The real disinformation in Craig Mazin’s miniseries is the almost total absence in his account of the role played by the nuclear lobby. Any accident, anywhere in the world at a nuclear power station is of intense concern to the nuclear lobby because it threatens the industry. As early as August 1986, the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) were in Moscow, directing the cover up. They remained in constant communication over the next five years, making abstract calculations about radiation levels and health effects and manipulating the data. IAEA officials were carefully scrutinising the Soviet scientists they met, strengthening ties with those who adopted the nuclear industry line, and disparaging those wayward individuals who inconveniently insisted on telling the truth. Legasov was one of these wayward individuals. The central character of the HBO miniseries is Valeri Legasov, brilliantly portrayed by Jared Harris. Legasov was a good man, who helped oversee the extinction of the fire in the first ten days, knew the true extent of the contamination, and the health consequences that would result. When Legasov took his own life on the second anniversary of the accident, it was the culmination of a two year battle with the nuclear lobby.
Ecologist 7th Aug 2019 read more »
The Chernobyl series, which recently gained worldwide popularity, encouraged people to talk about Chernobyl in a way which even nuclear opponents could not manage, thanks to the influence of mass communication technologies – it is obvious that the series reached people of all cultures, ages, and political views. Since the series’ Director Craig Mazin clarified that he was not anti-nuclear, but in favour of nuclear energy, I attempted to understand the possible reasons for him making this film and discussed the timing of the Chernobyl series here. On July 10, we also read in the papers that Chernobyl which was the subject of the Chernobyl series, is “officially” also a tourist attraction now. What a big coincidence! It is hardly surprising that the Ukrainian Government would not have wanted to miss out on benefiting from the popularity of Chernobyl’s mystery and appeal! Or is it the opposite? Was part of the goal of the Chernobyl series, advertising and promoting Chernobyl as a tourist destination?
DiaNuke.org 2nd Aug 2019 read more »