RADIOACTIVE EMERGENCY
We're here to talk about the Goiânia radiological accident.
When we heard the news, we had a meeting to discuss the matter.
We weren't happy with that
because that waste would've been sent to our land.
90 members of the Kayapó tribe arrived in Brasília in order to protest
the disposal of radioactive waste in the Cachimbo mountain range.
The balance of nature is delicate. You don't disrupt it.
Because if you start messing around, it'll fight back.
And nature can destroy us.
The Kayapó people live in southern Pará,
and are raising awareness of the 15,000 people affected by the radioactive…
They're right, you know.
Look, starting next week, we send the barrels out.
I need both of you to help with the organization
of shipments to Cachimbo.
But Roberto…
Excuse me.
Yeah?
I… But I don't have anything to discuss with the governor of Pará.
Yeah, all right, all right… Put the man through.
Hello?
No, you listen to me!
We are not keeping any of that waste here!
And we can take this to the President!
You're starting the new treatment today…
That's good.
You know, I heard something really nice about you on the news.
They said that…
if it weren't for you…
a lot more people would have been contaminated.
And they're right, Antônia.
You're a real hero. You should know that.
Honey…
Daddy's got something to show you.
Remember the Princess of England?
I…
I want to tell you a story.
It's about a queen…
who also has short hair.
Just like you.
You're like a queen.
And you're both very beautiful.
This queen has the most incredible voice in the whole world.
in Portuguese] If you knew how I cry
And how I beg
Daddy loves you, sweetie. So much.
I love you so much.
Can you hear me? Honey?
Hey! Honey? Hey!
Antônia? No, no, no, no!
Celeste? Celeste!
-What is it? -Cardiac arrest.
Starting compressions!
Get the ambu bag, now!
We need some help over here!
Sweetheart? Hey…
I don't know what's happening! Please help her, somebody, please!
Go help Celeste!
No!
OUT WITH CESIUM, OUT WITH CNEN
Ms. Catarina…
Give her some time, would you?
-Ms. Catarina, we have to-- -Tsk!
Come on, honey. It-it's time…
Lower her.
Easy.
Sorry, but no!
CNEN, as well as the state governor, have assured the public
that the bodies of Antônia Quadrado and Celeste dos Passos Quadrado
do not present any risk of contamination to the city or its people.
Protesters have nevertheless gathered at the cemetery this morning…
DAY 30
…as the first victims of cesium-137 were laid to rest.
What are you doing? We don't want them here!
Those bodies have to go!
NO CESIUM!
What is going on? Hey, calm down, everyone!
The protesters are throwing rocks now!
No! That's my daughter!
Hey!
Don't fucking touch them!
No! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Josias Machado Gomes. Cause of death: lung collapse.
Time of death: 2:00 p.m., October 8th.
Valêncio Freitas Soares. Cause of death: acute pulmonary edema.
Time of death: 7:45 p.m., October 27th.
Breathe out.
How are you feeling today?
Well, don't think I've ever felt worse.
My life's lost all meaning, so there's that…
How's João, Doc?
Think I could…
talk to him for a bit?
Listen, I'll, uh…
I'll ask Dr. Eduardo.
Doctor.
The last time I tried to see Tininha, she was, uh…
You wouldn't let me see her, and now she's…
I'll see what I can do.
'Scuse me.
Deep breath in.
You feel any dizziness?
Mm.
Shortness of breath?
Chest pain?
João?
Who the hell cares?
Lie back.
Deep breaths. You're okay.
Carlos…
This new drug we started you on will strengthen your immune system.
But our attempts to save your arm have been… unsuccessful.
Necrosis is setting in.
Just say it plain, Doctor.
We need to amputate.
It could save your life.
So…
Carlos with hypothermia…
João with pulmonary edema.
Right after we started administering the CSF.
Coincidence?
This treatment is a risk.
We lost Josias and Valencio even after the injections.
Wait, wait, wait, wait!
After four days of injections.
And both of them died
because of the resistant Klebsiella they had already contracted
before we even started this experimental treatment.
Lucio, Nina and Evenildo have shown progress.
It's not progress.
Either way, we can't afford to be wrong, guys.
