Japan nuclear crisis: Pensioners seek work at Fukushima

[kpete]

Source: BBC

Japan nuclear crisis: Pensioners seek work at Fukushima

31 May 2011 Last updated at 01:52 ET Help

A group of more than 200 Japanese pensioners is volunteering to tackle the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima power station.

The "Skilled Veterans Corps", as they call themselves, is made up of retired engineers and other professionals, all over the age of sixty.

One of the group, Yasuteru Yamada, told the BBC's Roland Buerk that they should be facing the dangers of radiation, not the young.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13597670

[Poll_Blind]

1. And there's more to come like this.

Feed the maw.

PB

[BadtotheboneBob]

2. True courage

...and self-sacrifice for others. The definition of heroes in my book. I salute them.

[robinlynne]

7. +1.

[madokie]

3. Like my doctor told me

concerning a spot on one of my lungs that he is comfortable with using as many CT scans and Xrays to keep track of it because at my 63 years of age that the likelihood of my contacting cancer from all the scans is not too great unless I live another 20 or 30 years as it takes that long for exposure to radiation to manifest in cancer, most times. So when he weighs the pro's and con's he feels better in watching this place in my lung so if it does turn into cancer he can catch it early.

Rec this post.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. But the radiation levels are so high, how effective can they be for any length of time?

[TheWraith]

6. Because the radiation levels AREN'T very high.

Despite the fearmongering and conspiracy theory nonsense that is swarming around the internet.

Roughly speaking, a healthy person exposed to the maximum allowable radiation dose for the Fukushima workers would have an additional 1-2% lifetime risk of cancer. Employing older workers mitigates that further, since there's less time for possible cell damage to manifest.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. Like Sydney Carton in "A Tale of Two Cities" said:

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."

[aquart]

8. OMG. This is courage.

[Ruby the Liberal]

9. Japan pensioners volunteer to tackle nuclear crisis

Source: BBC

A group of more than 200 Japanese pensioners are volunteering to tackle the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima power station.

The Skilled Veterans Corps, as they call themselves, is made up of retired engineers and other professionals, all over the age of 60. They say they should be facing the dangers of radiation, not the young.

(snip)

Volunteering to take the place of younger workers at the power station is not brave, Mr Yamada says, but logical. "I am 72 and on average I probably have 13 to 15 years left to live," he says. "Even if I were exposed to radiation, cancer could take 20 or 30 years or longer to develop. Therefore us older ones have less chance of getting cancer."

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13598607

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Honorable, but sad nonetheless.

[slackmaster]

10. The logic is cold and relentless. They are absolutely correct.

In addition to not having enough time left to develop cancers, they aren't going to be reproducing.

It goes against basic instincts, kind of like the reason you are supposed to put the oxygen mask on yourself before your children if you are on an airplane that becomes depressurized.

[Ruby the Liberal]

11. "cold and relentless"

and sadly, compelling. This is about the most selfless thing I have seen in a long time.

[cliffordu]

12. They have my undying respect.

How many of us would volunteer for the same?

[sulphurdunn]

15. Many

[AsahinaKimi]

13. Truly ... the Samurai spirit...

in modern times.

[SkyDaddy7]

17. Yes, the Japanese have the brave "Modern Day Samurai" but...

here in America we have Tea Baggers...Mostly Baby Boomers who have Social Security, Medicare & even Pensions yet they are voting to end it all for the younger generations! I seriously doubt you would see such bravery & selflessness here in America...Well, hopefully we could muster up 200 people brave & altruistic enough to do what the Modern Day Samurai 200 in Japan are willing to do...But if the Baby-Boomers I know are what we have to judge by then HELL NO! And the truly disgusting part is some of them actually worked for state governments & retired with pensions worth more than 90% of their pay! Yet they vote Republican & back Paul Ryan's Medicare killing budget!

Maybe you should not take me too seriously I am speaking with emotion & utter disappointment in the older generation I know...Which is relatives of mine & their friends. I am sure if it came down to it there would be plenty who would step up for such a mission. I hope. I am not real happy with the attitude in America right now that is adverse to the idea of working together for a common cause...You know, what built America what "helped" make it the strongest nation on Earth. I think those days are gone & it makes me sad...And mad at the same time.

[SkyDaddy7]

18. Yes, the Japanese have the brave "Modern Day Samurai" but...

here in America we have Tea Baggers...Mostly Baby Boomers who have Social Security, Medicare & even Pensions yet they are voting to end it all for the younger generations! I seriously doubt you would see such bravery & selflessness here in America...Well, hopefully we could muster up 200 people brave & altruistic enough to do what the Modern Day Samurai 200 in Japan are willing to do...But if the Baby-Boomers I know are what we have to judge by then HELL NO! And the truly disgusting part is some of them actually worked for state governments & retired with pensions worth more than 90% of their pay! Yet they vote Republican & back Paul Ryan's Medicare killing budget & think the SS retirement age should be raised as well!

Maybe you should not take me too seriously I am speaking with emotion & utter disappointment in the older generation I know...Which is relatives of mine & their friends. I am sure if it came down to it there would be plenty who would step up for such a mission. I hope. I am not real happy with the attitude in America right now that is adverse to the idea of working together for a common cause...You know, what built America what "helped" make it the strongest nation on Earth. I think those days are gone & it makes me sad...And mad at the same time.

[Heywood J]

14. K&R. I have but one word: respect. (NT)

[TwistedH8]

16. "Respect"

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Blacksheep214]

19. This is what I have been saying since this started

You find the terminally ill and work from there. Volunteers only of course.

Ask Mr. Spock. He would find this logical.

[Kaleko]

20. Incredibly moving.

Bravo to these Japanese volunteers.

[defendandprotect]

21. kr

[applegrove]

22. Aww. What amazing people.

[otohara]

23. I am in Japan, It does not

Feel like a country in crisis. The Japanese people amaze and confuse me at the same time.

[slackmaster]

24. I felt like I was on another planet when I spent a week there

Kind of like Vulcan but with a blue sky.