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WPCNR PERSPECTIVE ’26. As InternetCast on White Plains Week of August 7, 2026:

TODAY AUGUST 9  IS THE DAY THE U.S.A  DROPPED THE SECOND ATOMIC BOMB ON NAGASAKI JAPAN DESTROYING THAT CITY, EFFECTLY IMMEDIATELY IN THAT JAPAN SURRENDERED UNCONDITIONALLY.

THIS WAS 3 DAYS AFTER THE FIRST ATOMIC BOMB ANNILHILATED HIROSHIMA JAPAN.

I ALWAYS REMEMBER THESE TWO DAYS. BECAUSE THEY HIGHLIGHTS FOR ME WHY NUCLEAR WEAPONS SHOULD NOT BE SPREAD OR BE ACCEPTED AS LEGITIMATE WEAPONS WORLDWIDE.

THIS DETERENT THINKING HAS GOTTEN US INTO WARS, MOST SIGNIFICANTLY THE IRAN WAR OVER IRAN TRYING TO ACQUIRE   ENTRICHED URANIUM TO MAKE AN ATOMIC BOMB

HOWEVER ISRAEL DOES HAVE A NUCLEAR BOMB.

AS I RERAN THE PIECE I WROTE YEARS AGO TO COMMEMORATE AUGUST 6 I GOT TO WONDER ABOUT CHERNOBYL.

THIS MORNING READING THE FRONT PAGE OF THE TIMES THIS MORNING ON THE MISSILE GAP THE U.S. HAS WITH CHING AND RUSSIA AND THE NEED FOR MORE, AS WELL AS THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS  MANY NATIONS HAVE. AS WELL AS THE RANGE OF MISSILES TODAY. i  HAD THESE THOUGHTS:

THAT NUCLEAR PLANT IS IN THE UKRAINE. THE ACCIDENT  IN 1986 THAT TOOK PLACE THERE HAS MADE THE PLACE STILL UNINHABITABLE 50 MILES IN EITHER DIRECTION.

JAPAN RECOVERED FROM THE 2 NUCLEAR BOMBS THEY SUFFERED IN HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI. THE NATION WAS FUNCTIONING BY 1950. bUT THEY WERE MUCH SMALLER BOMBS THAN THE BOMBS TODAY.

CHERNOBYL IS STILL UNINHABITABLE AFTER 50 YEARS.

THE FOLLOWING IS AN ANALYSIS OF PRESENT CHERNOBYL AND ITS AFTERMATH WRITTEN BY

AUTHOR: ORIOL PLANAS – TECHNICAL INDUSTRIAL ENGINEER

PUBLICATION DATE: MAY 25, 2017
LAST REVISION: SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

CURRENTLY, THE GENERATED NUCLEAR WASTE AT CHERNOBYL IS STORED IN ABOUT 800 DIFFERENT SITES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE 30-KILOMETER EXCLUSION ZONE AROUND.

THESE NUCLEAR WASTES ARE PARTIALLY STORED IN CONTAINERS OR BURIED IN TRENCHES AND MAY CAUSE A RISK OF CONTAMINATION OF GROUNDWATER.

GREENPEACE TECHNICIANS REPORTED THAT RADIOACTIVITY READINGS IN TOWNS 225 KILOMETERS AWAY EXCEED BETWEEN 5 AND 12 TIMES THE OFFICIAL LIMIT.AT

ACCORDING TO THIS STUDY, THE FORECAST WAS THAT THIS EXCESS RADIATION WOULD REMAIN ABOVE THIS LEVEL BEYOND 2040.

MUCH OF THE RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL RELEASED IN THE CHERNOBYL DISASTER DISINTEGRATED AND NO LONGER POSES A THREAT. THE MAIN DANGER NOW COMES FROM AN ISOTOPE, CESIUM-137, WHICH PERSISTS LONGER. THIS ISOTOPE ACCUMULATES IN VEGETATION AND CAN ENTER THE FOOD CHAIN.

(EDITOR’S ASIDE: THIS,  THE WORST ACCIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF NUCLEAR ENERGY.  IT WAS NOT EVEN A NUCLEAR BOMB NOR THE EQUIVALENT CONVENTIONAL BOMBS ON MISSILES TODAY. Now back to Mr. Planas’ text)

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WERE AFFECTED BY THE HIGH LEVELS OF RADIATION EMITTED BY THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. EVACUATIONS OF PRIPYAT COMMENCED ABOUT 36 HOURS AFTER THE ACCIDENT HAD OCCURRED.

THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON APRIL 26, 1986. TO THIS DAY, AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS (NOW 40  YEARS), THE CURRENT SITUATION IN CHERNOBYL REMAINS DELICATE.

THE SARCOPHAGUS  (erected over the grounds of the nuclear plant to contain nuclear waste) AND THE PROLIFERATION OF WASTE STORAGE SITES HAVE BEEN ASSESSED AS A DANGEROUS SOURCE OF RADIOACTIVITY IN NEARBY AREAS. SOME NEA EXPERTS FEARED THAT THE COLLAPSE OF THE CRASHED REACTOR COULD SERIOUSLY DAMAGE THE ONLY REACTOR IN OPERATION (NUM. 3).

A DECADE AFTER THE NUCLEAR CATASTROPHE, THE CASE WAS STUDIED AT THE VIENNA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT IN CHERNOBYL HUMAN ERRORS WERE CONCATENATED WITH THE TECHNICAL AND MATERIAL FRAGILITY OF THE REACTOR. FINALLY, THEY AGREED THAT THE TOTAL REHABILITATION OF THE AREA WAS NOT POSSIBLE.

IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH A SECURE CONFINEMENT SYSTEM FROM AN ECOLOGICAL POINT OF VIEW. THE NEW CONFINEMENT OF THE PLANT SHOULD PREVENT THE INFILTRATION OF RAINWATER INTO ITS INTERIOR. PLUS, IT SHOULD PREVENT THE COLLAPSE OF THE EXISTING SARCOPHAGUS

N 2016, A SECOND GIGANTIC SARCOPHAGUS WAS COMPLETED. IT PREVENTS MORE THAN 200 TONS OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL FROM ESCAPING TO THE OUTSIDE IN THE LONG TERM. IT IS EXPECTED IT CAN WORK FOR A CENTURY.

THE CONSTRUCTION COST 1,426 MILLION EUROS, TOO MUCH FOR UKRAINE. HOWEVER, THE RISK OF CHERNOBYL WAS REAL FOR EVERYONE. AS CONSEQUENCE, THE FUNDING CAME MAINLY FROM THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK AND EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS.

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION PAID FOR ALMOST A THIRD OF THE CONSTRUCTION.

THE SACRUM WAS MOUNTED NEXT TO THE DAMAGED REACTOR. ONCE FINISHED, IT MOVED ALONG SOME RAILS UNTIL IT REACHED ITS FINAL LOCATION

WHAT IS THE NEW CHERNOBYL SARCOPHAGUS LIKE TODAY?

THE SARCOPHAGUS IS SHAPED LIKE AN ARCH. ITS DIMENSIONS ARE 108 METERS HIGH, 162 METERS LONG, 275 METERS OF ARC AND WEIGHS 36,000 TONS.

THE CURRENT CHERNOBYL SARCOPHAGUS WAS BUILT BY THE NOVARKA CONSORTIUM, UNDER WHOSE UMBRELLA THE FRENCH COMPANIES BTP VINCI AND BOUYGUES APPEAR. THE METAL PLATES THAT MAKE UP THE ARCH WERE BUILT IN ITALY.

THE SARCOPHAGUS WILL HOUSE THE NUCLEAR REACTOR UNITS 3 AND 4 OF THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. IT WILL HAVE AN INTERNALLY PRESSURIZED DOUBLE-WALLED WATERPROOF WALL AND WITH A 27-METER-DEEP FOUNDATION.

THE ARCHES ARE CONSTRUCTED OF TUBULAR STEEL MEMBERS AND ARE CLAD EXTERNALLY WITH THREE-LAYER PANELS. A VACUUM WAS CREATED BETWEEN THE ROOF SECTIONS KEPT WARMER THAN THE OUTSIDE AIR TO PREVENT CORROSION. CONDENSATION IS PREVENTED BY MAINTAINING A TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE.

AUTHOR: ORIOL PLANAS – TECHNICAL INDUSTRIAL ENGINEER

PUBLICATION DATE: MAY 25, 2017
LAST REVISION: SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

In light of the ignition of a new missile race in The New York Times article Sunday morning, I think some thinking on the part of the anti-American leaders of the world is in order as well as the leaders of the United States.

