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Senior Citizens Lining Up to Tackle Fukushima

Posted by samzenpus on from the greatest-and-most-radioactive-generation dept.

Some have compared them to kamikazes, but the more than 200 elderly volunteers who want clean up the Fukushima power station say they are just being practical. 72-year-old retired engineer Yasuteru Yamada says: "I am 72 and on average I probably have 13 to 15 years left to live. 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." So far the government is hesitant to let the volunteers into the power station but Yamada and the others have been lobbying for the right to aid in the clean up. He says: "At this moment I can say that I am talking with many key government and Tepco people. But I am sorry I can't say any more at this moment. It is on the way but it is a very, very sensitive issue politically."

12 of 242 comments (clear)

  1. Inspiring and selfless by asdbffg · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I wonder if there is a population here in the States that would be willing to take a compelling risk like this.

    1. Re:Inspiring and selfless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Illegal aliens...

    2. Re:Inspiring and selfless by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Tried to stiff them? the republicans blocked giving them aid at EVERY TURN! democrats asked for stupid as hell restrictions... and in the end... they flipped a giant fuck you to every 9/11 responder....

      to get your aid, you haveto have a background check to see if you are a terrorist... WTF is that?

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    3. Re:Inspiring and selfless by TrentTheThief · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Sure, I'd go. There are many who would. Probably all of them older veterans, like me. I'd rather live peacefully, but to help my country recover from something so serious as a major nuclear accident? I'm up for it. I have children and grandchildren. I'd do anything to make certain that they can live normal lives.

    4. Re:Inspiring and selfless by Wandering+Idiot · · Score: 3, Insightful

      That's kind of a stupid comment; you act as if there are no risk scales involved. I'd much rather have a chest x-ray without protection than be locked in a room full of coal dust for a week.

      We're presumably talking about long-term cancer risk here, not acute radiation poisoning.

    5. Re:Inspiring and selfless by assertation · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There is always a new generation of suckers for the Yankie Doodle talk about serving your country. If you try to tell these people that as vets the government will throw them away like an empty plastic water bottle instead of hearing your warning they will call you a "libUral".

    6. Re:Inspiring and selfless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      I dunno.. It's been my experience that most illegal alien only have work ethic and culture when you threaten to send them home.

      Perhaps you have been buffaloed by more then the fallacy of them being the only ones who will do the work when the fact of the matter is they are the only ones who will do the work for the pay and conditions

      But hey, nothing like glorifying a sector of people who are exploited in a massive attempt to keep costs down and profits up. who have little to no form of recourse that doesn't involve making their lives worse. I mean where would slashdot be without the fine people like you who champion this situation while putting countrymen down for some idiotic attempt at acceptance within your liberal friends.

  2. I'm impressed by sircastor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is a tremendous show of character and pragmatism. I don't think that I'd have the courage to offer myself. I'm very impressed.

  3. Go Japan! by Ironhandx · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Most people will probably just see a huge Corporation taking advantage if these people are allowed to do what they plan on doing, but I have to say that I'm impressed.

    Practically sacrificing for the greater good is an admirable attribute. I have to thank these Japanese Seniors for restoring my faith in humanity.

  4. "Some have compared them to kamikazes" by Rogerborg · · Score: 1, Insightful

    [citation needed][weasel words]

    If you're going to add some bullshit controversy to get your story posted on Slashdot, at least compare them to Apple zealots.

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    If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
    1. Re:"Some have compared them to kamikazes" by mdsolar · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The way one of them views this is: "Our generation which has, consciously or unconsciously, approved the construction of the Fukushima nuclear power plants and enjoyed the benefits of the vast supply of electricity ... should be the first to join the Skilled Veteran Corps," said Yasuteru Yamada, the 72-year-old retired engineer who created the group. http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/japanese-senior-citizens-volunteer-to-work-in-fukushima-plant-ncxdc-052511

      You might call him a nuclear zealot, but it is true that the younger people won't get any benefit from the Fukushima plant, only poison and sickness and perhaps death.

  5. +5 Inspiring by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Good on you, mate. I'm too young yet and haven't had my kids yet either, but some day I hope to follow your example for positive attitude.