshaving_jgt 5y ago
  > It's just humans that don't want to live there for credible health concerns. A significant population of residents actually moved back there, despite the restrictions. I believe all of the former residents of Chernobyl (which is actually a tiny village) are now dead, the last old babushka passing in October/November 2016. I visited what was left of her house. There are still plenty of people living in and around the exclusion zone for various reasons (mostly military).
- forgotmypw17 5y ago
  The area for hundreds of kilometers radius around Chernobyl, including Kiev, is still contaminated, with effects on people's health still being felt. It is common to downplay the effects of the accident, but it is huge. (I'm originally from that area.)
  - sam_lowry_ 5y ago
  - sam_lowry_ 5y ago
    I am surprised people do not know coal plants are a major source of radiation in Eastern Europe.
_dain_ 5y ago
yakshaving_jgt 5y ago
You are delusional. Coal plants kill millions of people worldwide every year. How many people died from Chernobyl? About 50, despite over 100,000 people working at the site on cleanup. The adjacent reactors continued to run and provide power for about a decade after the incident. How many people died of radiation poisoning at Fukushima? Zero. Zero!
- protastus 5y ago
  > How many people died from Chernobyl? About 50, despite over 100,000 people working at the site on cleanup. The adjacent reactors continued to run and provide power for about a decade after the incident. I am surprised you're quoting official Soviet numbers. Numbers that weren't updated since the early days of the accident. > How many people died of radiation poisoning at Fukushima? Zero. At what cost?
  - jacquesm 5y ago
    Besides the spike in thyroid cancers, from the Baltics to Poland, Romania and Ukraine on down. https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/04/1008292 https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/04/1008292
    - sam_lowry_ 5y ago
      This is 4000 deaths spread statistically over I do not remember how many tens of years. Check for yourself: https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub913e_web.pdf https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub913e_web.p...
- SavantIdiot 5y ago
  Your logic: no one died today, ergo it must be safe.
  - yakshaving_jgt 5y ago
    You should consider changing your position. It’s not too late for that. Happy New Year.
xondono 5y ago
Because that waste is tiny and controllable. All energy sources are dangerous, the toxic waste from making the batteries required for solar + wind only is no joke.

pphysch 5y ago

Devastation is a strong word. The restricted area around Chernobyl is incredibly wild and lush right now. It's just humans that don't want to live there for credible health concerns. Excessive resource extraction causes devastation.

yakshaving_jgt 5y ago
> It's just humans that don't want to live there for credible health concerns. A significant population of residents actually moved back there, despite the restrictions. I believe all of the former residents of Chernobyl (which is actually a tiny village) are now dead, the last old babushka passing in October/November 2016. I visited what was left of her house. There are still plenty of people living in and around the exclusion zone for various reasons (mostly military).
forgotmypw17 5y ago
The area for hundreds of kilometers radius around Chernobyl, including Kiev, is still contaminated, with effects on people's health still being felt. It is common to downplay the effects of the accident, but it is huge. (I'm originally from that area.)
- sam_lowry_ 5y ago
- sam_lowry_ 5y ago
  I am surprised people do not know coal plants are a major source of radiation in Eastern Europe.

_dain_ 5y ago

yakshaving_jgt 5y ago

You are delusional. Coal plants kill millions of people worldwide every year. How many people died from Chernobyl? About 50, despite over 100,000 people working at the site on cleanup. The adjacent reactors continued to run and provide power for about a decade after the incident. How many people died of radiation poisoning at Fukushima? Zero. Zero!

protastus 5y ago
> How many people died from Chernobyl? About 50, despite over 100,000 people working at the site on cleanup. The adjacent reactors continued to run and provide power for about a decade after the incident. I am surprised you're quoting official Soviet numbers. Numbers that weren't updated since the early days of the accident. > How many people died of radiation poisoning at Fukushima? Zero. At what cost?
- jacquesm 5y ago
  Besides the spike in thyroid cancers, from the Baltics to Poland, Romania and Ukraine on down. https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/04/1008292 https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/04/1008292
  - sam_lowry_ 5y ago
    This is 4000 deaths spread statistically over I do not remember how many tens of years. Check for yourself: https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub913e_web.pdf https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub913e_web.p...
SavantIdiot 5y ago
Your logic: no one died today, ergo it must be safe.
- yakshaving_jgt 5y ago
  You should consider changing your position. It’s not too late for that. Happy New Year.

xondono 5y ago

Because that waste is tiny and controllable. All energy sources are dangerous, the toxic waste from making the batteries required for solar + wind only is no joke.