The personnel working directly on the Fukushima plants deserve as much respect as mankind can muster

[Stinky The Clown]

At Chernobyl, 50 people died soon after the disaster. But over 4,000 deaths can be tied directly to the accident (as opposed to the result of the disaster, such as fallout). These people had to know what they were facing, but face it they did.

At Fukushima, having Chernobyl as a well known model, I can only imagine how brave the on site workers are.

Criticize anything you wish regarding nuclear power, Japan's decisions about its use, and all the other aspects of it that got us here. But these brave people deserve the greatest respect of which we're capable.

[Old and In the Way]

1. They are hero's.

I can only imagine what kind of pressure they working under....

[Skip_In_Boulder]

2. Really!!! Talk about having the worst job in the world right now. n/t

[angstlessk]

3. HEAR! HEAR!...THEY ARE HEROS!...

MAY GOD BLESS THEM...IF NOT GOD..MAY HUMANITY BLESS THEM!

[Bonobo]

4. You are absolutely right. nt

[roamer65]

5. This whole thing has just about made me cry multiple times today.

The guy that they picked out of the ocean amost the debris said he could see many, many people underwater being pulled out to sea when the tsunami receded. Ugh...I teared up.

[yardwork]

6. I've been thinking about them for days. They are sacrificing their lives for the rest of us.

Nobody should ever be asked to make such a sacrifice in the name of profit.

[Arctic Dave]

7. You got that right Stinky.

With the tempation to say, "Fuck it, I'm outta here". They are still there working their asses off to keep a fucked up situation from becoming a full scale horror.

[Bluerthanblue]

8. yes, they do- they are heroes

true heroes

:grouphug:

[Coyote_Bandit]

9. Gives New Meaning

to the concept of "Dirty Jobs."

These workers absolutely deserve our respect - and our gratitude.

[PufPuf23]

10. Agree.

Your heart is good Stinky.

[bullwinkle428]

11. The ultimate definition of hero.

[applegrove]

12. Yup. I bet they said a long goodbye to their families. very brave.

[jannyk]

13. I could not agree more.

[dkf]

14. Just as risky as being in the military and going to war if you ask me.

Damn they have guts.

[Zynx]

22. Based on the experience of Chernobyl, even more so.

[Statistical]

33. delete. wrong spot.

[Maru Kitteh]

15. absolutely!

[somone]

16. Indeed

[donheld]

17. Can you Imagine Scott Walker or Sarah Palin leading this effort

:scared:

[SlipperySlope]

18. To do what must be done but what not have been done without me, that is my duty.

To do what must be done but what not have been done without me, that is my duty.

[TriMera]

19. Yes, they do. n/t

[FedUpWithIt All]

20. I completely agree. Gratitude and respect. n/t

[Hannah Bell]

21. kr

[jannyk]

23. Six or more of the were injured and several are still 'missing

after the #3 reactor explosion. Imagine what their families are going through.

:cry:

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

24. right up there with 9/11 rescue workers in the pantheon of heroes

let's hope Japan treats them with more respect than their U.S. counterparts got

[burrowowl]

25. YES they are!

which goes to show heros exist all over the world and not only in a America.

[canetoad]

26. Unrec for pointing out the bleedin obvious. nt

[tomp]

30. was that really necessary? really? nt

[CreekDog]

37. how nasty

:wtf:

[lutefisk]

38. I thought the weed was supposed to make a person mellow and contemplative...nt

[Warren DeMontague]

27. Agreed. I had the same thought today.

Really, that is true heroism. Nothing more to say.

[Norrin Radd]

28. kr

[Rex]

29. They are heroes to the world, we all are counting on them

maybe the whole human race can feel a little respect for the sacrifices being made right now and elsewhere. Japan will gain control over the situation.

[Lefta Dissenter]

31. .

:cry:

[felix_numinous]

32. They are being very respectful about informing the public as well. nt

[seabeyond]

34. agreed. nt

[Bandit]

35. Their teachers should get some credit as well don't ya think?

Oh I forgot Teachers are just over privileged thugs...and hippies and probably Nazis as well.

[Statistical]

36. I have worked with people in the industry.

I can't speak for the management or executives but the engineers, operators, and plant workers aren't clueless or naive (most of them live within a few miles of plants and so do their families). They understands the risks and dangers of nuclear power, along with the awesome power, and terrible energies that occur inside the reactor. They tend to be very logical and level headed.

In essence ... Exactly the kind of people you want in a situation like this.

[tulips4dolphins]

39. real heroes....

great point of view! great post. thanks for writing it.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

40. I have been thinking about the workers --

since this first broke. :( They are in the fight of a lifetime, facing horrible challenges and odds. I can't imagine being a family member right now.

[katsy]

41. K/R

.

[MadMaddie]

42. They are hero's just like the Fireman and local citizens that

fought to contain Chernobyl. If you have not seen the documentry on Chernobyl please do so in the near future.

Here is the gist of it....ALL military, fireman, scientist etc...anyone that was there for the time it took to contain Chernobyl are dead. Most died from horrific cancers. This is the reality of uncontained melted down Nuclear power....

It appears that more and more of the 55 Nuclear sites are going down. Japan would be wise to shut them down entirely before they end up in a situation where the backup generator can't do the job.