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The Bohunice debate To the Editor: We have read the two articles on the Bohunice nuclear power plants [NPPs], "Trouble under the cooling towers" and "Bohunice nuclear power plants face possible closure," [Nov. 24-30, 1999] written by Elizabeth Weinstein and Ivan Remias. We are sorry that the intention of your journalists' visit to the Bohunice NPPs, which was to show them the real situation and the real state of the plant, resulted in their emotional description of a so-called "Star Trek" crew operating the "Starship Enterprise." In addition, we are sorry to inform you that the information in your articles is not based on fact, and a lot of it seems to be developed in the imagination of the authors or in their careless observation during the plant visit. Here are some factual examples:
We consider the comparison of the plant names (V1 and V2) to Nazi Germany's lethal World War II rockets as unprofessional and offensive for those who work at the Bohunice plants daily. Finally, but no less importantly, is that Bohunice's nuclear power plants have nothing in common with the plants at Chernobyl. The type of reactors used in Bohunice is completely different. Although this was explained to your journalists during their visit, they probably did not pay proper attention to it. We truly hope this information will be useful for your journalists and readers when writing further on Bohunice. We hope you will verify the "facts" you intend to use. Knowledge is a basic rule of good journalism. Dobroslav Dobak Foreign Affairs and Public Relations Department Head, Slovenske elektrarne Jaslovske Bohunice, Slovakia The Prague Postresponds: Mr. Dobak is right, of course, to point out errors, which we regret. The uses of style, image and metaphor, however, are in the province of reporters and editors, where they will remain. Had Mr. Dobak read carefully, he would have noted that the jarring Star Trek analogy was juxtaposed immediately with a reference to the plant's having "some of the most modern nuclear safety devices on the planet." Though safety is no doubt a priority to Bohunice's managers (something our articles never placed in doubt), our reporters correctly represented occasional concerns expressed in the vicinity of the plant. Regarding the inaccuracy in planned closing dates, Mr. Dobak should be aware of reporting by the Slovak news agency SITA, which does not distinguish between the two units of the V1 reactor and has repeatedly reported that the Dzurinda government will proceed with the phased shutdowns of both the V1 and V2 reactors, and not simply the two units of V1, in 2006 and 2008. The European Union welcomed the news at the time our stories were written. Finally, no statement was made specifically comparing Bohunice's nuclear facilities with those at Chernobyl. The debate, as is well known to nuclear experts, concerns doubts over the integrity of plants built in the Soviet era. This matter was amply described by our correspondents, and, while regretting specific errors, we stand by the integrity of the full report. |
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The Prague Post Online contains a selection of articles that have been printed in The Prague Post, a weekly newspaper published in the Czech Republic. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.