If we stop the CSF and Carlos gets worse, his arm infection could kill him.
But if we keep it going and the fever is from the treatment, he could die too.
GOIÂNIA GENERAL HOSPITAL
Hey, bud.
How you doing? Feeling like talking to your uncle?
Raimundo says João's not getting better.
"João"?
Since when do you call your dad by his first name? Hey?
Just leave me alone, okay?
He's never gonna respect you.
You suck up to every son-of-a-bitch doctor who comes by here.
He just needs to be mad at someone right now.
And you don't?
Claudinei's a smart kid.
He's choosing to be mad at João.
Because that way, if something happens to his dad, it'll hurt less.
Some people think if they build a wall around themselves,
then they'll never feel pain.
Márcio! Hey.
Hey!
Oh, my boy!
Oh…
Mmh…
Oh, wow…
You're okay!
-You're sure you're allowed to head home? -I'm sure.
-Got a clean bill of health this morning. -What?
Mind driving me to the State Department of Health?
What? Márcio!
Márcio!
You're sick and you still want to go to work?
Get in.
You're out of your mind.
-Look, we'll go back to the house and-- -Department of Health, Dad!
-No, absolutely not. Nope, nope. -Why is it so hard for you to understand?
It's not Goiás' fault that Brazil doesn't have a law
concerning nuclear waste disposal.
My state is not keeping these barrels.
People are scared.
We're in the middle of an emergency, and that means taking decisive action.
We could build a disposal facility in Abadia de Goiás. It'd be better to--
I don't remember asking for your advice on administration.
I made a promise to get these barrels far away from the state.
The people won't accept any less.
Unless your hands were tied.
Excuse me?
-What do you mean? -You told me yourself,
there's no law forcing you to keep it here.
But if there was, if you got the order to keep the waste in Goiás,
then you could claim you had no choice.
Right. What if the order came from the President himself?
And CNEN has contacts in Congress, right?
We do.
All right, well… How soon can you talk to them?
I can get the ball rolling right away.
Okay.
Once they approve the plan in Congress, we won't need to wait for the law to pass.
I'll start work on the site's construction immediately.
But before that, we should say it's provisional. Avoid the outrage.
I came to see you.
To talk.
I… thought I'd read you something I wrote.
You mind if I do?
All right.
“My love is gone. She lives in the silence.”
“They told me she's a memory now.”
“That the sky has a new star.”
“That she's a hero.”
“All I want is for her to be alive again.”
What I really wanted…
was for Celeste and Tininha to…
For me to go home and find them dancing in the backyard, but will I?
No.
I know what I really wanted to write, but I couldn't.
After everything we've suffered, eh?
Not a day goes by that I don't think…
What if I hadn't brought it home?
What if I had never seen that damn thing?
She was right, it was demonic.
If I hadn't done that, none of this would've happened.
Listen…
I… fucked up.
I did.
I fucked up so bad, João.
And I'll never forgive myself.
I…
Look, I know that…
I don't need you to accept my apology, but I just…
I want you to know that I…
I've gotta say it so at least it's out in the world.
I'm really sorry, João.
I'm so sorry, for everything.
And hey, listen.
You can't give up.
You have to fight.
You have to.
You have to get better, João.
Do it.
I mean it, you've gotta fight back!
If…
If I lose you too, I don't know how I'm gonna go on.
I don't think I could.
I'm sorry, brother.
I'm so, so, sorry.
César.
-How are things? -Fine, they're fine.
This is Dr. Alzira.
Oh!
-How are you? -I'm fine.
Beny…
I thought…
I invited Dr. Alzira because I thought she could help.
Help how?
You're being indicted by the Federal Prosecutor.
For manslaughter.
-Manslaughter? -Yes.
The good news is they want you to give a statement in court.
Which may sound bad, but it's actually quite rare.
And this way you can defend yourself.
And we'll both be there to help you the whole time.
-Excuse me, I just thought I'd check in… -Márcio? Weren't you just discharged?
Shouldn't you be resting up?
-I'm fine. But I can come back later-- -Come in.
It's fine, come on in.
Márcio, this is Dr. César, the president of CNEN.
Nice to meet you.
