On April 28th, 1986, in Sweden, they started noticing something was wrong. Things started bleeping on the computer screen. The signals said that the radiation levels at the Chernobyl power plant were four or five times too high.

The government of Sweden tried to warn the Soviet Union of this crisis, but they refused to believe them. The Swedes took action, worried about the safety of the people, and used a form of measurement called the Geiger counter to measure radiation levels. When they saw that the radiation levels on the workers' clothing alone was four times too high, the Soviet Union began to make a move.

They searched through the plant in Chernobyl for a leak and found that a reactor had exploded, leaking deadly radiation everywhere. By now, it had filled the soil and air for hundreds of miles around. Around two hundred people were hospitalized by being intoxicated, around 31 died and 135,000 people had to exacuate the area.

They thought it was under control for a few days when they discovered the levels getting higher again. The government ordered pictures to be taken from a satellite and they discovered a massive fire, feuled by one of the four reactors. It burned at around 5,000 degrees and was still spreading the radiation. This is now called "The Chernobyl Meltdown."

Today, children and young people growing up in places like the Ukraine and Belarus are still affected by the radiation. The amount of toxons is shrinking but is still harmful. The vegetation, aquatic sources, anything grown or cultivated there, is affected with radioactive toxons. This can lead to terminal illness, commonly thyroid cancer or lukemia.

Enter "Children of Chernobyl" -- they sponsor children to come spend the summer with familes in the USA, kind of like an exchange student. This allows them to get close to three months of clean air, food and water, and experience life outside of corrupt political leaders and bad economy systems, depression and severe poverty. Their sponsor families also send them gifts and letters throughout the whole year. Talk to your mom or dad and see if you might be able to host a girl or boy this summer. Believe me, I'm trying to talk my parents into it!

Here are some pictures taken of the Chernobyl Meltdown. The first is where the fire started, the second is part of the Chernobyl power plant, and the third is children awaiting radiotherapy treatment. (Credits: Google Images)

Praying for good health for the children of Chernobyl,
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