The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, located in the former Soviet Union (modern day Ukraine), was among the largest nuclear power plants in the world – until the middle of the night on April 25, 1986. That was when unauthorized tests conducted on the fourth reactor led to a series of explosions thereby causing a meltdown that ushered in the world’s worst nuclear power accident in history. To control the catastrophe, any resource in the Soviet Union was utilized, the most notable being “biorobots”, names given to men who could work for a minute at a time removing highly radioactive material off the roof of the reactor because radio-controlled bulldozers had failed due to overwhelming radioactivity. Concurrently, construction was underway on a sarcophagus that encased the damaged reactors. It too will be covered by a permanent structure known as the New Safe Confinement structure.
Although the initial tragedy was heroically contained, 200 tons of radioactive corium, 30 tons of contaminated dust, and 16 tons of uranium and plutonium remain a threat to all the world ad infinitum.
The Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development (CREED LA) remembers the Chernobyl disaster and seeks to let it serve as a reminder that developers continue to respect and acknowledge the efforts of construction professionals throughout the industry who put themselves at risk so that society can keep moving forward. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA at (877) 810-7473.