When we're back up and running again,
do you think you can take over arrangements for the disposal facility?
Yeah, sure.
I should tell you that the Secretary of Health was also charged,
which we'll use to our advantage.
There's a decree from 1978 that states that the agency responsible
for the inspection of ionizing radiation sources in Goiás
is the State Department of Health.
Right. That may be.
But the inspection of that clinic also fell to me, you know that.
I won't abdicate my responsibility.
I understand that, but you know it wouldn't reflect well on CNEN.
And…
if our credibility is undermined at this point,
that disposal facility is never going to get built in Goiás.
Now, wait a minute.
We can't be certain of what Congress or the President will have to say about this.
We do know, Beny.
We're certain.
Okay.
My fellow citizens of Goiás,
I'm here to tell you of the approval
of a bill that was just passed into law by the National Congress,
which stipulates that each state individually
will now be responsible for the disposal of their own radioactive waste.
And while this is a presidential ruling,
I want to reiterate my strong commitment to the safety of all the citizens of Goiás
and to getting radioactive waste out of the Goiânia center.
We have conducted extensive research,
and the state of Goiás, in collaboration with CNEN,
have found the perfect site to store that waste.
Temporarily. I must make that very clear.
It's a piece of land in Abadia de Goiás.
CAUTION RADIOACTIVE AREA
We will be a shining example
of how to handle a radiological emergency like this one,
not only for Brazil, but for the world.
Thank you very much.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
DAY 45
-You seeing this? -Hm?
No poison in our homes! No poison in our homes!
C'mon, do we have to?
No poison in our homes! No poison in our homes!
My friend, we're just trying to get by with the truck.
You and your truck can go right back home.
You're not getting through.
Listen, we don't pose any danger to you.
I don't care.
We're not gonna let you come in and bury a bomb on our land.
That's not what we're doing. It's perfectly safe for you.
Oh yeah? Then go bury it at home!
You in charge?
-We don't want it! -What's your name?
-Get outta here! -Dorimar.
Dorimar. Okay, I'm Emerson, Secretary of Health.
Now, would you get the hell out of here and let us pass?
What do you say? Are we letting them through?
No!
Get out!
No cesium! No cesium!
Mr. Dorimar, please. I assure you it's safe, okay?
You have my word and the word of the Governor himself
that it poses no danger.
No cesium! No cesium!
Then your Mr. “Governor Himself”
can say that to my face.
Dorimar…
No cesium! No cesium!
Get out of here!
Take that stuff with you!
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
The incident s officially a fiasco.
The cesium source that launched the crisis in Goiás
has been transported back to the Health Department.
The original plan to bring it to a temporary disposal facility
was thwarted when protesters gathered, blocking the road and forcing them…
Great! Amazing. Who knows when we'll get back to work?
Thanks, Eneida.
I just don't get it. Look how stressed you are!
You'd rather risk your wellbeing and be away from your wife
when you could leave all this and start teaching?
Can't I just do it all, Dad?
-No, life doesn't work that way, come on! -Oh my God, I'm an adult, all right?
I'm pretty sure I know how life works.
Sorry, you're right.
I know I'm hard on you, but it's for your own good!
I worry, that's all.
Yeah, I know.
It's just that I'm feeling…
Teaching…
could be good.
It could be a good life, but I don't know if it's mine.
-Mm. -Okay?
Maybe I never really wanted it.
But this work, here and now, it's so… so what I've always wanted.
It makes my heart race, Dad.
Being in the field, being out there, it feels right, it feels…
like I found my place, my purpose. You get it?
I still worry about you.
Does it have to be like this?
Must it be dangerous?
Hopefully not.
Not all the time.
Ideally, not as frustrating either, but…
I guess we'll have to see if I can even get a job.
Márcio, you make me so proud of the man you've become.
Thank goodness you got your brains from your mother.
Huh? You're brave like her, huh?
And stubborn too, of course.
She wouldn't let those protests stop her, and neither will you. Eh?
NO RADIOACTIVE WASTE HERE
You've got to understand,
Goiás is already being closed off from the rest of the country.
You blocking this road is killing our economy.
If the economy suffers, everyone suffers.
