Chernobyl: Crime without Punishment

by Alla A. Yaroshinskaya (Editor)

Long before the tragedy of the 2011 nuclear disasters in Japan, the nuclear reactor at Chernobyl experienced an explosion, meltdown, fire, and massive release of radioactivity. Twenty-five years later, we still know very little about the event and its aftermath. Few of the professional papers describing the aftereffects of the disaster have been translated from Russian into English or distributed in the West. This is now remedied, with the publication of this definitive volume, based on original sources, and originally published in Russian. Alla A. Yaroshinskaya describes the human side of the disaster, with firsthand accounts by those who lived through the world's worst public health crisis. Chernobyl : Crime without Punishment is a unique account of events by a reporter who defied the Soviet bureaucracy. The author presents an accurate historical record, with quotations from all the major players in the Chernobyl drama. It also provides unique insight into the final stages of Soviet communism. Yaroshinskaya describes actions after the how authorities built a new city for Chernobyl residents but placed it in a highly polluted area. She also details the actions of the nuclear lobby inside and outside the former Soviet Union. Bringing the book into the twenty-first century, the author reviews the latest medical data on Chernobyl people's health from the affected countries and from independent investigations; and states why there has been no trial of top officials who covered up Chernobyl and its disastrous consequences.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Russia

410 pages, Hardcover

First published August 28, 2011

Reviews

[Mark E. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to know what will happen when the aging, unsafe unclear reactors in the United States begin to melt down, this is the book to read.

As with 9/11, first responders will not be fully informed of the dangers and will subsequently be denied medical treatment.

As with Fukushima, those in most danger will be told that they're perfectly safe and to remain in their homes.

Doctors will be prohibited from properly diagnosing radiation illness and forbidden to record the names of the dead and dying, women will be forced to seek abortions or give birth to monsters, children will be forced to eat radioactive foods because nothing else is available to them. This is the inevitable consequence of technological progress and development, along with unrestrained government and corporate power and greed.

And as with all major disasters in authoritarian countries, government officials will act to protect themselves and the nuclear industry by issuing orders that will result in the needless deaths and radiation illnesses of millions of people, and not one high-level official will ever be punished.

Eventually the truth will come out, but most will be unaware and it will be far too late for the victims.

Knowing what will happen to us can't change anything. Even those countries that have decided to shut down their nuclear power plants, can be destroyed by meltdowns in neighboring countries, or in the most severe events, countries halfway around the world.

This is our destiny, a fate that can no longer be averted.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author’s purpose in writing this book was to inform the reader on the many lies that were told by the government to try and cover up the full extent of the Chernobyl reactor accident.

The underlying message of this story was, do what was right, even if it means going against everyone else.

This book was a description of the author’s struggle ,who at the time was a journalist, to let the people know of the deceit the government used to try and cover up the dangers of the Chernobyl reactor explosion and make it seem as though it wasn't that bad.

I found this to be a pretty good book overall. It was interesting to read about the lies and coverups that surround the Chernobyl accident.