two Sedans: the first: Photo courtesy of National Nuclear Security Administration / Nevada Site Office, the second: drawn by me on Oct. 8th, 2008.
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. - from Micah 4:3
Sedan crater is currently the only site at the NTS listed on the National Register of History Places. It is also the largest man-made excavation on the planet. It was part of Operation Ploughshare, a (insane?) project wildly engineered by scientist Edward Teller, who was determined to find "peaceful" application for nuclear explosions. The most useful "application" ended up being the ability to blow giant holes in the earth. Yet, this didn't really work out due to the pesky reality that nuclear bombs create nuclear fallout. Several attempts were still made- Sedan being the largest.
According to wikipedia Sedan's fallout "contamination exposed a little under 7% of Americans to harmful radiation, more than 13 million people; the highest number exposed by any nuclear test explosion in the continental USA."
This contradicts my notion of peaceful.
Two weeks ago today I stood at the edge of this crater and still have no words for the experience. But, it was in those few moments of standing at this edge that I sensed with certainty that I would be making work in response to the NTS for many months, perhaps years, to come.
Apparently the Ploughshares program continues today. Though I haven't researched in depth just what it is that they do these days, they certainly have a very slick website.
Also, I am currently reading The Firecracker Boys, by Dan O'Neil (Thanks Jan!). You can hear an amazing interview with the author and learn more about Project Chariot (Teller's attempt to manifest the program in remote areas of Alaska) here. The protest that resulted in response to Project Chariot is credited as being the birth of the environmental movement.
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. - from Micah 4:3
Sedan crater is currently the only site at the NTS listed on the National Register of History Places. It is also the largest man-made excavation on the planet. It was part of Operation Ploughshare, a (insane?) project wildly engineered by scientist Edward Teller, who was determined to find "peaceful" application for nuclear explosions. The most useful "application" ended up being the ability to blow giant holes in the earth. Yet, this didn't really work out due to the pesky reality that nuclear bombs create nuclear fallout. Several attempts were still made- Sedan being the largest.
According to wikipedia Sedan's fallout "contamination exposed a little under 7% of Americans to harmful radiation, more than 13 million people; the highest number exposed by any nuclear test explosion in the continental USA."
This contradicts my notion of peaceful.
Two weeks ago today I stood at the edge of this crater and still have no words for the experience. But, it was in those few moments of standing at this edge that I sensed with certainty that I would be making work in response to the NTS for many months, perhaps years, to come.
Apparently the Ploughshares program continues today. Though I haven't researched in depth just what it is that they do these days, they certainly have a very slick website.
Also, I am currently reading The Firecracker Boys, by Dan O'Neil (Thanks Jan!). You can hear an amazing interview with the author and learn more about Project Chariot (Teller's attempt to manifest the program in remote areas of Alaska) here. The protest that resulted in response to Project Chariot is credited as being the birth of the environmental movement.
2 comments:
This program link below might interest you. Your post today reminded me of this program.
We have attended some of the events they have held.
Sometimes we feel like they advocate "peace only through strength"........ It is housed in the UIUC Armory, which makes it all very strange.
http://www.acdis.uiuc.edu/index.php
J
This program link below might interest you. Your post today reminded me of this program.
We have attended some of the events they have held.
Sometimes we feel like they advocate "peace only through strength"........ It is housed in the UIUC Armory, which makes it all very strange.
http://www.acdis.uiuc.edu/index.php
J
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