Senior Citizens Lining Up to Tackle Fukushima

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."

Comments

Inspiring and selfless

[asdbffg]

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

Re:Inspiring and selfless

[Anonymous Coward]

You need look no further than 9/11 first responders. Of course, the politicians then tried to stiff them after using 9/11 imagery for commercials.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2010/12/jon_stewarts_campaign_for_the.html

Re:Inspiring and selfless

[Lumpy]

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?

Re:Inspiring and selfless

[modecx]

It's the same thing with the soldiers they eagerly send to war, isn't it? It's standard operating procedure for disposable workers, and a recurring theme ever since the Continental Army was demobilized in 1783.

It's all pats on the back, and out of one side of their mouths it's all "Thanks for putting your life on the line", and "you're defending freedom", etc. while simultaneously they're winding to give a giant boot up your collective asses.

I'm impressed

[sircastor]

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.

Re:72 year old?

[Aladrin]

Seniors are still in the work force because they need the money.

I was very surprised to learn (from my Japanese language partner in Japan) that 'retirement' means quitting your really nice desk job and getting a crappy manual labor job like bagging groceries. I found this out by offering congratulations when she said her husband was 'retiring'. It was the same conversation that I learned that retirement is not optional when you hit a certain age. (His company it was 60 yrs old. Hers is 65.)