Highlights from Meltdown Drill (audio and text, MP3 and Windows Media)

national | miscellaneous | news report

Saturday March 09, 2002 20:37

by Daithi Mac Sithigh

macsithd at tcd dot ie

Seven live clips from the 'Ministry of Disasters' recorded at the Central Bank and Grafton St.

This package is seven different audio clips, recorded at today's Sellafield Meltdown Drill in Dublin. See other posts and pictures for further details. Follow the text below and click on each audio link. Some of the announcements are also transcribed in the main text.

The sounds of warning sirens blared across the Central Bank Plaza on Dame Street, as the model of Sellafield started to billow smoke. The Ministry called for everyone to evacuate

(26 seconds):
MP3 http://matrix.netsoc.tcd.ie/~daithi/imc/siren1.mp3
Windows http://matrix.netsoc.tcd.ie/~daithi/imc/siren1.wma

The group moved through Dublin’s street, accompanied by sirens and whistles, calling for all to “remain calm”, disturbing passing traffic.

(27 seconds):
MP3 http://matrix.netsoc.tcd.ie/~daithi/imc/siren2.mp3
Windows http://matrix.netsoc.tcd.ie/~daithi/imc/siren2.wma

As the crowd arrived on Grafton Street, a crowded shopping area, they distributed copies of the “Emergency Plan” to those who passed by.
The Ministry of Disasters spoke to the (now expanded) crowd. (body) 28

(28 seconds):
MP3 http://matrix.netsoc.tcd.ie/~daithi/imc/body.mp3
Windows http://matrix.netsoc.tcd.ie/~daithi/imc/body.wma
Text: “Can we get the body bags please – I mean the protective radioactive clothing - for the normal citizens” “Start giving these bodybags out. You’ve got to wear them”

Other participants tried to reassure the evacuees, as the consequences of radiation poisoning were acted out right on the street.

(5 seconds):
MP3 http://matrix.netsoc.tcd.ie/~daithi/imc/panic.mp3
Windows http://matrix.netsoc.tcd.ie/~daithi/imc/panic.wma
Text: “Do not panic do not panic”

But it was already too late…

(28 seconds):
MP3 http://matrix.netsoc.tcd.ie/~daithi/imc/min1.mp3
Windows http://matrix.netsoc.tcd.ie/~daithi/imc/min1.wma
Text: “Citizens you have not made it you are all now dead kindly lie down and die”.

Over the sounds of screams, the Ministry of Disasters tells of their failure

(50 seconds):
MP3 http://matrix.netsoc.tcd.ie/~daithi/imc/min2.mp3
Windows http://matrix.netsoc.tcd.ie/~daithi/imc/min2.wma
Text:

“Citizens you have all died
“We your ministry have failed you, we your government have failed you
“We could have done something about this - years ago
“We could have had put pressure on the British government
“We could have organised a mass movement on the streets, in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Manchester, Liverpool, London and Glasgow - but we didn’t
“Sellafield melted down, and thousands of people have died”

Finally, the march set off for the Dáil (parliament), chanting.

(5 seconds):
MP3 http://matrix.netsoc.tcd.ie/~daithi/imc/chant.mp3
Windows http://matrix.netsoc.tcd.ie/~daithi/imc/chant.wma
Text: “Sellafield has got to go!”

testing