So it sounds to me like you need to find a better place for your trash.
Then we're stuck.
Yeah. I guess we are.
If we can't come to some sort of agreement…
then we'll be out here for years.
We both know what I can do for you.
What're you gonna do for us?
If you can clear the road for us…
I promise we'll start putting feelers out for a… for a different disposal site.
How's that?
Yeah… easy for you to say.
Your promise has no deadline.
A week, then?
Two days.
You get your road,
but none of your shit moves in.
No poison in our homes! No poison in our homes!
Sounds good.
How hard can it be to find a new site to dispose of all this waste?
In 48 hours? Impossible.
It wouldn't matter if we had 48 days.
I surveyed the entire state of Goiás already.
And Abadia was the only area that checked all the boxes for the site.
It has to be there.
We could… do it anyway.
What are you talking about?
Well, the road's been cleared to let the trucks through, hasn't it?
So we get the trucks loaded up and just drive.
We go at night, when no one's expecting us to make a move.
You'd have me break my promise to my people?
You could blame CNEN for it.
Tell them it was our decision and you had no other choice.
Go ahead.
Hello? Dad?
Can you hear me?
Hello? This is Claudinei, right?
I'm sorry, your father can't take his mask off right now, so he can't talk.
He's having trouble breathing.
But he can hear us if we talk?
He can, yeah. I'll make sure he's listening.
Mm.
Dad?
Are you okay?
Mm.
Sorry, Dad. I forgot you can't talk right now.
It's just that I…
It's not your fault.
You didn't know that stuff was dangerous.
And the people who did know didn't tell us.
They don't care about us.
They just don't.
The only people who care what happens to us are the doctors
and our family.
I wish you were here, Dad.
Mom too, both of you.
I miss Celeste so much, Dad.
Dad…
Mom and I need you, please don't go.
I don't wanna be alone.
Feel better, Dad.
I love you.
Ah!
My arm!
Calm down, Carlos, easy.
I'm going to give you an analgesic to relieve your pain for now, okay?
Just hold on a little longer.
-The supplies are running low. -Guys!
I found two surgeons and an anesthesiologist for tomorrow.
You want to operate tomorrow?
Yes!
The CSF is working. His granulocytes have increased.
Yes, they've increased, but it's too low.
Are you planning to come up with any solutions
or just list the problems we already know of?
I'll find us some nurses. And another surgeon.
Fuckin' hell…
I need to know that you both are totally certain of this.
JONAS ALMEIDA ADMIRAL
Are the surgeons safe from contamination?
We can't be absolutely sure, sir.
What if they sue the hospital? What do you propose we do then?
What do we do when someone else dies?
You're speaking about this like it's a sure thing.
That you're positive the surgery will fix it.
But you're not, are you?
If it were a simple procedure,
you wouldn't need three teams operating on him.
Okay, look…
Carlos is at risk whether he gets the surgery or not.
But I can guarantee that without it, he will die.
We've already got two surgeons.
We just need one more.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Márcio, do you copy?
I'm here, Paula.
We just finished loading Truck 2.
Okay, copy that.
Good morning, everyone.
I would just like to say, before we get underway,
that I'm entirely at your disposal.
If you have any questions in regards to my job description at CNEN…
If you have any questions in regards to my job description at CNEN,
I would be pleased to answer them.
Arriving at the rendezvous point in five minutes.
Copy that, Paula.
On the topic of my role,
I will address my involvement with the cesium-137 radiological emergency.
There have been false reports circulating…
C'mon, c'mon!
Despite what has been repeatedly reported in the press,
the agency responsible for inspecting
ionizing radiation sources in the state of Goiás
is not the National Nuclear Energy Commission.
It is, in fact, the State Department of Health.
This was enacted by decree 81.384.
This was enacted by the decree 81.384, established in 1978.
I would like to emphasize as well,
even if CNEN had been responsible for the inspection,
we were not aware one was required.
We were not made aware by the Goiás Institute of Radiotherapy…
The Goiás Institute of Radiotherapy did not inform us
that the radiotherapy machine,
the one containing cesium-137, had been left behind at all.
The idea that we were aware is simply not true.
PRESS
Just one of the many inaccurate statements
that the Institute has been circulating in the press.
