Difference between revisions of "Belarus"
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The massive April 26, 1986 nuclear accident at the [[Chernobyl]] power plant, across the border in [[Ukraine]], had a devastating effect on Belarus; as a result of the radiation release, agriculture in a large part of the country was destroyed, and many villages were abandoned. Resettlement and medical costs were substantial and long-term. As a matter of policy, the government is now resettling this land and promoting agricultural production in the contaminated areas. [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5371.htm] | The massive April 26, 1986 nuclear accident at the [[Chernobyl]] power plant, across the border in [[Ukraine]], had a devastating effect on Belarus; as a result of the radiation release, agriculture in a large part of the country was destroyed, and many villages were abandoned. Resettlement and medical costs were substantial and long-term. As a matter of policy, the government is now resettling this land and promoting agricultural production in the contaminated areas. [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5371.htm] | ||
| + | As of mid-2005, fewer than 50 deaths have been directly attributed to radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, with almost all the deaths being among highly exposed rescue workers, according to a new United Nations report. [http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=17970] | ||
==Name== | ==Name== | ||
Belarus is often incorrectly called "Belorussia" or "Byelorussia", and some claim that this means "White Russia". This is incorrect which one can see by looking at the Russian words for the countries of Belarus and Russia: ''Белоруссия'' and ''Россия'' (Belorussija and Rossija), respectively. The name "Belarus" is taken from ancient "Rus'", which is also known in English as "Ruthenia". Therefore, Belarus means "White Ruthenia", rather than "White Russia". | Belarus is often incorrectly called "Belorussia" or "Byelorussia", and some claim that this means "White Russia". This is incorrect which one can see by looking at the Russian words for the countries of Belarus and Russia: ''Белоруссия'' and ''Россия'' (Belorussija and Rossija), respectively. The name "Belarus" is taken from ancient "Rus'", which is also known in English as "Ruthenia". Therefore, Belarus means "White Ruthenia", rather than "White Russia". | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==External links== | ||
| + | *[http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=17970 U.N. Revises Chernobyl Assessment] | ||
[[Category:European Countries]] | [[Category:European Countries]] | ||
[[Category:Former Soviet Countries]] | [[Category:Former Soviet Countries]] | ||
Revision as of 03:22, July 7, 2007
Belarus is a country in Eastern Europe and former member of the USSR. The capital of Belarus is Minsk.
The massive April 26, 1986 nuclear accident at the Chernobyl power plant, across the border in Ukraine, had a devastating effect on Belarus; as a result of the radiation release, agriculture in a large part of the country was destroyed, and many villages were abandoned. Resettlement and medical costs were substantial and long-term. As a matter of policy, the government is now resettling this land and promoting agricultural production in the contaminated areas. [1] As of mid-2005, fewer than 50 deaths have been directly attributed to radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, with almost all the deaths being among highly exposed rescue workers, according to a new United Nations report. [2]
Name
Belarus is often incorrectly called "Belorussia" or "Byelorussia", and some claim that this means "White Russia". This is incorrect which one can see by looking at the Russian words for the countries of Belarus and Russia: Белоруссия and Россия (Belorussija and Rossija), respectively. The name "Belarus" is taken from ancient "Rus'", which is also known in English as "Ruthenia". Therefore, Belarus means "White Ruthenia", rather than "White Russia".