Remembering Chernobyl 28 years later

Unlike Japan’s Fukushima nuclear crisis in 2011. which was caused by a natural disaster, events at Chernobyl were the result of human error. On April 26, 1986, a reactor at the plant, in the then Soviet Union, exploded and caught fire after a safety test went badly wrong. The blast sent radiation billowing across Europe.

On April 26, 1986, a reactor at the plant, in the then Soviet Union, exploded and caught fire after a safety test went badly wrong. The blast sent radiation billowing across Europe. At first, authorities denied there was a problem. But tens of thousands of inhabitants were evacuated from Prypyat, the town closest to the site, never to return. A 30 km exclusion zone is still in place around the town.

Local firefighters and other emergency workers went straight to the scene and in the ensuing days and weeks sought to bring the situation under control. Exposed to high levels of radiation, few of them are alive today. At least 30 people were killed immediately but some put the eventual death toll from radiation exposure at tens or even hundreds of thousands. Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has since said that he considered the disaster one of the main nails in the coffin of the Soviet Union which eventually collapsed in 1991.

I was blown away that Chernobyl is now a vacation destination knowing how much they are still hiding and that 28 years later the Germans pay hunters half a million apiece for wild boars to keep them off the table as they are still radioactive. This is 4 reactors and will dwarf Chernobyl!

Radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster is still poisoning Germany's boars nearly 25 years on, with authorities fighting to keep toxic meat off the market as the wild boar population rockets. 

Besides all the other problems there is still a 35 square mile area around Chernobyl that is dead and off limits.



James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Authoritarian rulers under democracy's sheep clothing: The new norm

 Authoritarian rulers under democracy's sheep clothing:  I first heard it from an academic. Modern authoritarian rulers use democracy as a mechanism to create a fog that makes it difficult for the international community to detect and eliminate their anti-democratic practices, said Ozan Varol from the Lewis and Clark Law School.

Authoritarian rulers have adopted the same constitutional laws and legal institutions, yet they either ignore them or use them to conceal their repressive ways, he added, speaking at a conference in Istanbul. They employ legal methods against dissidents, such as using non-political crimes to prosecute opponents, as has occurred in Russia, where opposition figure Mikhail Khodorkovsky was prosecuted for tax evasion and embezzlement.

Modern Democracy thanks to our sad example

We set the new standard of do what you have to in order to get what you want and when you're caught lie and scream as loudly as possible as we see displayed daily right here and it is disgusting.

Democracy castrated!

Mikhail Gorbachev has accused Vladimir Putin of "castrating" Russia's electoral system and said he should not seek re-election as president. Putin has been a Russian Nazi in his unending effort to put an end to Russia's "failed" foray into Democracy. I have always liked and respected Mikhail Gorbachev and have found him to be genuine and as a result we are always in agreement.

It is not funny because I have written about it for years. "Democracy castrated" depicts most every Democracy in the world today including in the US.

Congress is complicit in our facade of Democracy while we criticize others:

A U.S.-based human rights group says despots around the world are attempting to pass themselves off as democrats, and in far too many cases are not being challenged by the world's established democracies. VOA's Michael Bowman reports from Washington, where Human Rights Watch released its annual report on the state of human rights across the globe. First the good news: according to Human Rights Watch, many leaders have come to recognize the value of being seen as defenders of democracy. 

 

As a brand name, "democrat" has never been more popular. But that is only the beginning of the story. "The bad news is that established democracies are letting autocrats pass themselves off as democrats," said Human Rights Watch Director Kenneth Roth. He said 2008 had seen a "cheapening or degradation" of democracy. It gets worse every year!

"Democracy has come to be seen as the key to legitimacy. We see leaders playing rhetorical games. And so you have [Russian President Vladimir] Putin talking about 'sovereign' democracy, where the sovereign in question seems to be himself. You have the Burmese generals talking about 'disciplined' democracy. China discussing 'socialist' democracy. Or [Pakistani President Pervez] Musharraf, in his audacity, talking about 'genuine' democracy as he imposes emergency rule," he said. Speaking at Washington's National Press Club, Roth accused established democracies like the United States of complicity in the charade.

"Perhaps the best illustration of the way that the natural defenders of democracy - the major Western democracies - are lowering the bar on what it takes to enter the club of democracies was the way that President Bush responded to General Musharraf's declaration of emergency rule in Pakistan. Musharraf detained thousands of opposition figures. He shut down part of the press. Judges were dismissed, undermining the rule of law. Yet President Bush said that Musharraf had somehow not crossed the line [gone too far]. He noted that Musharraf believed in democracy. Now he is in prison!  

