Does anyone remember the destruction of Chernobyl - - the panic that we all felt? The shocking pictures of the destroyed land around the reactors? The stories of the destroyed lives? I remember the laughter of friends as they told me to avoid the wild mushrooms at the local market, reminding me of their biological cleaning properties. The laughter of derision, I should say, because as it was becoming clear that the winds were spreading particles around the world, a television presenter explained that France was protected by anti-cyclonic winds coming from the Azores. Clearly, the toxic particles had stopped at the frontier and the Hexagon and its people were safe. (Liberty of the press has a different meaning in France than it does in the US. And in 1986, there were 3 major television stations. Competition would not really get underway until much later in the decade.)
I was reminded of this bit of doublespeak this morning when I woke up and turned on the news. Apparently I wasn't the only one who woke up in the middle of the night smelling gas. We compared stories this morning: so what time did you wake up? And did you check it out? The husband of one of my friends (the guy who could sleep through an earthquake) was so concerned that he got dressed and walked down the street to find out if any building in the neighborhood was on fire. I only made sure that the gas on the stove was turned off. Realizing that the smell wasn't inside the building, I shut the windows and went back to (restless) sleep.
The news was re-assuring this morning. Yes, the odor began yesterday in Normandy. Yes, folks in south-east England could smell the fumes. So could the Parisians. But...
Nothing to see hear, nothing toxic. Vomiting you say? Well, the smell was a bit strong. From 150 kilometers away. But don't worry. Nothing toxic... at least that's what we're told by the regional political authority (le prefet) and right up the line to Paris where the powerful Interior Ministry told us that the gas "didn't present any health risks."
So comforting, so reassuring. Now where's the bottle of ibuprofen?
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