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Russia Detects a Significant Radiation Spike In Mountains Close To Soviet-Era Nuclear Plant (nytimes.com)
According to a report via The New York Times, Russia said that it had detected a significant radiation spike in the Ural Mountains, close to a sprawling Soviet-era nuclear plant still remembered as the site of an accident 60 years ago. Russia did however reject suggestions that it was the source of a radioactive cloud that hovered over Europe. From the report: The location of the spike -- in the Chelyabinsk region near the border with Kazakhstan -- has been identified by French and German nuclear safety institutions as a potential source for a concentration of a radioactive isotope called ruthenium 106 detected in the air in late September above several European countries. But nuclear energy authorities in Moscow insisted Monday that still-higher levels of atmospheric contamination had been detected outside Russia, in southeastern Europe. Reports of the elevated radiation levels over Western Europe raised alarms, but nuclear safety authorities in France and Germany said there was no threat to human health or to the environment -- an assurance repeated on Tuesday by Moscow. The Russian state weather service Roshydromet said it had found what the Russian news media described as "extremely high pollution" at two monitoring facilities within a 62-mile radius of the Mayak nuclear reprocessing and isotope production plant. A weather station in the town of Argayash recorded ruthenium 106 levels that were 986 times higher than a month earlier, the state weather agency said. A second station at Novogorny detected levels 440 times higher. Ruthenium 106, which does not occur naturally and has a half-life of about a year, is used for medical purposes.
For weeks, Russian officials had denied the French and German accusations. Citing the results of its own air monitoring on European territory, Moscow pointed to high radiation levels over Romania, Italy and Ukraine, insisting that there had been only a negligible presence of ruthenium 106 on Russian territory. On Tuesday, even after the Russian agency acknowledged the radiation spike in the Urals, Maxim Yakovenko, the head of Roshydromet, said in a statement that higher levels of contamination had been detected in Romania than in Russia. "The published data is not sufficient to establish the location of the pollution source," he said. The authorities at Mayak denied in a news release on Tuesday that the plant had contributed to the increased levels of ruthenium 106 and insisted that there was no threat to human beings.
For weeks, Russian officials had denied the French and German accusations. Citing the results of its own air monitoring on European territory, Moscow pointed to high radiation levels over Romania, Italy and Ukraine, insisting that there had been only a negligible presence of ruthenium 106 on Russian territory. On Tuesday, even after the Russian agency acknowledged the radiation spike in the Urals, Maxim Yakovenko, the head of Roshydromet, said in a statement that higher levels of contamination had been detected in Romania than in Russia. "The published data is not sufficient to establish the location of the pollution source," he said. The authorities at Mayak denied in a news release on Tuesday that the plant had contributed to the increased levels of ruthenium 106 and insisted that there was no threat to human beings.
For weeks, Russian officials had denied the French and German accusations
At this point, who the fuck cares what Russia says. The current Russian regime has lost all credibility.
1. Russia: "There are no Russian troops in Crimea"
One month later: Crimea is annexed by Russia
Russia: "Of course there were Russian troops in Crimea"
2. Russia: "The hundreds of trucks at the Ukrainian border are just delivering humanitarian supplies"
One month later: Ukrainian separatists fight back the Ukrainian government offensive which went pretty well up to that point.
3. Russia: "There are no Russian troops in eastern Ukraine. Only some guys on 'vacation' "
One month later: Russian soldiers boast about skirmishes with Ukrainian forces on social media. Mothers and wives of Russian soldiers demand answers from the Russian government on why so many sons and fathers die during 'training exercises'
4. Russia: "Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was not shot down by Ukrainian rebels using Russian supplied missiles"
Immediately thereafter: Separatist boasts on social media about shooting down Ukrainian airplane. Post quickly disappears. Photographic evidence and witnesses report of a Buk surface-to-air missile launcher being moved from eastern Ukraine into Russia.
5. Russia: "The Syrian army did not use chemical weapons against rebel positions"
UN investigation: missiles were launched during the time of the attack from Syrian army controlled territory. Russia uses UN security council veto 10 times to block further investigations.
6. Russia: "Our olympic athletes are not using illegal substances as this is rigorously controlled by our anti-doping-agency.
Independent Investigation: systematic state-sponsored doping of Russian athletes is uncovered. 19 national anti-doping organisations recommend suspending Russia from participation in all sports.
7. Russia: "We have photographic evidence that the US is supporting ISIS"
Immediately after: Media reveals that the evidence are screenshots of a video game.
Russia expects to be taken seriously about anything they have to say? Why?
"But Bush". That's what I heard from Obama for 8 years.
Whataboutism is SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for both parties, and always has been.
John Oliver is hardly some insightful genius, or even a decent comedian for that matter, but if that's what you think passes for remark-worthy insight, you need to expand your horizons.
Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.