Creative Writing – 145
Writing Like a Columnist
Learn to write like a Coloumnist
The portions marked in blue are from the TIME magazine of April 21. The parts in black are the paraphrased versions of the original. These are written by us. Compare them to learn the art of effective writing.
TIME – As Putin Threatens Nuclear Disaster, Europe Learns to Embrace Nuclear Energy Again
Our version – As Putin brandishes his nuclear arms, a rattled Europe is nudged to shed its aversion to revisit its Nuclear Energy policy.
TIME – In early March, the world looked on in horror as a fire broke out at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in southeast Ukraine. The blaze at the Zaporizhzhia facility following shelling by invading Russian forces was eventually brought under control, and no leaked radiation was reported, though the potential for catastrophe prompted Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accuse his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of “nuclear terrorism.”
Our version – The world was in a tenterhooks in early March this year after a part of Ukraine’s giant nuclear power complex at Zaporizhzhia caught fire thanks to the shelling by Russia’s invading forces. Luckily, the fire was quickly controlled, and a catastrophe of unforeseen consequences averted. Ukraine’s President Mr. Zelensky was quick to castigate Putin for the recklessness of the Russian forces in targeting the world’s largest nuclear power plant.
TIME – “There are six nuclear reactors there,” Zelensky said of Zaporizhzhia. “In Chernobyl, it was one reactor that exploded, only one.”
Our version – To press his point further, Zelensky reminded the world that the Chernobyl disaster that still rings in everyone’s mind even today involved just one reactor, where as there are six in Zaporizhzhia.
TIME – By referencing Chernobyl—the nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine that became the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster in 1986—Zelensky was making the stakes very plain. But strange as it may sound, those scenes at Zaporizhzhia may inadvertently contribute to a new dawn for nuclear power.
Our version – Zelensky aptly referred to the 1986 Chernobyl disaster to bolster his accusation that the Russians were very callous in shelling the Zaporizhzhia complex. But, the effect on the international community was quite different. It brought the focus back on to nuclear power.
TIME – The instability resulting from the Russian invasion — as well as mounting evidence of war crimes — has made finding alternatives to Russian oil and liquid natural gas (LNG) a policy priority for European nations who want to stop funding Putin’s war machine. With few options that offer true energy sovereignty, there is now renewed enthusiasm for nuclear energy among politicians in Europe. On April 8, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the U.K. would build up to eight new nuclear plants by 2030 to ensure “we are never again subject to the vagaries of global oil and gas prices” and “can’t be blackmailed by people like Vladimir Putin.”
Our version – The chaos caused by the Russian invasion and the chilling footages of corpses of civilians strewn on roads have really shaken the European conscience. War crimes of such proportions and happening so regularly have painted Russia as an evil and unpredictable power. Europeans with conscience feel uneasy to deal with such a nation on a long term basis for sourcing gas and crude oil. Buying Russian energy amounts to funding its war efforts. So, a continued relationship with Russia looks so abhorrent. Europeans are now looking to buy LNG from elsewhere, so that dependence on Russia ends. But, LNG availability is limited globally. The natural alternative is, therefore nuclear power. The British prime minister has already announced that Britain will build eight new nuclear power plants. By completing these projects by 2030, Britain can bid good bye to Russian gas and oil.
[We thankfully acknowledge the benefit we got from TIME magazine. Please comment if this post helped you.]