Extraordinary. Sobering.

Chernobyl's eerie desolation revealed by camera mounted on drone

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/nov/29/chernobyl-desolation-camera-drone

We ( the US) have sometimes taken big chances and lost. Russia (the Soviets) have sometimes taken bigger chances and lost (big time). This is not the only nuclear "accident" they have had, most notable among the others are nuclear submarines that have come to grief.

I find it interesting that many other nations have pledged money to "fix" Chernobyl. Was this not an entirely internal project at the time? Are they being altruistic or trying to protect themselves? I do not intend these comments to be cynical, merely curiosity on my part.

Best regards,

RA1

Chernobyl is in what is now the Ukraine, not Russia. Some folks downwind aren't too enthused about waiting for those two to get their act together and fix the mess.

Besides seems like the guys running the Ukraine considered their options: 1) spend billions roofing over the temporary containment because it would be the responsible thing to do or 2) squander said billions on theft and foreign bank accounts, wait everybody else out and then steal a good chunk of the money foreigners would eventually pony up to do the job for them.

Hmm...what to do, what to do?

Don't you hate difficult decisions?

Was not the Ukraine a Soviet state then? And, was not the nuclear plant under the direct control of Moscow? Is this sort of thing not part of a very long standing policy of Russia to isolate to some extent their own citizens?

Any and all of that notwithstanding, the Earth is entirely too small a locale for these sorts of problems.

Best regards,

RA1

Was not the Ukraine a Soviet state then?

Technically it was a Soviet Socialist Republic, an entirely sovereign country in free & voluntary association with the other SSRs that (together with various provinces and other dependant territories) composed the old Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Not unlike a Southern separatist's conception of the pre Civil War United States of America actually.

But yes, a 'Soviet state'; close enough for government work.

...was not the nuclear plant under the direct control of Moscow?

My understanding is that the old Soviet bureaucratic structure would make a flow chart of the Department of Homeland Security look simple but, again, close enough.

...the Earth is entirely too small a locale for these sorts of problems.

Which is exactly the POV the kleptocrats who run the Ukraine counted on when they chose the 2nd alternative.