Workers at the disaster-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan say they expect to die from radiation sickness as a result of their efforts to bring the reactors under control, the mother of one of the men tells Fox News. Fox reports that the workers have been repeatedly explosed to dangerous levels of radioactivity while attempting to bring cooling control back to those reactors
A phone call from the mother of a 32 year old worker, one of the 50, reveals the truth of Fukushima: “My son and his colleagues have discussed it at length and they have committed themselves to die if necessary to save the nation.”
What do you say to something like this?
Amazing example of John 15:13 “ter love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
Good for them, and they are and will continue to be in my prayers!
It just goes to show that courage, bravery and a strong sense of duty is not just in the American psyche.
Honorable mention also goes to the Russian workers at Chernobyl who had the same fate.
Igor
What do you say to something like this?
Thank you.
James Clavell’s novel “Shogun” gave an excellent portrayal of the Japanese approach in matters such as this. It is not how you live but how you die. Certainly many people of all cultures have died during acts of bravery. While the GI that covers the grenade with his body to save his comrades comes to mind, it seems to me to be an even greater act of bravery when the selfless act allows the hero so much time to contemplate the decision.
Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. From all that I have gathered from reliable sources (precious few in number), most of the area is above normal, but not “hot”. There is one exception: the cable trench around unit 2, which has water in it radiating at 1000 millisieverts per hour, which is hot indeed. If the radiation is in the form of alpha or beta particles, radiation suits may well provide adequate protection, providing there is no necessity to remove them. If a substantial part of the radiation is gamma, however, they can’t wear enough to protect themselves.
God bless ‘em. Bless ‘em all.
1 REM an hour? HotHotHothothothot….
I saw on Fox that an American company was sending (for free!) a new type of radiation suit that you wear like normal clothes, the shielding is built into the cloth. Have these been distributed to the Fukushima 50 yet? I bet sheer incompetence on TOPCO executives’ part means they STILL don’t have it. Watch for some Gubmint worker in Customs in Japan hold them up due to paperwork or some such BS as well…
Igor
Never underestimate the power of Stupidity in a Gubmint worker, no matter who’s the Gubmint…
These souls are the true definition of “Heros.”
God Bless them all.
The people of Japan should acknowledge the merit of individuals who have voluntarily accepted the responsibility of their chosen role. Let them recognize the character of men who have risen to a challenge which may ultimately lead to their end. Their sacrifice should be cherished and remembered as promoting the welfare of Japan and her citizens.
This is a case where men and women voluntarily expose themselves to immediate harm. Just as society cares, for example, its combat soldiers and their families, society should offer similar support to these workers who are acting under extraordinary conditions.
Good luck to the Japanese in their ongoing efforts to help themselves.
The word “hero”, is thrown around cheaply all the time. Not this time.
God be with them all, their families, and the entire nation of Japan.
God bless those heroic workers and prayers to their families.
Yes, every time I hear some sport donk called a hero I want to smack
the idiot that says that.
I saw a story on CNN last week talking about a “hero who died for the rebels in Libya to capture a military base”. He was a suicide bomber, not a hero. These 50 are the real heroes.