THIS CHERNOBYL HISTORY IS CHILLING.

WHAT IT TELLS ME: THE LEADERS OF NATIONS TODAY WHO EVEN THINK A NUCLEAR ATTACK OR A RAIN OF MISSILES WITH CONVENTIONAL ORDINANCE IS AN OPTION…..

….THEY HAVE TO REALIZE ABSOLUTELY TO USE NUCLEAR BOMBS  OR SUPER BOMBS IN A RAIN OF MISSILES TO AVENGE,  DESTROY MILLIONS IN A REGION YOU CREATE A DEAD LAND.

…….IF YOU CONSIDER WHAT A NUCLEAR ACCIDENT HAS DONE TO THE PEOPLE SURROUNDING CHERNOBYL IN 50 YEARS

……..YOU HAVE TO THINK HARDER

……..YOU MUST REALIZE THAT YOU CREATE A DEAD LAND.

……..NUCLEAR ATTACKS — MISSILES RAINING DEATH WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING YOU HAVE TO GAIN BY DESTROYING AN ENEMY AND ITS PEOPLE.

……..TO LEAD YOU NEED TO LEAD WITH REASON AND RESTRAINT—TWO QUALITIES I AM NOT SEEING IN MANY LEADERS AND INTERIM LEADERS — PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE BRAINS TO KNOW BETTER.

IF ISRAEL USES ITS NUCLEAR CAPACITY ON IRAN OR SAUDI ARABIA THE STRENGTH OF THE NUCLEAR BOMBS TODAY WILL SIMPLY DESTROY THE OIL THE WORLD NEEDS. THE OIL ISRAEL NEEDS. IF IRAN IN THEIR PRESENT STATE OF BRAVADO HAD A NUCLEAR BOMB NOW THEY WOULD USE IT.

THE TRUTH IS  A NUCLEAR ATTACK WILL DESTROY THE MIDDLE EAST REGION OR WHATEVER COUNTRY THEY AIM THEIR MISSILES AT.

NUCLEAR AND CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS  DISARMAMENT.

THE POLICY THAT BEGS TO COMPROMISE IS NUCLEAR AND CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS DISARMAMENT BY ALL NATIONS THAT HAVE  FIREPOWER TO DISTROY.

iT IS TIME

ISRAEL SHOULD   SURRENDER THEIR NUCLEAR ARSENAL AND IRAN SHOULD END ITS NUCLEAR  PROGRAM. THOSE NATIONS HAVE BEEN HATING LONG ENOUGH.

OF COURSE THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THE LEADERS OF THOSE NATIONS WILL NOT DO IT. KEEPING HATE ALIVE KEEPS MARTINETS IN POWER. CULTIVATING FEAR KEEPS THEM IN THEIR POSITIONS.

YOU SEE IT IN WASHINGTON D.C., TEL AVIV. TEHERAN AND IN THE TERROR GROUPS.

PETE SEEGER’S SONG, LAST NIGHT I HAD THE STRANGEST DREAM WAS SO RIGHT.  MEN WILL NEVER PUT AN END TO WAR.

BUSINESSES WILL NEVER STOP CHEATING THE CONSUMER AND FIRING PEOPLE AND RAISING PRICES AND WHEN THEY FAIL THEY DON’T PAY THEIR BILLS THANKS TO THE BANKRUPTCY LAWS.

POLITICIANS WILL  NEVER TELL YOU THE TRUTH WILL NEVER SERVE ANYONE BUT THEMSELVES. EVERYTHING THEY DO ALWAYS BENEFITS THEM. YOU BELIEVE  IN THEM AT YOUR PERIL.

NUCLEAR WEAPONS ARE JUST AS INDIFFERENT AS POLITICIANS BUT INFINITELY MORE POWERFUL AND HORRIFYINGLY EFFECTIVE.

THE NUCLEAR WEAPON IF ACTIVATED DESTROYS THE ATTACKED NATION AND THE NATION  LAUNCHING THE ATTACK.

LEADERS MUST CONSIDER DISARMAMENT  TALKS  BEFORE MISSILES RAIN IN A CONFLICT THAT WILL DESTROY THE VIABILITY OF THE DESTROYED  WHICH WILL BE USELESS TO THE WINNERS, WHO WILL BE EQUALLY RUINED.

