[Andreas Brekken]

Hi, all

Well... after seeing a new documentary on Chernobyl I have a slight sceptical approach with regards to ex-Soviet reports... but I really would like to be proven wrong and able to compare objectively reports from all sides of the conflict. Also, it seems that access to most of the archives in Russia have been effectively cut off lately... letting only 'approved' parties see original records which is a definite warning sign with regards to objective research

One of the more scary moments in the Chernobyl film was in my opinion when the personnel in the control room were assessing the situation, and discussing the radiation level they were going to report to Moscow.

The conversation went something like this:

- What does the radiation meter say?

- It says 3.6, but ....

- But what?

- The scale only goes to 3.6 R/hr

- But we cannot say for sure that it is above 3.6 R/hr?

- No

- Well, then 3.6 R/hr it is, and that is what we are going to report to Moscow.

In reality the radiation level was later estimated by the armed forces to be approximately 15000 R/hr in some of the areas

(To be honest the most horryfying part is when the local political authorities want to keep the entire accident a secret, and not even inform the power plant workers and their families, even disallowing the workers to use protective clothing as not to cause panic.... not until the real possibility of more or less wiping out Ukraine was an imminent danger they reluctantly decided to act...)

Well, a bit off topic... but makes you wonder how reports written in a system like that relate to what really happened.

Hypothetical discussion:

- How many aircraft have we lost?

- Well, I saw two crashing, but 17 has not returned to their base.

- Can you say for certain that the missing 17 were shot down?

- No

- Well then 2 aircraft lost it is!! Type up your report!

Regards,
Andreas B