THE WINDS OF TIME

The Chernobyl disaster was undoubtedly 'an ill wind', not perhaps the worst of all time but very, very significant at this time. There was no motive, it was a mistake in a procedure that had been done many times before, helped by the particular design of the nuclear power station that may have been a mistake in itself. Still for its time it was considered the most favourable option. Whether this was inspired by economic factors or speed of construction or unwise scientific decision is now irrelevant—we cannot wind back the clock. Oh! for the 20–20 vision of hindsight.

Chernobyl was worse even than the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which was done so that the USA could occupy Japan before Russia did. Many of the USA's actions are slanted by economic factors as were Russia's in trying to get there first. Although many feel that this was not a noble motive, it was not a misadventure.

I feel that the greatest disaster of all time was probably the extinction of the dinosaurs. At least for the dinosaurs.

The following pages show some of the changes that have occurred in the Chernobyl Zone, supposedly the area within 30 km of Chernobyl but in fact some of the area is 50 km away.

Once the dinosaurs were the losers and we were the winners in the fullness of time.

For us the Chernobyl disaster was tragic, but not it seems for all living things. And things are changing, so slowly and over time. The radiation levels are dropping and people can go to places now that they could not have ten years ago. Not for long stays but for a little while. Normality is still hundreds or thousands of years away. But it is moving and in the right direction.

Many things have been destroyed but some have recovered and some have even thrived.

The following pages illustrate some of what are thriving twenty years later.

It is an interesting perspective from a view point other than our own. I owe a debt to Sergiy Paskevych for allowing me to use some of the huge amount of material that he and his associates have collected. Many thanks Sergiy.
His site is: CHERNOBYL EXCLUSION ZONE

These extractions from Sergiy's web site are all well worth a visit.

LANDSCAPE OF CHERNOBYL ZONE See the land as it is now.

WILDLIFE IN CHERNOBYL ZONE 1st See the animals that have moved in and breed.

WILDLIFE IN CHERNOBYL ZONE 2nd As above.

WILDLIFE IN CHERNOBYL ZONE 3rd As above.

PHOTOGRAPHY IN CHERNOBYL ZONE As above.

BATS IN CHERNOBYL ZONE See the great variety of bats, some so very tiny.

BIRDS IN CHERNOBYL ZONE See the birds that are in the trees.

REPTILE, INSECT AND AMPHIBIA Photographs of them all plus many photographs of the landscape.

THE RED FOREST Photographs of the landscape and a description of the effect of radiation on vegetation.

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