*
In the past, I wrote two posts on the subject (if you type Chernobyl in the search box on my sidebar, you'll get to them). At this time of the year, I tend to re-read them; it has become sort of an annual ritual for me. I'm haunted and even fascinated by the subject.
(Maybe I'm haunted by Ukraine in general. My Mom, exiled from Roumania to Ukraine during WW2, lost a baby girl and a young sister to famine and brutality there, and the two victims were burried in a mass grave in a region called Moghilev Podolsky. I wanted to go visit the bloody place ,when it became possible, to lit a candle, and say a prayer - but couldn't make it after all).
Anyway, I used to think that after a nuclear event at ground level like that of Chernobyl (unlike Hiroshima where the bomb exploded in mid air), no living organism will ever survive. Well, I was wrong. Chernobyl area is full of animals and vegetation; there's almost a jungle out there, say visitors. True, many of them have mutations, life span is probably short, but hey, they live and multiply.
The area, however, remains uninhabited by humans as radiation is very high, and they say it will remain so for thousands of years.(Unlike the bomb detonated in Hiroshima which was 14 pounds only, the reactor at Chernobyl had 180 tonsֱ!! of nuclear fuel).
Whenever I happen to read about the current situation in the 30 km exclusion zone of Chernobyl , I come upon the words 'flourish', 'thrive', 'rule', 'take over' - regarding Nature in general, and animals in particular. Unbelievable! Even scientists are shocked.
32 years now after the disaster, animals have greatly increased in numbers and variety, and are doing all right. Nature, it seems, has taken over the place abandoned by humans.
Is there some kind of message in all this? such as: 'without humans, the world is better', 'Nature doesn't need humans, it's the humans who need Nature', and so on...? I wonder.
(There are some good videos on the subject worth watching, on Youtube).
* web picture - Baby Crying - graffiti in the ghost city of Prypiat adjacent to Chernobyl.
SO horrific, and I had no idea! Thank you for taking the time to write about it, so that I may become aware. And regarding Nature taking over, I guess it just means that even when humans do their worst, there's still hope for the future.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words. Although I know nuclear power has also positive uses such as generating clean electricity, nevertheless, I'm totally against it.
DeleteDUTA, I like to think our world has everything we need to heal us. If that is true, there is something in nature to undo the radiation. Maybe nature itself? I am hopeful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandy for your comments on my Chernobyl posts.
DeleteI wish to believe you're right and that maybe Nature can "undo the radiation".
Nature is tougher (more sensible and more kind) than humans it would appear.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Nature seems to survive and even thrive in conditions that humans cannot make it. This tells us a lot about who's tougher.
DeleteThe crying baby image is haunting. I'm sorry to hear of your family hardships. However, it is good to hear of the rebirth happening near Chernobyl. Miraculous.
ReplyDeleteA real miracle will be if and when something could be done about the radiation in the near future, not waiting thousands of years.
DeleteI don't think, however, that humans would ever want to return to the zone; the four reactors are still there, even if not active and with a cement cover.
its such a big lesson on taking care of our resources/planet. this was super interesting to read...i need to watch these documentaries!
ReplyDeleteSadly, we learn our lesson only after tragedy occurs, and even then, we do nothing serious to prevent, take care of the planet and of ourselves.
DeleteThat it what I thought immediately too - they're thriving without humans :) We are, after all, the worst of creatures.
ReplyDeleteSuch a tragic story of your mother. Slavic countries especially Russia, Poland and Serbia have had the biggest numbers of casualties during WW2, and also the biggest examples of human heroism (maybe we're not all that evil after all). I'm about 200km from Romania :)
Serbia has common border with Romania in the east. I was born in the north-east part of Romania which is closer to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.
DeleteAnyway, radiation or not,Im for "status quo" in the contaminated region of Chernobyl; that is,no humans. Leave Nature alone (no hunting, no fishing, no farming).
