Saturday, June 20, 2009

Documentary Photography From Russia Now On Gaia Photos Russia: Living With Radiation By Alexey Pivovarov


A sign near the Techa River advises passers-by that in Celiabinsk, Russia and vicinity, high levels of radioactivity exist.

Photo © Alexey Pivovarov All Rights Reserved

Russia: Living With Radiation is a feature story by Russia's Alexey Pivovarov appearing on Gaia Photos.

As photojournalist Alexey Pivovarov explains, "Muslumovo village is just a few kilometers from Celiabinsk in Russia's South Ural Mountain region. Its name means “City Of The Muslims”, and most of the city's residents are Tatar people. The town is most renowned for its proximity to Mayak, the world’s biggest nuclear plant that has been strategic to the Russian nuclear industry for the past 10 years."

Further, Alexey Pivovarov says, "70% of Russia’s nuclear waste is stored in Mayak, releasing radioactivity and polluting drinking water. In 1957, an explosion at the site was the world’s second worst nuclear accident, sending radioactive clouds over 23,000 square kilometers and affecting 272,000 people. More than 28,000 people have been “severely irradiated” and at least 8,015 have died as a result."

Alexey Pivovarov visited the village of Muslumovo and shares what he witnessed in his photo essay Russia: Living With Radiation, now appearing on Gaia Photos, a new international photography source comprised of 42 photojournalists from around the world whose mission is to promote quality and diversity in documentary photography.

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1 comment:

Oli said...

hey, great photographic composition. terrible about the water pollution.