 

The road to democracy? Now if the road to democracy includes locking up one's opponents, silencing the press, and undermining the rule of law, it is easy to see why every tyrant around the world thinks that he, too, might be able to qualify as a democrat," he said. The US no longer has the moral authority

* Of course the White House dismissed any suggestion that the United States has ceased to be an effective advocate of human rights. we are no longer a Democracy ourselves. It is merely a moniker used to interfere around the world. as I watch the world falling apart not just on a Government level but on an environmental level around the United States, throughout China, and the world.

* The world is falling apart the country is falling apart, our economy is collapsing, we are told our national guard are inadequate to rescue us if needed and our so called Politicians allow it to happen and just play frigging games. We hold ourselves up as the work in process model of Democracy and we are a frigging mess. We are not a Democracy we are a corporatocry. Democracy is supposed to control corporations our so called legal system has allowed corporations to control our Democracy.

China is doing a fine job of using Democracy to support their communist country. I was sickened when George w Bush told China they should model their Democracy after us.

Now we have the Muslim Spring in the Middle east and North Africa. Watching the degradation of our own Democracy as Politicians lie to use the façade of concern for our Democracy for personal concern I am very concerned for the countries rising up and following our poor excuse for Democracy as an example to follow. Look at Iraq, Look at Afghanistan, look at every country we have interfered with. Know Democracy castrated describes every country I can think of I have to believe we are seeing the waning days of the grand experiment called Democracy. What do you think!



James Joiner
Gardner Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Tax payers "you and I" are paying the Taliban not to kill us with our Taxes!

I just heard Main stream media discussing that our tax dollars are being used to pay off the Taliban we are fighting. I always say once they make an issue of something it is too late late. This being no exception I dug up what we discussed last November:

That really peeves me! We talk about corruption in Afghanistan and the Afghan Government. We have discussed often about corrupt President Karzai his corrupt Government, and his drug lord brother being on the CIA payroll. Now we are finding out private security is paying of the Taliban not to blow up our equipment and to not kill us.

First I want to say I guess we are not paying them enough. This is sick! Drugs and corruption seem to be Afghanistan's main industry! Think about the scope of this and the future ramifications as this so called terrorism progresses around the world. We are setting a very dangerous precedent.

I was stunned to find out if we do not pay the Taliban their bribes they blow up bridges kidnap people and generally create mayhem until they do receive their kickbacks. Also the Taliban actually keeps an office in Kabul to review major deals, determine percentages and conduct negotiations. That absolutely amazes me! Is the Taliban Getting a Cut of U.S. Aid? - World Watch - CBS News

Obama is looking at paying off the 70% of the Taliban who are not considered hard core and will switch sides for money as we have heard, They are called the $10 a day Taliban and with 15,000 of them costing $300,000 that would be a drop in the bucket compared to the 165 million per day we are paying to fight this war. Obama prepared to pay off the Taliban

We are paying off the Taliban not to kill us, the Government is totally corrupt, And they do not want to cooperate or fight for their country, no wonder Obama is stymied as to what to do next. I am not! Get us the hell out of this mess in an honorable withdrawal with heads held high. Our troops did their job, the Al Qaeda is gone! Afghani’s do not want us there, they do not want a Democracy, nor do they want a central Government.

* In closing: To top everything off trucking firms use DOD cash to pay off the Taliban, the US pays off the enemy not to attack convoys, Karzai cousins control the key routes to Kandahar, and we are now 9 years into this with no end in sight. Unless we bite the bullet and just get the hell out as our job of defeating Al Qaeda is accomplished we are going to be added to the roster in the graveyard of nations.

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Tax payers "you and I" are paying the Taliban not to kill us with our Taxes!

That really peeves me! We talk about corruption in Afghanistan and the Afghan Government. We have discussed often about corrupt President Karzai his corrupt Government, and his drug lord brother being on the CIA payroll. Now we are finding out private security is paying of the Taliban not to blow up our equipment and to not kill us.

First I want to say I guess we are not paying them enough. This is sick! Drugs and corruption seem to be Afghanistan's main industry! Think about the scope of this and the future ramifications as this so called terrorism progresses around the world. We are setting a very dangerous precedent.

I was stunned to find out if we do not pay the Taliban their bribes they blow up bridges kidnap people and generally create mayhem until they do receive their kickbacks. Also the Taliban actually keeps an office in Kabul to review major deals, determine percentages and conduct negotiations. That absolutely amazes me! Is the Taliban Getting a Cut of U.S. Aid? - World Watch - CBS News

Obama is looking at paying off the 70% of the Taliban who are not considered hard core and will switch sides for money as we have heard, They are called the $10 a day Taliban and with 15,000 of them costing $300,000 that would be a drop in the bucket compared to the 165 million per day we are paying to fight this war. Obama prepared to pay off the Taliban

We are paying off the Taliban not to kill us, the Government is totally corrupt, And they do not want to cooperate or fight for their country, no wonder Obama is stymied as to what to do next. I am not! Get us the hell out of this mess in an honorable withdrawal with heads held high. Our troops did their job, the Al Qaeda is gone! Afghani’s do not want us there, they do not want a Democracy, nor do they want a central Government.