You are so right.. Nature doesn't need humans. I watched a show recently ( underwater monsters) where this guy was fishing in a lake there .. he could only stay for minutes at a time, anyway there were catfish the size of sharks in that lake. weird, they say that its a result of the nuclear chemicals in the water.
ReplyDeletethanks for stopping by my blog. : ) have a great new week.
Yes, in nuclear, contaminated regions such as Chernobyl and Fukushima, mutations are a very noticeable part of the scenery. Especially during the years immediately following the disaster.
DeleteThank you so much for your lovely and kind comments on my blog.
ReplyDeleteI've heard a great deal about Chernobyl as my ex husband is Russian. It's sad how much we as humans can destroy things/places ... but interesting how the Earth can come back and thrive. ❤
Your welcome.
DeleteWe humans are both constructive and destructive. The same can be said about the earth too.
I had forgotten the date, but the event is always marked on my memories. And I never thought I'd see the day where life began to flourish there again!!! I will go check out the videos, thanks.
ReplyDeleteYou and your family also have some very emotional stories.
We tend to forget dates of certain events - this is one of them. Journalists are out there to remind us of everything we would like to forget.
DeleteDUTA, this is a fascinating post. I have no answer but you bring a lot of very good 'food for thought' questions to the table. I have a feeling this post won't "leave me" for awhile.
ReplyDeleteThanks, also, for stopping by Marmelade Gypsy this weekend! I appreciate your visit!
Thank you for your kind words. I feel flattered by them.
DeleteI hope my post gives anyone reading it, food for thought.
Chernobyl affected my home country of Sweden as well, so I kept up on it during that time. A few years ago, I saw a TV documentary about Chernobyl now. Pretty much as you described it, a jungle of growth, animals seemingly doing well, or at least they are there and able to reproduce. I'm sure there must be more on youtube. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am sorry for your personal losses during that horrible time that was WWII.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Sweden was the first to alert the world about the accident as it was detected in a nuclear plant near Stockholm.
DeleteI was born after WW2, but what happened to my family affected my whole life.
I`m so sorry about you familiy`s losses from such tragic events in Ukraine. As difficult as it must be to re-visit these events, I hope much healing will continue in your heart and in our world. Thank you for you always share posts from your heart of compassion. Some of my family also comes from Ukraine, or so I have been told, but don`t know the exact circumstances. I just read all your posts on the Chernobyl disaster. It`s hard to believe that humans continue to use nuclear and make nuclear plants, and also weapons. You ask some big questions about humans and if we are needed. I don`t have answers, but would see it in terms of all of Creation, and God created all nature. If He didn`t need us, He wouldn`t have created us. `Nature` and humans are both at God`s mercy and the common denominator and wonderful Hope is that we all need Him. I just wanted to leave off the comment with a scripture about Hope, so I chose this one. Hope it blesses you and that you will seek Him for the difficult questions that are in your heart, and for all the rest too!! May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
ReplyDeletefrom Romans 13:15
Love to you and Shalom, from a rainy day Japan♡
I remember that day clearly! So sorry about your mother loosing her babies! I can't even imagine!
ReplyDeleteHard to forget such a day,especially as it is a continuing tragedy, and the danger of nuclear accidents (or wars) is not over.
DeleteSadly, there are nuclear plants in many countries. May God help us!
Yes, I cry out with you Duta, may God help us!! And prevent any more nuclear tragedy, and bring about great change in a new and healing direction. Amen!
DeleteYou live in Japan, and this country went through three nuclear events: Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Fukoshima. Well, that's more than enough.
DeleteI agree with your belief on Creation, Shayndel. Indeed, God created us all, nature and humans, and we all need Him.
ReplyDeleteHowever, we, humans, are constantly disappointing Him, violating the laws and order of His Creation from the very beginning. So, I'm not very optimistic (especially seeing all that climate anomaly and natural disasters of the last two decades), but we still must not lose Hope, and pray for His forgiveness.
Thanks for your very kind words and beautiful comment.
