Fukushima nuclear plant workers 'expect to die' after clean-up

[FourScore]

Fukushima nuclear plant workers 'expect to die' after clean-up
By Danielle Demetriou, The Daily Telegraph March 31, 2011 11:52 AM

Workers who have been fighting to bring the reactors under control at Japan's stricken nuclear plant expect to die from radiation sickness, according to the mother of one of the men.

The so-called Fukushima 50, the group of about 300 technicians, soldiers and firemen who work in shifts of 50, have been exposed repeatedly to dangerously high radioactive levels as they attempt to avert a nuclear disaster.

The mother of one man has admitted that the group have discussed their situation and accepted that death is a strong possibility.

"My son and his colleagues have discussed it at length and they have committed themselves to die if necessary in the long-term..."

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Fukushima+nuclear+plant+workers+expect+after+clean/4537114/story.html#ixzz1ICshB3ab

Such heros!!!

:cry:

[virgogal]

1. I hope the families they leave behind are well compensated.

What brave people.

[Big Blue Marble]

2. This is so wrong on so many levels.

The people who are the most responsible are not the ones who will not make the sacrifices.

[FreakinDJ]

4. As usual

[Electric Monk]

7. Double negative.

I think I understand what you're trying to say, but it's not what you said.

"The people who are the most responsible are not the ones who will not make the sacrifices."

I think you likely want to remove either of the "nots", otherwise you're saying "The people who are the most responsible are the ones who will make the sacrifices." because the nots cancel each other out.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. k&r

[JuniperLea]

5. These are true heroes...

:cry:

[PCIntern]

6. Where are all the deniers here who will pooh-pooh that sentiment?

Just a few days ago, we had a few and CNN and MSNBCLOCKUP had all these guys saying "Nooooo. No way. They MIGHT have a SLIGHT tendency to develop cancer, but no immediate harm will come to them."

Bullcrap of the highest order...

On edit: and what do these people know anyway? They're only the people RUNNING THE EFFING PLANT, it's not like their edumacated people here in the states telling everyone that all is well...

[Jamastiene]

10. They will be along any minute.

They make me sick.

[Peace Patriot]

8. These workers are likely going to die because this frigging company, Tepco--and

officials of the Japanese government, the U.S. and other governments, and UN atomic officials who chose to DEFER to PRIVATE PROFIT--has been trying to "save" this billion dollar facility at the COST of workers' lives, the lives of people in the neighborhood, local and Pacific fisheries and who knows how many other lives, INSTEAD of putting LIVES and ECOSYSTEMS first!

I just realized in the last couple of days that there is NEW language in news stories about "saving" this facility, whereas before it was all about PREVENTING more fires, explosions and meltdown and getting things under control with remedies like pouring sea water on the plants (which corrodes and trashes the plants). I thought they had made the decision a week ago or more, given all the explosions, that the Fukushima was not salvageable and the radiation had to be controlled to save lives. Apparently, that is not true. Apparently, they were looking at this from a MONETARY angle, and THAT is why the U.S. government and the French government are only NOW sending aid (including a U.S. Marines special nuclear emergency force) to the plant operators.

If I am right, this is truly TERRIBLE--on the part of Tepco and the governments involved, and the UN. I hope I am wrong but I am afraid that I am right. This company and the officials who have toadied to it are guilty of murder.

[marions ghost]

9. +++++

Humans are cheap. The plants are expensive. Perfect business sense by today's models.

[AndyTiedye]

13. They Could Never Run The Nukes Again After Bathing Them in SEA WATER

Everything is caked with salt and we can assume it is already starting to rust.
When they try to turn anything on in the control rooms, they emit smoke
until they turn whatever it is off again.

Several of them have also had big explosions that did major damage.

Units 1-4 are never going to generate power again.

They think they are going to fire up 5 and 6 again.
I wonder what the Japanese public thinks of that.
Even if they are allowed to do it, how will they run the plants?
The area around them is going to be radioactive for centuries.

[hamsterjill]

11. Heroes do what they must.

They don't waste time asking "why" when there is work to be done. They simply act.

These people are heroes.

That said, I'm still hoping for some kind of reprieve for them. It would be great if heroes got to live!

[RamboLiberal]

12. What courage!!!! These are truly heroes! K&R

[PA Democrat]

14. NHK is reporting that radiation monitors aren't being given to each worker

NHK has learned that Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, has not provided every worker at the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant with radiation monitors, breaking government rules.

High levels of contamination have been detected at the Daiichi power complex following a series of hydrogen explosions that have scattered radioactive substances.

TEPCO says the quake destroyed many radiation monitors, so in some work groups only leaders have them, leaving others struggling to manage exposure.

The government requires companies to provide each individual worker with a radiation monitor when working under such conditions.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/31_31.html