* In closing: To top everything off trucking firms use DOD cash to pay off the Taliban, the US pays off the enemy not to attack convoys, Karzai cousins control the key routes to Kandahar, and we are approaching the 9th year with no end in sight unless we listen to Max Cleland, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Ambassador Eikenberry and withdraw. The chorus is growing!




James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
www.anaveragepatriot.com

Bush's Iran plan almost complete! Overwhelmed by Israel, battle Groups in Gulf, Iraq, middle east militarization by Bush!

As Bush continues to squeeze Iran in his effort to create his version of a new middle east order, with his recent proposal to supply Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, advanced equipment and weaponry from the arms sales under consideration he is tightening the noose around Iran. How will China and Russia react to all this? I can't see them just sitting there.
The proposed package of advanced weaponry for Saudi Arabia, which includes advanced satellite-guided bombs, upgrades to its fighters and new naval vessels, has made Israel and some of its supporters in Congress nervous as it should. Senior officials who described the package on Friday said they believed that the administration had resolved those concerns, in part by promising Israel $30.4 billion in military aid over the next decade, a significant increase over what Israel has received in the past 10 years.
As a result of the increase in military aid to Israel they now say they are not concerned about the $20 Billion in military hardware in the middle east because Bush has them convinced that these so called moderate States will aid Israel and us in containing Iran in their efforts to dominate the middle east instead of Bush and Israel. I don't know about that? This is not going to be good.
Worried about the impression that the United States was starting an arms race in the region, State and Defense Department officials stressed that the arms deal was being proposed largely in response to improvements in Iran's military capabilities and to counter the threat posed by its nuclear program, which the Bush administration contends is aimed at building nuclear weapons. who the heck cares why they are doing it they are still doing in the middle east what they are around the world. They are arming the world to fight for his new world order. We see it and are powerless to stop it.
To top off Bush's middle east arms race and increased militarization of the middle east in order to Bully Iran as you know, we have three Carrier battle groups in the Gulf and our military and equipment kept in Iraq's civil war to further intimidate Iran but it will all backfire and only worsen the explosion Bush started.
Counter to 50 years of middle east policy Bush is now arming the middle east so they can help him fight for "his" version of new middle east order as the war monger is doing around the world as highlighted by his missile defense shield whose primary goal seems to be to instigate Russia into war so Bush can further his new world order.
I have to agree with Gorbachev as you must and that is that Bush's imperialism is directly responsible for the growing global disarray. Former President Mikhail Gorbachev said yesterday that the fall of the Soviet Union, which his policies helped bring about, ushered in an era of US imperialism responsible for many of the world's gravest problems.
Bush had a great opportunity to steer the world in a peaceful direction instead he chose to try and remain the worlds lone super power and dominate the world for his desired new world order. It won't happen!
Bush's efforts to dominate the world has since made Gorbachev a supporter of President Vladimir Putin's assertive foreign policy and resistance to American power, his criticism of the United States yesterday was especially harsh and you can't blame him.
He said: "The Americans want so much to be the winners. The fact that they are sick with this illness, this winners' complex, is the main reason why everything in the world is so confused and so complicated," he said at a packed news conference. Instead of ushering in an era of cooperation with the West, the USSR's collapse put the United States into an aggressive, empire-building mood, he said. Ultimately, that has led the United States to commit a string of "major strategic mistakes," he said.
"The idea of a new empire, of sole leadership, was born," Gorbachev said. "Unilateral actions and wars followed," he added, saying that Washington "ignored the Security Council, international law and the will of their own people." Gorbachev, 76, shared Putin's opposition to the US war in Iraq. Russia has fallen out with Washington on a host of other issues as has the rest of the world thanks to Bush's new world order mess pushing relations to a frosty state that some commentators have likened to the Cold War.
Gorbachev, who won the 1990 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the Cold War, echoed Putin's frequent endorsement of a so-called "multipolar world," without the perceived dominance of the United States. I thought Gorbachev deserved it and agree that the world today must be governed multi laterally.
"No one, no single center, can today command the world. No single group of countries . . . can do it," Gorbachev said. "Under the current US president, I don't think we can fundamentally change the situation as it is developing now. . . . It is dangerous. The world is experiencing a period of growing global disarray."
Gorbachev is 100% right about all of this including the disability to change the situation under Bush. Bush is militarizing the entire world and very quickly it will be too late to stop all he has set into motion. I think it is too late now but damn we have to keep trying!
James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://www.anaveragepatriot.com/