On November 8, 2008, there was an accident aboard a Russian Submarine that killed 20 people. The accident was caused by a Freon leak in the fire protection system that killed 20 people aboard the sub.
The sub happened to be powered by a nuclear reactor. The accident had nothing to do with the power plant aboard the vessel. There was no radiation, contamination, Plutonium, or Uranium involved in the accident.
So why then, does every single headline across the globe have the word “Nuclear” in the title?
Fear sells, that’s why.
I am waiting for all the loonies out there to come out of the woodwork and seize the opportunity to take a cheap shot at nuclear power claiming it is unsafe and it’s killing our oceans.
I just can’t understand why the media insists on scaring people with headlines. This was an unfortunate accident and I feel for the men on board and their families but why must it be used to frighten people?
The reactor on board had nothing to do with the accident and the media needs to knock off these cheap scare tactics and start telling the stories for what they are.
How about a headline like:
“Fire Suppression System on Submarine Kills 20” or “Material Once Used in Your Air Conditioner Poisons Sailors.”
Either of these would be more representative of the event. Instead we get “Russia Probes Pacific Nuclear Submarine Accident That Killed 20”
~Man Overboard
One Comment
Frankly, another angle could be taken from a tragedy such as this and be used as a reflection of how safe nuclear power indeed is. It should be promoted that the atomic powerhouse in no way worsened the situation. People need to realize that when problems do arise, atomic energy is perfectly safe when managed correctly, and that it will not turn a bad situation into a catastrophic disaster.