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New Law Advances Equity, Supports Small Businesses and Strengthens Market Opportunities

Governor Hochul today signed legislation designed to strengthen New York’s regulated cannabis market. S.10113/A.11217 supports small businesses and advances one of the state’s fastest-growing industries, marking an important step forward for business owners, consumers and the continued growth of New York’s cannabis marketplace.

“This new law gives licensed microbusinesses and dispensaries a real chance to succeed in New York’s legal cannabis market,” Governor Hochul said. “By opening the door for legal operators to sell at approved community events and farmer’s markets we are putting small entrepreneurs on a level playing field, expanding consumer access to safer, regulated products and strengthening one of New York’s fastest growing industries.”

Office of Cannabis Management Executive Director John Kagia said, “Regulated cannabis has proven to be an economic engine for New York, but the strength of this market lies in the businesses operating across the supply chain. The Governor signing this bill secures a critical opportunity for the microbusinesses building New York’s craft cannabis ecosystem to showcase their products at events across the state. This bill advances equitable, inclusive opportunity for our small businesses, and we thank the Governor, Senate and Assembly for their continued commitment to strengthening New York’s cannabis market.”

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WPCNR OBSERVATIONS. By John F. Bailey. Reprinted from the WPCNR Archives. August 6, 2026 

In view of Russia’s Vladimir Putin being reported by The New York Times Monday as saying he would retaliate with nuclear weapons in the event of a nuclear attack by the United States, it is sobering to note that Mr. Putin has taken this policy gambit.

I would like to point out what an atomic attack does. We have scientific evidence.

Eignty-one  years ago on Sunday 1945, the Enola Gay, a single American bomber dropped an Atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan.

The terrible effects of that single bomb are a horror that has never been repeated

A second bomber, Bock’s Car on August 9, dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki.

Unknown thousands of Japanese citizens’ lives were vaporized, burned, maimed and two cities leveled to the ground in an instant in both bombings.

To grasp what one atomic bomb did to Nagasaki, readers may see the photographs Japanese photographer Yosuki Yamato took of the aftermath of Nagasaki the day it happened August 9, 1945 at http://www.exploratorium.edu/nagasaki/photos.html#journey/63.jpg

The decision to drop the bombs was made after the United States, Great Britain and the Republic of China demanded Japan  surrender in the Potsdam Declaration on July 26 or face  “prompt and utter destruction”.

The Japanese government did not surrender.

The United States deployed two nuclear weapons  dropping one on Hiroshimi, 81 years ago today and one on Nagasaki on August 9.

Over four months the bombs resulted in the deaths of   90,000–166,000 people in Hiroshima and 60,000–80,000 in Nagasaki, half dying the day the bombs fell.

The Hiroshima prefecture health department estimated that, of the people who died on the day of the explosion, 60% died from flash or flame burns, 30% from falling debris and 10% from other causes. During the following months, large numbers died from the effect of burns, radiation sickness, and other injuries, compounded by illness.

In a US estimate of the total immediate and short term cause of death, 15–20% died from radiation sickness, 20–30% from burns, and 50–60% from other injuries, compounded by illness. In both cities, most of the dead were civilians, although Hiroshima had a sizable garrison.

The horror of those two bombings and the aftermath, the injuries created have resulted in an effort and reluctance on the part of nuclear-armed powers to avoid any nuclear attacks since that date.

Within a few days of those bombings, Japan surrendered unconditionally, officially ending World War II.

The decision to use the bombs by the United States has long been debated. A dialogue on what the bombs did, why the decision was made was collected in 1995, the fiftieth year since the bombings. It is available at http://www.exploratorium.edu/nagasaki/commentary/decision.html

It is important that leaders with nuclear capabilities get a grasp on the reality of the nuclear devastation.

Trying to justify a first strike nuclear attack as a deterrent to a perceived possible attack will destroy the country attacked, their economy, millions of people.

If two little bombs like the ones dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki can level and annihilate  the population of a city, a series of nuclear strikes in a first strike or a retaliatory strike with today’s super bombs the world may suffer from prolonged radiation clouds.

One thing is certain, you cannot “undrop” a nuclear strike. The massive megaton strength of today bombs assures a death of an area and  region where it is dropped.

