[cableguymn]

what? Russia to cheap to fix the mess themselves?

[MindBender26]

I have been inside plant twice (am old retired TV network newsie.)

The current shelter/sarcophagus over the remains of Reactor #4 has holes in it large enough for birds to fly in and out.

Of course, it is still so contaminated in there, probably on the order of 2000 to 20,000 rads per hour depending where inside they flew, that they fly off somewhere and die.

[BlueDragon]

Here's a link to a photo essay a Ukrainian gal (Elena) made back in 2004 http://www.kiddofspeed.com/chernobyl-revisited/chapter1.html of Chernobyl and the surrounding area. It has been linked to FR more than once, previously.

Her stuff on WWII battles near Kiev, and the "Serpents Wall" adjacent to Kiev is quite fascinating, too.

[MindBender26]

Check this out. She is cool lady.

http://www.kiddofspeed.com/chernobyl-revisited/

[WHBates]

And why isn't Russia and ex-Soviet countries footing the entire bill? If gives you some understanding of the thinking of these people. Almost all of the money for the construction of simulators for the current Russians Reactors are paid for by the US DOE.

The Russians shouldn't be allowed to sell their nuclear technology.

[Spirochete]

They could cut back on their new sub and ICBM programs and pay for it themselves, instead of panhandling.

[wjcsux]

Chernobyl is the Crown Jewel on the failures of Marxism, Socialism and Central Planning.

[Amberdawn]

Check out socialismsurvival.com blog. An ex-Russian citizen named Alex has an interesting view.

[Bean Counter]

Considering what the world spends money on these days I am amazed that it is so difficult to raise the money needed to complete this project. You would think that Europe would be raising bloody hell to get this done considering the consequences if the old sarcophagus fails.

In reality, it would not have to fail, if the debris pile inside the building were to shift, I doubt that the existing sarcophagus could contain it and a fresh plume of severe radioactivity would be on its way over Europe again.

[dfwgator]

Some incredible footage here, sadly the person who shot this footage didn’t last long after the filming

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbCcutzXzYg