Editorials

Wednesday, April 24, 1996

Fire sears anniversary of
Chernobyl accident

THE outbreak of fire in five abandoned villages around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine adds a cruel twist to the 10th anniversary of the world's worst civil nuclear accident. The blaze flared up just four days before the anniversary and coincided with the annual visit of former residents to their old homes. The villages were evacuated after the 1986 explosion because of contamination by radioactivity. About 300 villagers had returned to see their deserted homes and tend graves of their loved ones when the fire erupted. The blaze sent radiation readings soaring in the area.

The magnitude of the Chernobyl accident 10 years ago was enormous, although the details were not known for months. It was a huge embarrassment for the Soviet regime, which hesitated to release information for several days. Then-Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev did not address the nation on the disaster until May 14, and then he defensively condemned the "shameless and malignant lies" of Western governments and news media. Only months later were the responsible officials removed from their posts.

The explosion and fire spewed a huge radioactive cloud that spread over Ukraine and other European countries. At least 30 people died and hundreds were hospitalized. An estimated 135,000 people were evacuated. Hundreds of thousands were exposed to radiation and the incidence of cancer in the region has risen sharply in the ensuing years.

Although Chernobyl was an enormous disaster, it has not prevented the continued growth of nuclear energy. One reason is that the Chernobyl plant, unlike most in the West, was not designed to prevent the release of large amounts of radioactivity into the atmosphere in the event of an accident. Since then many plants of superior design have been built, both in Europe and Asia. Construction of new plants has come to a halt in the United States, however.

The continued operation of nuclear plants of the Chernobyl type in the former Soviet Union is a source of concern but the post-Soviet governments can't afford to close them down. This is the reverse of the situation in the U.S., where the experience with massive cost overruns has been a strong deterrent to further construction. But nuclear energy already provides about 20 percent of electrical power in the U.S. and that share may increase in the future if improvements in cost and safety are achieved.


Other editorials, in brief:

Tobacco investments

TOBACCO stocks have been highly lucrative, and public institutions that have invested in them have benefited. University of Hawaii stock in Philip Morris Cos. Inc. tripled in value during the past decade, and tobacco stocks held by other public institutions probably fared as well. However, some states are questioning whether such investments are socially responsible.

Divestiture, when feasible, would reinforce the message that the tobacco industry prospers at the expense of the health of its customers.


Italian elections

CHANGES of government are nothing new for Italy. Since World War II there have been 54 governments, with an average life of 10 months. What could be new about the next government is that it would represent the left. That has not happened in 50 years.

No party can stay in power for decades without risking stagnation and corruption. Italian voters have finally learned that lesson. When will Hawaii's?





Published by Liberty Newspapers Limited Partnership

Rupert E. Phillips,CEO

John M. Flanagan,Editor & Publisher

David Shapiro,Managing Editor

Diane Yukihiro Chang,Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor

Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner,Assistant Managing Editors

A.A. Smyser,Contributing Editor



Text Site Directory: [News] [Business] [Features] [Sports] [Editorial] [Community] [Info] [Stylebook] [Feedback]