Читать книгу Атомный «Маяк» – проблема на века. Третье издание переработанное и дополненное - Vladislav Larin - Страница 10

…The main feature of V.I. Larin’s book is that it was written by an «outsider», and the author managed to remain within the framework of an unbiased, objective analysis of most problems of the nuclear industry related to its specific danger – the handling of radioactive substances and radiation. It does not escalate or impose a negative attitude towards this type of technology, but in no way masks or glosses over problems. He tries to show everything as it is in the most accessible form and in full coverage. In terms of the scope of the problem, the author went through all the issues: from a detailed description of the discovered facts and events to legislation in the field of nuclear insurance.

Any omission or disguise of problems only creates distrust and always does more harm than good. A sign of the author’s «mature» attitude to the problem is not to impose a position, but to give the reader the opportunity to develop it himself on the basis of sufficiently detailed knowledge. Throughout the text, the author repeatedly recalls that the main reason for all flawed decisions and tragic events are primarily global political and strategic factors that caused the rush, not the best (by today’s standards) ways to solve technical and social issues, placed within the strict framework of the realities of the post-war state of the economy and existing social relations.

The result is a useful book for any reader interested in this problem. Including for specialists who can try on their understanding and attitude to various issues – to what they will read in the book. Of course, every specialist in his question can find interpretations that differ from his ideas and facts known to him, but, apparently, this does not take the text of the book beyond a positive assessment.

V.I. Larin’s book can be considered as a kind of «reference book». It doesn’t have to be read all at once and in a row. You can refer to different sections devoted to different sides of the problem. Someone will be interested in the genetic consequences of radiation exposure, someone will be interested in the professional details of a spontaneous chain reaction, etc.

The author has done a lot of work. I would like it to be useful.

Sidorenko V.A., Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences,

Director for Scientific Development of the RSC «Kurchatov Institute»,

1992—1996 – Deputy Minister of the «Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation»,

1990—1991 – First Deputy Minister of the «Ministry of Atomic Energy of the USSR»,

1984—1990 – First Deputy Chairman of the «State Atomic Energy Supervision of the USSR»;

***

…Vladislav Larin’s book seems to me very useful for the employees of the «Mayak» plant. It reflects both the consequences of the company’s activities from the very beginning of its existence, as well as future problems related to the environment, with the production, use and effect on people of tritium, with the processing of spent nuclear fuel, long-term storage of radioactive waste and plutonium. All these problems require large economic costs – for research, for monitoring the storage of radiation sources, for their processing.

It seems to me that we can agree with most of the conclusions made by the author of the book «The „Mayak“ Combine is a problem for the ages».

Saprykina E.I., Veteran of the «Mayak» Combine;

***

…I would like to note the very thorough work of the author in collecting and processing extensive and diverse information about the largest enterprise of the nuclear complex of our country. Recently, there have been a lot of rumours and unverified information around the «Mayak» plant, so the careful selection of verified and reliable information by the author should be especially noted. The author not only analysed the available information, but also paid great attention to meetings with veterans of the «Mayak», which made it possible to supplement the literary data with valuable memories. This made it possible to look at the problem not only from a dry scientific point of view, but also to feel the breath of the time in which the veterans of the nuclear industry and all the people of our country lived and worked. The author correctly assesses the long-term problems associated with radioactive contamination of the territories around the «Mayak».

Dibobes I.K., Doctor of Medical Sciences (MD),

Director of the Chelyabinsk branch of the «Institute of Radiation Hygiene», Deputy Head of Third Department (Glavk) at the «Ministry of Health of the USSR»;

***

…Reading Vladislav Larin’s book, you can’t to decide – what genre can it belong to? Along with an almost professional description and analysis of the environmental aspects of radiation accidents and radiation-hazardous, very specific nuclear technologies, the book contains excursions into the field of ensuring state secrets, into the sociological problems of the nuclear defence complex, and into medical problems.

The author has creatively reworked a huge number of documents and primary sources, and as a result, the reader has the opportunity to touch on the difficult history of the formation and development of the Russian nuclear industry, its current problems.

By emphasizing and evaluating people’s actions in very difficult situations, the author never loses respect for them and their cause.

Today, when we see many examples of an amateurish and politicized approach to the environmental problems of nuclear activities, it is worth noting the desire of the author of the book to search for real, reliable and objective facts. The book «The „Mayak“ Combine – a problem for the ages» was written by a real ecologist.