Their lies only serve to demonstrate that…
Their lies!
Their lies are proof of their motives.
These people are more concerned about their own reputations
than about doing their jobs.
Or taking responsibility.
NO TO CESIUM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Shit.
NO ATOMIC WASTE IN GOIÁS
I thought you said there'd be three surgeons.
I know, but I couldn't get the third one in time.
What's our maximum exposure limit?
I'm monitoring that, you don't have to worry about it.
I'll let you know when it's time to swap out.
And what if we hit the limit on both teams?
We're going to do our best to make sure that doesn't happen, Doctor.
Our prayers are with you, Carlinhos!
Hang in there. You got this.
Good morning, Carlos.
Am I gonna be okay?
Don't be scared.
You're going to be fine.
I have faith in you, Doctor.
Team One only, please.
Come on.
Good luck, Carlos.
No, our minds are made up.
We're not letting them store anything here.
We made a deal to stop blocking the road,
but we didn't agree to let them use the facility for radioactive waste!
You're saying the deal was broken. Who did you make it with?
Directly with the Governor.
We were here and saw them shake hands! No poison in our homes!
No poison in our homes!
I have to.
Now just hang on, okay?
You're telling me you all want this radioactive waste
to go back downtown, is that it?
Then why don't you all line up and grab a barrel
and carry it out of here yourselves? How 'bout that?
Everyone! Excuse me, calm down, please!
All right, fine, yes. We broke the agreement.
But why do you think we broke it?
Why are you all here right now?
Your homes, your families, your land…
In other words, because you're afraid!
-Are you afraid you'll get contaminated? -Yeah!
Are you? And you?
-Yeah! -You, sir?
-Yeah! -Of course you are.
And I am too.
But what scares me more is what might happen next
if we keep passing this waste back and forth around the state.
But somebody needs to take the first step.
If we can't trust each other now, how will this end?
This site, right here, is our best hope for safe disposal.
I'm not lying to you guys. I'm telling you what I know.
This is science.
It's data.
Got it.
-Checking hemostasis. -Sounds good, Doctor.
Applying pressure.
-BP's falling. -And he's still bleeding.
-We need a transfusion! -Blood bags, now!
The next team's coming in three minutes.
And this was your last shift. You've reached the maximum exposure limit.
Fight, Carlos, come on!
Arms up.
We're not even close to done in there.
We'll have to go back.
And no one's gonna stop you.
But you need to understand, it's no longer safe.
I'll take the risk if I have to.
Be right back.
The tissue's been damaged by the radiation.
I can't trigger the hemostasis, Doctor.
-Our time's up? -Two more minutes.
-What do we do? -Theoretically, no one can come back in.
Look… it's stopping.
Locating the vessel.
Get me FFP and cryo.
-Eduardo… -I'm staying.
I can't… I-I just can't do it.
Norepinephrine, now! His heart's giving out. Come on, come on!
-I can't stay, Doctor. -Focus, I need you.
Comrade.
If you'll allow it, we can take over.
Loureiro explained everything. You can go.
Team Two, you're out.
Any updates?
-Not yet. -No.
Friends…
You were right.
It worked, we did it.
We did it!
Good work! Uh, Dr. Esther? I'm ready.
Good work, everyone.
Dr. Esther… Thank you.
Thank you.
So you're saying it was the Goiás Institute of Radiotherapy's duty
to notify you about the cesium-137 machine, is that correct?
Yes.
As previously stated, the board is required to inform us
of any and all changes related to the equipment.
The clinic in Goiânia
did correctly notify us of the cobalt machine,
but they failed to inform us about the other.
The CNEN files also support what I'm saying.
Do you have anything else you would like to add?
I do, Your Honor.
We've discussed legal responsibility so far,
but now I'd like to address accountability as a whole.
Dr. Orenstein…
As CNEN director,
I diligently followed all protocols.
I worked hard, I was careful, and I was thorough.
But that just wasn't enough in the end.
If I had done something to keep that cesium machine enclosed,
instead of left out in the open, then…
four people would still be alive and with us.
I was there when two of them were laid to rest.
