Cracks in decaying shell of Chernobyl reactor threaten second disaster

[IChing]

By Andrew Osborn in Moscow
28 April 2005


A leading Russian scientist has claimed that the sarcophagus entombing Chernobyl's broken nuclear reactor is dangerously degraded and he warned that its collapse could cause a catastrophe on the same scale as the original accident almost 20 years ago. >>>snip

Earlier this year Julia Marusych, the head of information at Chernobyl, admitted on Russian TV that the sarcophagus was in appalling condition: "The construction is unstable, unsafe, and does not meet any safety requirements."

The sarcophagus was hastily thrown together after the explosion as a desperate attempt to contain the world's worst nuclear accident. Many of the workers who toiled on it have since died of cancer and the sarcophagus itself began showing signs of serious stress in the early 1990s.

Built to last 50 years,experts were forced to reduce its recommended lifespan to just 20 years meaning a replacement is due in 2006.

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=633671

[FloridaPat]

1. Yes, let's put nuclear reactors all over the US. We can handle any

problem. If they could run SUV's off this stuff they would be built in every state.

[IChing]

3. Built to last

50 years the cover was,
boy, planed obsolescence, or just the best technology, that money can buy at the time?
Good thing our education system or economy is not in trouble here. But we know the future don't we?

[Massacure]

4. There is no comparison between U.S. and Soviet reactors.

The concrete sarcophagus suffered budget issues though. Someone has to pay for it, and they have to raise the funds fast.

[IChing]

5. You don't get it

You think that the American educational economic society can last as long
as compared to the Soviet society, to support someone that economically has to build control something after a collapse of an economic/ political system,

Of course that could never happen here? Right? You and the US are too smart for that,
Right?
built a cover to last, how long? So you trust the new faith base scientific education
that is being promoted in this country? We are talking about how long, that this conscious aware, non "homer" worker, is there? We should pay for this education?

[lovuian]

2. Pravda reported on this a few days ago its disturbing

and nobody is doing anything!!!