April 26, 1986: Catastrophic Nuclear Accident at Chernobyl April 26, 1986: Catastrophic Nuclear Accident at Chernobyl
A series of explosions and fires at the nuclear plant in Chernobyl caused a massive plume of fallout to spread across Russia and Europe, leading to dozens of deaths of immediate deaths, thousands of additional radiation-caused fatalities, and hundreds of thousands of evacuations. In an editorial (May 10, 1986), The Nation heralded what it hoped would be the beginning of the end of the age of nuclear power. Alas, we yet await the nuclear disaster that will finally convince people around the world that it may be time for a change. The Chernobyl accident is, by early accounts, the worst to date, and it is very bad news for the Russians, who handled it poorly from the start. But it is also bad news for the scores of other countries where reactors are already working or under construction or planned. Whatever the weather patterns, we are all downwind from Chernobyl…. The politics of nuclear power will surely produce attempts to stop the spread of new plants and perhaps curb the proliferation of weapons as well. Already Sweden plans to phrase out its nuclear industry by the early twenty-first century. In 1978 Austrians voted to bar a completed facility from going on line. Only citizen-based environmental action movements have challenged the containment structure of secrecy that the nuclear establishments, both East and West, built to shield their work from the beginning. Activist groups in several American states are fighting the construction or operation of nuclear plants, including the Shoreham station in New York and Seabrook in New Hampshire. Depressed oil prices and exorbitant construction costs are taking their toll. Antinuclear activists always said that it would take a major accident to convince the world that atomic power is unsafe in any form. At Chernobyl we may have witnessed the dawn of the postnuclear age. April 26, 1986 To mark The Nation’s 150th anniversary, every morning this year The Almanac will highlight something that happened that day in history and how The Nation covered it. Get The Almanac every day (or every week) by signing up to the e-mail newsletter.
Apr 26, 2015 / Richard Kreitner and The Almanac
Two Senate Dems Challenge Obama: Release the TPP Text Two Senate Dems Challenge Obama: Release the TPP Text
Apr 25, 2015 / George Zornick
April 25, 1898: The US Declares War on Spain April 25, 1898: The US Declares War on Spain
“Are there no gentlemen left in in American public life?”
Apr 25, 2015 / Richard Kreitner and The Almanac
AIPAC vs. the Neocons on Iran AIPAC vs. the Neocons on Iran
Neocons will lose the Iran fight because their bankrupt ideology is too partisan, but they’re winning the war of ideas in the GOP.
Apr 24, 2015 / Ali Gharib
Why ‘The Heidi Chronicles’ Failed to Find a New Audience Why ‘The Heidi Chronicles’ Failed to Find a New Audience
Wendy Wasserstein’s 1989 play barely passes the Bechdel Test. Men act; Heidi reacts. What Lean-In feminist has time for that?
Apr 24, 2015 / Alisa Solomon
From the Fight for 15 to the Fifth Circuit, a National Youth Groundswell From the Fight for 15 to the Fifth Circuit, a National Youth Groundswell
This week, students hit the streets for racial and economic justice.
Apr 24, 2015 / StudentNation / StudentNation
Obama Hits the Warpath Over TPP Obama Hits the Warpath Over TPP
In a lengthy call with reporters, Obama pushed back hard on liberal criticisms of his trade bill.
Apr 24, 2015 / George Zornick
The Mediterranean Migrant Crisis Can’t Be Solved With Gunships The Mediterranean Migrant Crisis Can’t Be Solved With Gunships
The devastating migrant boat wreck in the Mediterranean reveals the failure of the EU's refugee policy.
Apr 24, 2015 / Michelle Chen
Even Centrists Are Warning of War With Russia Even Centrists Are Warning of War With Russia
Moderate political commentators are finally admitting what some have been saying for months—that war with Russia is a real possibility.
Apr 24, 2015 / Stephen F. Cohen
What Are ‘Nation’ Interns Reading the Week of 4/26/15? What Are ‘Nation’ Interns Reading the Week of 4/26/15?
What Are ‘Nation’ Interns Reading the Week of 4/26/15?
Apr 24, 2015 / StudentNation / StudentNation