Dear Language Enthusiast,
Welcome to Russian Monthly, the
Internet newsletter from Transparent Language. In this
issue, we focus on one of today's most important
issues: the environment. As we move into the new
millennium, the impact of modern society on the
environment is a key concern around the world.
Examining how the people of Russia view and address
this critical issue, for better or for worse, offers
fascinating insights into the culture. I think you'll
find this month's article thought provoking, as well
as effective in building your language skills.
Sincerely,
Transparent Language
www.transparent.com
In English:
Even though it is hard to admit, in countries where
the economy is struggling, the environmental problems
are hardly first on the agenda. Russia is one of those
countries. It is not difficult to explain the reason
for this situation: Russia is going through a very
hard time right now, and the country has all kinds of
other problems. The environmental problems have
already waited a long time for their turn. Still, it
is impossible to solve some of them because it is too
late. Many different species of animals and plants are
extinct. The ozone layer is thinning more and more.
Besides these two problems, Russia has all the other
ones: air and water pollution, inefficient use of
natural resources, oil spills and so on. However, the
situation which raises the most concern is the state
of the country’s nuclear power plants and nuclear
waste.
What exactly is going on and why is it so dangerous?
The answer is not complicated: most, if not all,
nuclear power plants are too old to operate. According
to a report by the Russian Ministry of Atomic Power
"there were 840 cases of nuclear safety norms and
rules violations at Russian nuclear power plants in
1999." That number is frightening enough by itself,
but there is also the fact that the worst nuclear
disaster in the world took place in Russia. That is
unsettling, but it is not all. Russia is planning to
build 23 new nuclear reactors in addition to the
existing 29. In addition, the country wants to start
importing nuclear waste. There is a law that forbids
this now, but its rationale is being questioned. Also
negotiations between Russia, Taiwan and Japan are
taking place regarding the possibility for the two
countries to dump nuclear waste somewhere in Sakhalin.
A question arises: Why is Russia doing this?
Unfortunately, the answer is simple and sad at the
same time: money. Of course, countries that can afford
it would be happy to pay, even if the price is high,
to put their nuclear trash in Russia.
This particular situation explains why solving
environmental problems is last on Russia's list of
priorities. Currently, the country is thinking of
solving its short term problems, mostly economic ones.
Also, environmental programs are very expensive and
Russia has no money.
A few environmental organizations, such as Greenpeace,
do exist in Russia. However, the attitude towards them
is skeptical. These organizations cannot even rely on
public opinion for support. The first reason for that
is the lack of environmental education, and the
second-- people live one day at a time. However, the
point is, if nothing is done today, tomorrow it will
be too late.
This situation is not very comforting but is not
hopeless. There is still time to do something. It is
not necessary to start off with extremely radical
changes, like substituting all nuclear energy with
solar. However, Russia does not even have a simple
recycling program for plastic. That is a start, and
this program has some economic benefits.
It is important to remember that Russia is not the
only country with an unsettling environmental
situation. We all live on the same planet. To really
change something in the current environmental
situation, all countries should act together and help
each other.
Sources:
http://www.ecoline.ru/antinuclear/eng/index.htm
http://www.ce-review.org/99/12/stewart12.html
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