Nuclear-blast report raises vital questions

Press, 14 December 1977, Page 25

Nuclear-blast report raises vital questions

By

KEN COATES

Television One made a last-minute decision to replace its “World in Action” documentary on the Chilean secret police with a documentary about an accidental nuclear explosion reported to have accurred in the Soviet Union 20 years ago. The channel’s explanation for the change was that because of the inquiry held into desirability of nuclear power generation in New Zealand and the present discussion on the question, the documentary “The Accident” was so topical that it deserved to replace “The Long Hand of the D.1.N.A.” ' The head of presentation for TVI (Chris Bourne) said yesterday the Chilean documentary would definitely be screened and there was no suggestion of its being suppressed because of political pressure. No date for transmission of the Chilean police documentary' has been fixed, but it will probably be early in the new year. The ‘"World in Action”

offering on the Russian accident relied heavily on a report from a dissident exile who described the effects of an explosion which involved buried nuclear waste. It was clear from the evidence presented that there was an accident of some kind in Russia, details of which did not reach the outside world. And in view of worldwide misgivings about the safety of nuclear power generation, and the longterm effects of burying waste, the documentary provided a useful service in posing questions that should be asked, and eventually answered in this country. ’ Viewers no doubt realised that the explanation offered by Sir John Hill, head of the British nuclear administration, did not answer all the doubts that were raised by the Russian accident and the ghastly effects of radiation. Sir John was adamant that what was claimed was impossible, but the programme did not explore

just what the other possibilities were. The documentary left little doubt, however, that there had been a nuclear accident, and that in spite of all precautions and safeguards there is always the possibility of something going wrong. The topicality of the programme was clear and it raised questions of vita! concern.