The elderly will save Japan

[Corey]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13598607

Japan pensioners volunteer to tackle nuclear crisis
By Roland Buerk
BBC News, Tokyo

Yasuteru Yamada said people from all walks of life were welcome to join the group.

A group of more than 200 Japanese pensioners are volunteering to tackle the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima power station.

The Skilled Veterans Corps, as they call themselves, is made up of retired engineers and other professionals, all over the age of 60.

They say they should be facing the dangers of radiation, not the young.

It was while watching the television news that Yasuteru Yamada decided it was time for his generation to stand up.

No longer could he be just an observer of the struggle to stabilise the Fukushima nuclear plant.

The retired engineer is reporting back for duty at the age of 72, and he is organising a team of pensioners to go with him.

For weeks now Mr Yamada has been getting back in touch with old friends, sending out e-mails and even messages on Twitter.

Volunteering to take the place of younger workers at the power station is not brave, Mr Yamada says, but logical.

"I am 72 and on average I probably have 13 to 15 years left to live," he says.

"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."

Mr Yamada is lobbying the government hard for his volunteers to be allowed into the power station. The government has expressed gratitude for the offer but is cautious.

Certainly a couple of MPs are supporting Mr Yamada.

"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," he said.

Certainly it is likely more workers will be needed.

The plant is still spewing radiation, nearly three months after an earthquake and tsunami knocked out its cooling systems, triggering explosions.

Its operator, Tepco, has now confirmed three of the reactors probably suffered meltdowns.

The plan is to bring the plant to a cold shutdown by January, although some experts believe that is over optimistic.

To cope with the disaster Japan has raised the radiation exposure limit for emergency workers from 100 millisieverts to 250 millisieverts.

But Tepco announced this week two workers at Fukushima might have already been exposed to more.

Kamikaze?

Many of Mr Yamada's veterans are retired engineers like him.

Others are former power station workers, experts in factory design - and even a singer and two cooks - Mr Yamada says they will be useful to keep his team amused and fed.

Michio Ito used to be a primary school teacher but is spending his retirement helping out in a cafe that offers work experience to people with learning difficulties.

He is keen to swap his apron for a radiation suit.

"I don't think I'm particularly special," he says. "Most Japanese have this feeling in their heart. The question is whether you step forward, or you stay behind and watch.

"To take that step you need a lot of guts, but I hope it will be a great experience. Most Japanese want to help out any way they can."

Mr Yamada has already tried on his old overalls for size.

He says he is as fit as ever - with a lifetime of experience to bring to the task.

And he laughs off suggestions his proposed team is comparable to the kamikaze pilots who flew suicide missions in World War II.

"We are not kamikaze. The kamikaze were something strange, no risk management there. They were going to die. But we are going to come back. We have to work but never die."

I hope, that if the situation were the same here, I'd show the same dedication to the well being of my fellow man.

[derf]

Originally Posted by Corey

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13598607



I hope, that if the situation were the same here, I'd show the same dedication to the well being of my fellow man.

I hope that if the situation was the same here, I'd have a group of old folks to throw in the pit in my place

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by derf

I hope that if the situation was the same here, I'd have a group of old folks to throw in the pit in my place

Doubtful. Those old folks are all leaving to go spend their Social Security in Latin America.

[Kaneman]

Man, good on those guys. Goddamn heroes.

[Particle Man]

Good for them - definitely heroes

[Avatard]

The Japanese have a lot of fucked up shit in their culture...but they also, conversely, have this remarkable, and heroic sense of honor.

Truly...these are heroes...but moreover, knowingly benevolent parents to the new generation; unselfish. The understanding that the "we" is ultimately more important than the "ME"...

Things our culture could use more of, anymore.

One hopes that news, globalization, and the respect that such acts engender may spread this positive trait throughout other cultures, including ours, in however small a way...

[Apoc]

Originally Posted by Avatard

The Japanese have a lot of fucked up shit in their culture...but they also, conversely, have this remarkable, and heroic sense of honor.

Truly...these are heroes...but moreover, knowingly benevolent parents to the new generation; unselfish. The understanding that the "we" is ultimately more important than the "ME"...

Things our culture could use more of, anymore.

One hopes that news, globalization, and the respect that such acts engender may spread this positive trait throughout other cultures, including ours, in however small a way...

I knew a japanese student when I was in college. Really cool guy actually, and he explained me a lot about their culture. One of the most important things in their society is honoring and appreciating their elders. Its a value that they hold on to dearly, and apparently its because of reasons like this. The elders focus on making things better for the next generation, there is no selfishness in their culture, really at all, from what he explained to me. Everything is based on respect.

There are other things he hated about their culture and loved about ours, though. Like when they go to work, you dont ever give your thoughts or ideas on a project, even if you can make it better and save money. Your job is to do what your told, and trying to be innovative will get you ignored by coworkers and superiors, making the workplace a very lonely spot for you.

Thats the reason that the Japanese game development studios are lagging so far behind, when they were once miles ahead. The elder developers run the show when it comes to stuff like that, and they have a design mentality of the 1990's, when they were young, and refuse to change the way they do things.

Anyway, im way off topic, but the point is, their culture has a lot of both good and bad, no different than ours. But yes, at least different generations have respect for eachother, unlike most people in our countries.

[azoomm]

Wow. They are inspiring.

[EpyonXero]

I like it, its about time our old people start pulling their weight too.

[derf]

Originally Posted by EpyonXero

I like it, its about time our old people start pulling their weight too.

Thank you, at least some of us see the logic behind this. They need to work if they want to get their free medicaid part B, cathiders, and social security checks. Those lazy wrinkled old moochers