The Chernobyl Disaster

On April 26, 1986, a nuclear accident struck Chernobyl, Soviet Union (modern day Ukraine). Workers removed majority of the control rods from the reactor’s core and turned off the emergency safety and power regulating systems. While they did all of that, they left the reactor operating at seven percent power. This caused the core’s chain reaction to spiral out of control. A sizable flame and several explosions caused the reactor’s massive steel and concrete cover to be blown off. Large amounts of radioactive material were discharged into the atmosphere as a result of this and the subsequent fire in the graphite reactor core, which was carried over significant distances by air currents. Additionally, there was a partial melting of the core. Scientists have estimated that Chernobyl would not be habitable for up to twenty thousand years. Not many died off the bat, but the ones that survived would get severely ill due to the exposure of radiation. It was estimated that up to nine thousand people would have eventually died the year following the Chernobyl incident. A great way to memorialize this disaster would be by making a small museum. This museum would tell the entire story from beginning to ending as a walk through.

This museum is needed to teach people about one of the most horrifying radioactive incidents in history. Not many people are aware of Chernobyl. A city that had twelve thousand people and now has 500, isn’t as recognized like Pearl Habor and Hiroshima, which have had nuclear disasters even if it was an attack instead of an accident. This could be a big reason why it isn’t as remembered as other nuclear events. This is still an important event that caused many lives to be lost and the suffering that these people went through was dramatic. The radiation in their bodies followed them for the rest of their lives. Killing them slowly as time went by. There were others like first responders that had the worst of it. They were the ones who went straight to the nuclear plant to try and help out. Their burns were severe, and they died much faster compared to others. They died in about three months. The pain felt by these people and the fear is unimaginable, yet people don’t really talk about it. There is a memorial in Berlin, Germany. It consists of a pillar and slabs. There are texts on a plaque. This monument is a bit hidden away. That isn’t enough to honor these strong people. They something that will be showcased to the world and would make a statement.

The museum to honor those whose lives have been lost will be located in Kyiv, Ukraine and New York City. It’s best to be placed there since it’s in the country that it happened and also to add it in the United States. The United States is oblivious to what happens around the world and doesn’t seem to care at all what happens since it’s not in their own country. Informing the public on the destruction across the world would educate those who never bring themselves to learn something new. The museum would be called “The museum itself will be very dark. The only things that will be lit up would be the texts, photos, and items. The items would be collected from Chernobyl. It will be placed behind a thick glass that no one can touch. Any other precautions that professionals would have to take in order to keep people safe will be installed. The museum will begin with the back story of Chernobyl. Showing photographs of people and life before the incident. A projector would show all of these photos. As you walk through, things would progress to the disaster. You would be able to see the items that are radioactive which may include anything from a doll, chair, book, clothes. Anything that could have been found and brought back. The next part would be the aftermath and the insight on the lives of those who have survived. This would include the story of those who have stayed living in Chernobyl, people who have left and got ill, those who have lost a loved one, and more. We will be able to grasp a fuller understanding on how the lives of these people were affected just people of the decisions of some people at the nuclear plant.

It seems like crazier things have to happen in order to memorialize people and events, but that is just not true. Even the small things should be remembered because it will always at least affect someone. This memorial would bring interests to people and hopefully it would drive people from all over the world to visit it and learn. Just like that disaster happened randomly, it can also happen anywhere else. This isn’t to install fear into people, but it’s to bring understanding and knowledge. It allows people to put themselves in the shows of these people and all the pain felt by them. The mental and physical.