Vaclav Vašků (* 1962 Prague ) is a Czech journalist and photographer . He worked as a journalist in the Civic journal from 1996 until 2004 he served as spokesman of Greenpeace Czech Republic. At the same time he was also the chief editor [1] Magazine Greenpeace – the magazine for the protection of nature and environment. Since 2004 freelancer.
The cycle of his photographs of contemporary life in Chernobyl won 2nd place in the category Nature and Environment competition Czech Press Photo 2005 .
CHERNOBYL SARCOPHAGUS - Danger signs, close to the Chernobyl sarcophagus indicate places with high levels of radioactivity. The world's worst nuclear catastrophy took place right here on Unit 4. Chernobyl nuclear power plant at 1:23 am, 26th April 1986. Scientists estimated that radioctive debris blew up to an altitude of 1 kilometer and contaminated a substantial part of Europe, mainly Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. More than 35 000 soldiers of Soviet Red Army were forced to put their lives at risk during the clean-up work on the the roof of 3. Unit. They were later known as "Biorobots". Another more than 600 000 so called "Liquidators" helped clean up the site and build a shelter (sarcophagus) above the broken reactor. today the sarcophagus is full of cracks and holes. Scientists still have no comprehensive information on what is happening inside the reactor. There are concerns that rain water could trigger a chain reaction again (Chernobyl, 27th July 2005).
Photo Vaclav VaskuCHERNOBYL SARCOPHAGUS - The worst nuclear catastrophe in human history took place right here 20 years ago. The fourth unit of the Chernobyl power plant exploded on the 26th April 1986. Scientists estimated that radioactive debris blew up to an altitude of 1 kilometer and contaminated a substantial part of Europe, mainly Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. More than 35 000 soldiers of the Soviet Red Army were used as "biorobots" for the clean-up work on the the roof of the 3rd unit. About 600 000 so-called "Liquidators" helped to clean up the site and build a shelter (sarcophagus) above the broken reactor. Today the sarcophagus is full of cracks and holes. Scientists still have no comprehensive information on what is happening inside the reactor. There are concerns that rain water could trigger a new chain reaction (Chernobyl, 1st April 2005).
Photo Vaclav VaskuSPORTS HALL - Abandoned sports hall in Pripyat. Before the Chernobyl's accident, the town of Pripyat was considered as a model city in the former Soviet union. More than 48 000 inhabitants were living here - less than 3 kilometers from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, a lot of them were employed directly in the power plant. Today Pripyat is like a ghost town (Pripyat, 27th July 2005).
Photo Vaclav VaskuRAZSOKHA GRAVEYARD - Workers cut and dismantle helicopter at Razsokha graveyard (Ukraine). Razsokha is the biggest storage point for contaminated trucks, helicopter and other clean-up equipment that is never to leave the Chernobyl zone. More than 2 000 vehicles and millions of tons of radioactive waste created by Chernobyl are burried right here. The Mi-6 could carry 70 troops. For many years, it was the largest operational helicopter in the world. These helicopters were used for clean up operations during Chernobyl disaster. After 20 years some of their parts (especially engines) are still radioactive more than 20 miliroentgens (which is physical limit for dozimeters "Pripyat" commonly used here). But workers collecting scrap metal don't weare any radioactive protective gear (Razsokha, Chernobyl, 26th July 2005).
Photo Vaclav VaskuJULIA FROM THE CONTAMINATED ZONE
Julia (18) shows a map of radioactive contaminated areas of the Republic of Belarus in front of the radioactive sign that indicates a closed forest near to the small town of Bykhov (region of Mogilev) where Julia lives. More than one quarter of Belarus has been heavily contaminated by fallout from the Chernobyl catastrophe (Mogilev, 23th March 2005).
Photo Vaclav VaskuROCK BAND ASFALT - Members of rock band Asfalt sing songs on Chernobyl and play Stalker game. For many youngsters Chernobyl is becoming adrenalin adventure. Tens of thousands of young people in Russia and Ukraine are playing computer game STALKER, and one wants to see Chernobyl own eyes, Kiev, Jan 24, 2010. Photo Vaclav VaskuCzech tourists in front of Chernobyl sarcophagus, Chernobyl, April 15, 2010. Photo Vaclav VaskuPRIPYAT.COM OFFICE - Photograph in the office of NGO Pripyat.com shows control room of Chernobyl nuclear power plant Unit No. 3, Kiev, April 16, 2010. Photo Vaclav VaskuREGULAR TOURIST - One of “regular” tourists in the abandoned ghost town Pripyat. In total 7000 of tourists as that one visit Chernobyl each year, Chernobyl, October 6, 2010. Photo Vaclav VaskuDOSIMETRIC CHECKS – When leaving the Exclusion Zone every one has to pass this dosimeter detector. Time to time appear red light and set alarm. Such as at this man, Chernobyl, October 6, 2010. Photo Vaclav VaskuCanadian tourists at the amusement park in Pripyat, Chernobyl, April 15, 2010. Photo Vaclav VaskuLIFE IN ZONE – Orane village only a few kilometers from border of the Forbidden Zone, Orane, October 10, 2010. Photo Vaclav Vasku
Vaclav Vašků (* 1962 Prague ) is a Czech journalist and photographer . He worked as a journalist in the Civic journal from 1996 until 2004 he served as spokesman of Greenpeace Czech Republic. At the same time he was also the chief editor [1] Magazine Greenpeace – the magazine for the protection of nature and environment. Since 2004 freelancer.