Any area attacked with a nuclear bomb will destroy the nation attacked  ability to function and grow for a time we cannot imagine.

it is not an option.

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GOVERNOR HOCHUL: TRUMP’S NEW MEDICARE CUTS THAT WILL RAISE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS FOR 1.3 MILLION SENIORS ACROSS NEW YORK

Governor Kathy Hochul  announced the Trump Administration’s controversial plan to end Medicare Part D subsidies will raise prescription drug costs for around 1.3 million seniors across New York State, according to policy analyst estimates.

Governor Hochul joined seniors in New York City to demand that the Trump Administration stop these planned Medicare cuts and end their crusade to raise costs for millions of seniors across the nation. If the Trump Administration proceeds with its plans to end Medicare Part D subsidies, impacted seniors could see higher monthly premiums starting in 2027.

As Governor Hochul slammed Trump’s latest plans for Medicare cuts, she also highlighted how New York has delivered healthcare savings for seniors through her major expansion of the Medicare Savings Program, banning copays for insulin, and other initiatives.

“The Trump Administration’s latest attack on Medicare will raise prescription drug costs for seniors across New York — and I’m calling on Trump to reverse these Medicare cuts now,” Governor Hochul said.

“While Republicans in Washington are hellbent on making life harder and more expensive for hard-working Americans, I’m staying laser-focused on helping seniors and putting money back into New Yorkers’ pockets.”

Last week, the Trump Administration announced it would end the Medicare Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration Program by the end of the year – a year earlier than intended. This program, initiated by the Biden Administration in 2024, was intended to stabilize stand-alone prescription drug plan premiums for enrollees, by providing subsidies to plan sponsors. Analysts estimate that these subsidies offset the average prescription drug plan premium by $16 per month in 2026.

Raising prescription drug costs that millions of older New Yorkers rely on every day risks putting additional financial pressure on seniors living on fixed incomes. Since taking office, Governor Hochul has been committed to making life more affordable for all New Yorkers, including seniors. Her initiatives include:

• Expanded Medicare Savings Program: The Medicare Savings Program helps Medicare beneficiaries living on limited incomes by paying their Medicare Part B premiums. Governor Hochul’s expansion of the program increased enrollment by 20% to serve more than 1 million New Yorkers today. This program saves eligible New Yorkers $203 per month, meaning $2.4 billion in Medicare Part B premiums every year that New Yorkers do not have to pay.

• Eliminating Co-Pays for Insulin: 1.58 million people are living with diabetes in New York and according to the American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes have medical expenses that are 2.3 times higher than people who do not have diabetes and the impact is even larger for communities of color, which face disproportionately high diagnosis rates. Governor Hochul spearheaded the most expansive prohibition policy against insulin cost-sharing in the nation, saving residents millions of dollars. Estimates show that this proposal has saved New Yorkers $25 million over the last two years.

• EpiPen Price Cap: The Governor signed legislation in 2024 that reduced the sky-high costs of epinephrine auto-injector (“EpiPen”) devices for consumers with commercial health insurance. The legislation required health insurers to cover EpiPens and capped the amount consumers would be required to pay out-of-pocket at $100, making the life-saving treatment more affordable for the New Yorkers who need it. The initiative has saved New Yorkers approximately $2.4 million in 2026.

Congressman Jerry Nadler said, “Donald Trump’s Big Ugly Bill already kicked 500,000 New Yorkers off potentially life-saving health coverage, with hundreds of thousands more expected to suffer the same loss next year. Now, his cruel attack on Medicare Part D will force millions of seniors in New York and across our country to pay more for the lifesaving medicines they rely on every day. I will continue fighting to protect our seniors from these devastating policies in Congress, and I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership to lower costs for New York’s seniors.”

Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright said, “As Chair of the New York State Assembly Committee on Aging, I know that even small increases in prescription drug costs can have devastating consequences for older adults living on fixed incomes. Seniors should never be forced to choose between filling a prescription and paying for groceries, rent, or other necessities. New York has made meaningful progress by expanding access to affordable healthcare and lowering out-of-pocket costs for older adults, and we cannot allow that progress to be undermined. I thank Governor Hochul for standing up for New York’s seniors and fighting to protect affordable access to the medications they depend on every day.”