Category Archives: Environment

The Chernobyl Incident

Environment, History, International

What caused the Chernobyl Incident

The Chernobyl disaster was caused by a combination of flawed reactor design and human error during a safety test. A sudden power surge, triggered by the test, led to a steam explosion that destroyed the reactor core and released significant amounts of radiation.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
1. Flawed Reactor Design:
The RBMK-type reactor used at Chernobyl had a positive void coefficient, meaning the reaction rate increased as the coolant (water) turned to steam.
The control rods, designed to absorb neutrons and slow down the reaction, had a dangerous design flaw. Their graphite tips initially displaced coolant, causing a surge in power before the absorbing material could be effective.
2. Human Error:
During a safety test, operators intentionally disabled safety systems, including the emergency core cooling system and power regulation systems.
The operators also removed most of the control rods, allowing the reactor to operate at a dangerously low power level.
These actions, combined with the reactor’s flawed design, created a situation where a small power surge could rapidly escalate into a catastrophic event.
3. The Accident Sequence:
The test initiated a power surge due to the positive void coefficient and the flawed control rod design.
The rapid increase in temperature and pressure caused a steam explosion that ruptured the reactor core and the reactor building’s roof.
A second explosion, possibly involving hydrogen, followed shortly after, further damaging the reactor.
The explosions and subsequent fire released large amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere, contaminating a wide area.
In essence, the Chernobyl disaster was not caused by a single factor, but rather by a combination of a flawed reactor design that was operated unsafely during a test.
Frequently Asked Chernobyl Questions | IAEA
On April 26, 1986, the Number Four RBMK reactor at the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl, Ukraine, went out of control during a test at low-power, leading to an …
International Atomic Energy Agency

Terraforming Mars

Education, Environment, Perspectives, Science

Terraforming Mars

There has been quite a bit of discussion about terraforming Mars. While I do think it is possible my guess is that the process could take hundreds of years. Assuming that ET has been visiting us thousands of years (Ancient Astronaut Theory) why have they not already done this? They are far advanced technologically and likely have better and faster methods.

It puzzles me that we think we would do a better job maintaining Mars (after terraforming) than we have our planet. We have successfully overpopulated Earth beyond resource sustainability and are enroute to destroying the environment. Mars is not the solution.

Eating our Way to Extinction

Broken in the USA, Environment, Government Issues, Science

Eating our Way to Extinction

Animal Agriculture and The Climate (You Tube on this at: https://fitvegans.com/eating-our-way-to-extinction/)

Science repeatedly shows, that:

  1. Animal agriculture is responsible for a lot of greenhouse gas emissions.
  2. Animal agriculture uses a massive amount of land.
  3. Animal agriculture is responsible for 90% of the reasons of forest fires in the amazon rainforest.
  4. Animal agriculture is using a rather massive amount of water.

One of the things that absolutely shocked me is that a plant-based diet would reduce the amount of land required by about 3.1 billion hectares – which is the size of the African continent.

By hearing these numbers it’s normal that one gets outraged, right? One wonders – if things are so bad why is the government not doing anything.

So here are a few reasons why we don’t see rapid global transitions to veganism:

1. Animal agriculture’s impact on the GDP

The animal industry is not unlike to the oil industry right. It’s a big driver of the GDP of a country, which is an indication of the wealth of a country.

It’s a big driver – especially in Brazil.

Now why is the GDP important for a country? When the GDP drops, the wealth of a nation declines. This has a few impacts on the individual and the government.

Economic decline of a country often leads to more violence. And quite iconic thinkers of our century, such as Peter Thiel emphasize this fact in his longer interview.

2. Understand people – understand countries

A wonderful book that I’ve read a few years ago, that changed how I view the world, is ‘The Dictator’s Handbook’.

Funny title aside, the book has a very profound message. And that is: Governments are run by people. If you understand people – you understand governments.

This is important to note because most people think governments are this faceless entity of decision makers in ties. The reality could not be further from the truth.

If government decision makers are meat eaters – which based on the law of averages – most are. Which decisions are they most likely to favor?

You’re right, the ones supporting the status quo and they’re pre-existing habits.

Where does that leave us?

On one side: Billions of animals die each year because of our food choices. Irregardless of our eating habits we must realize that this is completely unsustainable and morally wrong.

Our food practices are also breeding grounds for pathogens, which can lead to pandemics.

If that wouldn’t be enough, our food choices also shorten our lives and hasten the way to global warming.

On the other side: We have this incredible force of the status quo – and the strong, international dependence of animal farming for economic growth. And growth is required for a country as countries are like a bicycle…

… to keep their balance they have to keep moving and growing.

The solution that I propose is similar to the indirect, slightly concealed solution the documentary proposes: And that is a gradual but consistent switch to meat and dairy alternatives.