I saw them bury a four year-old girl…
and a woman…
who did right by her neighbors and by her entire community.
We're all in her debt.
Even while sick,
this woman brought the capsule
containing a powder she believed to be toxic
to the right place and asked for help.
Antônia Quadrado is an inspiration.
She stepped up when no one else did.
Her actions prevented further contamination.
She saved many lives and…
lost her own in return.
I cannot insult the memory of that brave woman
by pretending that I didn't bear some fault.
Your Honor, the only reason the cesium spread so far
is because every single person responsible for managing those machines failed.
We failed to do what we should have done.
Some of us put our heads in the sand.
Others, like me, made an error.
But as for responsibility…
the blame falls on all our shoulders.
What happens to me now?
Now, you get to rest.
-No more chills or shivering? -They're gone.
Something came for you.
What is it?
It's from your mother.
You want me to read it?
"My sweet Carlos."
"It was a great comfort to know they're taking good care of you."
"Your letter gave me strength."
"We're all praying for your safety and your health, day and night."
"Don't focus on the negative."
"Focus on coming home."
"I miss you so much, but I have faith you'll come home."
"Listen to the doctors,
and never forget that your mother loves you very, very much."
"Hugs, and kisses, Mom."
Thank you, Doctor.
I, um…
Here. I got it.
You're good. Just got a little emotional for the machine.
There we go.
João,
we got your test results back.
Sorry, Doctor.
-I'll come back later. -It's okay. May I?
Sure.
Thanks.
So, let's have a look at these results, shall we?
Lymphocytes, 29.1 percent. Right.
29.05 percent, 40, 10, 80…
And these are all the same…
So is that good?
Huh?
Thumbs up, João!
C'mon!
Bye!
See you.
Sorry, ma'am, authorized personnel only.
That's my house they're knocking down.
-You can't stay here. -I just wanna watch.
I can't let you past this line.
-Hey! Hold it! -It's my home.
Hang on!
Levi…
let her through.
I heard it was happening today.
So I'm here.
This way.
Have they started?
That's the safety line.
The government will help, Catarina.
Just a minute.
Look, we…
I…
I got this decontaminated.
I know it's not much, but…
She's so beautiful…
You're the person who separated me from my daughter, right?
I'll remember your face forever.
I'm really sorry.
Am I dangerous, Doctor?
No, of course you're not.
Because every time you came to see us, you brought cops.
They were everywhere when your friends forced us out of our homes.
It's almost funny.
You guys were so scared, so focused on protecting yourselves from us,
but I was the one who buried my child.
I'm sorry.
I really am.
And now I've made you sad.
Thank you for the photo.
Mm.
Tell them to go ahead.
So now you're telling me you're not going to retire?
You sound a little disappointed, César.
Beny, the prosecutor's office dropped the charges against you.
And that's a good thing, to be sure.
But CNEN is under the microscope now, thanks to you.
What did you expect?
A medal or something?
-How are you, César? -Good, thanks. You?
-César. -Afternoon, Roberto.
-Mr. Secretary. -Ah, thank you.
All's well?
The Ministers of Health and Labor,
alongside the president of the National Nuclear Energy Commission,
are just about to sign an agreement
which would mandate the inspection of radiotherapy machines
as well as all radiological equipment throughout Brazil.
This initiative is being signed to prevent radiological emergencies
much like the recent accident in Goiânia
where a stolen capsule of cesium-137 exposed hundreds of people to radiation.
Orenstein.
I was hoping I'd see you.
I'm leaving to go back to Rio.
Bianca's there.
And she's pregnant.
Hm.
Time for me to go home now.
Is that because you feel like you have to?
For Bianca, I want to.
Finding work, on the other hand…
Well, that's trickier.
I learned so much working with you.
I have to thank you.
I'll miss you a lot.
No, you won't.
Yeah, I will.
You're not going to miss me
because we'll be working together.
I've recommended you for a position at CNEN in Rio.
If you want it.
Are you being serious?
Thank you!
Thank you so much.
Márcio, listen to me.
I should be the one thanking you for stepping in
and showing such courage and passion.
You tackled responsibilities that were not yours to take on.
And so…
I look very much forward to working with you in Rio, my friend.