Shidlovsky V.V., Candidate of Technical Sciences (PhD),

Head of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Department «Ministry of Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation»;

***

…I read Vladislav Larin’s new book with great pleasure. It is the most comprehensive reference book on a wide range of problems of the «Mayak» Combine and the nuclear industry in general, written on the basis of material collected over the years of work on this topic. At the same time, it can serve as a textbook for students of relevant specialties.

I know that many experts dealing with the problems of nuclear non-proliferation and the socio-environmental aspects of the nuclear military-industrial complex will want to purchase this book.

I would especially like to note the undoubted literary and journalistic merits of the book. The author not only managed to establish contacts with people from various walks of life, but also in a fascinating way to tell the stories of those who sacrificed their lives and health for the sake of an idea more than half a century ago, the consequences of which we can only now assess.

Popova L.V., Director of the «Centre for Nuclear Ecology and Energy Policy» of the «Socio-Ecological Union»;

***

…The book was written with a rare objectivity for modern journalism, with the desire not so much to draw attention to the sensation, as to establish the true state of affairs and determine the optimal directions for the rehabilitation of affected people and territories.

Gus’kova A.K., Professor, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences;

***

…The book is the most complete collection of information on the history and current state of the «Mayak» Сombine known to the public today.

Forofontov I.V., Coordinator of the Nuclear Campaign of the «Greenpeace Russia»;

***

…I read with great interest Vladislav Larin’s new book about the «Mayak» Combine, written with deep knowledge of the widest range of problems of the plant and the nuclear industry as a whole. Undoubtedly, she reveals new pages in the history of the company and talks about modern problems that are insufficiently covered in the press.

In presenting extremely difficult problems, the author managed to maintain an objective view and an open mind, which deserves the highest praise. The book will be interesting both for young people coming to work at the «Mayak» plant and for veterans of the nuclear industry. I am sure that it will be interesting for activists of environmental organizations as well.

Rovny S.I., Candidate of Chemical Sciences (PhD),

Head of CPL-ONIS for «Mayak»;

***

…Having reached the phrase «…The recultivation of territories contaminated with radioactivity makes it unprofitable from an economic point of view to further develop the nuclear industry at the current level of technology development…» I stopped when I realized that a harsh verdict had been written on the entire nuclear fuel cycle. I fundamentally disagree with this position of the author, but it is difficult not to recognize his conscientiousness in working with a very diverse factual material. It is also attracted by the free language in which this material is presented, which is quite difficult for non-specialists to understand.

In general, if we put aside the difference of positions in the perception of the prospects for the development of the nuclear industry, it should be noted that the prepared book is very important at the present time. The author not only presents facts known to specialists and described in literary sources in accessible language, but also actively works with various groups of people involved in the problems of the «Mayak» both during the formation and development of the nuclear industry and at the present time. This is very important because there are fewer and fewer people who are able to tell about real events, and the lack of specific information causes speculation and rumors. The facts given in the book, which were practically unknown before, about local accidents at the «Mayak», about the current state of affairs at the enterprise and in the Ozersk district, about the activity of veterans in defending their rights, and much more, are interesting.

Logachev V.A., Professor, Doctor of Technical Sciences (PhD),

«The State Scientific Centre of Russia Institute of Biophysics» of the

«Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of the Russian Federation»;

***

…Vladislav Larin’s book is an excellent reference document on the history of the creation and formation of the first Soviet industrial nuclear giant. Written on the basis of a large number of rare documentary sources, it is of both scientific and journalistic value. It reflects a wide range of problems: technical, environmental, medical, economic, and social.

The book is distinguished by the depth of the facts presented and the clarity of the language in which the author explains complex things. It will be of interest to a wide range of readers and, first of all, its usefulness as a reference book for all those involved in nuclear issues should be noted. It is such works that can help people understand the complex and very important problems of the nuclear legacy of the USSR and the upcoming problems of the nuclear military-industrial complex. And the title of the book is very accurate – «… – a problem for the ages».

Grabovsky M.P., Deputy the Director of the «Shevchenko’s Nuclear Power Plant»;

***

…The author gathered together, processed and presented in a language accessible to a less aware reader information from rare scientific publications and memoirs of employees of the «Mayak».

Of particular interest is the chapter, which contains a description of previously virtually unknown radiation incidents. Many of them can now be considered as radiation accidents. The author gives a description of them based on a number of collected original materials and memoirs of employees of the «Mayak».

The book will be useful both for specialists and for those who are interested in the history of the Soviet atomic project.

Yakimets V. N., Candidate of Technical Sciences (PhD),

Senior Researcher at the «Institute of System Analysis of the Russian Academy of Sciences»;