Downwinder Diaries

Series produced by Claes Andreasson

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First person stories by people living downwind from the Nevada Test Site

Later this summer, Congress will most likely approve the White House request for improved readiness to resume nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site. In the 2005 Department of Energy budget, there is a request for an additional $5 million, which brings the total up to $30 million, in order to reduce the time lag from a presidential decision to resume testing from 24-36 months down to 18 months.
In Nevada and Utah there is growing concern about resumed testing. Although it has been more than half a century since the first nuclear devices were detonated at the test site (the first one was Able January, 27 1951) – many people still remember how they, and their friends, family and livestock were affected by the nuclear blasts at the test site in Nevada, where an absolute majority of the U.S. test (904 of 1030) have been conducted.
”Downwind Diaries” consists of five personal accounts of people living downwind from the test site, and from the days when the big red clouds drifted in from the test site.

These stories have never been aired on American public radio. Hide full description

Later this summer, Congress will most likely approve the White House request for improved readiness to resume nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site. In the 2005 Department of Energy budget, there is a request for an additional $5 million, which brings the total up to $30 million, in order to reduce the time lag from a presidential decision to resume testing from 24-36 months down to 18 months. In Nevada and Utah there is growing concern about resumed testing. Although it has been more than half a century since the first nuclear devices were detonated at the test site (the first one was Able January, 27 1951) – many people still remember how they, and their friends, family and livestock were affected by the nuclear blasts at the test site in Nevada, where an absolute majority of... Show full description


5 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Downwinder about experiences of radioactive fallout in the 1950s

Bought by KUER, PRX Remix, WYSO, and WMPG


  • Added: May 28, 2004
  • Length: 02:39
  • Purchases: 4
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Elmer Picket lost fourteen of his family members to cancer

Bought by KUER, PRX Remix, WYSO, and WMPG


  • Added: May 28, 2004
  • Length: 02:49
  • Purchases: 4
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Downwinder talks about how her brother died from nuclear fallout

Bought by KUER, PRX Remix, WYSO, and WMPG


  • Added: May 28, 2004
  • Length: 02:52
  • Purchases: 4
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Sheep farmer experience Dirty Harry nuclear test

Bought by KUER, PRX Remix, WYSO, WZBC, and WMPG


  • Added: May 28, 2004
  • Length: 03:23
  • Purchases: 5
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Downwinder affected by the radiocative fallout from test at Nevada Test Site

Bought by KUER, PRX Remix, WYSO, and WMPG


  • Added: May 28, 2004
  • Length: 02:46
  • Purchases: 4