Thank you, Beny.
João.
Thank you for everything.
I will always have the fondest memories of Celeste.
You're a great father.
Now I have to take care of my son.
He needs me too.
Of course.
Be safe out there.
And take care of yourselves.
With all due respect, Doc…
we've always taken care of ourselves.
It's the guys in power you gotta watch.
Who are they looking out for?
Let's go.
All right, man.
Márcio?
Márcio.
I know it's not much…
Am I allowed?
I missed you so freaking much, baby.
I missed you too.
Sweetheart…
I'm glad you're home.
Me too.
Did you miss Daddy?
Baby and I both missed Daddy a lot.
What's wrong?
Goiânia?
I wish I could say it was gonna be all right.
So do I, baby.
So do I.
GOIÂNIA GENERAL HOSPITAL
15 DECEMBER 1987
-João… I missed you so much man… -Hey.
I thought I lost you too, I thought I lost all of you, I was so…
I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…
I'm so sorry.
Oh, Darlei…
At least we're together.
I can't believe it, you're okay. I miss her so much.
C'mere, man…
-Hey. -I missed you.
Come here.
I thought I'd never see you again.
I missed you all too, you don't even know.
Oh, my Claudinei!
Dad, you're here! I missed you!
And I missed you even more!
I love you!
I love you.
So are you letting us go?
Not quite yet.
But you'll be out soon.
Everyone should know that even after you go home,
you'll have to come back every month for checkups for a year,
and then once a year so we can monitor you properly.
But we'll always be here.
Whenever you need us.
We have no homes to go back to, Doctor…
Not yet.
But we will, real soon.
Come on, Darlei, I know that's what the government promised us,
but how can we trust them anymore? I won't.
-It's all over for me… -I don't trust the government either.
I mean, how can we?
But I do know one thing.
We don't have our homes, we've got nothing left…
but we still have each other.
As long as we stick together, we'll be good.
And we'll keep fighting too.
We'll fight to take back our lives.
They think we'll just go away?
But we won't disappear and we won't stop the fight.
We won't stop the fight.
We keep fighting together.
I'm so sorry for everything.
-I still don't believe it. -I'm so sorry.
-Catarina, I'm sorry… -It's okay, sweetheart.
I'm so sorry, you can't even imagine.
AUTO REPAIR LP
57 STREET
THE RADIOLOGICAL ACCIDENT IN GOIÂNIA IS CONSIDERED
THE MOST SERIOUS OUTSIDE A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN THE WORLD.
FIVE PROFESSIONALS FROM THE GOIÁS RADIOTHERAPY INSTITUTE
WERE CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER.
CNEN WAS ORDERED TO PAY 1 MILLION REAIS TO GUARANTEE MEDICAL CARE FOR THE VICTIMS.
OVER 1000 PEOPLE WORKED IN DECONTAMINATION EFFORTS
AND IN VICTIM SUPPORT.
THE PROTOCOLS CREATED BY BRAZILIAN PHYSICISTS, CHEMISTS AND DOCTORS
BECAME A WORLD REFERENCE AND WERE ADOPTED
BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION.
OVER 6,000 TONS OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE WERE GENERATED.
ALMOST 40 YEARS LATER, THERE HAVE BEEN NO INCIDENTS AT THE SITE.
THE BUILDING WHERE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT USED TO BE NOW HOUSES
THE LEIDE DAS NEVES STATE CENTER FOR RADIOACTIVE ACCIDENT ASSISTANCE,
WHICH CONTINUES TO MONITOR AND CARE FOR SURVIVING VICTIMS.
IN ADDITION TO THE FIRST FOUR DEATHS DUE TO CESIUM-137 CONTAMINATION,
THE ASSOCIATION OF VICTIMS OF CESIUM-137 CLAIMS THAT 16 OTHERS DIED
OF DISEASES RELATED TO THE RADIOLOGICAL LEAKAGE.
IN MEMORY OF THE PHYSICISTS, CHEMISTS AND DOCTORS WHO WORKED ON THE ACCIDENT.
BUT, ABOVE ALL, IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS
WHO CARRY THE MARKS OF CESIUM FOREVER. S AND SURVIVORS