Sorry to read of your family's tragedies, Duta. I have watched various online videos that showed how Prypiat and Chernobyl look in the absence of human life forms. It was amazing to see that nature has thrived so well.
ReplyDeleteAmazing, indeed, and with no human intervention whatsoever. This is the real wildlife. It would be interesting to follow and see what's going to happen there in the upcoming years.
DeleteBoa tarde, será que o homem aprendeu alguma coisa com Chernobyl? será que o desastre já foi esquecido? Julgo que os interesses económicos são superiores a um novo Chernobyl e as suas causas.
ReplyDeleteFeliz semana,
AG
I'm afraid Man hasn't learnt his lesson from Chernovyl disaster, and nuclear power is still a menace, because, as you say, economic interests are more important.
DeleteInteresting post, Duta! Sad about your mother and family back then. Chernobyl is definitely a sad story and I've read about the mutant animals there. Can't imagine all the suffering that goes on with things like this. Take care
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteYes, it's hard to imagine such horrors. Only when we see things with our eyes, we can grasp the significance.
Well, in this case we have videos on Youtube, and that helps.
Sorry to hear of your family's losses....so very sad. I watched a television special on Chernobyl several years ago, and it was pretty fascinating. I was awed by those filming the special, as I felt they were courageous to enter that area. Man will never learn, DUTA, of that, I'm convinced.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you, Bica. It's been a long time since your last blogging.
DeleteI also feel that way about the visitors to Chernobyl. They're definitely courageous people.
It was such an awful disaster when this happened and how it's still so damaged. Just terrible.
ReplyDeleteRaindrops of Sapphire
The words 'awful' and 'terrible'are mild when trying to describe the disaster. But we're short of words when facing an event of this proportion.
DeleteThe years pass so quickly, and still these disasters happen, I'm thinking about Fukushima which was back in 2011.
ReplyDeleteHumans and nature need to co-exist and at the moment I don't think we are ... I can only hope it may improve ... but I have my doubts.
All the best Jan
It is as if it happened yesterday.
DeleteFukushima - a more recent disaster- with same radiation issues and mutations. The japanese government is said to have some decontamination plan, but scientists say it's worthless.
I'm so sorry to hear of your family's tragic loss in Ukraine.
ReplyDeleteThe rebirth of the natural world around Chernobyl is truly fascinating. I hope our Earth is able to absorb and make up for all the pollution Humans have imposed upon it.
Hopefully, the Earth will heal itself; it takes much time, but it's possible.
DeleteSorry for your family's loss. I've seen a few documentaries on Chernobyl and it is sad and fascinating at the same time.
ReplyDeleteIt seems people everywhere are more or less familiar with the disaster as they've read and seen documentaries. Anyway, it's not something we, humans can afford to forget.
DeleteThat web pic sets the mood for sure about your topic. I appreciate your research too and am very sorry to read about your loss. You explain it all so well and give me much to think about!
ReplyDeleteAs they say, 'a picture's worth a thousand word'.
DeleteThank you for your kind words.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been on my my blog and stopped by. I hope your doing well dear Duya.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to read of your loss. It’s so hard to imagine people having to live like that and experience such devastating loss. Thank you for sharing such heartfelt things as well as information I’d never known about Cherynobyl. Such a tragedy and yet, growth is still possible.
"...growth is still possible.." - I like that.
DeleteGood to hear from you' and thank you for your comment.
I always learn so much when I read one of your posts. Definitely we have so much to learn from nature. It always seems amazing to me that even on our freeways here in California, you will see little plants/weeds popping up through the concrete! Where do they come from? Are seeds flying through the air and they just land and bloom? Are they waiting underneath the concrete searching for a spot where they can poke through and bloom? Even on a busy freeway with gas fumes and no water, nature finds a way.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, plants don't need our permission to pop up and bloom. We, humans would like to think that we are the masters of Nature, but God is the One and only master.
Delete