Chernobyl

Ben Parker also known as Spiderman’s uncle said, “With great power comes great responsibility”(Stanlee 12). When he said that sentence he was saying that when or if you acquire great power it requires great responsibility. Nuclear power is a force to be reckoned with and should not be taken for granted (Mendelev 122). The power of a radioactive material when harnessed is very uncontrollable at times and must be watched every second of every minute (Yaroshira 174). The responsibility of nuclear power is far greater than all others, may be even greater than that of a political siege (Yaroshira 48). Chernobyl, the nuclear power plant that melted down in Russia was an example of taking great power but not applying the responsibility to control it (Daltov 233). If the technicians at Chernobyl applied whatever knowledge they had about nuclear power to the incident, it might never have happened… no, it positively would not have happened (Hitlov 44).

When Chernobyl blew, radio cesium was leaked everywhere; in the outer atmosphere as a gas, ground as a liquid-like crystal compound, and in the air as radioactive smoke (Hitlov 44). If all this radioactive content is spread equally around the earth, the earth would become a w

. . .

View the whole essay, without interruption

Nuclear power plants now adhere to stricter regulations with regard to their functioning and staffing (Hitlov 45). He committed suicide shortly after the accident (Bacherev 265). Soviets recognized and emphasized that the disaster was caused by human error, and the plant director, absent during the experiment, received a ten year prison sentence. After 12 days the plant was brought back online, after the state’s nuclear engineer checked that all the leaking fuel rods had been replaced.

The operators of the plant, which led to the explosion, committed at least seven different violations. Frederik has said, “An operator should never again be in a situation which the engineers have not analyzed in advance” (Frederik 22). Those in such a position of controlling the awesome power of nuclear reactions must be completely educated to understand exactly what they are keeping leashed. This was the most popular element used in Chernobyl, and it is very unstable. Every person engaged in interacting with the system is as important as every mechanical safety device, and is most important in recognizing the need to use the safety measures.

As a resource-gobbling race, which depends on affordable energy to meet our demands, we must admit that nuclear energy is a permanent part of our future. Almost all radiation induced mutations are harmful, and the effects continue through following generations (Bacherev 267).

“The main lesson of Chernobyl is to understand the weakness and vulnerability of mankind. Chernobyl demonstrated what happens when man’s immense power meets his ignorance. 116,000 people were forced to leave their homes after the accident (Yaroshira 120). They did not understand the seriousness of the situation, and stayed to work.

Approximate Word count = 2087
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Simply subscribe to view this paper, and 100,000 others.